Patent US4231498A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4231498A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Corrosion-resistant crucible with graphite parts
Assignee: TOOLCRAFT ENGINEERING Inc A CORP OF CT
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Filing: 1978-11-01
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Granted: 1980-11-04
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Expires: 1998-11-01
Abstract
Abstract A device for metering and transferring liquid metals. It includes a supporting structure and, a hollow sleeve on the supporting structure open at both ends. A pouring spout is on one end and has an orifice therethrough communicating with the hollow interior of the sleeve. A stopper rod extends into the sleeve from the other end thereof to be shiftable between a position seating on the pouring spout and sealing the orifice therein at a position removed from the pouring spout to permit liquid metal to flow into and out of the sleeve. At least a portion of the stopper rod which seats on the pouring spout and the portion of the pouring spout in engagement with the stopper rod are formed of graphite material. Other portions of the device are formed of a ni-resist alloy with a layer of oxide formed on those surfaces of the ni-resist alloy which are brought into contact with the liquid metal to increase the chemical resistance of those surfaces to the liquid metal being metered and transferred.
Inventors
- 👤 James R. Quinan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 07:49
CPC Classifications
B; B22; B22D; B22D41/00; B22D41/14; B22D41/16; B22D39/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
A device for metering and transferring liquid metals comprising; a supporting structure, a hollow elongated sleeve on the supporting structure and open at both ends, a pouring spout on one end and having an orifice therethrough communicating with the hollow interior of the sleeve, a stopper rod extending into the sleeve from the other end thereof and forming a passage with the open other end of the sleeve for the escape of gases from liquid metal contained within the sleeve, the stopper rod to be shiftable between a position seating on the pouring spout and sealing the orifice therein and a position removed from the pouring spout to permit liquid metal to flow into and out of the sleeve, means for shifting the stopper rod between positions, at least the portions of the stopper rod and pouring spout which seat to seal the orifice being formed of graphite material, and a tip extending from the stopper rod into the orifice when in the seated position to facilitate isolation of the graphite portions from atmosphere.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
174 words
A device for metering and transferring liquid metals comprising; a supporting structure, a hollow elongated sleeve on the supporting structure and open at both ends, a pouring spout on one end and having an orifice therethrough communicating with the hollow interior of the sleeve, a stopper rod extending into the sleeve from the other end thereof and forming a passage with the open other end of the sleeve for the escape of gases from liquid metal contained within the sleeve, the stopper rod to be shiftable between a position seating on the pouring spout and sealing the orifice therein and a position removed from the pouring spout to permit liquid metal to flow into and out of the sleeve, means for shifting the stopper rod between positions, at least the portions of the stopper rod and pouring spout which seat to seal the orifice being formed of graphite material, and a tip extending from the stopper rod into the orifice when in the seated position to facilitate isolation of the graphite portions from atmosphere.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the entire stopper rod and pouring spout are formed of graphite material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the device is a crucible and the remaining portions of the crucible other than the graphite portions being formed of ni-resist alloy oxidized by the formation of an adherent layer of oxide thereon to increase the chemical resistance of the exposed surfaces thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention in accordance with claim 3 wherein the ni-resist alloy is taken from a class of alloy iron containing at least 13% nickel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention in accordance with claim 4 wherein the ni-resist alloy is a nickel iron containing approximately 13-18% nickel, up to approximately 5.5% chromium, approximately 3% silicon and approximately 7% copper.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The invention in accordance with claim 3 wherein the layer of oxide on the ni-resist alloy is formed by heating the surfaces thereof to approximately the range of 1000°-1250° F. in an oxidizing atmosphere slowly, and thereafter allowing the heated parts to cool slowly.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein any graphite portion exposed to a greater amount of air than the limited exposure is coated with ceramic-type paint to effectively reduce the corrosion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
117 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the stopper rod and pouring spout have mating graphite surfaces thereon to facilitate sealing engagement therebetween when the stopper rod is in the seating position, the means for shifting the stopper rod between positions including axial drive means and rotary drive means to permit the stopper rod to be rotated with respect to the pouring spout and sleeve and to be axially shifted with respect to the pouring spout and sleeve and operating so that when the stopper rod is directed into mating engagement with the pouring spout it will be both axially and rotatably brought into mating engagement thereby facilitating sealing of the stopper rod and pouring spout.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
226 words
The invention in accordance with claim 8 wherein transfer means transfers the device into and out of a container of liquid metal with the stopper rod being in the seated position on the pouring spout during insertion into the liquid metal to facilitate prevention of accumulation of undesirable material within the hollow sleeve during the insertion into the liquid metal to the desired depth, means for cleaning the orifice and for preventing undesirable materials from collecting in the orifice including the end of the stopper rod adjacent to the pouring spout having a smaller diameter tip portion extending therefrom of a predetermined length so that when the stopper rod is seated in sealing position on the pouring spout the tip will extend through the orifice in the pouring spout thereby guarding against the accumulation of undesirable materials in the orifice wall as the device is being transferred into a container of liquid metal, and when the stopper rod is removed from the seating position on the pouring spout the tip will be removed therefrom to permit liquid metal to freely flow through the orifice in the pouring spout and the tip acting to remove any collection of undesirable materials from the orifice upon reinsertion therein as it is rotated and axially moved with the stopper rod as the stopper rod is reseated on the pouring spout.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the mating surfaces between the stopper rod and pouring spout are beveled to facilitate seating engagement therebetween, the pouring spout being removably mounted on one end of the sleeve and the stopper rod being movably mounted on the support structure.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
