Fabricated ladle for handling molten materials

Abstract

A ladle for containing molten material, particularly aluminum, and a method for forming the ladle. The ladle is formed from stainless steel, and particularly 10 gauge ASTM/ASI grade 304 stainless steel in plate form. The ladle is formed from pre-cut metal parts which are welded together using TIG welding on the inside seams and metal inert gas welding on the outside seams. The welds extend through the ladle walls and completely incorporate the ladle parts while being essentially free of cracks.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to metal ladles for containing molten material such as aluminum and the manner of constructing such ladles. More specifically, it relates to ladles which are fabricated from stainless steel having the thickness of steel plates. Ladles which are known in the art and are constructed from metal plates have sharp corners at their bottoms. The sharp corners do not allow for an even flow of molten material during the emptying operations. Thus, the ladles tend to retain material during emptying and cleaning operations. In addition, the uneven flow tends to promote spillage of molten material during the pouring processes.

[0002] The invention is a fabricated ladle for use in the aluminum die cast industry for ladling molten aluminum into dies. Specifically, the ladle is a fabricated ladle of which the bottom wall is curvilinear. The ladle of this invention allows for more consistent flow of molten material and more complete emptying of the ladle.

[0003] The ladle is adapted to fit onto various types of automated ladling systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The ladle of this invention produces a ladle which overcomes some of the disadvantages of the prior art. The ladle has a curvilinear bottom which reduces the amount of material that remains in the ladle upon emptying by allowing for a more even flow of material from the ladle during the emptying process and further reduces the spillage and waste during emptying. Similarly the cleaning process is facilitated by the flow characteristics of the ladle. This increases the life of the ladle over those which do not have curvilinear bottoms.

[0005] The basic object of this invention is to provide a new and useful ladle for handling molten materials, and particularly aluminum.

[0006] Another object of this invention is to provide for a bottom of ladle which provides for a more precise control of the discharge of molten material from the ladle.

[0007] Another object of this invention is to provide a metal ladle designed to have a pouring spout.

[0008] Another object of this invention is to provide a ladle which has a longer life.

[0009] These and other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1. A front perspective view of one embodiment of this invention.

[0011] FIG. 2. An exploded perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 is shown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown an illustration of a ladle 10 in accordance with this invention. While the illustration shows one shape of a ladle 10, various shapes are contemplated. The ladle 10 has a plurality of walls including two side walls 12 and a third wall member 13 which comprises the bottom 13a, rear 13b and front 14c walls. The abutting walls are fixedly attached to each other by welds 18 means known in the art. The third wall member 14 narrows at its front end 16 and the side walls 12 converge so as to form a spout 20 with the third wall member 13. The spout 20 facilitates the pouring of the ladle contents (not shown). The ladle may have an attachment member 22 fixedly attached across the top of the side walls 12, the attachment member 20 being adapted, such as with two bolt holes 24 as shown in the figure, for attachment to lading machines (not shown). The attachment member 22 can be fabricated from the same material as the ladle 10 or it can be fabricated from different material which is compatible with the ladle material.

[0013] Referring to FIG. 2 an exploded perspective view of the invention is shown. The ladle has two side walls 12 and a bottom wall member 13 which comprises the back 13b, bottom 13a and front 14c walls. The starting material for construction of the ladle is stainless steel in plate form. The appropriate walls are cut to size by means known in the art. The bottom wall member 14 is roll formed to produce a curvilinear bottom 14a with front 14c and back 14b walls extending upwardly. The walls are assembled and joined together by crack free weld 18 as shown in FIG. 1. A metal inert gas process or technique is used to weld the outside surfaces of the walls. A TIG process is used to weld the inside surfaces of the walls. The resulting weld is essentially free of cracks.

[0014] The preferred material is 10 gauge ASTM/ASI grade 304 stainless steel which has the following composition: C maximum 0.08%, Mn maximum 2.0%, Si maximum 1.0%, P maximum 0.045%, S maximum 0.030%, Cr 18 to 20%, Ni 8 to 10.5%, and N maximum 0.10%.

[0015] The material is capable of receiving a coating and bonding material (not shown) that promotes bonding between the ladle material and coating material, both of which are known in the art, by means known in the art.

Claims

1. A ladle for containing and transferring molten metal, the ladle comprising a plurality of walls, including side walls and front, back and bottom walls, the front, back and bottom walls being contiguous with each other such that they form a curvilinear bottom for the ladle and in conjunction with the side walls define a container with inside and outside surfaces; the walls being formed from stainless steel having the thickness of steel plates; the side walls being joined to the bottom, front and back walls by weld material compatible with the stainless steel forming the walls, and the weld being essentially free of cracks.

2. The ladle of claim 1 wherein the walls are formed from ASTM/ASI grade 304 stainless steel.

3. The ladle of claim 1 wherein the weld is comprised of TIG welding process on the inside surfaces and metal inert gas process welding on the outside surface.

4. The ladle claim 1 wherein the ladle has a metal attachment fixedly attached across its top, the metal attachment being adapted for attachment to ladling machines which are used to transfer molten material.