Melt Transportation Device

The invention relates to a melt transport device.

DE 10 2007 011 253 A1 discloses a casting device having a melt container for metallic materials. On the bottom side of the melt container, an injector is arranged, which has an orifice for discharging the melt. Moreover, a closing device is formed, which serves to close the orifice.

The casting device known from DE 10 2007 011 253 A1 has the disadvantage that the closing device can become soiled, as a result of which its tightness can no longer be guaranteed after some use. The casting device and/or the casting method also has the disadvantage that the flow behavior and/or the flow rate of the melt during casting can only be inadequately controlled by the described structure of the closing device. The casting device and/or the casting method also has the disadvantage that due to the positioning of the closing device above the lance, the melt has a high impact height on the mold, which can damage the mold. In addition, the high drop height can cause turbulence and thus oxide inclusions in the casting. All this leads to the production of inferior castings.

The object of the present invention was to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and to provide a device and a method by means of which improved castings can be produced.

This object is achieved by means of a device and a method according to the claims.

The invention relates to a melt transport device comprising a melt container, in which a melt receiving space is formed, and a spout, which is coupled to the melt container, wherein the spout comprises a spout orifice which is flow-connected to the melt receiving space. Moreover, a gas valve is formed, which is flow-connected to the melt receiving space and which is configured for regulating the introduction of gas into the melt receiving space.

Furthermore, it may be useful if the melt container has a gas-tight outer shell, wherein a melt receiving vessel is arranged inside the gas-tight outer shell, wherein the melt receiving vessel is formed from a first material and the outer shell is formed at least in some sections from a second material, wherein the first material and the second material have different material properties to one another. A structural separation of the gas-tight outer shell and the melt receiving vessel entails the advantage that the outer shell and the melt receiving vessel can have different mechanical properties. Thus, the melt receiving vessel can be made of a material that is configured for high temperatures and/or for receiving a liquid melt. The melt receiving vessel only needs to absorb low mechanical forces in this regard. In particular, it may be provided that the mechanical forces are absorbed in and/or transferred to the gas-tight outer shell. In addition, the gas-tight outer shell can be made of a material that is easy to weld, so that gas-tight welding of the individual components is possible.

In particular, it may be provided that the gas-tight outer shell serves to hold the melt receiving vessel, wherein the melt receiving vessel is placed in the gas-tight outer shell and the weight force of the melt receiving vessel acts in the form of a tensile force on the gas-tight outer shell.

Furthermore, it may be provided that the second material of the outer shell comprises a metallic material, in particular a steel material, and/or that the first material of the melt receiving vessel comprises a fiber-reinforced material, in particular a glass fiber-reinforced material. This entails the advantage that a steel material has good weldability. Moreover, a steel material is well suited for absorbing tensile forces. A glass fiber-reinforced material can have a high temperature resistance with sufficient strength and can therefore be well suited for holding molten material.

Furthermore, it may be provided that the glass fiber-reinforced material of the melt receiving vessel comprises a calcium silicate, a quartz glass, a silicon carbide or a zirconium silicate. In particular, it may be provided that glass fibers are embedded in a base material of calcium silicate, a quartz glass, a silicon carbide or a zirconium silicate.

In addition, it may be provided that the outer shell comprises a jacket and a base flange, wherein the jacket is coupled, in particular welded, to a base flange. This entails the advantage that the base flange can be used to connect other components.

In particular, it may be provided that the jacket is formed from a steel sheet. The steel sheet can be wound into a thin-walled hollow cylinder. In particular, it may be provided that the hollow cylinder has an axial weld seam by means of which a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end of the coiled steel sheet are welded together.

Another advantageous embodiment is that the outer shell comprises a base cover which is detachably coupled to the base flange by means of fastening means. By this measure, it can be achieved that the interior space of the gas-tight outer shell is easily accessible by loosening and removing the base cover. As a result, the melt container can be easily replaced and/or the melt container can be easily accessible if required. In addition, by this measure, it can be achieved that the melt container can be supported on the base cover and/or that the base cover can be used to hold and support the melt container.

Furthermore, it may be provided that a seal is arranged between the base cover and the base flange. In particular, it may be provided that the seal is provided in the form of a graphite seal.

All seals of the outer shell can be provided in the form of a graphite seal.

According to an advancement, it is possible for the spout to be configured as a lance, wherein the lance is received in a positive-locking manner in a central recess in the base cover. This entails the advantage that the lance can be arranged on the melt container so that it can be easily replaced and/or can be coupled to the melt container.

