Abstract: There is applied on the internal wall of a metallurgical vessel a composition containing a carbonate of an alkaline-earth metal to which there has been added a certain proportion of refractory material in grains and this lining is heated in order to remove CO.sub.2 and in order to obtain an oxide layer of the alkaline-earth metal of porous structure. The proportion of refractory material is sufficient to endow the lining with sufficient resistance to erosion by the molten metal which is poured into the vessel. To be used for obtaining a purifying lining having good resistance to erosion from molten metal poured into the vessel.

Abstract: An impact pad for eliminating surface turbulence in a continuous caster tundish, the impact pad having a base for receiving an incoming ladle stream, and one or more sidewalls extending in an upward direction along the periphery of the base. Each upward extending sidewall includes an inner surface having an undercut portion facing the incoming ladle stream. And, each undercut portion extends along the length of the inner surface, and comprises a shaped surface for receiving and reversing the direction of a fluid flow generated by the incoming ladle stream.

Abstract: An apparatus for heating molten metal including a ladle provided with a refractory heat insulating material and first core members arranged in pairs and attached to the outside of the ladle. A tray capable of mounting said ladle carries second cores with magnetic pole portions at both ends of said so as to face the ladle mounted first cores. A coil if provided for exciting the second cores. The first cores and magnetic pole portions of second cores are located at the outer circumferential portion of the ladle to face each other radially in a manner to facilitate placement and removal of the ladle to and from the tray. Position sensors and means are provided to ensure positional accuracy of the first ladle carried cores and the poles of the second cores. Also the coil are physically and thermally protected from ladle heat by appropriate shock absorbing and thermal insulating provisions. Thermal protection of the cores further enhanced by cooling embodiments.

Abstract: A pouring pad is provided for use in a tundish during sequence continuous casting. The pouring pad has a plurality of concentric primary ridge portions adjacent to the location of impact of a pouring stream from a ladle with the pad. The primary ridge portions are of a height within a range for creating pockets of recirculation so as to dissipate turbulence without deflection of molten metal from its radially outward flow along the pad. The radial spacing between adjacent primary ridge portions as measured between top inner edge surfaces at corresponding radial points is at least 2.0 times the height of the inner of the adjacent primary ridge portions.

Abstract: The invention concerns a material for covering the metal contacting surfaces of casting elements such as slide gate valves and casting nozzles and shrouds to resist steel erosion and alumina deposition during the continuous casting of aluminum killed steel.It is comprised of a fused mixture of calcium oxide and zirconia, with a calcium oxide content of between about 20% and about 60% by weight and preferably between about 20% and about 50% by weight, the composition may include a binder producing carbon/carbon bonds by sintering. The material may also include a ceramic bond or may be applied as a fused layer by plasma spraying.

Abstract: The invention relates to the provision of an expendable inner lining (13) over the relatively permanent refractory lining (11) of a molten metal handling vessel (10), in which venting means (25) are provided to aid venting and drying of the slurry from which the expendable lining is formed.Strips (12) of removable material are applied to the surface of the permanent lining (11) and the slurry is applied over the strips and over the remainder of the surface of the permanent lining. After drying of the slurry, the strips (12) are removed to leave vent channels (25).The removable strips may be of heat-consumable material so that they are destroyed by heating. Alternatively they may be removable and re-usable.

Abstract: An impact pad for use in a tundish vessel utilizes outer and inner guides which partially surround the region of impact except in the direction of the one or more tundish drains. Much of the molten iron or steel entering the tundish is directed toward a drain by the inner guide or guides. The inner and outer guides define a channel such that molten iron or steel which splashes or otherwise flows over the inner guides can also be directed toward the one or more tundish drains.

Abstract: An improved impact pad includes a plurality of channels which direct the flow of molten iron or steel toward the tundish drains, and ramps which elevate the flow in the directions of the drains. The ramps cause the molten iron or steel to follow a trajactory path after leaving the impact pad, first rising and then falling toward the drains. The trajectory path increases the residence time of the molten iron or steel in the tundish, allowing more time for impurities to float to the top of the vessel. The trajectory path also helps propel the impurities partially toward the top of the tundish vessel.

Abstract: A crucible furnace or molten metal transfer vessel is provided with a composite lining having an outer insulating liner and an inner cast working liner. The insulating liner has a high insulating characteristic and the working liner has a high heat-retention characteristic.

