Impurity Collection Tool

Abstract

An impurity recovery tool capable of recovering impurities that settle at the bottom of molten metal is provided. [Solution] The impurity recovery tool includes a collection part that is submerged in the molten metal, and a rod-shaped operating part that is connected to the collection part to move the collection part above the bottom wall on which the impurities accumulate. The collection part includes a case body that has an opening for introducing impurities into the inside and is capable of holding the impurities. In the case body, a first part that is a part in the circumferential direction that surrounds the opening is connected to the operating part, and at least one of a second part that is a part facing the first part in the circumferential direction and a third part that is a part facing the opening is a liquid-passing part through which the molten metal can pass. The liquid-passing part includes at least a mesh-like layer that can capture impurities.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an impurity recovery device used to recover impurities that settle to the bottom of molten metal. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, a holding furnace holds molten metal produced by melting metals such as aluminum and aluminum alloys at a predetermined temperature. The molten metal held by the holding furnace contains impurities such as oxides, intermetallic compounds, and foreign bodies. The molten metal is pumped out from the pumping chamber of the holding furnace and used for casting, etc., but when the molten metal containing impurities is used for casting, the impurities are mixed into the casting as hard spots. When impurities are mixed into the casting, the casting suffers from quality defects such as defects and reduced performance.

[0003] As a device for removing impurities from molten metal, the applicant has proposed an impurity removal unit described in Patent Document 1. The impurity removal unit described in Patent Document 1 is installed, for example, between the holding chamber and the pumping chamber of a holding furnace. This prevents impurities floating on the surface of the molten metal in the holding chamber and impurities settling at the bottom of the molten metal from flowing from the holding chamber into the pumping chamber together with the molten metal, and as a result, prevents impurities from being mixed into the molten metal pumped out from the pumping chamber. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7445247 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] According to the impurity removal unit described in Patent Document 1, it is possible to prevent impurities from being mixed into the molten metal pumped out from the pumping chamber. However, the impurity removal unit described in Patent Document 1 is not intended to actively recover impurities in the holding chamber. At present, it is possible to recover impurities floating on the liquid surface of the molten metal in the holding chamber or pumping chamber of the holding furnace, but there is no tool or the like for recovering impurities that have settled at the bottom of the molten metal. If the impurities that have sunk and accumulated on the bottom wall of the holding furnace are scooped up with a shovel, for example, the settled impurities will be rolled up into the molten metal. Therefore, the impurities cannot be efficiently recovered, and the impurities will be dispersed in the molten metal. Therefore, the settled impurities are currently left on the bottom wall without being recovered.

[0006] However, if the precipitated impurities are left on the bottom wall as they are, the temperature of the molten metal may not be stably maintained because the impurities have a different thermal conductivity from the molten metal. In addition, the impurities may affect the refractory material of the holding furnace, which may damage the refractory material. In addition, in a holding furnace that uses an immersion heater to maintain the temperature of the molten metal at a predetermined temperature, the heating efficiency of the immersion heater for the molten metal decreases due to the accumulation of impurities in the immersion heater. Therefore, there is a risk that an extra amount of heat is required when heating the molten metal with the immersion heater to maintain the temperature of the molten metal. In addition, if a large amount of impurities have precipitated when removing the molten metal from the holding furnace for cleaning the inside of the furnace, the immersion heater may be damaged by the impurities.