Furthermore, it can be useful if the lance has a connecting element and that the melt receiving vessel has a contact surface, wherein the connecting element is pressed against the contact surface by means of the base cover. By this measure, a simple coupling and/or connection of the lance to the melt receiving vessel can be received.

Furthermore, it may be provided that a seal is arranged between the connecting element and the contact surface. In particular, it may be provided that the seal is provided in the form of a graphite seal.

In addition, it may be provided that the melt receiving vessel is pretensioned in the direction of the base cover by means of spring elements. This entails the advantage that by this measure, it can be achieved that the contact surface of the melt receiving vessel is pressed against the connecting element of the lance with a certain preload force, wherein a tight connection can be achieved between the connecting element of the lance and the contact surface of the melt receiving vessel. Furthermore, by this measure, it can be achieved that the melt receiving vessel is securely held within the outer shell. In addition, the use of spring elements can compensate for different thermal expansions of the melt receiving vessel and the outer shell in order to avoid damage to the melt container when melt is being received.

A spring element within the meaning of this document can, for example, be a steel spring or, more generally speaking, a resilient material. A spring element within the meaning of this document can also be a pneumatic spring.

As an alternative to the use of a spring element, it is also conceivable that an actuator, such as a pneumatic cylinder, is used to pretension the melt receiving vessel.

Furthermore, it may be provided that the outer shell comprises a head unit, wherein the head unit is coupled, in particular welded, to the jacket. In particular, it may be provided that the head unit serves to receive essential components, such as a gas valve, etc. Furthermore, it may be provided that the head unit is used to connect the melt container to a manipulation device, such as a manipulation robot.

According to a particular embodiment, it is possible for the spring elements to be supported on the head unit.

According to an advantageous advancement, it may be provided that a stopper is formed, wherein the stopper is configured to be displaceable in an axial stopper direction on the melt container and serves to close the spout. This entails the advantage that the stopper can be used to close the spout and/or regulate the amount of melt flowing out. In particular, it may be provided that the stopper is arranged in the receiving space of the melt receiving vessel and that the stopper cooperates with an orifice of the melt receiving vessel.

In an alternative embodiment variant, it can also be provided that the stopper cooperates with a narrowing in the lance or with a further component.

In particular, it can be advantageous if the stopper is slidably attached to the head unit by means of an actuator. This entails the advantage that the stopper can remain on the head unit of the outer shell when the melt receiving vessel is replaced. This results in the simplest possible structure and/or easy interchangeability of the melt receiving vessel.

Furthermore, it may be provided that the stopper has a heating element arranged in the stopper. This entails the advantage that, by this measure, the melt can mostly be prevented from freezing on the stopper.

In addition to this, it may be provided that the stopper has an outer wall, wherein an embedding powder in particular a magnesium oxide powder, is received inside the outer wall, wherein the heating element is embedded in the embedding powder. Such an embodiment entails the advantage that the heating element can be received in the stopper by these measures, wherein the high temperature fluctuations during the casting process do not lead to damage to the heating element.

An embodiment, according to which it can be provided that the heating element is coupled with current supply cables, wherein the current supply cables are freely guided between the head unit and the stopper in such a way that a relative movement of the stopper to the head unit is possible, is also advantageous. This entails the advantage that, by this measure, the electrical power required to operate the heating elements can be transported to the heating elements.

In an alternative embodiment variant, it may be provided that sliding contacts are formed between the head unit and the stopper for current transmission.

Furthermore, it may be provided that the current supply cable is sheathed with a heat-resistant electrical insulation, wherein the insulation is configured for maximum temperatures between 900° C. and 250° C.

A connecting element within the meaning of this document is advantageously a flange, but can also be formed as a conical shaped element. The sealing force required for the tightness of the lance on the melt receiving vessel is applied via the connecting element. In addition, the geometric position, such as the coaxiality and position of the outlet opening relative to the receptacle of the melt transport device, can be defined by the connecting element. This ensures easy replacement of the melt transport device.

First of all, it is to be noted that in the different embodiments described, equal parts are provided with equal reference numbers and/or equal component designations, where the disclosures contained in the entire description may be analogously transferred to equal parts with equal reference numbers and/or equal component designations. Moreover, the specifications of location, such as at the top, at the bottom, at the side, chosen in the description refer to the directly described and depicted figure and in case of a change of position, these specifications of location are to be analogously transferred to the new position.

shows a first exemplary embodiment of a melt transport devicewhich serves for transporting melt.

