Abstract: A preheat charging system for preheating scrap metal prior to delivery to a melting furnace. The system includes a preheating station having a heating chamber adapted to receive scrap metal. Hot gas from a burner chamber is circulated around the scrap metal. The burner chamber is adapted to receive exhaust gas from a hot exhaust gas source such as a melting furnace. A burner apparatus is mounted within the burner chamber in a flow path of an exhaust inlet port. The burner is configured to supply supplemental heat on demand to the heating chamber to supplement the hot exhaust gas. A first fan can be provided to direct exhaust air from a furnace to the burner chamber. A second fan can be provided for directing air into the burner apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for degassing, submerging, agitating and pumping molten metal. More particularly, the present invention relates to a mechanical apparatus for moving or pumping molten metal such as aluminum, zinc or magnesium. Specifically, the present invention is related to a drive for such an apparatus in which a motor is positioned above a molten metal bath and rotates a vertical shaft. The lower end of the shaft drives an impeller or a rotor to impart motion to the molten metal.

Abstract: An impeller for dispersing gas into molten metal includes a rectangular prism body having upper and lower faces and four side walls. The body has an opening extending through the upper and lower faces and defines a hub around the opening on the upper face. The impeller further includes a plurality of elongate grooves extending radially outwardly from the hub.

Abstract: An extraction device is provided for use when extracting a ceramic foam filter, as used for example in the production and processing of aluminum. The extraction device includes an anchor device (1) having an anchor body (2) suitable for driving into the filter, and a screw thread (8) that extends along at least part of the length of the anchor body, for engagement with the filter.

Abstract: A method for the purification of a metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum and aluminum alloys, wherein said metal is in a liquid phase and is contacted with a salt flux consisting of a selected tertiary mixture of NaCl, KCl, and MgCl2.

Abstract: A method for the purification of a metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum and aluminum alloys, wherein the metal is in a liquid phase and is contacted with a salt flux consisting of a binary mixture of NaCl and MgCl2. Preferably, more than 22% by weight of the binary mixture consists of NaCl.

Abstract: A method for the purification of a metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum and aluminum alloys, wherein said metal is in a liquid phase and is contacted with a salt flux consisting of a binary mixture of NaCl and MgCl2. Preferably, more than 22% by weight of the binary mixture consists of NaCl.

Abstract: An extraction device is provided for use when extracting a ceramic foam filter, as used for example in the production and processing of aluminium. The extraction device includes an anchor device (3) suitable for driving into the filter, said anchor device (3) having an anchor body (5) with a leading end and a trailing end, a screw thread (13) for engagement with the filter and a substantially pointed part (7) at the leading end for piercing a surface of the filter.

Abstract: A molten metal submergence device includes a submergence chamber, an inlet pipe, and a vortex breaker. The submergence chamber is defined by a side wall and includes an inlet in communication with an associated molten metal bath and an outlet in communication with the associated molten metal bath. The inlet is positioned in relation to the side wall such that material passing through the inlet is introduced at least substantially tangentially to the side wall. The inlet pipe is in communication with the inlet of the submergence chamber. The inlet pipe is configured to depend from a wall of the submergence chamber within the confines of the side wall. The vortex breaker is disposed in the submergence chamber between the inlet and the outlet.

Abstract: A material scrap submergence device comprises a body (10) of heat resistant and/or a refractory material that includes a side wall (12) and a base (14) that define a submergence chamber (10). The refractory body (10) can include passages (24) that receive rods (22). The rods (22) can place the refractory body (10) under compression. In another embodiment, the body is confined by a frame (72) attached to the body. The submergence chamber (10) can also be used as a gas injection chamber.

Abstract: A gas injection tube includes a first end adapted to connect to a reactive gas source and a second end. A tube base attaches to the second end of the gas injection tube. The gas injection tube includes a passageway and the tube base includes a channel. The passageway communicates with the channel to provide gas to a molten metal stream traveling through the channel.

Abstract: A continuous casting installation includes a furnace (2) for heating metal to a first liquid metal temperature, a degassing unit (4), a filter (6), a heating unit (8) and a casting machine (10). The casting machine (10) includes a pair of casting rollers and a nozzle arranged to deliver liquid metal into a nip between the casting rollers, such that the metal solidifies as it passes through the nip. The heating unit (8) is located between the furnace and the casting machine, and is thermostatically controlled to heat the liquid metal to a second liquid metal temperature.

Abstract: A control pin for controlling the flow of liquid metal in a casting process includes an elongate body member, the body member being made at least partially of a composite ceramic material that includes a fibrous reinforcing material embedded within a ceramic matrix, and a failsafe element embedded within the composite ceramic material.

Abstract: A molten material pump includes an impeller housed within a base member of the pump. A plurality of grooves are defined in a peripheral sidewall of the impeller for either drawing a molten material into the base member's chamber or pushing molten material out of the base member's chamber. The impeller is rotated by a rotatable shaft connected to an upper surface of the impeller. The rotatable shaft includes a non-circular shaped lower end dimensioned to be received within a cooperating opening in the impeller. The molten material pump further includes a connecting assembly for interconnecting components of the molten material pump. The connecting assembly includes a first mounting member attached to a first pump component that is dimensioned to be fitted within a cooperating recess of a second mounting member attached to a second pump component. In another embodiment of the invention, a stub shaft connects an upper shaft portion of the shaft to the impeller.

Abstract: A casting ladle has a body (2) with a base (3) and walls (4, 6, 8) made of a laminated composite ceramic material that includes multiple layers of a woven fiber reinforcing fabric embedded in a ceramic matrix. A rigid support element (20) for attaching the ladle to a handling device is embedded within the composite ceramic material. In a preferred form, the reinforcing fabric is made of woven glass and the matrix material includes calcium silicate and silica.

Abstract: A control pin (12) for controlling the flow of liquid metal in a casting process includes an elongate body member (34), the body member being made at least partially of a composite ceramic material that includes a fibrous reinforcing material embedded within a ceramic matrix. The body member (34) is preferably hollow and includes a wear-resistant tip (36) at one end.

Abstract: An apparatus for filtering molten metal held in a vessel before the metal enters the dosing tube. The filtering apparatus includes an attachment portion that mounts to the dosing tube, a filter body connected to the attachment portion and a planar surface attached to an end of the filter body opposite the attachment portion. The filter body can include a beveled end opposite the attachment portion where the planar surface is attached. The apparatus can be made from a bonded-particle material made from silicon carbide or aluminum oxide held together by an aluminum-resistant binder.

Abstract: A molten metal pump system which includes a particle relief passageway between the vanes on the impeller and the pump base, the particle relief passageway being a predetermined size to allow particles of a predetermined size to pass between the plurality of vanes and the interior walls of the impeller aperture of the pump base. Part or all of the particle relief passageway may, but need not, be as a result of a shoulder on the radially outward end of the plurality of vanes in the inlet side of the impeller.

Abstract: A distributor device for use in aluminium casting includes a rigid, substantially bowl-shaped receptacle (2) of a refractory material having a base member (4) and a peripheral wall (6) that extends upwards from the base. The receptacle has an inlet opening (8) towards the upper end thereof and a pair of outlet openings (14) towards the base thereof. The device is constructed and arranged such that, in use, molten aluminium poured into the distributor device through the inlet opening (8) is redirected by the distributor device and flows outwards into the mould through the outlet openings (14).