[0007] Therefore, one of the objects of the present disclosure is to provide an impurity recovery device capable of recovering impurities that settle at the bottom of molten metal in a holding furnace or the like. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The impurity recovery tool according to the present disclosure is used when recovering impurities that settle at the bottom of molten metal. The impurity recovery tool according to the present disclosure includes a collection part that is submerged in the molten metal, and a rod-shaped operation part that is connected to the collection part to move the collection part on the bottom wall on which the impurities accumulate. The collection part includes a case body that has an opening for introducing the impurities into the inside and is capable of holding the impurities. In the case body, the operation part is connected to a first part that is a part in the circumferential direction that surrounds the opening, and at least one of a second part that is a part facing the first part in the circumferential direction and a third part that is a part facing the opening is a liquid passage part through which the molten metal can pass. The liquid passage part includes at least a net-like layer that can capture the impurities. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an impurity recovery tool capable of recovering impurities that settle at the bottom of molten metal in a holding furnace or the like. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a left side view of the impurity collector. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a right side view of the impurity collector. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the impurity collector. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the impurity collector. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a front view of the impurity collector. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a rear view of the impurity collector. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the case body taken along the line AA in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the case body taken along line BB in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the case body taken along line CC in FIG. [Figure 10A]FIG. 10A is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure for collecting impurities using the impurity collector. [Figure 10B] FIG. 10B is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure for collecting impurities using the impurity collector. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the holding furnace. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] [Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure] First, the embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. The impurity recovery tool according to the present disclosure is a tool for recovering impurities that settle at the bottom of molten metal and accumulate on the bottom wall of a facility that stores molten metal, thereby removing the impurities from the molten metal. The impurity recovery tool according to the present disclosure can be suitably used, for example, in a holding furnace (including a melting and holding furnace) that holds molten metal obtained by melting metal such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy at a predetermined temperature, when recovering impurities that settle at the bottom of molten metal stored in a holding chamber and a pumping chamber.

[0012] The impurity recovery tool according to the present disclosure includes a collection part that is submerged in molten metal, and a rod-shaped operating part that is connected to the collection part to move the collection part on a bottom wall on which the impurities accumulate. The collection part includes a case body that has an opening for introducing the impurities therein and is capable of holding the impurities. In the case body, a first part that is a part in a circumferential direction that surrounds the opening is connected to the operating part, and at least one of a second part that is a part facing the first part in the circumferential direction and a third part that is a part facing the opening is a liquid passage part through which the molten metal can pass. The liquid passage part includes at least a mesh-like layer that can capture the impurities.

[0013] When using the impurity recovery tool according to the present disclosure to recover impurities that have settled at the bottom of the molten metal, the user holds the operating part connected to the collection part in his / her hand, submerges the collection part in the molten metal, and then moves the collection part on the bottom wall on which the impurities are accumulated. As a result, the impurities that have settled on the bottom wall enter the inside of the case body through the opening of the case body in the collection part and are held in the case body. Therefore, the impurities that have settled at the bottom of the molten metal are prevented from rising up into the molten metal. In contrast, the molten metal that has entered the inside of the case body together with the impurities flows out to the outside of the case body through at least one of the liquid passing parts of the second and third parts of the case body. The liquid passing part includes a net-like layer that can capture impurities, and the impurities that have entered the inside of the case body are captured by the net-like layer and held inside the case body, and are prevented from flowing out to the outside of the case body together with the molten metal. Thus, the impurity recovery tool according to the present disclosure can recover impurities that have settled at the bottom of the molten metal.

[0014] In the impurity collector according to the present disclosure, the second part serving as the liquid passage part may further include a plate-like layer covering the net-like layer from the outside, and the plate-like layer may have a plurality of through holes. In the case body, the second part facing the first part to which the operation part is connected is a part that is pressed against the bottom wall when the collection part moves, and is easily deformed or damaged due to friction with the bottom wall. By configuring the impurity collector according to the present disclosure in this way, the net-like layer, which has a weak strength, is protected by the plate-like layer in the second part of the case body that is pressed against the bottom wall when the collection part moves, so that the net-like layer can be prevented from being deformed or damaged due to friction with the bottom wall. Note that, since a plurality of through holes are formed in the plate-like layer, the molten metal can pass through the second part of the case body. Therefore, the case body can discharge the molten metal to the outside.

