US2263880A - Apparatus for melting metals - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 25, 1941.

A. H. JUNG APPARATUS FOR MELTING METALS Filed Dec. 10, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 314mm QLBE tr H Q NOV. 25, 1941. JUNG APPARATUS FOR MELTING METALS Filed Dec. 10, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Nov. 25, 1941 APPARATUS FOR MELTING METALS Albert II. Jung, Flushing, N. Y., assignor to United American Metals Corporation, Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 10, 1940, Serial No. 369,484

12 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of melting metal, and more particularly to .the continuous remelting of type metal or other metal slugs.

In printing. plants wherein a series of Linotype machines or other line casting machines are in use and where such machines are adapted to continuously be fed with metal ingots of a specific shape adapted to be assoicated. with a specific metal feeder and melted in a particular melting pot connected to the Linotype or other line casting machines, there is a constant need for cast metal ingots of a specific shape and accordingly such printing plants must carry on hand a very large supply of such specifically formed ingots.

After all the ingots in the plant have been fed to the Linotype or line casting machine, melted down and formed into cast line slugs which are used in the printing process, it becomes necessary to remelt the slugs into the specially shaped ingots which may be of the Margach type.

In accordance with the prior art, these printing plants are equipped with a relatively large melting furnace containing a melting pot of a size sufficient to remelt all the metal used in the line casting machines during a predetermined period of time, such as for example one day or two days or longer. In other words when the metal ingot supply has run low, all the used metal slugs are collected and fed into the furnace to be remelted. The remelting process may take approximately two hours or somewhat longer, and all the metal is remelted and poured into molds to form the ingots of proper shape for use in the line casting machinefeeders.

The furnaces of prior constructions have accordingly been relatively large, expensive, and generally relatively unsatisfactory in operation due to their intermittent use, the great amount of space they occupy, and the fact that the remelting operation is put off until the last moment because of the expense involved in operating it to the great inconvenience of the linecasting machine operators who may need ingots during the period of operation of the furnace.

It is an object of the instant invention to provide a relatively simple inexpensive remelting furnace adapted to be used continuously for the remelting of slugs into type metal ingots or the like.

It'is another object of the instant invention to teach a novel continuous method of remelting slugs into ingots of the Margach type.

It is a further object of the instant invention to provide for the remelting of metal slugs in a door 16 on the outside of the hinge I8.

novel manner, including a novel hopper arrangement'to effect a more or less continuous remelting process.

Other objects and the nature and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a view in perspective of a furnace in accordance with the invention, depicting the :molten metal chute, its control, and the Margach type molds;

Figure 2 is a vertical section of a remelting furnace in accordance with the invention;

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the rear of the furnace showing the fuel pipe connections;

- Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 but of a modified form;

Figure 5 is a; sectional view taken at angles to the section shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 66 of Figure 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure '7 is a top plan view taken along line l--! of Figure 5 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to Figure 1, the furnace l0 comprises a base II having legs I2 on which is supported the body portion [3 which houses the melting pot, to be describedlater. Supported-directly on the body portion is the hopper structure i4 provided with a feed passageway l5 at its front and a door I6 therefor adapted to be operated by the handle II. The door I6 is pivoted at I8 in such a manner that-the center of gravity thereof is on the hopper side of the hinge, whereby the feed door I6 will tend to remain in closed position unless the operator pulls the handle Hand locates the center of gravity of the Supported on'the top of the hopper I4 is a gas takeoff arrangement l9 which will be described later. A lid L hinged at the rear of the gas take-off arrangement 19 normally covers the top opening to'the hopper l4 when the same is not being fed with metal slugs. Leading from the body portion I3 is the molten metal discharge spout 20 controlled by a valve within the pot, to be described later, by the handle H. The molten metal discharged from the spout 20 passes into the horizontally swingable distributor chute 2| which is pivoted on a vertical axis within the bearing 22 supported on the body portion l3 by the bracket 23. Mounted within the chute 2| and secured to the arms 24 is the gate 25 which in the position shown serves right associated with line casting mechanisms which form the slugs to be eventually remelted.

Should the level of molten metal within pct 29 reach an abnormally high level due to excessive feeding of slugs to the hopper I4, a proper high level will be maintained by the overflow by-pass O which serves to convey excess molten metal past valve 44a, when the same is closed, through discharge spout 20 and into the mold cavity therebelow. Feeding of slugs may then be temporarily discontinued until a series of mold cavities are filled with metal from the pot by operation of valve 44a.

The door I6 is only utilized when it is desired to feed the remelter from the side of the furnace instead of from the top, or when service, such as cleaning, is to be effected within the hopper or the melting pot.

A suction fan not shown may be associated within a flue or conduit connected with the outlet 42 in order to facilitate removal of hot gases passing up the flue 4| and flue continuation Ma.

In order to facilitate the continuous operation of the device a thermostatic control device for the heater has been incorporated within the furnace, which control may be manually adjusted to efiect the conditions desired.

In furnaces of the prior art incorporating a melting pot of a size merely large enough to accommodate the molten metal for the molds, the operator would have to stand by until suflicient slugs were melted before room could be had for additional slugs. In accordance with the instant invention this waste of time is avoided by providing the hopper arrangement shown in the drawings so that continuous charging of the pot may be effected. Should the pot become overcharged, the overflow arrangement will act as a signal.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in this device without departing from the spirit of the inven tion and therefore the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A furnace comprising a melting pot, a heater therefor, a gas take-off arrangement arranged thereabove, said take-off arrangement comprising a pair of inclined walls angularly disposed inwardly and downwardly and extending around the melting pot, an annular gas collecting chamber connected to said walls, and a gas discharge outlet connected to said annular chamber.

