Metal pouring apparatus including particle collecting mechanism

Claim 2

In metal pouring apparatus including a pit formed in a base below the floor surface thereof and having opposed sides and a ladle in said pit below said floor surface and into which molten metal is poured, particle collecting mechanism comprising: a. a collection hood at one side of said pit above the floor surface and comprising a horizontally disposed wall structure having an inner reflecting surface in the shape of an elongated ellipse presenting an open side disposed toward the pit and identifying a focal line; b. said collection hood having a back formed with a plurality of apertures arranged in horizontal alignment; c. a plurality of withdrawal hoods mounted on the back of said collection hood with each withdrawal hood being positioned about one of said apertures; d. a vacuum manifold connected to said withdrawal hoods to create vacuum conditions in said collection hood at said focal line; e. a plurality of air jet nozzles arranged in horizontal alignment above said floor surface at the other side of said pit, said air jet nozzles presenting discharge openings in horizontal alignment and establishing a line which is the other focal line of the elongated segmental ellipse structure which defines the collection hood, and f. means for supplying air under pressure to said air jet nozzles.

Claim 3

The particle collecting mechanism of claim 1 in which the means for supplying air to said air jet nozzles is adjustable to provide a pulsating air curtain over said ladle.

Claim 4

The particle collecting mechanism of claim 1 in which said air jet nozzles comprise two sets with the nozzles of one set being alternately interposed between the nozzles of the other set, a manifold for each set of nozzles, and a valve controlling the flow of air from said source of supply to said manifolds.

Claim 5

The particle collecting mechanism of claim 3 in which said valve is a four-way valve adjustable to any of the following positions: closed, establishing communication from the air supply to one manifold alone, establishing communication from the air supply to the other manifold alone, or establishing communication from the air supply to both manifolds simultaneously.

Claim 6

The particle collecting mechanism of claim 1 in which the vacuum manifold is connected to said withdrawal hoods by tubes, together with an adjustable damper included in each of said tubes.

Claim 7

The particle collecting mechanism of claim 5 in which said vacuum manifold has a closed end and said tubes are inclined in a direction away from said closed end.

Claim 8

In apparatus including an open top receptacle which receives liquid material from which fumes emanate, fume collecting mechanism comprising: a. a collection hood at one side of said receptacle and at a level spaced above the level of the open top of said receptacle, said hood comPrising a horizontally disposed wall structure having an inner reflecting surface in the shape of an elongate ellipse presenting an open side disposed towards said receptacle and identifying a focal line; b. said collection hood having a back formed with a plurality of apertures arranged in horizontal alignment; c. a plurality of withdrawal hoods mounted on the back of said collection hood with each withdrawal hood being positioned about one of said apertures; d. a vacuum manifold connected to said withdrawal hoods to create vacuum conditions in said collection hood at said focal line; e. a plurality of air jet nozzles arranged in horizontal alignment above the level of the open top of said receptacle and on the side of said receptacle opposite to that where said hood is located, said air jet nozzles presenting discharge openings in horizontal alignment and establishing a line which is the other focal line of the elongated ellipse structure which defines said collection hood, and f. means for supplying air under pressure to said air jet nozzles.

Claim 9

In apparatus including an open top receptacle which receives liquid material from which fumes emanate, fume collecting mechanism comprising: a. a collection hood at one side of said receptacle and at a level spaced above the level of the open top of said receptacle, said hood comPrising a horizontally disposed wall structure having an inner reflecting surface in the shape of an elongate ellipse presenting an open side disposed towards said receptacle and identifying a focal line; b. said collection hood having a back formed with a plurality of apertures arranged in horizontal alignment; c. a plurality of withdrawal hoods mounted on the back of said collection hood with each withdrawal hood being positioned about one of said apertures; d. a vacuum manifold connected to said withdrawal hoods to create vacuum conditions in said collection hood at said focal line; e. a plurality of air jet nozzles arranged in horizontal alignment above the level of the open top of said receptacle and on the side of said receptacle opposite to that where said hood is located, said air jet nozzles presenting discharge openings in horizontal alignment and establishing a line which is the other focal line of the elongated ellipse structure which defines said collection hood, and f. means for supplying air under pressure to said air jet nozzles.

Claim 10

The fume collecting mechanism of claim 7 in which the means for supplying air to said air jet nozzles is adjustable to provide a pulsating air current under said receptacle.

Claim 11

The fume collecting mechanism of claim 7 in which said air jet nozzles comprise two sets, with the nozzles of one set being alternately interposed between the nozzles of the other set, a manifold for each set of nozzles, and a valve for controlling the flow of air from said source of supply to said manifolds.

Claim 12

The fume collecting mechanism of claim 9 in which said valve is a four-way valve adjustable to any of the following positions: closed, establishing communication from the air supply to one manifold alone, establishing communication from the air supply to the other manifold alone, or establishing communication from the air supply to both manifolds simultaneously.