[0015] In the impurity collector according to the present disclosure, the case body may be formed of a mesh-like cage-shaped main body capable of capturing the impurities, and a plate-shaped support provided at least along the circumferential direction of the cage-shaped main body and covering the cage-shaped main body from the outside, the operating unit may be connected to the support, and a plurality of through holes may be formed in a portion of the support facing the portion to which the operating unit is connected. By configuring the impurity collector according to the present disclosure in this manner, it is possible to make the structure simple.

[0016] In the impurity collector according to the present disclosure, the cage-shaped main body includes a first mesh part and a second mesh part facing each other, a third mesh part facing the opening, and a fourth mesh part and a fifth mesh part facing each other, the fourth mesh part and the fifth mesh part being cylindrically connected to the first mesh part and the second mesh part, and the support includes a first plate part covering the first mesh part and to which the operating part is connected, a second plate part covering the second mesh part, a third plate part covering the third mesh part, a fourth plate part covering the fourth mesh part, and a fifth plate part covering the fifth mesh part, and at least one of the second plate part and the third plate part may have a plurality of through holes formed therein. By configuring the impurity collector according to the present disclosure in this manner, the entire mesh-shaped cage-shaped main body, which has a weak strength, is protected by the plate-shaped support, so that deformation or damage of the cage-shaped main body can be effectively suppressed. In addition, at least one of the second plate part and the third plate part of the support has a plurality of through holes formed therein, so that the molten metal can pass through the plurality of through holes of the support. Therefore, the case body can discharge the molten metal to the outside.

[0017] In the impurity collector according to the present disclosure, the cage-shaped body may be made of carbon fiber, glass fiber, or ceramic fiber, and the support may be made of ceramic. With this configuration, the impurity collector according to the present disclosure has a cage-shaped body and a support made of non-metallic materials, so that even if the cage-shaped body and the support are immersed in the molten metal during impurity collection, other metals are not mixed into the molten metal. Therefore, even if the impurity collector is used in the molten metal, deterioration of the quality of the molten metal is suppressed.

[0018] In the impurity recovery tool according to the present disclosure, at least two of the operating parts may be arranged at intervals on the case body along an axial direction that is a direction toward and away from the opening, and the operating parts may be rotatably connected to the case body such that a second end opposite to the first end moves along the axial direction around a first end on the side connected to the case body. By configuring the impurity recovery tool according to the present disclosure in this manner, the case body can be rotated by the two operating parts, and the orientation of the case body (the orientation of the opening) can be easily changed in the molten metal.

[0019] [Details of the embodiment of the present disclosure] Next, an embodiment of an impurity collector according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are given the same reference numbers, and their description will not be repeated. Figs. 1 to 6 show the appearance of an impurity collector 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figs. 7 to 9 show the internal structure of the impurity collector 1. Figs. 10A and 10B show a method of using the impurity collector 1. Fig. 11 shows a schematic configuration of a holding furnace 10 in which the impurity collector 1 is used. It should be noted that the facility in which the impurity collector 1 is used is not limited to the holding furnace 10.

[0020] (Description of holding furnace) 11, the holding furnace 10 includes a holding chamber 11 that holds molten metal 100, which is molten metal such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy, while maintaining the molten metal 100 at a predetermined temperature, and a pumping chamber 12 that pumps out the molten metal 100. The molten metal 100 is supplied to the holding chamber 11 of the holding furnace 10, for example, from a melting furnace via a transfer trough or a transport ladle. Alternatively, if the holding furnace 10 is a melting and holding furnace further including a melting chamber for melting metal, the molten metal 100 is supplied to the holding chamber 11 from the melting chamber.

[0021] The holding furnace 10 is in the shape of a container with an opening at the top, and includes a bottom wall 13 and a side wall 14. The holding furnace 10 holds molten metal 100 in a space surrounded by the side wall 14 on the bottom wall 13. The holding chamber 11 and the pumping chamber 12 are partitioned by a partition wall 15, thereby defining the space. A lid 16 is removably provided on the top of the holding chamber 11. The molten metal 100 in the holding chamber 11 is heated by a heater and held at a temperature higher than the melting temperature of the metal. The heater may be, for example, a burner 17 or an immersion heater, and in the illustrated example, the burner 17 is attached to the lid 16.

