Claims
- 1. In the process of direct cooling a body of partially solidified metal emerging as ingot from the exit end of an open ended mold by the steps of charging liquid coolant into an annular retention chamber which is circumposed about the exit end opening of the mold in the body thereof, and then discharging the chamber coolant onto the surface of the ingot through a first passage opening into the exit end of the mold and communicating with the chamber at an opening therein, the further steps of:
- forming a second passage in the chamber which is serially interconnected with the first passage at the chamber opening and operable to deliver the chamber coolant to the first passage at an increased rate of flow, relative to the rate at which the coolant was charged into the chamber,
- incorporating a body of solid but porous, gas-permeable material into the wall of the second passage at a surface thereof which extends generally parallel to the flow of coolant in the second passage, and
- forcing pressurized gas through the body of porous, gas-permeable material at a pressure which is less than that which is needed to dissolve the gas in the coolant, so that the chamber coolant discharges through the first passage in a discontinuous liquid phase in which it is laden with bubbles of undissolved gas that will alter the heat transfer characteristics of the coolant on the surface of the ingot to vary the rate at which heat is lost therefrom.
- 2. The process according to claim 1 wherein the respective passages define flow paths that extend generally parallel to that axis of the mold extending between the end openings thereof.
- 3. The process according to claim 2 wherein the first passage communicates with the chamber at an opening in the inner peripheral wall thereof, the flow paths of the respective passages are disposed on opposite sides of the chamber opening, and the flow in the same is directed unidirectionally of the mold axis, but undergoes a dog-leg at the chamber opening.
- 4. The process according to claim 3 further comprising forming a baffling medium on the downstream side of the chamber opening to aid the coolant in traversing the dog-leg.
- 5. The process according to claim 2 wherein the first passage communicates with the chamber at an opening in the inner peripheral wall thereof, the flow paths of the respective passages are disposed on the same side of the chamber opening, and the flow in the same is directed in the opposing directions of the mold axis, but undergoes a reentrant turn at the chamber opening.
- 6. The process according to claim 5 further comprising forming a baffling medium on the downstream side of the chamber opening to aid the coolant in traversing the reentrant turn.
- 7. The process according to claim 1 wherein the second passage is formed by installing a baffle in the chamber to subdivide the chamber into two portions, one of which is serially interconnected with and between the remaining portion and the first passage at an opening defined by the baffle, and the chamber opening, respectively.
- 8. The process according to claim 7 wherein the baffle is annular and installed in the chamber so as to subdivide the chamber into relatively inner and outer peripheral portions, the coolant is charged into the outer peripheral portion of the chamber, and the first passage communicates with the chamber at an opening in the inner peripheral portion thereof.
- 9. The process according to claim 8 wherein the opening defined by the baffle is spaced apart from the chamber opening lengthwise of that axis of the mold extending between the end openings thereof, and the inner peripheral portion of the chamber is reduced in width relative to the outer peripheral portion thereof, radially of the axis, so that the chamber coolant is delivered to the first passage at an increased rate of flow, relative to the rate at which the coolant was charged into the outer peripheral portion of the chamber.
- 10. The process according to claim 9 wherein the body of porous, gas-permeable material is substantially annular and incorporated into the inner peripheral wall of the baffle at that surface of the baffle wall which extends between the chamber opening and the opening defined by the baffle.
- 11. The process according to claim 10 wherein the first passage communicates with the chamber at an opening in the inner peripheral wall thereof, the baffle has an opening in the body thereof, and the body of porous, gas-permeable material is recessed in a groove substantially circumscribed about the inner peripheral portion of the chamber in the inner peripheral wall of the baffle at that surface of the baffle wall extending between the respective openings of the baffle and the inner peripheral wall of the chamber.
- 12. The process according to claim 11 wherein the baffle is also equipped with an annular rib on the downstream side of the opening in the inner peripheral wall of the chamber to aid the coolant in traversing the chamber opening.
- 13. The process according to claim 1 wherein the first passage takes the form of a series of spaced holes that are arrayed in an annulus about the exit end opening of the mold.
