Abstract: A melting apparatus facilitates the melting of pieces of solid metal in a bath of molten metal (10). The melting apparatus comprises a device (18) having a lower portion (22), an upper portion (20), and a body portion (24) extending therebetween. Solid metal is introduced into the device (18) through the upper portion (20). A flow inducer, such as an impeller (28) induces flow of molten metal through the device (18). Flow straighteners, such as baffles (38) encourage axial flow of molten metal through the device (18). The body portion (24) is formed with a plurality of apertures (36) therein and the device (18) is arranged, in use, with the lower portion (22) and the plurality of apertures (36) positioned within the bath (10) and the upper portion (20) positioned above the upper surface (12) and the molten metal bath (10).
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 30, 2005
Date of Patent:
February 23, 2010
Assignee:
Advanced Magnesium Technologies Pty Ltd
Inventors:
Dag Baekkedal, Jan August Bolstad, Paul McGlade, John Adrian Calvi
Abstract: A melting apparatus facilitates the melting of pieces of solid metal in a bath of molten metal (10). The melting apparatus comprises a device (18) having a lower portion (22), an upper portion (20), and a body portion (24) extending therebetween, introduction means for introducing the solid metal into the device (18) through the upper portion (20), flow inducing means (28) for inducing flow of molten metal through the device (18), and flow straightening means (38) for encouraging axial flow of motel metal through the device (18). The body portion (24) is formed with a plurality of apertures (36) therein and the device (18) is arranged, in use, with the lower portion (22) and the plurality of apertures (36) positioned within the bath (10) and the upper portion (20) positioned above the upper surface (12) of the molten metal bath (10).