[0022] A communication part 18 that communicates between the holding chamber 11 and the pumping chamber 12 is formed below the partition wall 15 and above the bottom wall 13. The molten metal 100 in the holding chamber 11 can move from the holding chamber 11 to the pumping chamber 12 through the communication part 18. When the molten metal 100 is stored in the pumping chamber 12 and the molten metal 100 in the pumping chamber 12 is pumped out and the liquid level of the molten metal 100 drops, the molten metal 100 in the holding chamber 11 moves to the pumping chamber 12.

[0023] The molten metal 100 contains impurities 101 such as oxides, intermetallic compounds, and foreign matter. The impurities 101 either settle at the bottom of the molten metal 100 or float on the liquid surface of the molten metal 100. The impurity recovery tool 1 is intended to recover the impurities 101 that settle at the bottom of the molten metal 100.

[0024] (Description of impurity collection device) 1 to 6 and 10A and 10B, impurity collector 1 includes collector 2 and rod-shaped operating unit 3 connected to collector 2. In impurity collector 1, collector 2 is a part that is submerged in molten metal 100 and collects impurities 101 that accumulate on bottom wall 13. In contrast, operating unit 3 is a part that is operated by a user to move collector 2 above bottom wall 13 on which impurities 101 accumulate.

[0025] (Explanation of the collection part) The collection unit 2 includes a case body 4 and a plate-shaped scraper 5 attached to the case body 4. The case body 4 takes in and retains impurities 101 accumulated on the bottom wall 13 from an opening 40. The scraper 5 is attached to the case body 4 in order to scrape off the impurities 101 adhering to the bottom wall 13 from the bottom wall 13.

[0026] Incidentally, the case body 4 retains the impurities 101 inside means that the impurities 101 do not leak out of the case body 4 from parts other than the opening 40 of the case body 4. However, this does not mean that the impurities 101 do not leak out completely, but rather that the impurities 101 are unlikely to leak out, and a small amount of impurities 101 leaking out is permitted.

[0027] (Case body description) 1 to 6, the case body 4 has an accommodation space for accommodating impurities therein and an opening 40 for introducing impurities into the accommodation space. In this embodiment, the case body 4 has a hexahedral shape, and one of the six faces of the case body 4 is entirely the opening 40. The case body 4 has a rectangular outer shape when viewed in the axial direction. The case body 4 includes a first part 41 and a second part 42 that face each other, a third part 43 that faces the opening 40, and a fourth part 44 and a fifth part 45 that face each other. The first part 41, the second part 42, the fourth part 44, and the fifth part 45 form a cylindrical body that is connected in a cylindrical shape, and the opening 40 is formed at one end of the case body 4 in the axial direction, and the third part 43 is connected to the other end in the axial direction. The axial direction is a direction approaching and receding from the opening 40, and is referred to as the front-rear direction in this disclosure.

[0028] The operation unit 3 is connected to a first portion 41, which is a circumferential portion of the case body 4. The circumferential direction of the case body 4 is a direction surrounding the opening 40 and perpendicular to the axial direction. The case body 4 moves on the bottom wall 13 with the first portion 41, to which the operation unit 3 is connected, and the second portion 42, which faces the first portion 41, horizontal, with the first portion 41 facing the upper surface and the second portion 42 facing the lower surface. In this embodiment, the first portion 41 and the second portion 42 have the same length along the axial direction, but the length along either of the axial directions may be greater.

[0029] 7 to 9, the case body 4 can be formed by a net-like cage-shaped main body 6 and a plate-shaped support 7. In the case body 4, the cage-shaped main body 6 is a portion that holds impurities 101 introduced into the inside through the opening 40. In contrast, the support 7 is a portion that covers the cage-shaped main body 6, which has weak strength, from the outside to protect the cage-shaped main body 6, thereby suppressing deformation or damage of the cage-shaped main body 6. In addition, the support 7 is a portion to which the operation unit 3 is connected.

[0030] The support 7 is fixed to the cage-shaped main body 6 by, for example, welding. The method of fixing the support 7 to the cage-shaped main body 6 is not particularly limited. By forming the impurity collector 1 using the cage-shaped main body 6 and the support 7, the impurity collector 1 can be formed with a simple structure.

[0031] The size of the mesh of the cage-shaped main body 6 is smaller than the size of the impurities 101, so that the cage-shaped main body 6 can capture the impurities 101 and hold the impurities 101 therein. Therefore, the size of the mesh of the cage-shaped main body 6 can be appropriately set according to the size of the impurities 101 precipitated in the facility that recovers the impurities 101 using the impurity recovery tool 1. For example, when the impurities 101 recovered by the impurity recovery tool 1 are about the size of a human fist, the size of the mesh of the cage-shaped main body 6 for suitably capturing the impurities 101 is about 50 mm. On the other hand, when the impurities 101 recovered by the impurity recovery tool 1 are fine dregs, the size of the mesh of the cage-shaped main body 6 for suitably capturing the impurities 101 is about 0.1 mm. In this way, the size of the mesh of the cage-shaped main body 6 can be appropriately changed according to the size of the impurities 101 to be recovered, and is, for example, 0.1 mm or less to 100 mm or less, but is not limited to the above-mentioned range.

[0032] The cage-shaped body 6 can be formed by weaving, in a net shape, heat-resistant fibers such as glass fiber, carbon fiber, ceramic fiber, etc., in addition to wires of metals such as alloy steels, e.g., stainless steel and carbon steel, or cast iron. Among these, when the cage-shaped body 6 is formed using nonmetallic fibers such as glass fiber, carbon fiber, ceramic fiber, etc., when the cage-shaped body 6 is immersed in the molten metal 100 during the collection of the impurities 101, it is possible to suppress other metals from dissolving and mixing into the molten metal 100, and therefore it is possible to prevent adverse effects on the quality of the molten metal 100.

[0033] The support 7 can be formed using, for example, metals such as alloy steels, such as stainless steel and carbon steel, or cast iron, as well as materials such as ceramics, which have excellent heat resistance, hardness, and wear resistance. Among these, when the support 7 is formed using a nonmetallic material, such as ceramics, it is possible to prevent other metals from dissolving and mixing into the molten metal 100 when the support 7 is immersed in the molten metal 100 during the recovery of the impurities 101, and therefore it is possible to prevent the quality of the molten metal 100 from being affected.

[0034] The support 7 is provided at least along the circumferential direction of the cage-shaped main body 6, and covers and protects at least the cylindrical portion of the cage-shaped main body 6 that surrounds the opening 40 from the outside. In this embodiment, the support 7 covers and protects the entire cage-shaped main body 6, including the portion of the cage-shaped main body 6 that faces the opening 40, from the outside.

[0035] The thickness of the support 7 can be set to an appropriate value, for example, taking into consideration the strength and weight of the support 7 depending on the material of the support 7.

[0036] In this embodiment, the cage-shaped main body 6 and the support 7 are hexahedral, and one of the six faces of the cage-shaped main body 6 and the support 7 is entirely an opening 40. The cage-shaped main body 6 and the support 7 have a rectangular outer shape when viewed in the axial direction. The cage-shaped main body 6 includes a first net portion 61 and a second net portion 62 opposed to each other, a third net portion 63 opposed to the opening 40, and a fourth net portion 64 and a fifth net portion 65 opposed to each other. The first net portion 61, the second net portion 62, the fourth net portion 64, and the fifth net portion 65 form a cylindrical body connected in a cylindrical shape. The support 7 includes a first plate portion 71 covering the first net portion 61 from the outside, a second plate portion 72 covering the second net portion 62 from the outside, a third plate portion 73 covering the third net portion 63 from the outside, a fourth plate portion 74 covering the fourth net portion 64 from the outside, and a fifth plate portion 75 covering the fifth net portion 65 from the outside. The first plate portion 71, the second plate portion 72, the fourth plate portion 74, and the fifth plate portion 75 form a cylindrical body connected together in a cylindrical shape.

