Abstract: A process to hold molten aluminum alloy in a refractory lined vessel using heating elements disposed within ceramic immersion heating tubes to provide accurate temperature metal for the casting industry. The vessel is lined with multi thicknesses of high insulating refractory materials to minimize heat loss with contoured corners to allow smooth flow of circulating metal provided by a gear drive with rotary shaft and impeller. The heating elements are housed in a ceramic protection tube to prevent aluminum leakage which would result in element failure. The receiving and outlet wells are separated by refractory arches. An insulated inert gas purged cover is used over the heat chamber to reduce heat loss and allow for an inert purge gas to minimize surface oxidation. A thermocouple for temperature control is positioned in the exit chamber. A ceramic drain plug is provided to remove metal for maintenance.

Abstract: An apparatus and process are provided for discharging a dose of a molten metal from a pressure pour furnace. A heating chamber of the furnace is used to keep the molten metal at a selected temperature. A sealing port between the heating chamber and a pressure chamber allows selectively filling of the pressure chamber with molten metal from the heating chamber by inserting or removing a sealing means from the sealing port. The sealing means inserted in the sealing port also provides a means for preventing back flow of the molten metal to the heating chamber when the pressure chamber is pressurized. Differential pressure sensing of the pressure of the molten metal in the pressure chamber and the pressure of the pressurizing gas in the pressure chamber can optionally be used to achieve an accurate measured discharge from the pressure chamber as the level of molten metal decreases from repeated discharges of doses from the furnace.