Ultrasonic degassing of molten metals

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10640846-B2
Application number	US-201715444507-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 28, 2017
Priority date	Apr 9, 2010
Publication date	May 5, 2020
Grant date	May 5, 2020

Abstract

Methods for degassing and for removing impurities from molten metals are disclosed. These methods can include operating an ultrasonic device in a molten metal bath, and adding a purging gas into the molten metal bath in close proximity to the ultrasonic device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An ultrasonic device comprising:
an ultrasonic transducer;
an elongated probe comprising a first end and a second end, the first end attached to the ultrasonic transducer and the second end comprising a tip, wherein the elongated probe consists of a ceramic;
a purging gas delivery system, wherein the purging gas delivery system comprises a purging gas inlet and a purging gas outlet, wherein the purging gas outlet is at the tip of the elongated probe; and
a booster between the ultrasonic transducer and the elongated probe.

2. The ultrasonic device of claim 1 , wherein the ceramic is a Sialon.

3. The ultrasonic device of claim 2 , wherein the elongated probe is generally cylindrical.

4. The ultrasonic device of claim 1 , wherein the elongated probe is a unitary part.

5. The ultrasonic device of claim 1 , wherein the ceramic is silicon carbide.

6. The ultrasonic device of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic device comprises two or more elongated probes.

7. The ultrasonic device of claim 1 , wherein the purging gas delivery system comprises a purging gas delivery channel in the elongated probe.

8. The ultrasonic device of claim 1 , wherein the purging gas delivery system is capable of a volumetric flow rate in a range from about 0.1 to about 150 L/min.

9. An ultrasonic device comprising:
an ultrasonic transducer;
a unitary, generally cylindrical, elongated probe comprising a first end and a second end, the first end attached to the ultrasonic transducer and the second end comprising a tip, wherein the elongated probe consists of a ceramic;
a purging gas delivery system, wherein:
the purging gas delivery system comprises a purging gas inlet and a purging gas outlet;
the purging gas delivery system comprises a purging gas delivery channel in the elongated probe; and
the purging gas outlet is at or within about 5 cm of the tip of the elongated probe; and

a booster between the ultrasonic transducer and the elongated probe.

10. The ultrasonic device of claim 9 , wherein the purging gas outlet is at or within about 2 cm of the tip of the elongated probe.

11. The ultrasonic device of claim 9 , wherein the ultrasonic device comprises two or more elongated probes.

12. The ultrasonic device of claim 9 , wherein the purging gas outlet is at or within about 0.5 cm of the tip of the elongated probe.

13. The ultrasonic device of claim 9 , wherein the purging gas delivery system is capable of a volumetric flow rate in a range from about 0.1 to about 150 L/min.

Assignees

• Southwire Co Llc

Inventors

• Rundquist Victor F
• Gill Kevin S

Classifications

• C21C7/072 Primary

  Treatment with gases (C21C7/06, C21C7/064, C21C7/068 take precedence) · CPC title

• C22B9/02 Primary

  Refining by liquating, filtering, centrifuging, distilling, or supersonic wave action {including acoustic waves; (C22B9/003, C22B9/006, C22B9/05, C22B9/22 take precedence)} · CPC title

• C22B9/00 Primary

  General processes of refining or remelting of metals; Apparatus for electroslag or arc remelting of metals · CPC title

• C22B21/064

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

• C22B9/05

  Refining by treating with gases, e.g. gas flushing {also refining by means of a material generating gas in situ} · CPC title