Abstract: A lip closure apparatus includes a plurality of arcuate lip closure segments interfitted into a continuous ring and disposed on the top end of a stack of refractory bricks mounted in a metallurgical vessel. At least one metal reinforcement grid is disposed within each lip closure segment at a predetermined angle with respect to the normal fracture planes of each closure segment to resist fracture of the lip closure segment. Preferably, the grid is oriented substantially perpendicular to the normal fracture planes of the lip closure segments. A quantity of crushable material is disposed between the outer side surface of each lip closure segment and a flange extending at an angle from the side wall over the open top end of the vessel to maintain the lip closure segments in a tight fit on top of the lining of refractory bricks.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for the treatment of molten metals with a volatile treating agent and, more particularly, a method and apparatus for treating molten metal with magnesium in the form of pure magnesium or magnesium alloys.

Abstract: An improved molten metal containment vessel is disclosed in which wetting of the vessel's inner wall surfaces by molten metal is inhibited by coating at least the inner surfaces of the containment vessel with one or more rare earth oxysulfide or rare earth sulfide compounds to inhibit wetting and or adherence by the molten metal to the surfaces of the containment vessel.

Abstract: Nozzles positioned in the bottom portion of tundish barriers, such as baffles, improve the flow of molten metal in the tundish.

Abstract: An open-top, heat-resistant container, such as a molten metal ladle for filling the shot sleeve of a die casting machine, having a block rigidly attached to the ladle and partly submerged into the surface of the molten metal in the container or ladle for reducing a major portion of at least half of the area of the exposed surface of the molten metal in the container. The block may be vertically adjustable for varying the amount of immersion into the molten metal when the predetermined amount of molten metal retained in the container has been reached by flow over a weir edge of the container or ladle. A fraction of a centimeter difference in level of molten metal in the container multiplied by the exposed area of molten metal in the container can amount to a kilogram difference in the molten metal measured by the tilt and weir of the container or ladle. Thus, the less the exposed area of the surface in the container, the more repeatable the measured amount of molten metal can be poured from the container.

Abstract: A tundish impact pad is provided for use in a tundish vessel. The impact pad has a wavy upper surface which significantly reduces the horizontal surface area in the region of impact where molten iron or steel enters the tundish vessel. This wavy surface substantially reduces the vertical splashing of molten iron or steel entering the vessel, causing a significant reduction in agitation and turbulence within the vessel. The impact pad may exist as a discrete structure or may form an integral part of the structure of the tundish vessel.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tundish apparatus for holding and filtering molten metal, such as steel, prior to the molten metal being continuously cast. An enclosure around the discharge orifice of the tundish accommodates a ceramic filter medium. The enclosure has a removable cover plate to allow continuous discharge of the molten metal in the event the filter medium becomes clogged and to allow access to the tundish nozzle.

Abstract: Molten steel in tundishes can be contacted with high surface area ceramic shapes which remove the alumina and other impurities contained in steel. Certain ceramic shapes, in particular tundish baffles, having a large surface area which acts as alumina traps for molten steel contained in tundishes are also disclosed.

Abstract: There are provided an apparatus and a method for manufacturing a copper-base alloy. The apparatus includes an alloying spout, at least one feeder and a tundish. The tundish is inclined downwardly from one end toward the other end for flowing a molten copper therethrough. The feeder is connected to the alloying spout for introducing at least one solid solute constituent into the alloying spout. The method includes the steps of providing the above apparatus, continuously introducing the molten copper from the inlet into the passageway of the alloying spout and causing the molten copper to flow downwardly through the passageway to the outlet, and continuously introducing the solid solute constitutent into the passageway of the alloying spout through the feeder to mix the solute constituent with the molten copper to produce the copper-base alloy.

Abstract: Tundish for continous casting of steel, of the type comprising a permanent refractory, cast on a frame of sheet metal defining the outer wall of the tundish and on which a refractory wear has been laid. In the body of the permanent refractory, there is provided a gas duct which penetrates into the permanent refractory at the level of the upper edge of the tundish and extends to the bottom of the tundish into a gas distribution chamber, which is covered with a surface distributed gas permeable plate. Application to the continuous casting of steels for tundish between casting ladle and ingot molds.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling the temperatures of a plurality of zones of a casting hearth or vessel. The invention also relates to a method for controlling the thickness of the solidified skull of castable material in the casting hearth or vessel. By the present invention, the efficiency of the skull casting process can be significantly improved by reducing the thickness of the skull and thereby increasing the amount of castable material which can remain molten and pourable.