2. A furnace comprising a relatively small melting pot, a heating arrangement associated therewith, a hopper located above said melting pot, said melting pot having a volumetric capacity corresponding to more than twice the volumetric capacity of said melting pot, a discharge conduit leading from said melting pot, a valve associated with said discharge conduit, a by-pass connecting said pot and said discharge conduit independently of said valve, one portion of said by-pass being associated with an upper portion of said melting pot whereby excess molten metal may be discharged from said pot when the same is over fed.

3. A remelting apparatus comprising a slug fed hopper, a melting pot, and means for applying heat to said melting pot, said hopper being approximately three times the volumetric size of the melting pot, the sides of said hopper being substantially vertical, the horizontal crosssectional configuration of said hopper corresponding to the horizontal cross-sectional configuration of the upper portion of said pot, whereby slugs may be continuously fed to said hopper and when it is full the volumetric capacity of the melting pot will generally correspond to the solid volume of metal in the hopper, said melting pot having a relatively narrow flue built into and extending up one side thereof, a pair of conduits extending along each side of said flue and carrying electrical conduits, a pair of electric heaters within said pot, said conduits being connected to said heaters.

4. A remelting apparatus comprising a slug fed hopper, a melting pot, and means for applying heat to said melting pot, said hopper being approximately three times the volumetric size of the melting pot, the sides of said hopper being substantially vertical, the horizontal crosssectional configuration of said hopper corresponding to the horizontal cross-sectional configuration of the upper portion of said pot, whereby slugs may be continuously fed to said hopper and when it is full the volumetric capacity of the melting pot will generally correspond to the solid volume of metal in the hopper, conduit means for supplying energy to said heating means, a guard for said conduit means mounted on the rear of said hopper.

5. A remelting apparatus comprising a slug fed hopper, a melting pot, and means for applying heat to said melting pot, said hopper being approximately three times the volumetric size of the melting pot, the sides of said hopper-being substantially vertical, the horizontal crosssectional configuration of said hopper corresponding to the horizontal cross-sectional configuration of the upper portion of said pot, whereby slugs may be continuously fed to said hopper and when it is full the volumetric capacity of the melting pot will generally correspond to the solid volume of metal in the hopper, a discharge spout leading from said melting pot, a rotary valve in said discharge spout, a handle for operating said discharge spout, a distribution chute having a vertical turning axis located below said spout, and means operable by a single hand for controlling the flow through said chute and for swinging said chute from one mold cavity to an adjacent mold cavity.

6. A metal remelting apparatus comprising a slug feeding hopper, a melting pot directly therebelow, means forming insulation about the walls of said melting pot, said hopper comprising generally upright sides which are substantially vertical, the horizontal cross sectional configuration of said hopper corresponding to the horizontal cross sectional configuration of the upper portion of said melting pot, means for heating the exterior of the bottom of said melting pot, said heating means comprising a gas flame, means associated with one wall of said hopper for preventing the flow of flue gases produced by said heating means about said hopper, whereby the slugs within said hopper will be fed without sticking or jamming from said hopper into said melting pot and said flue gases will be conducted away from said melting pot after heat exchange therewith has taken place 7. The structure recited in claim 6, an annular duct-like chamber extending about the upper portion of said hopper and in a plane outside of the substantially vertical walls thereof, and walls forming a gasdischarge outlet from said annular chamber.

8.- A metal remelting apparatus comprising a hopper haying substantially vertical walls, a melting pot associated therewith and located directly therebelow, means for applying heat to said melting pot tomelt the metal therewithin and'fed thereto by said hopper, saidpot being formed on one side with 'a generally tubular passageway, saidhopper being formed on a corresponding side'with a generally tubular passageway, said tubular passageways being substantially in alinement.

9. The structure recited in claim 8; an annular duct-like chamber extending about the upper portion of said hopper and in a plane outside of the substantially vertical walls thereof, and Walls'forming a gas discharge outlet from said annular chamber.

10; The structure recited in claim 8, a gas take-off arrangement located directly thereabove, said take-off arrangement comprising inclined wallsangularly disposed inwardly and downwardly and extending around said hopper, an annular gas collecting chamber connected to said walls, and agas discharge outlet connected tosaid annular chamber.

111.- The structure recited in claim 8, a gas take-oil arrangement located directly thereabove, said take-off arrangement comprising inclined walls angularly disposed inwardly and down= wardly and extending around saidhopper, an annular gas'c'oll'ecting'chamberconnected to said walls, and ages discharge outlet connected to said annular chamber, a lid hinged at the top of said inclined walls and forming a cover for said hopper, said lid cooperating with the struc' ture recitedfor directing the gases emanating from said melting pot into said annular gas collecting chamber.

12. A metal remeltingiapparatus comprising a slugfeeding hopper having a feed opening in its top and having substantially vertical side walls, a melting pot located immediately therebelow, heating means for said me'lting pot; insulation means for said'melting pot forming a space' about' the melting pot, said last mentioned means-comprising walls extending from adjacent the top of said melting pot downwardly along the sides of said melting'pot and substantially separating the space about said melting pot from the space about said hopper, said heating meansoperating' to effect the flow of hot gases about the exterior of saidmelting pot, and means for collecting said hot gases after they have passed about said melting pot and for preventing said hot gases from passing about the major area of the Walls of said feeding hopper.

- ALBERT H. JUNG;

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