[0037] That is, the case body 4 includes a mesh layer and a plate layer in all of the first part 41 to the fifth part 45. Specifically, the first part 41 of the case body 4 is formed by the first mesh part 61 of the cage-shaped main body 6 and the first plate part 71 of the support 7. The second part 42 of the case body 4 is formed by the second mesh part 62 of the cage-shaped main body 6 and the second plate part 72 of the support 7. The third part 43 of the case body 4 is formed by the third mesh part 63 of the cage-shaped main body 6 and the third plate part 73 of the support 7. The fourth part 44 of the case body 4 is formed by the fourth mesh part 64 of the cage-shaped main body 6 and the fourth plate part 74 of the support 7. The fifth part 45 of the case body 4 is formed by the fifth mesh part 65 of the cage-shaped main body 6 and the fifth plate part 75 of the support 7.

[0038] The operation unit 3 is connected to the first plate portion 71 of the support 7. In the support 7, a plurality of through holes 70 are formed at intervals in the second plate portion 72, which is a portion facing the first plate portion 71 to which the operation unit 3 is connected. The plurality of through holes 70 can be formed uniformly over the entire area of ​​the second plate portion 72. The second plate portion 72 is capable of passing the molten metal 100 due to the plurality of through holes 70 formed therein. As a result, the second portion 42 of the case body 4 formed by the second net portion 62 of the cage-shaped main body 6 and the second plate portion 72 of the support 7 functions as a liquid passage portion through which the molten metal 100 can pass. Therefore, the molten metal 100 that has entered the inside of the case body 4 together with the impurities 101 passes through the second portion 42 (liquid passage portion) of the case body 4, and the case body 4 can discharge the molten metal 100 to the outside.

[0039] Further, in the support 7, a third plate portion 73, which is a portion facing the opening 40, has a plurality of through holes 70 formed at intervals from each other. The plurality of through holes 70 can be uniformly formed over the entire area of ​​the third plate portion 73. The third plate portion 73 has a plurality of through holes 70 formed therein, so that the molten metal 100 can pass through. As a result, the third portion 43 of the case body 4 formed by the third net portion 63 of the cage-shaped main body 6 and the third plate portion 73 of the support 7 functions as a liquid passage portion through which the molten metal 100 can pass, similar to the second portion 42. Therefore, the molten metal 100 that has entered the inside of the case body 4 together with the impurities 101 can pass through the third portion 43 (liquid passage portion) in addition to the second portion 42, so that the case body 4 can satisfactorily discharge the molten metal 100 to the outside.

[0040] In this embodiment, the first plate portion 71, the fourth plate portion 74, and the fifth plate portion 75 of the support body 7 are not formed with the through holes 70, but multiple through holes 70 may be formed therein, similarly to the second plate portion 72 and the third plate portion 73. In this embodiment, multiple through holes 70 are formed in both the second plate portion 72 and the third plate portion 73 of the support body 7, but multiple through holes 70 may be formed in only one of the second plate portion 72 and the third plate portion 73.

[0041] The shape, size, pitch, number of holes per unit area, etc. of the through holes 70 are not particularly limited, and appropriate values ​​can be set taking into consideration, for example, the strength of each plate portion of the support body 7 and the ease with which the molten metal 100 flows out.

[0042] (Scraper description) The scraper 5 is provided on the second plate portion 72, which is a portion of the support 7 that faces the bottom wall 13 when the impurities 101 are collected. The scraper 5 protrudes from the tip (the end opposite the third plate portion 73) of the second plate portion 72 of the support 7. The tip of the scraper 5 may be sharpened by gradually reducing the thickness. This allows the scraper 5 to effectively peel off the impurities 101 adhering to the bottom wall 13 from the bottom wall 13.

