Method of producing spheroidal graphite cast iron

Claim 1

A METHOD OF TREATING MOLTEN CAST FOR THE PRODUCTION OF SPHEROIDAL GRAPHITE CAST IRON COMPRISING PASSING MOLTEN CAST IRON OF SUCH COMPOSITION AS TO FREEZE WITH FREE GRAPHITE IN FLAKE FORM THROUGH A CHANNEL HAVING A WIDTH GREATER THAN ITS HEIGHT AND WHICH INCLUDES A SHALLOW DEPRESSION IN THE LOWER SURFACE THEREOF, A NODULARIZING AGENT BEING PRESENT IN THE DEPRESSION IN AN AMOUNT SUFFICIENT TO CONVERT THE GRAPHITE TO SPHEROIDAL FORM, SAID MOLTEN CAST IRON PASSING THROUGH THE CHANNEL WITH A SUBSTANTIALLY LAMINAR FLOW AND CONTACTING NODULARIZING GENT AS IT PASSES THROUGH THE CHANNEL AND WHEN PASSING THROUGH THE CHANNEL TRAVELLING AT A RATE SUFFICIENT TO SCRUB AWAY ANY VAPOR WHICH FORMS AT THE INTERFACE BETWEEN THE MOLTEN CAST IRON AND THE NODULARIZONG AGENT.

Claim 2

A METHOD OF TREATING MOLTEN CAST FOR THE PRODUCTION OF SPHEROIDAL GRAPHITE CAST IRON COMPRISING PASSING MOLTEN CAST IRON OF SUCH COMPOSITION AS TO FREEZE WITH FREE GRAPHITE IN FLAKE FORM THROUGH A CHANNEL HAVING A WIDTH GREATER THAN ITS HEIGHT AND WHICH INCLUDES A SHALLOW DEPRESSION IN THE LOWER SURFACE THEREOF, A NODULARIZING AGENT BEING PRESENT IN THE DEPRESSION IN AN AMOUNT SUFFICIENT TO CONVERT THE GRAPHITE TO SPHEROIDAL FORM, SAID MOLTEN CAST IRON PASSING THROUGH THE CHANNEL WITH A SUBSTANTIALLY LAMINAR FLOW AND CONTACTING NODULARIZING GENT AS IT PASSES THROUGH THE CHANNEL AND WHEN PASSING THROUGH THE CHANNEL TRAVELLING AT A RATE SUFFICIENT TO SCRUB AWAY ANY VAPOR WHICH FORMS AT THE INTERFACE BETWEEN THE MOLTEN CAST IRON AND THE NODULARIZONG AGENT.

Claim 3

A method of treating molten cast iron for the production of spheroidal graphite cast iron comprising passing molten cast iron of such composition as to freeze with free graphite in flake form through a channel having a width greater than its height and which includes a shallow depression in the lower surface thereof, a nodularizing agent being present in the depression in an amount sufficient to convert the graphite to spheroidal form, said molten cast iron passing through the channel with a substantially laminar flow and contacting said nodularizing agent as it passes through the channel and when passing through the channel traveling at a rate sufficient to scrub away any vapor which forms at the interface between the molten cast iron and the nodularizing agent.

Claim 4

A method of treating molten cast iron for the production of spheroidal graphite cast iron comprising passing molten cast iron of such composition as to freeze with free graphite in flake form through a channel having a width greater than its height and which includes a shallow depression in the lower surface thereof, a nodularizing agent being present in the depression in an amount sufficient to convert the graphite to spheroidal form, said molten cast iron passing through the channel with a substantially laminar flow and contacting said nodularizing agent as it passes through the channel and when passing through the channel traveling at a rate sufficient to scrub away any vapor which forms at the interface between the molten cast iron and the nodularizing agent.

Claim 5

A method of treating molten cast iron of such composition as to freeze with free graphite in flake form to convert the free graphite to spheroidal form including the steps of: a. providing a channel with a shallow pocket formed in the lower surface thereof; b. filling the pocket with a nodularizing agent in an amount sufficient to convert the graphite in the molten cast iron to be treated to spheroidal form; c. passing the molten cast iron through the channel with a substantially laminar flow and at a rate sufficient to scrub away any vapor which forms at the interface between the molten cast iron and the nodularizing agent.

Claim 6

A method of treating molten cast iron of such composition as to freeze with free graphite in flake form to convert the free graphite to spheroidal form including the steps of: a. providing a channel with a shallow pocket formed in the lower surface thereof; b. filling the pocket with a nodularizing agent in an amount sufficient to convert the graphite in the molten cast iron to be treated to spheroidal form; c. passing the molten cast iron through the channel with a substantially laminar flow and at a rate sufficient to scrub away any vapor which forms at the interface between the molten cast iron and the nodularizing agent.

Claim 10

A method of producing spheroidal graphite cast iron castings from molten cast iron of such composition as to freeze with free graphite in flake form including the steps of: a. providing a channel having a width greater than its height and a shallow pocket formed in the lower surface thereof; b. filling the pocket with a treatment material containing a nodularizing agent in an amount sufficient to convert the graphite in the molten cast iron to spheroidal form; c. passing the molten cast iron through the channel with a substantially laminar flow and at a rate sufficient to scrub away any vapor which forms at the interface between the molten cast iron and the treatment material; d. collecting the molten cast iron as it exits from the channel and holding the same a sufficient time to permit clarification of the molten cast iron; and e. pouring the molten cast iron into preformed molds.

Claim 11

A method of producing spheroidal graphite cast iron castings from molten cast iron of such composition as to freeze with free graphite in flake form including the steps of: a. providing a channel having a width greater than its height and a shallow pocket formed in the lower surface thereof; b. filling the pocket with a treatment material containing a nodularizing agent in an amount sufficient to convert the graphite in the molten cast iron to spheroidal form; c. passing the molten cast iron through the channel with a substantially laminar flow and at a rate sufficient to scrub away any vapor which forms at the interface between the molten cast iron and the treatment material; d. collecting the molten cast iron as it exits from the channel and holding the same a sufficient time to permit clarification of the molten cast iron; and e. pouring the molten cast iron into preformed molds.

Claim 12

A method of producing an alloy from a batch of molten base metal and an alloying material including the steps of: a. providing an enclosed channel having a width greater than its height, open entry and exit ends and a shallow pocket formed in the lower surface thereof spaced from the exit end and extending across the entire width of the channel; b. filling the pocket with an alloying material in an amount calculated to treat the batch of molten base metal to the extent desired; and c. passing the molten base metal through the channel with a substantially laminar flow so that it travels over the shallow pocket and contacts and dissolves the alloying material prior to exiting from the channel.

Claim 13

A method of producing an alloy from a batch of molten base metal and an alloying material including the steps of: a. providing an enclosed channel having a width greater than its height, open entry and exit ends and a shallow pocket formed in the lower surface thereof spaced from the exit end and extending across the entire width of the channel; b. filling the pocket with an alloying material in an amount calculated to treat the batch of molten base metal to the extent desired; and c. passing the molten base metal through the channel with a substantially laminar flow so that it travels over the shallow pocket and contacts and dissolves the alloying material prior to exiting from the channel.