Claims
- 1. A method of heating molten aluminum flowing in a heated trough member from a molten aluminum source to a processing operation, the method
(a) providing a source of molten aluminum; (b) providing a tough member comprised of a first side and a second side, said first and said second sides having outside surfaces, said sides formed from a ceramic material resistant to attack by molten aluminum, said first side and second side having:
(i) heating element receptacles provided therein; (ii) electric heating elements positioned in at least one side; (c) flowing molten aluminum along said trough member from said source; and (d) passing electric power to said heating elements and heating said molten aluminum as it flows along said trough member.
- 2. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said trough member is substantially U-shaped.
- 3. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first and second sides are joined to a bottom side to form said trough member.
- 4. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said trough member has a ceramic bottom sealed to said ceramic material comprising said sides for containing said molten aluminum flowing through said trough.
- 5. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said material is selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide, silicon nitride, magnesium oxide, spinel, carbon and mixtures thereof.
- 6. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said receptacles contain a contact medium for improved conduction of heat from said heating elements to said ceramic material, the contact medium selected from the group consisting of powdered material, low melting metal and a glass material.
- 7. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said contact medium is an amalgam.
- 8. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said receptacles contain protection tubes comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of mullite, boron nitride, silicon nitride, silicon carbide, graphite, silicon aluminum oxynitride or a metal selected from the group consisting of Kovar® and titanium.
- 9. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first and second sides are comprised of:
(a) a metal layer disposed on said outside surfaces; and (b) an insulation layer positioned between said metal layer and said first and second sides of ceramic material.
- 10. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said ceramic material contains copper medium for improved heat transfer.
- 11. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first side and said second side have a heat-reflective layer disposed on said outside surfaces.
- 12. A method of heating molten metal flowing in a heated trough member from a molten metal source to a processing operation, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a source of molten metal; (b) providing a trough member comprised of a first side and a second side, said first and said second sides having outside surfaces, said sides formed from a ceramic material resistant to attack by molten metal, said first side and second side having:
(i) heating element receptacles provided therein; (ii) protection tubes provided in said receptacles, said protection tubes comprised of a refractory selected from the group consisting of mullite, boron nitride, silicon nitride, silicon carbide, graphite, silicon aluminum oxynitride or a metal selected from Kovar® and titanium; and (iii) electric heating elements positioned in said tubes; (c) flowing molten metal along said trough member from said source; and (d) passing electric power to said heating elements and heating said molten metal as it flows along said trough member.
- 13. A method of heating molten aluminum flowing in a heated trough member comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a source of molten aluminum; (b) providing a trough member comprised of a bottom, a first side and a second side, said first and said second sides having outside surfaces, said sides joined to said bottom to form said tough member, said sides and bottom formed from a ceramic material resistant to attack by molten aluminum, said ceramic material comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide, silicon nitride, magnesium oxide, spinel, carbon and mixtures thereof, said first side and second side having:
(i) heating element receptacles provided in said first side and said second side; (ii) refractory tubes provided in said receptacles, said refractory tubes comprised of a refractory selected from the group consisting of mullite, boron nitride, silicon nitride, silicon carbide, graphite and silicon aluminum oxynitride; and (iii) electric heating elements positioned in said refractory tubes; (c) flowing molten aluminum along said trough member from said source; and (d) passing power to said heating elements and heating said molten aluminum as it flows along said trough member.
- 14. The method in accordance with claim 13 wherein said contact medium is an amalgam.
- 15. The method in accordance with claim 13 wherein said tubes are comprised of mullite.
- 16. The method in accordance with claim 13 wherein said ceramic material contains copper medium for improved heat transfer.
- 17. The method in accordance with claim 13 wherein said first side and said second side have a heat-reflective layer disposed on said outside surfaces.
- 18. An improved trough member for flowing molten aluminum from a molten metal source to a processing operation and for adding heat to said molten metal flowing in said through member, said trough comprised of:
(a) a bottom and side comprised of a ceramic material resistant to attack by said molten metal, said bottom and sides joined together to form said trough member; (b) a series of heating element receptacles provided in said ceramic material comprising said sides, said receptacles having refractory tubes disposed in said receptacles, said refractory tube comprised of a refractory selected from the group consisting of mullite, boron nitride, silicon nitride, silicon carbide, graphite and silicon aluminum oxynitride, zirconium, stabilized zirconium and mixtures thereof; and (c) electric heating elements provided in said refractory tubes for transferring heat to molten metal flowing in said trough member.
- 19. The trough member in accordance with claim 18 wherein said ceramic material is comprised of silicon carbide, silicon nitride, magnesium oxide, spinel, carbon and mixtures thereof.
- 20. The trough member in accordance with claim 18 wherein said ceramic material contains copper fibers for improved heat transfer.
- 21. The trough member in accordance with claim 18 wherein said receptacles contain a contact medium for improved heat transfer selected from the group consisting of powdered material, low melting metal and an amalgam.
- 22. The trough member in accordance with claim 18 wherein said sides have an outside surface having a heat-reflective layer disposed on said outside surface to reflective heat inwardly to said trough.
- 23. The trough member in accordance with claim 18 wherein said electric heating elements are electrically connected in a series circuit.
- 24. The trough member in accordance with claim 18 wherein said electric heating elements are controlled as part of a closed loop control system.
- 25. The trough member in accordance with claim 18 wherein said electrical power input to said heaters is modulated by a controller.
- 26. An improved trough member for flowing molten aluminum from a molten aluminum source to a processing operation and for adding heat to said molten aluminum flowing in said trough member, said trough comprised of:
(a) a bottom and side comprised of a ceramic material resistant to attack by said molten aluminum, said bottom and sides joined together to from said trough member having an outside surface; (b) a layer of insulation provided on said outside surface; (c) a series of heating element receptacles provided in said ceramic material comprising said sides, said receptacles having refractory tubes disposed in said receptacles, said refractory tube comprised of a refractory selected from the group consisting of mullite, boron nitride, silicon nitride, silicon carbide, graphite and silicon aluminum oxynitride, zirconium, stabilized zirconium and mixtures thereof; (d) electric heating elements provided in said refractory tubes for transferring heat to molten aluminum flowing in said trough member; and (e) a controller in communication with said heating to modulate electrical power input to said heating elements.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/228,741, filed Jan. 12, 1999.
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09706391 |
Nov 2000 |
US |
Child |
10194540 |
Jul 2002 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09228741 |
Jan 1999 |
US |
Child |
09706391 |
Nov 2000 |
US |