Abstract: A scrap melter for light gage metal scrap includes a shrouded impeller connected to a shaft, the shaft connected to a rotary power device. The shrouded impeller is immersed in a molten metal pool in a charge bay or furnace. It is inclined at an angle relative to the vertical. The shrouded impeller creates a vortex in the molten metal pool, which includes a whirlpool at the surface of the molten metal. The center of the whirlpool is horizontally displaced from the shaft so that scrap can be charged into the whirlpool to be ingested into the vortex. The shrouded impeller creates a vortex for scrap ingestion and pumps molten metal for re-circulation through the melting system without the need of a separate pump.

Abstract: A bottle closure testing apparatus includes a plurality of testing modules mounted side by side on a base plate. Each testing module includes a base block having a pressure input, a pressure signal output, and a holder for a test vessel. The test vessel is a plastic bottle blow-molding preform having a bottle finish and a pressure entry port. A preform is mounted to each of the modules with the pressure entry port in fluid communication with one of the pressure inputs. A closure is screwed onto each of the preforms and the preforms are pressurized to a preselected test pressure via the module. The pressure within the preforms can be monitored by pressure gauges at the signal outputs, or by transducers at the signal outputs which communicate a pressure signal to remote monitoring equipment.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for treating salt-containing aluminum dross to remove potassium and sodium chloride salts therefrom. The process generally comprises treating the dross in a first treating step with a leaching solution having a pH maintained in the range of about 6-7 to remove a portion of the salt content thereof; filtering the residual solids from the first leaching solution; and treating the filtered solids in a second treating step with a second leaching solution having a pH maintained above about 8, and preferably above about 9. The pH of the first leaching solution is maintained in the desired range by the addition of hydrochloric acid, and the pH of the second leaching solution is maintained in the desired range by the addition of potassium and/or sodium hydroxide.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of metallic aluminum, mixtures of salts, and an aluminum oxide-metallic aluminum product from secondary aluminum dross. The process includes treating the dross with leach water to dissolve the salt content. Magnesium chloride is preferably added to the leach water to maintain the pH in the range of about 7-8.5, thereby reducing ammonia production in the treating step and enhancing recovery of metallic aluminum.

Abstract: A continuous salt-based process is provided for melting and reclaiming aluminum from aluminum scrap containing impurities including heating a molten salt in a heat bay, mixing the heated salt with aluminum scrap or skim in a charge bay to form a molten charge mixture, separating aluminum from impurities in the charge bay by coalescing aluminum to form a molten aluminum metal pad, chlorinating a portion of the charge mixture from the charge bay to form a chlorinated salt mixture and metal chlorides, removing metal chlorides from the salt mixture, and feeding the salt mixture back to the heat bay. In one aspect, the chlorinating step of the present invention includes introducing carbon monoxide or, preferably, solid carbon to control oxide concentration. The process further comprises adding fluorides and removing metal chlorides from the salt to maintain a preferred salt composition.

Abstract: A continuous salt-based process is provided for melting and reclaiming aluminum from aluminum scrap containing impurities including heating a molten salt in a heat bay, mixing the heated salt with aluminum scrap or skim in a charge bay to form a molten charge mixture, separating aluminum from impurities in the charge bay by coalescing aluminum to form a molten aluminum metal pad, chlorinating a portion of the charge mixture from the charge bay to form a chlorinated salt mixture and metal chlorides, removing metal chlorides from the salt mixture, and feeding the salt mixture back to the heat bay. In one aspect, the chlorinating step of the present invention includes introducing carbon monoxide or, preferably, solid carbon to control oxide concentration. The process further comprises adding fluorides and removing metal chlorides from the salt to maintain a preferred salt composition.

Abstract: A process is provided for melting and reclaiming aluminum and lithium from aluminum-lithium scrap including heating a molten salt in a heat bay, mixing the heated salt with aluminum-lithium scrap in a charge bay to form a molten mixture, separating aluminum from impurities in the charge bay by coalescing aluminum to form a molten aluminum metal pad, chlorinating a portion of the charge mixture from the charge bay to form a chlorinated salt mixture and metal chlorides, removing metal chlorides from the salt mixture, removing lithium from the salt mixture, and feeding the salt mixture back to the heat bay. In one aspect, the chlorinating step of the present invention includes introducing carbon monoxide or, preferably, solid carbon to control oxide concentration. The process, in other aspects, further includes adding fluorides and recovering lithium and removing metal chlorides from the salt to maintain a preferred salt composition.

Abstract: A longitudinally extending housing with end closures forms a closed mixing chamber within the housing. A mixer that has a fluid material inlet at each end thereof with longitudinally spaced, opposed ends forming fluid material outlets and a central peripheral discharge from the mixer between the end outlets is supported on a rotatable shaft that extends through one of the end closures to position the mixer in the mixing chamber. Housing inlet means comprising a pair of conduits communicate fluid to the closed mixing chamber for discharging it thereinto adjacent, but spaced from the end fluid inlets of the mixer, and housing outlet means is aligned with the mixer to receive the central discharge therefrom. The diameter of the mixer is about one-half the diameter of the closed mixing chamber, and the length of the mixer is about one-third the longitudinal extent of the closed mixing chamber. The mixer is positioned substantially equidistant from the sides and ends of the mixing chamber.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for preventing the condensation of aluminum chloride (AlCl.sub.3) in a fractional distillation column which is operated to separate a fraction which does not include AlCl.sub.3 from a mixture containing AlCl.sub.3 and other metal chlorides and which is operated at temperatures which include the sublimation or melting points of AlCl.sub.3 at the operating pressure of the column. According to this method, titanium tetrachloride (TiCl.sub.4) is maintained in the column in an amount at least as great, by weight, as the amount of AlCl.sub.3 contained in the mixture.

Abstract: Metal chlorides such as aluminum chloride (AlCl.sub.3) are separated from a mixture containing metal chlorides including AlCl.sub.3 and ferric chloride (FeCl.sub.3). In order to effect this separation, the mixture is subjected to a fractional distillation process utilizing an array of distillation columns. According to this process, the mixture is introduced into a first distillation column which is operated at temperatures and pressures sufficient to separate FeCl.sub.3 from the mixture while avoiding the formation of a solid solution of FeCl.sub.3 and AlCl.sub.3 within the column. At least one additional distillation column is then employed to separate metal chlorides from the remaining mixture from the first column.