Abstract: An article and method for its manufacture are described. The article is preferably a ladle used in the manufacture of metals and receives molten metal for further chemical processing in the ladle or for transportation. The ladle is transparent to a wide range of electromagnetic radiation wavelengths which allows the metal to be heated or stirred by induction without heating the ladle itself. The ladle is made of glass fibers and an inorganic cement, and this provides strength along with high temperature resistance. The article is manufactured by winding glass fiber around a mandrel, the glass fiber having an inorganic cement adhered to it. In one technique, the cement is provided on the fiber as an aqueous slurry, and the product is allowed to air cure after winding. In a second technique, the cement is adhered to the fiber by electrostatic attraction.

Abstract: A melt containment apparatus for containing molten metals, such as iron and aluminum, is formed of a nickel-based intermetallic alloy composed predominantly of nickel and enough aluminum and chromium to produce predominantly an ordered L12 face-centered cubic phase. The melt containment apparatus has a wall with a melt contact surface which has been oxidized to bear a protective integral oxide coating composed predominantly of a first layer formed mainly of alumina immediately overlying the wall and a second layer overlying the first layer which is predominantly composed of a spinel material having a metal constituent taken from the group consisting of nickel, aluminum and chromium. The protective integral oxide coating includes two layers, a first layer formed mainly of alumina immediately adjacent the alloy and a second layer overlying the first layer, the first layer being between 0.

Abstract: A melting furnace has a supporting structure of thermostable steel, and an internal shell of common steel, serving as a contact area for the refractory lining of the furnace.

Abstract: A metal casting ladle utilized for pouring molten metal and having mounting blocks located on each side of a pour spout and used for independent and alternate attachments of the ladle to either a left mount or a right mount casting machine to permit pouring molten metal from the ladle on an axis falling through the lip of the spout.

Abstract: The incorporation of a small amount of metal fluoride or fluosilicate into the refractory fibrous insulating board lining of an aluminum refining vessel prevents the infiltration of the internal voids of said lining by molten aluminum.

Abstract: Smelting crucible of mineral materials for melting down materials by electrical heating. In the base (2) of the crucible, there is a tapping opening (3) and, in the region of the upper edge of the crucible, there is a flange (4) for mounting the crucible in a holding device. To accomplish the objective of making the crucible suitable for use with larger charge weights, the crucible is surrounded inventively by a reinforcing device (10, 11), which can be stressed in tension and which connects the flange (4) with the base (2) of the crucible.

Abstract: The invention relates to a means of purifying molten metal, particularly steel, by the removal of impurities/inclusions during continuous casting.The molten metal (3) is passed in a tundish (1) through a vertical array of baffles (8) that are spaced apart transversely across the tundish to provide restricted flow channels (12). The baffles (8) may be flat boards or tiles (9a, 9b) and are preferably used in contact with a weir (7) and dam (10), upstream and downstream respectively of the baffles.The speed and direction of flow of the molten metal can thereby be controlled and directed to give more effective dwell time in contact with a surface covering layer (11) of flux.

Abstract: A tundish consisting essentially of a rigid metallic outer casing having walls and a bottom at least one permanent layer of heat insulating material adjacent said casing, and a unitary, integrally formed expendable inner lining made of a hydrocarbon-free refractory composition and having at least one liquid metal flow control device integrally formed therewith, the lining being chemically compatible with the molten metal to be placed in the tundish. The invention also comprises the unitary integrally formed expendable lining and the method to form the same.

Abstract: The excessive wear and formation of ring-like cavities in carbon crucibles used to contain iron-based compositions that are heated in a plasma furnace to a temperature of from about 2000.degree. C. to aboout 2700.degree. C. are reduced or eliminated by adding carbon particles to the crucible in amounts of at least about 6 weight percent of the melt, and preferably in amounts exceeding the solubility of carbon in the heated melt.

Abstract: A high temperature vessel, such as a ladle for containing molten metal, comprises a metal outer shell and a refractory inner lining. The interior of the vessel has a curved cross-section in a plane transverse to the center line of the vessel, and there is an opening at one end of the vessel. There can be forces which urge the refractory lining toward the open end, and structure is provided at the open end to retain the refractory lining in place against the urging of those forces. The retaining structure comprises an end course of refractory retaining bricks and metal retaining member thermally protected by the end course. The metal retaining member holds the end course in place, and the end course cooperates with retaining member to hold the vessel's refractory lining in place. The metal retaining member has a protrusion preferably with a curved outer surface, and each retaining brick has a recess with a curved inner surface, devoid of sharp angles or corners, for receiving the protrusion.

Abstract: A tundish system for teeming an entire heat from a furnace into a mold. The tundish includes a plurality of chambers; one chamber including a nozzle. The chambers are arranged to interrupt the flow of the heat from one chamber to another thereby causing better separation between the metal and the slag. The tundish is mounted on a movable frame supporting a plurality of molds. A trough is disposed between the tundish and the molds. During the pour, the tundish remains stationary as the trough and the molds are moved underneath in succession.

