Apparatus for heating and transferring metal materials for a melting plant, and method for melting metal materials

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017167792-A1
Application number	US-201515115802-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 29, 2015
Priority date	Jan 31, 2014
Publication date	Jun 15, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Apparatus to heat and transfer mainly metal materials to a melting furnace ( 12 ), the apparatus comprising a transporter device ( 13 ) configured to move the materials continuously to the melting furnace ( 12 ), and at least an induction heating unit ( 28 ) associated with the transporter device ( 13 ) and configured to heat by electromagnetic induction the materials moved in the transporter device ( 13 ), keeping them in a solid state.

First claim

1 . Apparatus to heat and transfer mainly metal materials to a melting furnace, said apparatus comprising:
a transporter device configured to move said materials continuously to said melting furnace, wherein said transporter device is chosen from a group comprising a conveyor belt, a plate conveyor belt, a mobile board conveyor, a rotating chamber or a possible combination of the above, wherein said transporter device is provided with a closed chamber for the passage of said metal materials; and at least an induction heating unit comprising at least one coil mounted externally to said transporter device and suitable to generate an induced magnetic field in said materials in order to heat by electromagnetic induction said materials, moved in said transporter device, to a temperature between 300° C. and 800° C. and keeping them in a solid state.

2 . Apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein structural components of said transporter device are made with materials having low magnetic permeability and low electric conductivity.

3 . Apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein comprises several induction heating units associated with the transporter device in different positions along the longitudinal extension of the latter.

4 . Apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein said coil is defined by a plurality of spirals, and in that the spirals of the coil, or at least some of them, are attached mechanically against walls of said transporter device, to contain the electromagnetic repulsion forces that act on the coil.

5 . Apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein said coil is wound around to said transporter device and according to a winding axis substantially parallel to the direction of movement of said materials.

6 . Apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein said induction heating unit comprises at least two coils located facing each other and between which said transporter device is interposed, said coils being disposed with their winding axes substantially transverse to the direction of movement of said materials.

7 . Apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein said induction heating unit comprises at least a magnetic field concentrator device around which said at least one coil wind, said magnetic field concentrator device being suitable to concentrate the magnetic field toward said materials.

8 . Apparatus as in claim 7 , wherein said induction heating unit comprises at least two magnetic field concentrator devices disposed facing each other, said transporter device being interposed between said magnetic field concentrator devices.

9 . Apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein said transporter device comprises a mobile board conveyor with a mainly longitudinal development, defined by a channel with a cradle-type concave cross section, to contain the metal material inside it and associated with an actuation member of the vibrating type.

10 . Apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein a closing body is associated with said transporter device and is configured to define, by itself or in combination with parts of said transporter device, said closed chamber for the passage of said materials, with controlled environment conditions.

11 . Apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein said transporter device comprises a rotating drum hollow internally so as to contain said materials inside it, said rotating drum being rotatable around an axis of rotation parallel to the direction of movement of said materials.

12 . Melting plant comprising at least a melting furnace in which to melt mainly metal materials, a loading unit configured to feed said materials, and a heating and transfer apparatus as in claim 1 , said heating and transfer apparatus being interposed between said loading unit and said melting furnace and being configured to heat and move said materials, fed by said loading unit, to said melting furnace, at a temperature comprised between 300° C. and 800° C. and keeping them in a solid state.

13 . Method for melting metal materials which comprises transporting, using a transporter device, continuously and to a melting furnace, mainly metal materials in order to melt them, during the transport, said materials passing in a closed chamber of said transporter device, wherein during the transport of said materials it provides to heat said materials by electromagnetic induction to a temperature comprised between 300° C. and 800° C. and keeping them in a solid state, said heating being achieved by means of an induction heating unit comprising at least one coil which is mounted externally to the transporter device and generate an induced magnetic field in said materials.

Assignees

• Danieli Off Mecc
• Danieli Automation Spa

Inventors

• Mordeglia Antonello
• Morsut Stefano
• Codutti Andrea
• Guastini Fabio

Classifications

• H05B6/102

  the metal pieces being rotated while induction heated · CPC title

• C21C5/5252

  in an electrically heated multi-chamber furnace, a combination of electric furnaces or an electric furnace arranged for associated working with a non electric furnace · CPC title

• F27B3/183

  Charging of arc furnaces vertically through the roof, e.g. in three points · CPC title

• F27D13/002 Primary

  Preheating scrap · CPC title

• C21C5/565

  Preheating of scrap · CPC title