Claims
- 1. A vortex inhibitor for molten metal pouring from a discharge nozzle comprising:a uniform castable refractory body having a specific gravity less than the specific gravity of molten metal and having a regular pyramidal shape geometrically proportioned so that its center of gravity is below its center of buoyancy buoyant support and toward the apex of said pyramidal shape, wherein said geometric proportion comprises a height to base length ratio in the range of 0.5:1 to 1:1, wherein the base length is defined as the diameter of a circle circumscribing the outermost edges of the base, whereby said body is self-orienting in an apex downward position when supported in molten metal.
- 2. A vortex inhibitor as defined in claim 1 wherein said height to base length ratio is one-half of the square root of 2 to 1.
- 3. A vortex inhibitor as defined in claim 1 wherein said body has a generally circular base and longitudinal peripheral recesses.
- 4. A vortex inhibitor as defined in claim 1 wherein said body has a generally circular base and longitudinal, peripheral projections.
- 5. A vortex inhibitor as defined in claim 1 wherein said body includes complex polygonal base.
- 6. A vortex inhibitor as defined in claim 1 wherein said base is hexagonal.
- 7. A vortex inhibitor as defined in claim 1 wherein said base is octagonal.
- 8. A vortex inhibitor as defined in claim 1 wherein said body comprises a truncated spherical body having a base, and a plurality of surfaces tapering from said base toward an apex, wherein said tapering surfaces geometrically proportion said body with said center of gravity below said center of buoyancy buoyant support and toward the apex.
- 9. A vortex inhibitor for improving the volume of molten metal available from a receptacle when pouring through a discharge nozzle, the inhibitor consisting essentially of:a uniform castable refractory body not shaped as a regular tetrahedron having a selected specific gravity less than the specific gravity of molten metal and having a regular pyramidal shape geometrically proportioned by shaping other than as a regular tetrahedron so that its center of gravity is below its center of buoyant support and toward the apex of said regular pyramidal shape, whereby said body is self-orienting in an apex downward position when supported in molten metal.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of reissue application Ser. No. 08/277,374 filed on Jul. 19, 1994 now abandonded, which is a continuation of reissue application Ser. No. 07/770,128 filed Oct. 2, 1991 now abandonded which is a reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 4,871,148 issued Oct. 3, 1989.
US Referenced Citations (24)
Foreign Referenced Citations (4)
Number |
Date |
Country |
286132 |
Jun 1922 |
DE |
1063860 |
May 1952 |
FR |
52-22602 |
Jun 1977 |
JP |
59-47314 |
Mar 1984 |
JP |
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
07/230065 |
Aug 1988 |
US |
Child |
08/450271 |
|
US |
Continuations (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
08/277374 |
Jul 1994 |
US |
Child |
07/230065 |
|
US |
Parent |
07/770128 |
Oct 1991 |
US |
Child |
08/277374 |
|
US |
Reissues (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
07/230065 |
Aug 1988 |
US |
Child |
08/450271 |
|
US |