[0043] (Explanation of the operation section) At least one operation unit 3 is connected to the first part 41 of the case body 4. In this embodiment, two operation units 3 are connected to the first part 41 of the case body 4, but only one operation unit 3 may be connected to the first part 41 of the case body 4, or three or more operation units 3 may be connected to the first part 41 of the case body 4. The two operation units 3 are arranged at an interval along the front-rear direction, which is the axial direction of the case body 4. In other words, one operation unit 3 of the two operation units 3 is connected to a position near the opening 40 in the first part 41 of the case body 4, and the other operation unit 3 is connected to a position near the third part 43 on the opposite side to the opening 40 in the first part 41 of the case body 4.

[0044] The operation unit 3 may be connected to the first part 41 of the case body 4 in a fixed state without rotating, or may be connected to the first part 41 of the case body 4 so as to be rotatable about the first end 31 on the connection side with the case body 4 as in this embodiment. The rotation direction of the operation unit 3 is the front-rear direction which is the axial direction of the case body 4. In other words, the operation unit 3 is connected to the case body 4 so as to be rotatable about the first end 31 such that the second end 32 on the opposite side to the first end 31 moves along the front-rear direction of the case body 4.

[0045] By the user pushing and pulling the two operating parts 3 in the forward and backward directions of the case body 4, the case body 4 can be rotated in the molten metal 100, as shown in Figures 10(A) and 10(B), and the orientation of the case body 4 (the orientation of the opening 40) can be easily changed.

[0046] There is no particular limitation on the structure for rotatably connecting the operation unit 3 to the first part 41 of the case body 4. For example, a bearing 8 consisting of a pair of plates is provided in the first part 41 of the case body 4, and a rotating shaft 9 provided in the bearing 8 is inserted through the second end 32 of the operation unit 3, thereby rotatably connecting the operation unit 3 to the first part 41 of the case body 4.

[0047] The operation unit 3 may be rod-shaped with a circular cross section as in this embodiment, or may be rod-shaped with a polygonal cross section such as a square cross section (including a shape similar to a flat plate). The operation unit 3 may extend in a straight line, or may extend in a straight line that is bent midway as in this embodiment. A handle 30 may be provided on the second end 32 of the operation unit 3 so that the user can easily hold the operation unit 3 in his or her hand as in this embodiment.

[0048] (How to use the impurity collection tool) Next, a method in which a user uses the impurity collector 1 to collect impurities 101 deposited on, for example, the bottom wall 13 of the holding chamber or pumping chamber of a holding furnace will be described.

[0049] First, as shown in (1) of FIG. 10A, the user operates the two operating parts 3 to rotate the case body 4 so that the opening 40 of the case body 4 faces downward, and in this state, immerses the case body 4 in the molten metal 100 while aligning it with the side wall 14. Then, as shown in (2) and (3) of FIG. 10A, when the case body 4 reaches the bottom wall 13, the user operates the two operating parts 3 to rotate the case body 4 so that the opening 40 of the case body 4 faces the opposite side to the side wall 14. Then, as shown in (4) of FIG. 10A, the user operates the two operating parts 3 to move the case body 4 on the bottom wall 13. As a result, the impurities 101 accumulated on the bottom wall 13 are collected in the case body 4. Then, as shown in (1) and (2) of Fig. 10B, when the case body 4 reaches the side wall 14 on the opposite side, the user operates the two operating parts 3 to rotate the case body 4 so that the opening 40 of the case body 4 faces upward, and then, as shown in (3) of Fig. 10B, lifts the case body 4 from the molten metal 100. This completes the operation of collecting the impurities 101.

