Claims
- 1. A vacuum induction melting system comprising:a melt chamber having a top wall, a bottom wall and side walls defining an airtight enclosure; an induction furnace located within said melt chamber and adapted for receiving raw materials for melting; a mold tunnel connected to said melt chamber adjacent its lower end, said mold tunnel including a pour opening communicating with said melt chamber and through which molten metal poured from said furnace can enter the mold tunnel; a mold carriage positioned within said mold tunnel for receiving and carrying at least one mold adapted for receiving molten metal; an isolation valve located between said melt chamber and said mold tunnel and being movable between an open and closed position, the closed position isolating the mold tunnel from the melt chamber to allow for removing said mold carriage from said mold tunnel for loading or unloading of molds thereon, and the open position providing communication between the mold tunnel and the melt chamber to permit filling the molds with molten metal; a mold transport assembly for moving said mold carriage from a pouring position within said mold tunnel beneath said pour opening to a loading position located outside of said mold tunnel; and an evacuation system communicatively connected to said melt chamber and mold tunnel for producing a vacuum therein.
- 2. A melting system according to claim 1 wherein said mold tunnel extends along an elongate generally horizontal axis and includes a pair of elongate longitudinally extending rails, and wherein said mold carriage is a wheeled carriage mounted for longitudinal movement along said rails within said mold tunnel.
- 3. A melting system according to claim 2 wherein said mold transport assembly includes a push-chain mounted to said mold carriage within said mold tunnel and operable for propelling the mold carriage along said rails.
- 4. A melting system according to claim 2 wherein said mold carriage has an elongate laterally extending upper surface adapted for receiving and supporting thereon a series of molds arranged in a row, and wherein said mold transport assembly is operable to move said mold carriage longitudinally for successively positioning each of the molds beneath said pour opening to receive molten metal.
- 5. A melting system according to claim 4 wherein said mold tunnel includes a door located at one end of the elongate mold tunnel to allow for removing said mold carriage from said mold tunnel, and additionally including pair of rails extending longitudinally outside of the mold tunnel beyond said door for receiving the mold carriage when the mold carriage is removed from said mold tunnel for loading or unloading of molds thereon.
- 6. A melting system according to claim 1, including a connector coupling for electrical power to said induction furnace, said coupling comprising first and second detachable components, said first and second components comprising a pair of axially aligned tubular bodies having opposing cooperating end surfaces which contact one another to form a conductive path when the connector coupling is connected and a clamp for forcing said cooperating end surfaces tightly together when the connector coupling is connected.
- 7. A melting system according to claim 6 including a shaft extending axially from said end surface of one of said connector components, and wherein the other of said connector components has an axial bore through which said shaft extends when the connector components are assembled, the length of said shaft being such that the end thereof projects from the opposite end of said other connector component, and wherein said clamp comprises a clamp arm mounted for engaging the projecting end of said shaft and an actuator for moving the shaft axially to force the cooperating end surfaces tightly against one another.
- 8. A melting system according to claim 7 wherein said tubular bodies are hollow and sealed and include inlets and outlets for the circulation of cooling fluid therethrough, and wherein said actuator comprises a hollow bore fluid powered cylinder having an axially movable hollow piston which may be moved axially to force said end surfaces tightly together.
- 9. A vacuum induction melting system comprising:a melt chamber having a top wall, a bottom wall and side walls defining an airtight enclosure; an induction furnace located within said melt chamber; a launder chamber communicatively connected to said melt chamber, said launder chamber including a door providing access to the launder chamber; a launder adapted for receiving molten metal from said furnace; an isolation valve located between said melt chamber and said launder chamber and being movable between opened and closed positions, the closed position isolating the launder chamber from the melt chamber to permit positioning of said launder in a loading position within said launder chamber through said door thereof, and the open position providing communication between the launder chamber and the melt chamber to permit moving the launder to a pour position within said melt chamber; a launder transport assembly cooperating with said launder for moving the launder from a loading position within said launder chamber to a pour position within said melt chamber where it is positioned for receiving molten metal poured from said furnace; a mold tunnel communicatively connected to said melt chamber adjacent its lower end, said mold tunnel including a pour opening communicating with said melt chamber and through which molten metal poured from said launder can enter the mold tunnel; and a mold carriage positioned within said mold tunnel and adapted for receiving and carrying at least one mold.
Parent Case Info
This is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/256,463, filed Feb. 23, 1999 and now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,360,810.
US Referenced Citations (20)
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
843975 |
Aug 1960 |
GB |
62-134143 |
Jun 1987 |
JP |
535356 |
Dec 1976 |
SU |