- 14. The process according to claim 13 wherein the holes communicate with the chamber at a circumferential groove in the inner peripheral wall of the chamber.
- 15. The process according to claim 1 wherein the porous, gas-permeable material is a sintered particle material.
- 16. The process according to claim 15 wherein the sintered particle material comprises sintered plastic particles.
- 17. In the process of constructing an open ended mold from which a body of partially solidified metal can be operatively withdrawn as ingot from the exit end of the mold, and within which liquid coolant can be charged into an annular retention chamber circumposed about the exit end opening of the mold, and then discharged onto the surface of the ingot through a first passage opening into the exit end of the mold and communicating with the chamber at an opening therein, the steps of:
- installing means in the chamber to form a second passage therein which is serially interconnected with the first passage at the chamber opening and will be operable to deliver the chamber coolant to the first passage at an increased rate of flow, relative to the rate at which coolant will be charged into the chamber,
- incorporating a body of solid but porous, gas-permeable material into the wall of the second passage at a surface thereof which will extend generally parallel to the flow of coolant in the second passage, and
- providing means for forcing pressurized gas through the body of porous, gas-permeable material in such way that the chamber coolant will discharge through the first passage in a discontinuous liquid phase in which it is laden with bubbles of undissolved gas that will alter the heat transfer characteristics of the coolant on the surface of the ingot to vary the rate at which heat is lost therefrom.
- 18. The process according to claim 17 wherein the passage forming means include a baffle which is installed in the chamber to subdivide the chamber into two portions, one of which is serially interconnected with and between the remaining portion and the first passage at an opening defined by the baffle, and the chamber opening, respectively.
- 19. The process according to claim 18 wherein the baffle is annular and installed in the chamber to subdivide the chamber into relatively inner and outer peripheral portions, and wherein the coolant is operatively charged into the relatively outer peripheral portion of the chamber, and the first passage communicates with the chamber at an opening in the inner peripheral portion thereof.
- 20. The process according to claim 19 wherein the body of porous, gas-permeable material is substantially annular and incorporated into the inner peripheral wall of the baffle.
- 21. The process according to claim 20 wherein the means for forcing pressurized gas through the body of porous material are connected to the outer peripheral wall of the baffle opposite the body of porous material.
- 22. The process according to claim 19 wherein the mold comprises an annular case having an annular groove in the exit end thereof, and the baffle is installed in the chamber by securing an annular plate to the exit end of the case which covers the groove to form the chamber, and has the baffle relatively upstanding thereon to subdivide the chamber into relatively inner and outer peripheral portions.
- 23. The process according to claim 22 wherein the first passage communicates with the chamber at an opening in the inner peripheral wall thereof, the baffle has an opening in the body thereof which is operatively spaced apart from the chamber opening lengthwise of that axis of the mold extending between the end openings thereof, the body of porous, gas-permeable material is substantially annular and incorporated in the inner peripheral wall of the baffle at that surface of the baffle wall operatively disposed to extend between the chamber opening and the opening in the baffle, and the means for forcing pressurized gas through the body of porous material are supported on the plate to occupy the outer peripheral portion of the chamber in connection with the outer peripheral wall of the baffle at an inlet opposite the body of porous material.
- 24. The process according to claim 23 wherein the body of porous material is recessed in a groove operatively substantially circumscribed about the inner peripheral portion of the chamber in the inner peripheral wall of the baffle, and the gas pressurization means are interconnected with a channel that is circumscribed about the body of porous material at the bottom of the groove in the baffle to supply the gas to the same throughout the circumference of the body of porous material.
- 25. The process according to claim 24 wherein the gas pressurization means include a system of piping which is supported on the plate and installed in the outer peripheral portion of the chamber when the plate is secured to the case, to feed the gas to the channel through a set of inlets on the outer peripheral wall of the baffle opposite the channel.
- 26. In an open ended mold from which a body of partially solidified metal can be operatively withdrawn as ingot from the exit end of the mold, and within which liquid coolant can be charged into an annular retention chamber circumposed about the exit end opening of the mold, and then discharged onto the surface of the ingot through a first passage opening into the exit end of the mold and communicating with the chamber at an opening therein, the improvement comprising:
- means for forming a second passage in the chamber which is serially interconnected with the first passage at the chamber opening and operable to deliver the chamber coolant to the first passage at an increased rate of flow, relative to the rate of flow at which the coolant was charged into the chamber,
- a body of solid but porous, gas-permeable material incorporated into the wall of the second passage at a surface thereof which extends generally parallel to the flow of coolant in the second passage, and
- means for forcing pressurized gas through the body of porous, gas-permeable material in such a way that the chamber coolant discharges through the first passage in a discontinuous liquid phase in which it is laden with bubbles of undissolved gas that will alter the heat transfer characteristics of the coolant on the surface of the ingot to vary the rate at which heat is lost therefrom.
- 27. The open ended mold according to claim 26 wherein the respective passages define flow paths that extend generally parallel to that axis of the mold extending between the end openings thereof.
- 28. The open ended mold according to claim 27 wherein the first passage communicates with the chamber at an opening in the inner peripheral wall thereof, the flow paths of the respective passages are disposed on opposite sides of the chamber opening, and the flow in the same is directed unidirectionally of the mold axis, but undergoes a dog-leg at the chamber opening.
- 29. The open ended mold according to claim 28 further comprising means forming a baffling medium on the downstream side of the chamber opening to aid the coolant in traversing the dog-leg.
- 30. The open ended mold according to claim 27 wherein the first passage communicates with the chamber at an opening in the inner peripheral wall thereof, the flow paths of the respective passages are disposed on the same side of the chamber opening, and the flow in the same is directed in the opposing directions of the mold axis, but undergoes a reentrant turn at the chamber opening.
- 31. The open ended mold according to claim 30 further comprising means forming a baffling medium on the downstream side of the chamber opening to aid the coolant in traversing the reentrant turn.
- 32. The open ended mold according to claim 26 wherein the passage forming means include a baffle that is installed in the chamber to subdivide the chamber into two portions, one of which is serially interconnected with and between the remaining portion and the first passage at an opening defined by the baffle, and the chamber opening, respectively.
- 33. The open ended mold according to claim 32 wherein the baffle is annular and installed in the chamber so as to subdivide the chamber into relatively inner and outer peripheral portions, the coolant is operatively charged into the outer peripheral portion of the chamber, and the first passage communicates with the chamber at an opening in the inner peripheral portion thereof.
- 34. The open ended mold according to claim 33 wherein the opening defined by the baffle is spaced apart from the chamber opening lengthwise of that axis of the mold extending between the end openings thereof, and the inner peripheral portion of the chamber is reduced in width relative to the outer peripheral portion thereof, radially of the axis, so that the chamber coolant is operatively delivered to the first passage in the inner peripheral portion, at an increased rate of flow relative to the rate at which the coolant was charged into the outer peripheral portion of the chamber.
- 35. The open ended mold according to claim 34 wherein the body of porous, gas-permeable material is substantially annular and incorporated into the inner peripheral wall of the baffle at that surface of the baffle wall which extends between the chamber opening and the opening defined by the baffle.
- 36. The open ended mold according to claim 35 wherein the first passage communicates with the chamber at an opening in the inner peripheral wall thereof, the baffle has an opening in the body thereof, and the body of porous, gas-permeable material is recessed in a groove substantially circumscribed about the inner peripheral portion of the chamber in the inner peripheral wall of the baffle at that surface of the baffle wall extending between the respective openings in the baffle and the inner peripheral wall of the chamber.
- 37. The open ended mold according to claim 36 wherein the baffle also has an annular lip on the downstream side of the opening in the inner peripheral wall of the chamber, to aid the coolant in traversing the chamber opening.
- 38. The open ended mold according to claim 26 wherein the first passage takes the form of a series of spaced holes which are arrayed in an annulus about the exit end opening of the mold.
- 39. The open ended mold according to claim 38 wherein the holes communicate with the chamber at a circumferential groove in the inner peripheral wall of the chamber.
- 40. The open ended mold according to claim 26 wherein the porous, gas-permeable material is a sintered particle material.
