US3858640A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reinforced composite alloys, process and apparatus for the production thereof
Assignee: Industrielle de Combustible Nucleaire Ste
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Filing: 1973-06-08
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Granted: 1975-01-07
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Expires: 1993-06-08
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to improved process and apparatus for producing reinforced composite light alloys. The improved apparatus comprises means for feeding a fluidized mixture of particulate additions, carried by a neutral gas, to a crucible in which a basic metal consisting preferably of nearly pure aluminium ingots is molten. Means are provided for stirring the contents of the crucible during the feeding of said mixture thereto, in order to prevent the sedimentation or decantation of the dispersion formed therein. Means are further provided for transferring the mixture of basic metal and additions into another receptacle in which the desorption and degasing of said mixture take place.
Inventors
- 👤 Raymond Henri Sifferlen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 02:06
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22C; C22C1/00; C22C1/10; C22C1/1036; C22C1/02; B; B22; B22F; B22F2999/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
APPARATUS FOR PREPARING A REINFORCED COMPOSITE ALLOY, WHICH COMPRISES A CRUCIBLE, MEANS FOR SUPPLYING LIQUID BASIC METAL TO SAID CRUCIBLE AT A CONSTANT TEMPERATURE AND AT A SUBSTANTIALLY CONSTANT LEVEL, MEANS FOR CAUSING RAPID CIRCULATION OF A GAS, MEANS FOR INTRODUCING PARTICULATE ADDITIONS INTO SAID GAS, MEANS FOR IMPARTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS TO SAID INTRODUCING MEANS, MEANS FOR ENSURING THE RAPID DISPLACEMENT OF SAID ADDITIONS AND SAID GAS, MEANS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY STIRRING SAID METAL AND INTRODUCING SAID ADDITIONS INTO SAID METAL DURING STIRRING, SAID LAST-NAMED MEANS BEING CONNECTED TO SAID MEANS FOR RAPID DISPLACEMENT OF SAID ADDITIONS AND SAID GAS, MEANS FOR STIRRING THE DISPERSION THUS OBTAINED AND PREVENTING ITS SEDIMENTATION OR DECANTATION, AND MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING THE STIRRED MIXTURE OF BASIC METAL AND ADDITIONS TO ANOTHER RECEPTACLE, SAID LAST-NAMED MEANS DESORBING AND DEGASING SAID MIXTURE.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
APPARATUS FOR PREPARING A REINFORCED COMPOSITE ALLOY, WHICH COMPRISES A CRUCIBLE, MEANS FOR SUPPLYING LIQUID BASIC METAL TO SAID CRUCIBLE AT A CONSTANT TEMPERATURE AND AT A SUBSTANTIALLY CONSTANT LEVEL, MEANS FOR CAUSING RAPID CIRCULATION OF A GAS, MEANS FOR INTRODUCING PARTICULATE ADDITIONS INTO SAID GAS, MEANS FOR IMPARTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS TO SAID INTRODUCING MEANS, MEANS FOR ENSURING THE RAPID DISPLACEMENT OF SAID ADDITIONS AND SAID GAS, MEANS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY STIRRING SAID METAL AND INTRODUCING SAID ADDITIONS INTO SAID METAL DURING STIRRING, SAID LAST-NAMED MEANS BEING CONNECTED TO SAID MEANS FOR RAPID DISPLACEMENT OF SAID ADDITIONS AND SAID GAS, MEANS FOR STIRRING THE DISPERSION THUS OBTAINED AND PREVENTING ITS SEDIMENTATION OR DECANTATION, AND MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING THE STIRRED MIXTURE OF BASIC METAL AND ADDITIONS TO ANOTHER RECEPTACLE, SAID LAST-NAMED MEANS DESORBING AND DEGASING SAID MIXTURE.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
107 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a container having a funnel-shaped bottom, a vibrating table supporting said container, means for feeding said particulate additions to said container, a duct for directing said gas into said container, a plug valve body mounted in said container to be vertically movable substantially at the level of the tapered portion of said funnel-shaped bottom, means for adjusting the vertical position of said plug valve body, and a conduit comprising a first vertical section projecting in said container and opening below said plug valve body, and a second section emerging from said container, for transferring the additions and gas into said crucible.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said first conduit section is an integral part of said plug valve body, so as to open from its lower end.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
94 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a hopper having a bottom discharge pipe, a vibrating table supporting said hopper, means for introducing particulate additions into said hopper, means for controlling the cross-sectional passage area of the bottom discharge pipe of said hopper, a chamber disposed beneath said bottom discharge pipe of said hopper, so that said discharge pipe opens into said chamber, a first conduiT for feeding said gas into said chamber, a second conduit opening at one end into said chamber for transferring said additions and gas from said chamber into said crucible.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a crucible having a vertical axis of symmetry, a screw-like stirring member disposed within said crucible with its axis being in a substantially parallel and spaced relationship to said crucible axis, and means for rotatably driving said stirring member to create eddies in the liquid metal contained in said crucible.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising means for vertically moving said stirring member in said crucible between an upper position, in which said crucible can be loaded with ingots of solid metal, and a lower position, in which said stirring member is restored when said solid ingots are melted.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an induction heating coil disposed externally of, and surrounding, said crucible, and means for energizing said coil with high-frequency electric current, whereby a high-frequency field is generated in the liquid metal contained in said crucible and said field generate eddies in said liquid metal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an ultrasonic generator is immersed in the liquid metal contained in said crucible.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for ensuring the rapid displacement of said additions and gas comprises at least one electrode disposed upstream of said crucible so as to be swept by said gas and said additions, further means being also provided for applying a high potential difference between said electrode and the metal contained in said crucible.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
77 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said means for causing the rapid displacement of said additions and gas comprises a vertical duct opening into said crucible and having at least one portion disposed above the free surface of the liquid metal contained in said crucible, said electrode consisting of a metal wire mounted in said portion of said vertical duct with its end being located at a predetermined height above said free surface of said liquid metal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said crucible has its bottom provided with a runner, said apparatus further comprising means for normally plugging said runner and a fluid-tight chamber in which said crucible is enclosed together with an ingot-mould having an open upper portion disposed within said chamber, below the runner of said crucible, and an open lower portion disposed externally of said chamber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising at least one vacuum pump and conduit means for connecting said vacuum pump to said fluid-tight chamber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising means for filling said fluid-tight chamber with at least one inert gas under a predetermined pressure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for casting the mixture contained in said crucible under a vacuumized atmosphere.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for casting the mixture contained in said crucible under an inert gas atmosphere.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-01-06 | 1978-07-08 | 1979-01-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-06 | 1982-07-08 | 1983-01-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-06 | 1986-07-08 | 1987-01-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |