Control pin and spout system for heating metal casting distribution spout configurations

Abstract

A control pin system, including an apparatus and method, for use in controlling the flow of molten metal in a molten metal distribution system for casting, with some aspects of the control pin including: a control pin body with an internal cavity and an outer surface, wherein the outer surface is sized and configured to operatively interact with an internal surface of a spout to effectively control the flow of molten metal through a spout aperture; and a heater element within the internal cavity of the control pin body. In other embodiments, the heater may be located within the spout body and transferring heat to the control pin.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application does not claim priority from any other application.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]This invention pertains to a control pin and spout system for pre-heating and / or heating the metal casting distribution spout configurations for pouring non-ferrous metal such as molten aluminum into casting molds; more particularly, a metal flow control pin and / or spout configuration which provides heat before, during and / or after casting at the metal flow control pin and / or spout.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Metal ingots, billets and other castparts may be formed by a casting process which utilizes a vertically oriented mold situated above a large casting pit beneath the floor level of the metal casting facility, although this invention may also be utilized in horizontal molds. The lower component of the vertical casting mold is a starting block. When the casting process begins, the starting blocks are in their upward-most position and in the mol...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

It is generally desired to avoid any solidification of the molten metal in the distribution system and substantial efforts are employed to avoid solidification as it may result in blockages and require that casts be aborted, which consequently results in undesirable down time of the production of the non-ferrous metal.

Solidification of a sufficient amount of molten metal at the spout area results in the uneven flow of molten metal into one mold versus another in a mold table with multiple molds and may lead to blockage of the spout and / or the need to abort a cast before it is completed.

Three steps result in a shutdown of the system, cleaning of the freeze up area and then re-starting or initiating the casting process (which takes unnecessary time and requires unnecessary expense).

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