Abstract: An improved method of melting metal scrap in a molten melting media is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of providing a body of molten melting media in a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion having a generally cylindrical wall section. A supply of metal scrap is added to the housing and a supply of molten melting media is introduced to the upper portion of the housing. Melting of the metal scrap is initiated by ingesting it and molten melting media downwardly in the housing by action of an impeller positioned in the lower portion, the impeller having a flat ring member having an opening in the center thereof and having blades extending from said ring member to a substantially circular disc member. The scrap and melting media enters the opening in the ring member in an axial direction and is propelled therefrom in a radial direction by use of the blades.

Abstract: A recirculating system for ingestion of metal scrap into a molten melting media is disclosed. The system comprises a heating bay containing the molten melting media and a scrap charging bay having upper and lower portions wherein metal scrap is charged into the upper portions of the bay and ingested into the melting media, the scrap charging bay connected to the heating bay to permit molten melting media to be circulated from the heating bay through the scrap charging bay and back to the heating bay. An impeller is positioned in the scrap charging bay for purposes of ingesting the metal scrap into the molten melting media. The impeller has a base member and a top member provided with an opening therein and having an annular flange thereon extending beyond the periphery of the base member substantially transversely to the impeller rotation axis, the impeller having blades positioned between the base member and the top member, the blades extending in a generally radial direction.

Abstract: An improved method of melting metal scrap in a molten melting media is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of providing a body of molten melting media in a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion having a generally cylindrical wall section. A supply of metal scrap is added to the housing and a supply of molten melting media is introduced to the upper portion of the housing. Melting of the metal scrap is initiated by ingesting it and molten melting media downwardly in the housing by action of an impeller positioned in the lower portion, the impeller having a flat ring member having an opening in the center thereof and having blades extending from said ring member to a substantially circular disc member. The scrap and melting media enters the opening in the ring member in an axial direction and is propelled therefrom in a radial direction by use of the blades.

Abstract: An improved system for melting metal scrap in a molten melting media includes a housing generally cylindrical in cross section and having upper and lower portions. Metal scrap is introduced to a body of molten melting media contained in the upper portion of the housing. A supply of molten melting media is added to the upper portion of the housing through a volute located in the lower portion. The molten melting media is supplied or added by action of an impeller located in the lower portion and mounted on a drive shaft extending through the upper portion. Vanes are mounted on the drive shaft to control the flow motion of the body of molten melting media and metal scrap in the upper portion of the housing by creating a vortex in this body for purposes of mixing the melting media and metal scrap. An opening is provided in the upper portion to remove melted scrap and melting media at a rate substantially commensurate with their rate of introduction.

Abstract: A method for feeding a subliming material into a liquid is disclosed, by which the end of a pipe is submerged below the surface of the liquid, and a subliming, particulate material is propelled through the pipe and into the liquid by a flow of gas. The flow rate of the entraining gas is sufficient to prevent the formation of deposits on the interior walls of the pipe by countercurrent gaseous diffusion of the subliming material.