Patent US5255731A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.

US5255731A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Partitioned receptacle for distributing molten metal from a spout to form and ingot

Assignee: Alcoa Corp

•

Filing: 1993-03-01

•

Granted: 1993-10-26

•

Expires: 2013-03-01

📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract Controlling the linear velocity of melt discharge from the discharge outlets of a melt distribution device so as to essentially negate reverse flow from the walls of the mold has been found to produce less oxides and less surface defects in an ingot, particularly an aluminum ingot. This discharge is controlled from the outset of the casting of an ingot because it has been found most defects occur within the initial phase of a cast. A melt distribution device, referred to as a "bag-in-a-bag", is provided which is a pressureless interiorly partitioned receptacle. The partitioning of the receptacle provides an outer bag and a melt-impermeable inner bag in which a pool of melt collects. The pool is deep enough to submerge the discharge end of a spout, to dissipate the kinetic energy of the incoming melt, and to distribute melt from a central zone to discharge zones on either side of the central zone. The discharge zones are provided with outlets through which the melt is discharged at a velocity in the range from about 40 in/min to about 100 in/min depending in part upon the drop rate and the size of the ingot to be cast. Desirable drop rates are in the range from about 2-10 in/min, preferably in the range from 3-7 in/min. A novel starting block is provided which confines the flow of melt so as to form a pool of melt in the center of the mold cavity before the rest of the ingot is cast.

Inventors

👤 David I. Yun

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —

Jurisdiction US

Data Source google_patents

Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 22:44

CPC Classifications

B; B22; B22D; B22D35/00; B22D35/04

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12

Claim 1

Independent Claim 119 words

A process for casting an ingot comprising: (a) accepting incoming melt from a spout by positioning the discharge end thereof in a receptacle having a central distribution zone which has depth sufficient to submerge the discharge end of said spout in molten metal during the initial portion of a cast; (b) pooling said incoming melt in said central distribution zone and submerging said spout in said melt in said central distribution zone until melt overflows said central distribution zone into a contiguous discharge zone; (c) discharging overflowing melt from said discharge zone through symmetrical discharge outlet substantially without accumulating melt within said discharge zones so that at least some of the melt is discharged laterally into a mold cavity.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 119 words

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 26 words

The process of claim 1 comprising, in step (c), confining said incoming melt so that a major portion thereof is discharged laterally into said mold cavity.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 22 words

The process of claim 1 comprising, in step (a), maintaining said spout submerged from the beginning, until the end of said cast.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 60 words

The process of claim 1 comprising, in step (b), confining the incoming melt in a rectangular central distribution zone until melt overflows into contiguous opposed discharge zones on either side of said rectangular zone, and, in step (c), discharging overflowing melt from said discharge zones through opposed discharge outlets provided in at least the ends of said contiguous discharge zone.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 57 words

The process of claim 3 comprising, in step (b), confining the incoming melt in a cylindrical central distribution zone until melt overflows into a contiguous annular discharge zone surrounding said cylindrical central distribution zone, and, in step (c), discharging overflowing melt from said annular discharge zone through an annular discharge outlets provided in said outer peripheral wall.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 11 words

The process of claim 1 wherein said melt is of aluminum.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 30 words

The process of claim 4 comprising, in step (c), in addition, discharging overflowing melt from said discharge zones so that at least some of said melt is discharged vertically downwards.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 29 words

The process of claim 5 comprising, in step (c), in addition, discharging overflowing melt from said discharge zones so that at least some of said melt is discharged transversely.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 47 words

The process of claim 6 comprising, in step (c), discharging overflowing melt from said discharge zone so that substantially all of said melt is initially confined in a central recess in a starting block prior to flowing against said rim or said walls of said mold cavity.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 43 words

The process of claim 1 in which said velocity of the melt passing through said discharge outlet zones is lower than that required to produce an observable reverse flow from the rim of the starting block or the walls of the mold cavity.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 15 words

The process of claim 1 in which said spout is discharging molten metal vertically downward.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3111732A Cited

JPH01224152A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1996-10-25	1997-04-26	1997-10-26	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2000-10-25	2001-04-26	2001-10-26	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2004-10-25	2005-04-26	2005-10-26	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag

Select Category

Notes (Optional)