150 words
A method of forming a device adapted for metering and transferring liquid metal comprising; the forming of a crucible structure having an open upper end and including a pouring spout having an orifice and a stopper rod shiftable between a position seating on the pouring spout and sealing the orifice therein and a position removed from the pouring spout to permit liquid metal to flow into and out of the crucible, the space between the open upper end and the stopper rod forming a passage in the crucible structure for the escape of gases from liquid metal contained within the crucible structure, forming at least the portions of the stopper rod and pouring spout which seat to seal the orifice of graphite material, and locating a tip on the stopper rod to extend into the orifice when in the seated position to facilitate isolation of the graphite portions from atmosphere.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
150 words
A method of forming a device adapted for metering and transferring liquid metal comprising; the forming of a crucible structure having an open upper end and including a pouring spout having an orifice and a stopper rod shiftable between a position seating on the pouring spout and sealing the orifice therein and a position removed from the pouring spout to permit liquid metal to flow into and out of the crucible, the space between the open upper end and the stopper rod forming a passage in the crucible structure for the escape of gases from liquid metal contained within the crucible structure, forming at least the portions of the stopper rod and pouring spout which seat to seal the orifice of graphite material, and locating a tip on the stopper rod to extend into the orifice when in the seated position to facilitate isolation of the graphite portions from atmosphere.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention in accordance with claim 11 wherein the entire stopper rod and pouring spout are formed of graphite material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
51 words
The invention in accordance with claim 11 wherein the device is a crucible and the remaining portions of the crucible other than the graphite portions being formed of ni-resist alloy oxidized by the formation of an adherent layer of oxide thereon to increase the chemical resistance of the exposed surfaces thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention in accordance with claim 13 wherein the ni-resist alloy is taken from a class of alloy iron containing at least 13% nickel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention in accordance with claim 14 wherein the ni-resist alloy is a nickel iron containing approximately 13-18% nickel, up to approximately 5.5% chromium, approximately 3% silicon and approximately 7% copper.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
The invention in accordance with claim 13 wherein the layer of oxide on the ni-resist alloy is formed by heating the surfaces thereof to approximately the range of 1000°-1250° F. in an oxidizing atmosphere slowly, and thereafter allowing the heated parts to cool slowly.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention in accordance with claim 11 wherein any graphite portion exposed to a greater amount of air than the limited exposure is coated with ceramic-type paint to effectively reduce the corrosion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
113 words
The invention in accordance with claim 11 wherein the stopper rod and pouring spout have mating graphite surfaces thereon to facilitate sealing engagement therebetween when the stopper rod is in the seating position, the means for shifting the stopper rod between positions including axial drive means and rotary drive means to permit the stopper rod to be rotated with respect to the pouring spout and to be axially shifted with respect to the pouring spout and operating so that when the stopper rod is directed into mating engagement with the pouring spout it will be both axially and rotatably brought into mating engagement thereby facilitating sealing of the stopper rod and pouring spout.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
227 words
The invention in accordance with claim 18 wherein the transfer means transfers the device into and out of a container of liquid metal with the stopper rod being in the seated position on the pouring spout during insertion into the liquid metal to facilitate prevention of accumulation of undesirable material within the hollow sleeve during the insertion into the liquid metal to the desired depth, means for cleaning the orifice and for preventing undesirable materials from collecting in the orifice including the end of the stopper rod adjacent to the pouring spout having a smaller diameter tip portion extending therefrom of a predetermined length so that when the stopper rod is seated in sealing position on the pouring spout the tip will extend through the orifice in the pouring spout thereby guarding against the accumulation of undesirable materials in the orifice wall as the device is being transferred into a container of liquid metal, and when the stopper rod is removed from the seating position on the pouring spout the tip will be removed therefrom to permit liquid metal to freely flow through the orifice in the pouring spout and the tip acting to remove any collection of undesirable materials from the orifice upon reinsertion therein as it is rotated and axially moved with the stopper rod as the stopper rod is reseated on the pouring spout.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
48 words
The invention in accordance with claim 11 wherein the mating surfaces between the stopper rod and pouring spout are beveled to facilitate seating engagement therebetween, the pouring spout being removably mounted on one end of the sleeve and the stopper rod being removably mounted on the support structure.
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) | 1983-11-04 | 1984-05-05 | 1984-11-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-11-04 | 1988-05-05 | 1988-11-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-11-04 | 1992-05-05 | 1992-11-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |