Claims
- 1. In a metal treating apparatus having a pot for holding a bath of molten metal, bubble-operated apparatus for circulating the molten metal in the bath, comprising:
- a pumping conduit having a molten metal inlet opening disposed beneath the metal line in the bath for receiving molten metal therein;
- the pumping conduit having a molten metal outlet opening for discharging molten metal received in the inlet opening, to a location beneath the metal line of the bath and above the inlet opening;
- the pumping conduit having a gas-receiving opening below the molten metal outlet opening and above the molten metal receiving inlet opening;
- the pumping conduit being suited for mounting on the bottom of the pot;
- a first upright gas delivery conduit disposed on a first side of a pumping conduit, the first upright gas delivery conduit having a lower end suited for mounting on the bottom of the pot;
- a second upright gas delivery conduit disposed on the opposite side of the pumping conduit, the second upright gas delivery conduit having a lower end suited for mounting on the bottom of the pot;
- whereby the pumping conduit and the first and second upright gas delivery conduits form a self-supporting structure on the bottom of the pot;
- a lower conduit means connecting at least one of the first and second upright gas delivery conduits to the gas-receiving opening in the pumping conduit; and
- means for delivering a gas to said at least one of the upright gas-delivering conduits to the gas-receiving opening in the pumping conduit such that the gas rises in the pumping conduit to induce a flow of molten metal from the molten metal inlet opening towards the molten metal outlet opening.
- 2. A bubble-operated apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which the lower conduit means comprises a horizontal conduit disposed beneath the pumping conduit and attached thereto, the horizontal conduit having a first end fluidly connected to the first upright gas delivery conduit, and a second end fluidly connected to the second gas delivery conduit.
- 3. A bubble-operated apparatus as defined in claim 2, including an upper reinforcing member having its ends attached to the first and second upright conduits, respectively.
- 4. A bubble-operated apparatus as defined in claim 3, in which the upper reinforcing member is a horizontal conduit having its ends connected to the first and second gas delivery conduits, the horizontal conduit having vent opening means.
- 5. A bubble-operated apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which the pumping conduit has a generally "S" shaped configuration.
- 6. A bubble-operated apparatus as defined in claim 5, in which the pumping conduit has a bottom inlet opening for receiving a generally horizontal flow of molten metal, a vertical midsection, and a top outlet opening for discharging a generally horizontal flow of molten metal.
- 7. A bubble-operated apparatus as defined in claim 1, including means for delivering nitrogen to the upright gas delivery conduits.
- 8. A bubble-operated apparatus as defined in claim 1, including means for introducing a gas intermittently to the pumping conduit to form a series of spaced, rising bubbles which entrap and raise sections of molten metal from the molten metal inlet opening.
- 9. A bubble-operated apparatus as defined in claim 1, including means for introducing a gas continuously to the pumping conduit to form a series of spaced rising bubbles which entrap and raise sections of molten metal from the molten metal inlet opening.
- 10. A bubble-operated apparatus as defined in claim 1, and in which the pumping conduit and the first and second upright conduits are formed of a ceramic.
- 11. A bubble-operated apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which the pumping conduit has an elliptical cross-section.
- 12. In a metal treating apparatus having a pot for holding a bath of molten metal, bubble-operated apparatus for circulating the molten metal in the pot comprising:
- a pumping conduit having a molten metal inlet opening disposed beneath the metal line in the bath for receiving molten metal therein;
- the pumping conduit having a molten metal outlet opening for discharging molten metal received in the inlet opening, to a location beneath the metal line of the bath and above the inlet opening;
- the pumping conduit having a gas-receiving opening below the molten metal outlet opening and above the molten metal inlet opening;
- an upright gas delivery conduit having a lower end disposed adjacent the pumping conduit;
- a hollow collar at least partially encirculating the pumping conduit and fluidly connected to the upright conduit; and opening means in the collar for passing a gas from the upright conduit into the pumping conduit.
- 13. A bubble-operated apparatus as defined in claim 11, in which the collar and the lower end of the pumping conduit form a self-supporting pumping structure in the bottom of the pot.
