Ultrasonic probes with gas outlets for degassing of molten metals

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10316387-B2
Application number	US-201615353814-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 17, 2016
Priority date	Nov 18, 2013
Publication date	Jun 11, 2019
Grant date	Jun 11, 2019

Abstract

Ultrasonic probes containing a plurality of gas delivery channels are disclosed, as well as ultrasonic probes containing recessed areas near the tip of the probe. Ultrasonic devices containing these probes, and methods for molten metal degassing using these ultrasonic devices, also are disclosed.

First claim

I claim:

1. An ultrasonic device comprising:
an ultrasonic transducer;
an ultrasonic probe attached to the transducer, the probe comprising a tip and two or more gas delivery channels extending through the probe; and
a gas delivery system, the gas delivery system comprising:
a gas inlet,
gas flow paths through the gas delivery channels, and
gas outlets at or within about 5 cm of the tip of the probe.

2. The ultrasonic device of claim 1 , wherein the gas outlets are at or within about 2 cm of the tip of the probe.

3. The ultrasonic device of claim 1 , wherein the gas outlets are at or within about 1 cm of the tip of the probe.

4. The ultrasonic device of claim 1 , wherein a length to diameter ratio of the probe is in a range from about 5:1 to about 25:1.

5. The ultrasonic device of claim 1 , wherein the probe comprises a ceramic.

6. The ultrasonic device of claim 5 , wherein the probe comprises a Sialon, a Silicon carbide, a Boron carbide, a Boron nitride, a Silicon nitride, an Aluminum nitride, an Aluminum oxide, a Zirconia, or a combination thereof.

7. The ultrasonic device of claim 1 , wherein the probe comprises from two to eight gas delivery channels.

8. The ultrasonic device of claim 1 , wherein a ratio of the cross-sectional area of the tip of the probe to the cross-sectional area of the gas delivery channels is in a range from about 30:1 to about 1000:1.

9. The ultrasonic device of claim 1 , wherein the gas outlets are at the tip of the probe.

10. A method for reducing an amount of a dissolved gas and/or an impurity in a molten metal bath, the method comprising operating the ultrasonic device of claim 1 in the molten metal bath.

11. An ultrasonic device comprising:
an ultrasonic transducer;
an ultrasonic probe attached to the transducer, the probe comprising a tip and two or more gas delivery channels extending through the probe;
a booster between the transducer and the probe; and
a gas delivery system, the gas delivery system comprising:
a gas inlet,
gas flow paths through the gas delivery channels, and
gas outlets at or within about 5 cm of the tip of the probe.

12. The ultrasonic device of claim 11 , wherein the gas inlet is in the booster.

13. The ultrasonic device of claim 12 , wherein the gas outlets are at or within about 2 cm of the tip of the probe.

14. The ultrasonic device of claim 13 , wherein the probe comprises from two to eight gas delivery channels.

15. The ultrasonic device of claim 13 , wherein the probe comprises a Sialon.

16. The ultrasonic device of claim 13 , wherein a length to diameter ratio of the probe is in a range from about 5:1 to about 25:1.

17. The ultrasonic device of claim 13 , wherein a ratio of the cross-sectional area of the tip of the probe to the cross-sectional area of the gas delivery channels is in a range from about 30:1 to about 1000:1.

18. The ultrasonic device of claim 11 , wherein the gas outlets are at the tip of the probe.

19. The ultrasonic device of claim 18 , wherein:
the gas inlet is in the booster;
the probe comprises from two to eight gas delivery channels; and
the probe comprises a Sialon.

20. A method for reducing an amount of a dissolved gas and/or an impurity in a molten metal bath, the method comprising operating the ultrasonic device of claim 11 in the molten metal bath.

Assignees

• Southwire Co Llc

Inventors

• Rundquist Victor F

Classifications

• B22D1/002

  Treatment with gases (C21C7/072, C22B9/05 take precedence) · CPC title

• F27D27/00

  Stirring devices for molten material (charging or discharging liquid or molten material F27D3/14) · CPC title

• C22B15/006

  working up of molten copper, e.g. refining · CPC title

• C22B21/064 Primary

  using inert or reactive gases (C22B21/066 and C22B21/068 take precedence) · CPC title

• C22B26/22

  Obtaining magnesium · CPC title