Abstract: A pressurized tundish for controlling a continous flow of molten metal characterized by having a pair of principal compartments, one being essentially unpressurized and receiving molten metal introduced thereto, and the other being adapted for maintaining a controlled gaseous pressure over the surface of the fluid metal therein, whereby, by controlling the pressure within the pressurized chamber, metal exiting from the tundish is made to flow continually and at a controlled rate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cover for a tiltable ladle said cover having a pouring basin with at least one opening in its bottom communicating with the ladle. The cover is suspended in the horizontal beam of a ladle support frame by springs, said springs being intended to lift the cover away from the top of the ladle when the pouring basin is empty.

Abstract: There is disclosed a raw composition, as well as a fired shape, known in the art as a clay-bonded graphite crucible for melting metals, which contains a quantity of fused silica and is particularly adaptable to melting metals in high-energy, induction furnaces.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tiltable ladle having a cover and a suspension frame said suspension frame comprising two lifting arms rotatably connected to trunnions affixed to the outside of the wall of the ladle and a horizontal beam above the ladle equipped with a hook. The top of the ladle and the ladle cover are formed as segments of a cylinder, the focal axis at these cylinder segments being the pivotal axis at the ladle, and the cover being affixed to the suspension frame.According to another embodiment the focal axis of these cylinder segments are placed at one side of, above, at, or blow the pivot axis of the ladle, the ocover being affixed to the suspension frame, in such a way that the cover closes the ladle when the ladle and the suspension arms are in vertical position.

Abstract: A melt-holding vessel includes a melt-holding chamber defined by a bottom wall and upstanding side wall of refractory material. The side wall includes one or more insulating air pockets located in such a manner relative to the chamber as to substantially reduce heat loss from the melt in the chamber by conduction through the side wall.

Abstract: An article and method for its manufacture are described. The article is preferably a ladle used in the manufacture of metals and receives molten metal for further chemical processing in the ladle or for transportation. the ladle is transparent to a wide range of electromagnetic radiation wavelengths which allows the metal to be heated or stirred by induction without heating the ladle itself. The ladle is made of glass fibers and an inorganic cement, and this provides strength along with high temperature resistance. The article is manufactured by winding glass fiber around a mandrel, the glass fiber having an inorganic cement adhered to it. In one technique, the cement is provided on the fiber as an aqueous slurry, and the product is allowed to air cure after winding. In a second technique, the cement is adhered to the fiber by electrostatic attraction.

Abstract: An improved ladle especially adapted for holding molten metals such as steel, the ladle having an interior brick lining a major part thereof which consists essentially of a composition of from about 70 to 95 weight percent of an aluminous material having a minimum alumina content of about 60 weight percent and the balance refractory clay; and for each 100 parts by weight of said composition, from about 5 to 20 weight percent of fine silicon carbide.

Abstract: A metallurgical ladle including a steel shell and refractory brick lining includes a refractory brick retaining ring formed in segments from a ceramic material, with the segments being releasably secured to the inner surface of the steel shell and overlying the lining brick. The ceramic material preferably is reinforced with metal fiber and preferably has a top surface extending above the open top of the steel shell.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vessel for evaporating molten metal, such as aluminum, in which the vessel comprises boron nitride with or without a compatible refractory material and said vessel having on at least a portion of its surface a coating of titanium-iron-silicon which can easily and effectively be wetted by the molten metal.

Abstract: With an airtight reaction vessel having a lining of refractory material for immersion in steel-processing ladles, especially for processing steel pursuant to the vacuum circulation process, including an upper vessel part, a lower vessel part, and immersion pipes, whereby these parts are interconnected via flange rings and clamping mechanisms that hold them together, the seal between the vessel parts is to be improved in every operating state. For this purpose, it is proposed that the respectively upper main flange (17) of the associated respectively lower vessel part (11, 13, 15) have a separate upper flange ring (19) that is placed upon the resilient end of an interposed compensator ring (20) and that in the unstressed state of the flange (17, 19) extends slightly beyond the upper rim of the vessel part (11, 13, 15).

Abstract: A metal treatment vessel having an inlet for the successive introduction of reactive additive and molten metal to be treated, a reaction chamber downstream of the flow of molten metal for successive receipt of the additive and the molten metal and an outlet downstream of the flow of metal in the reaction chamber; the inlet being provided with means for directing the additive and molten metal into the reaction chamber, the dimensions of the inlet to the reaction chamber and the outlet therefrom being such that in operation the molten metal rises in an overhead space provided in the reaction chamber to cover the additive and to seal off the inlet.Retaining means may be provided within the reaction chamber to retain the additive against the flow of molten metal. The inlet at the point of entry into the chamber is preferably at an angle to the vertical whereby the additive and molten metal are deflected into the reaction chamber.