- 14. In a metal treating apparatus having a pot for holding a bath of molten metal having a metal line, bubble-operated apparatus for circulating the molten metal in the bath, comprising:
- a pumping conduit having a molten metal inlet opening disposed beneath the metal line in the bath for receiving molten metal therein for upward motion along a path of motion;
- the pumping conduit having a molten metal outlet opening for discharging molten metal received in the molten metal inlet opening, to a location beneath the metal line of the bath and above the inlet opening;
- the pumping conduit having a plurality of gas-receiving openings below the molten metal outlet opening and above the molten metal inlet opening and around the path of motion of the molten metal in the conduit;
- a gas delivery conduit connected to the pumping conduit for delivering gas to the plurality of gas-receiving openings;
- the pumping conduit having an elongated midsection, the elongated midsection being disposed in a vertical position whereby the gas and the molten metal rise in a vertical direction as they move from the molten metal inlet opening to the molten metal outlet opening to induce a flow of molten metal from the molten metal inlet opening towards the molten metal outlet opening.
- 15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, in which the gas is discharged from the plurality of gas-receiving openings in the direction of metal flow.
- 16. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, in which the pumping conduit has a horizontally elongated internal cross-section.
- 17. Apparatus as defined in claim 16, in which the pumping conduit has an internal elliptical cross-section.
- 18. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, in which the pumping conduit is elongated with a generally S-shaped configuration.
- 19. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, in which the pumping conduit has a bottom inlet opening for receiving a generally horizontal flow of molten metal, a vertical mid-section, and a top outlet opening for discharging a generally horizontal flow of molten metal.
- 20. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, including means for introducing the gas intermittently to the pumping conduit to form a cascade of rising bubbles which entrap and raise sections of molten metal from the molten metal inlet opening.
- 21. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, including means for introducing the gas continuously to the pumping conduit to form a cascade of spaced rising bubbles which entrap and raise sections of molten metal from the molten metal inlet opening.
- 22. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, in which the pumping conduit and the first and second upright conduits are formed of a ceramic material.
- 23. In a metal treating apparatus having a pot for holding a bath of molten metal and a bubble-operated apparatus for circulating the molten metal in the bath having a metal line, comprising:
- a metal lifting conduit having a molten metal inlet opening disposed beneath the metal line in the bath for receiving molten metal therein;
- the metal lifting conduit having a molten metal outlet opening for discharging molten metal received in the inlet opening, to a location beneath the metal line of the bath and above the inlet opening;
- the metal lifting conduit having a plurality of gas-receiving openings below the molten metal outlet opening and above the molten metal inlet opening;
- a gas delivery conduit disposed adjacent the pumping conduit and connected to the plurality of gas-receiving openings;
- the metal-lifting conduit having an elongated midsection with an internal generally elongated cross-section having a major horizontal dimension greater than the minor dimension; whereby the gas and the molten metal rise upwardly as they move from the inlet opening to the outlet opening having a major horizontal dimension greater than the minor dimension to induce a flow of molten metal from the molten metal inlet opening towards the molten metal outlet opening.
- 24. Apparatus as defined in claim 23, in which the gas is discharged into the direction of metal flow.
- 25. Apparatus as defined in claim 23, in which the metal-lifting conduit is elongated with a generally "S" shaped configuration.
- 26. Apparatus as defined in claim 23, in which the metal-lifting conduit has a bottom inlet opening for receiving a generally horizontal flow of molten metal, a vertical mid-section, and a top outlet opening for discharging a generally horizontal flow of molten metal.
- 27. Apparatus as defined in claim 23, including means for introducing the gas intermittently to the metal-lifting conduit to form a series of spaced, rising bubbles which entrap and raise sections of molten metal from the molten metal inlet opening.
- 28. Apparatus as defined in claim 23, including means for introducing the gas continuously to the metal-lifting conduit to form a series of spaced, rising bubbles which entrap and raise sections of molten metal from the molten metal inlet opening.
- 29. Apparatus as defined in claim 23, in which the metal-lifting conduit is formed of a ceramic material.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This is an continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/489,332 filed Jun. 12, 1995 for "Bubble Apparatus for Removing and Diluting Dross in a Steel Treating Bath," now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (3)
Non-Patent Literature Citations (2)
Entry |
Molten Aluminum Pumping and Hydrogen Removal by Gas Lift: Water Model Studies and Preliminary Molten Aluminum Experience Authors: Frede Frisvold, Thorvald A. Engh. Didrik S. Voss Dec. 1993. |
Liquid Gas Two Phase Flow Theory of Jet Pump Author: Lu Hongqi Apr. 1983. |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
489332 |
Jun 1995 |
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