The melt transport devicehas a melt container, in which a melt receiving spaceis formed, which serves to receive the melt.

Moreover, the melt transport devicemay comprise a spoutcomprising, which is coupled to the melt container. The spoutmay be designed as an integral component of the melt container. Moreover, it is also conceivable that the spoutis formed as a separate component which is coupled to the melt container. The spouthas a spout orifice, via which the meltreceived in the melt containercan flow out of the melt transport deviceinto a mold.

Moreover, a gas valvemay be formed, which is flow-connected to the melt receiving spaceand which is configured for regulating the introduction of gas into the melt receiving space. The gas valveis arranged above a fill level maximum, so that no meltcan flow into the gas valve. The fill level maximum is selected such that when the melt containeris filled to the fill level maximumwith melt, a gas-filled space still remains in the melt receiving space, in which gas-filled space a pressure can be set by means of the gas valve. Moreover, a pressure determining meansmay be provided, by means of which an internal pressure in the melt receiving spacecan be determined. Thus, the gas pressure in the melt receiving spacecan be adjusted in a targeted manner by the gas valve.

Furthermore, a suction linecan be formed, which can be coupled to a vacuum pump. The gas valvecan also be arranged in the area of the suction lineand/or be configured to allow gas to flow into the melt receiving spacein a targeted manner by means of the suction line.

As can also be seen from, it may be provided that the melt transport devicehas a siphon.

The siphoncan be arranged between the melt receiving spaceand the spout orifice.

As can also be seen from, it may be provided that the spoutis configured in the form of a lance. The siphonmay be arranged on the underside of the lance.

As can also be seen from, it may be provided that the melt containerhas a gas-tight outer shell. A melt receiving vessel, which can serve to hold the melt, may be arranged inside the gas-tight outer shell. In particular, it may be provided that the melt receiving vesselis configured in the form of a crucible, wherein the melt receiving spaceis defined and/or limited by the melt receiving vessel. Further, it may be provided that the melt receiving vesselcomprises an outlet opening, which may be arranged in a lower region of the melt receiving vessel. In particular, it may be provided that the outlet openingis formed as a central opening in the melt receiving vessel.

In particular, it may be provided that a vacuum can be created inside the outer shellin order to allow the meltto flow out of the melt receiving spacein a controlled manner and/or to be able to draw the meltinto the melt receiving space.

As can be seen particularly well from, it may be provided that the outlet openingis formed in a baseof the melt receiving vessel. In this regard, the baseof the melt receiving vesselcan be conical so that the meltis guided towards the outlet openingwhen the melt level drops.

As can also be seen from, it may be provided that the melt receiving vesselis configured to be open at the top. In an embodiment variant not shown, it may be provided that a splash guard is formed on an upper side of the melt receiving vessel.

Furthermore, it may be provided that the outer shellhas a jacket. The jacketcan be coupled to a head unit. In particular, it may be provided that the jacketis welded to the head unit. In a first embodiment variant, it may be provided that the jacketis rolled from a flat sheet into a hollow cylinder, wherein the facing ends of the rolled sheet may be welded together by means of a weld seam.

Furthermore, it may be provided that a base flangeis formed which is welded to the jacket. In particular, it may be provided that the base flangeis configured for receiving a base cover. In particular, it may be provided that the base coveris coupled to the base flangeby means of fastening means. Such fastening meansmay be configured, for example, in the form of screws. In particular, it may be provided in this regard that a hole pattern in the form of through-holes, which are used for inserting the fastening means, is formed in both the base flangeand the base cover.

Furthermore, a central recess, which can serve as a passage for the melt, can be formed in the base cover. In particular, it may be provided that the lancecorresponds to the central recess. Furthermore, it may be provided that the lancehas a connecting element, which can be accommodated in an indentationof the central recess. The connecting elementcan rest against a contact surfaceof the melt receiving vessel.

Furthermore, it may be provided that a spring elementis arranged between the head unitand an upper sideof the melt receiving vessel. In particular, it may be provided that multiple ones of the spring elementsare arranged distributed around the circumference between the head unitand the melt receiving vessel. The spring elementsserve for pressing the melt receiving vesselagainst the base cover.

As can also be seen from, it may be provided that a stopperis formed, which can serve to close the outlet opening. In particular, it may be provided that the stopperis configured to be displaceable relative to the melt receiving vesselin a axial stopper direction. In this regard, the stoppercan be displaced in the axial stopper directionby means of an actuator.