Abstract: A light-weight ladle lid cooperates with a lifting assembly positioned to remove the ladle lid as the ladle moves toward a filling location, and to allow the lid to be drawn back down onto the ladle when the latter retraces its path. The assembly has ramp-like fingers which engage horizontal pins supported from the lid. The lid is hinged to the ladle by pins received in but disengageable from slots.

Abstract: A side-pouring apparatus comprising a ladle tiltable about an axis of rotation and drive means for tilting said ladle, said ladle including molten-metal receptacle space, a molten-metal guide passage in communication with and extending sidewise from said molten-metal receptacle space, and a pouring spout in communication with said molten-metal guide passage and normal to said axis of rotation, said guide passage having a surface that forms a portion of said spout, said surface being curved so that the center of curvature of said surface substantially coincides with said axis of rotation.

Abstract: A strong magnetic field, for example in the range of 500-50,000 Gauss, is applied across a tundish feeding continuous casting machines. The magnetic field, substantially perpendicular to the principal direction of flow within the tundish, provides very even flow in the tundish, uniform residence time and minimizes vortexing. The application of the magnetic field increases the percentage of inclusion particles removed from the melt during its residence within the tundish.

Abstract: An internal lining for protecting the permanent refractory lining of a metallurgical vessel (1, 2) such as a tundish, casting ladle or slag pot has a base of refractory inorganic particles coated with a binder. The protective internal lining is constituted by at least two layers, namely an inner layer (3) which sinters throughout its mass under the action of heat of the molten metal contained in the metallurgical vessel, and a layer (4 or 5) which does not sinter at all or sinters only to a partial extent in order to remain friable even when the inner layer (3) has completely sintered.

Abstract: Steel tubulars are deposited into an insulated container shortly after the steel tubulars are formed in a seamless hot rolling machine. The tubulars are covered by an insulating blanket and allowed to cool at a selected rate to form desired microstructure in the steel of the tubulars. No external energy supply or controls are necessary to achieve the desired microstructure. The side walls of the container taper outwardly and are made of a sandwiched structure, having spaced apart sheet metal members with a layer of insulation there between. The end walls are similarly constructed. The bottom of the container is lined with granular insulating material to cushion the shock of the tubulars being dropped into the container and to insulate the bottom of the container. Stainless steel mesh is used as a sling and embraces the tubulars to facilitate removing the tubulars from the container after the desired amount of cooling.

Abstract: An improved tundish is disclosed, for use in combination with a casting ladle and a casting mold to continuously cast metal slabs. This tundish comprises an elongated, flat-bottomed basin known as a flotation box in between a pouring box with a vertical partition and an antivortex box. A first recess is provided in the bottom of the basin just under the partition to prevent any slag formed upstream of the partition from being entrained. The first recess also creates an upward stream rising from the bottom of the recess along the partition downstream the same, which allows optimal inclusion separation and substantial reduction of the dead volume zones in the basin downstream the partition. A second recess from which an outlet nozzle downwardly extends, is also provided in the bottom of the basin adjacent to the end of the flotation box. This second recess forms an antivortex volume above the outlet nozzle, thereby allowing substantial reduction of the metal left in the tundish on every casting sequence.

Abstract: A material resistant to high temperature melts of metal and salt which comprises a composite material containing silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, silicon dioxide and silicon prepared by(a) suspending silicon powder in SiO.sub.2 sol to form a pourable mass,(b) molding a workpiece from said mass,(c) hardening the molded workpiece, and(d) nitriding the hardened workpiece in a nitrogen atmosphere to form silicon nitride and silicon oxynitride to a degree that SiO.sub.2 and elemental silicon remain detectable in the nitrided workpiece,is useful as the material of construction for crucibles and tools for confining, handling and treating melts of metals or salts.

Abstract: A tundish for continuous casting of molten metal having an outer metal casing and, adjacent the casing, a permanent refractory lining is provided with an inner, expendable lining comprising refractory, heat-insulating slabs having an erosion resistant backing layer and an inward facing layer of lower density than that of the backing layer.The density of the facing layer is at least 0.2 g/cm.sup.3 but not more than 85% of the density of the backing layer. The presence of the inward facing layer exerts less chilling effect on the molten metal poured into the tundish than if the slab consisted of the backing layer alone.