U.S. patent application number 10/071479 was filed with the patent office on 2003-08-14 for fabricated ladle for handling molten materials.
Invention is credited to Rauch, Robert A..
Application Number | 20030151175 10/071479 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27659246 |
Filed Date | 2003-08-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030151175 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rauch, Robert A. |
August 14, 2003 |
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.
Inventors: |
Rauch, Robert A.;
(Germantown, WI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Ron Brockman
P O Box 572
Racine
WI
53401
US
|
Family ID: |
27659246 |
Appl. No.: |
10/071479 |
Filed: |
February 11, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
266/200 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B22D 41/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
266/200 |
International
Class: |
C21C 007/00 |
Claims
I claim:
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.
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.
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