- 41. The open ended mold according to claim 40 wherein the sintered particle material comprises sintered plastic particles.
- 42. The open ended mold according to claim 26 wherein the body of the mold comprises an annular case having an annular groove in the exit end thereof, an annular plate which is secured to the exit end of the case to cover the groove and form the chamber, and an annular baffle which is relatively upstanding on the plate so as to subdivide the chamber into relatively inner and outer peripheral portions, the relatively inner peripheral portion of which is serially interconnected with and between the relatively outer peripheral portion of the chamber and the first passage at an opening defined by the baffle, and the chamber opening, respectively.
- 43. The open ended mold according to claim 42 wherein the first passage communicates with the chamber at an opening in the inner peripheral wall thereof, the baffle has an opening in the body thereof which is spaced apart from the chamber opening lengthwise of that axis of the mold extending between the end openings thereof, the body of porous, gas-permeable material is substantially annular and incorporated into the inner peripheral wall of the baffle at that surface of the baffle wall extending between the chamber opening and the opening in the baffle, and the means for forcing pressurized gas through the body of porous material are disposed in the outer peripheral portion of the chamber and connected with the outer peripheral wall of the baffle at an inlet opposed to the body of porous material.
- 44. The open ended mold according to claim 43 wherein the body of porous material is recessed in a groove substantially circumscribed about the inner peripheral portion of the chamber in the inner peripheral wall of the baffle, and the gas pressurization means are interconnected with a channel that is circumscribed about the body of porous material at the bottom of the groove in the baffle to supply the gas to the channel throughout the circumference of the body of porous material.
- 45. The open ended mold according to claim 44 wherein the gas pressurization means include a system of piping which is supported on the plate in the outer peripheral portion of the chamber.
- 46. A component with which to subdivide into relatively inner and outer peripheral portions, an annular coolant retention chamber that is circumposed about the exit end opening of an open ended ingot casting mold in the body thereof, so that when coolant is charged into the chamber, the coolant can be discharged onto the surface of the ingot emerging from the exit end of the mold, with bubbles of gas infused therein, comprising:
- an annular baffle insertable in the chamber to subdivide the same into the aforesaid portions,
- a substantially annular body of solid but porous, gas-permeable material incorporated into the inner peripheral wall of the baffle at the surface thereof, and
- means including a channel circumscribed about the body of porous material between the inner and outer peripheral walls of the baffle, whereby pressurized gas can be forced through the body of porous material to infuse the coolant with bubbles of the same in the inner peripheral portion of the chamber.
- 47. The construction component according to claim 46 wherein the porous, qas-permeable material is a sintered particle material.
- 48. The construction component according to claim 47 wherein the sintered particle material comprises sintered plastic particles.
- 49. The construction component according to claim 46 wherein the body of porous material is recessed in a groove substantially circumscribed about the inner periphery of the baffle in the inner peripheral wall thereof, and having the channel at the bottom thereof to supply the gas to the body of porous material throughout the circumference thereof.
- 50. The construction component according to claim 46 wherein the baffle has an opening therein for the discharge of the chamber coolant into the inner peripheral portion of the chamber from the outer peripheral portion thereof when the coolant is charged into the latter portion of the chamber.
- 51. The construction component according to claim 50 wherein the baffle also has an annular rib on the inner peripheral wall thereof, which is spaced apart from the opening in the baffle on the opposite side of the body of porous material in directions parallel to that axis of the baffle extending between the end openings thereof.
- 52. The construction component according to claim 46 wherein the annular baffle is relatively upstanding on an annular plate that is adapted to be secured to the exit end of an annular case having an annular groove in the exit end thereof, to cover the groove and form the chamber when the baffle is inserted in the groove to subdivide the chamber.
- 53. The construction component according to claim 52 wherein the means for forcing gas through the body of porous, gas-permeable material also include a system of gas supply piping which is supported on the plate for insertion in the outer peripheral portion of the chamber in connection with an inlet opposite the channel in the baffle.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 393,448 filed Aug. 14, 1989 and now U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,595.
US Referenced Citations (7)
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
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393448 |
Aug 1989 |
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