[0050] (Explanation of the action and effect of the impurity collection device) The impurities 101 deposited on the bottom wall 13 enter the case body 4 through the opening 40 of the case body 4 and are held within the case body 4. Therefore, the impurities 101 that have settled at the bottom of the molten metal 100 are prevented from rising up into the molten metal 100. On the other hand, the molten metal 100 that has entered the case body 4 together with the impurities 101 passes through the second part 42 and the third part 43 that serve as the liquid passage part in the case body 4 and flows out of the case body 4. Since the liquid passage part includes the second net part 62 and the third net part 63 that are mesh layers capable of capturing the impurities 101, the impurities 101 are held within the case body 4 and are prevented from flowing out of the case body 4 together with the molten metal 100. Therefore, the impurity recovery tool 1 can recover the impurities 101 that settle at the bottom of the molten metal 100.

[0051] (Modification) The support 7 may not include the third plate portion 73. In other words, the third portion 43 of the case body 4 may be formed only by the third mesh portion 63 which is a mesh-like layer, or the third mesh portion 63 may be exposed.

[0052] The support 7 may be formed only by the first plate portion 71 and the second plate portion 72. In other words, the third portion 43 to the fifth portion 45 of the case body 4 may be formed only by the third mesh portion 63 to the fifth mesh portion 65, which are mesh layers, or the fifth mesh portion 65 may be exposed from the third mesh portion 63.

[0053] The support 7 may be formed only by the first plate portion 71 to which the operation unit 3 is connected. In other words, the second portion 42 to the fifth portion 45 of the case body 4 may be formed only by the second mesh portion 62 to the fifth mesh portion 65, which are mesh layers, or the fifth mesh portion 65 may be exposed from the second mesh portion 62.

[0054] The case body 4 does not have to be formed by the cage-shaped main body 6 and the support 7. For example, in the support 7, a planar mesh member capable of capturing impurities 101 may be provided on the inside of at least one of the second plate portion 72 and the third plate portion 73 in which the multiple through holes 70 are formed and which serve as a liquid passage portion. In this modified example, for example, when a mesh member is provided on the inside of the second plate portion 72 of the support 7, the support 7 may not include the second plate portion 72 and the mesh member may be exposed. Similarly, when a mesh member is provided on the inside of the third plate portion 73 of the support 7, the support 7 may not include the third plate portion 73 and the mesh member may be exposed.

[0055] The second portion 42 of the case body 4 may not be flat, but may be curved so as to protrude downward. Also, the third portion 43 of the case body 4 may not be flat, but may be curved so as to protrude outward.

[0056] The outer shape of case body 4 as viewed in the axial direction need not be rectangular, but may be a square, a circle, an ellipse, a polygon other than a rectangle, or the like.

[0057] It should be understood that the embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and are not limiting in any respect. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 1 impurity collecting device, 2 collecting section, 3 operating section, 4 case body, 5 scraper, 6 cage-shaped body, 7 support, 8 bearing, 9 rotating shaft, 10 holding furnace, 11 holding chamber, 12 pumping chamber, 13 bottom wall, 14 side wall, 15 partition wall, 16 lid, 17 burner, 18 communication section, 30 handle, 31 first end of operating section, 32 second end of operating section, 40 opening of case body, 41 first part, 42 second part, 43 third part, 44 fourth part, 45 fifth part, 61 first net part, 62 second net part, 63 third net part, 64 fourth net part, 65 fifth net part, 70 through hole, 71 first plate part, 72 second plate part, 73 third plate part, 74 fourth plate part, 75 fifth plate part, 100 Molten metal, 101 Impurities

Claims

1. An impurity recovery device for recovering impurities that settle at the bottom of a molten metal, A collection section that is submerged in the molten metal; a rod-shaped operating part connected to the collecting part for moving the collecting part on the bottom wall on which the impurities are accumulated; Equipped with the collection unit includes a case body having an opening for introducing the impurities therein and capable of holding the impurities; In the case body, a first portion which is a part in a circumferential direction surrounding the opening is connected to the operation portion, and at least one of a second portion which is a part facing the first portion in the circumferential direction and a third portion which is a part facing the opening is a liquid passage portion through which the molten metal can pass, The impurity recovery device, wherein the liquid passing portion includes at least a mesh layer capable of capturing the impurities.

2. The second portion serving as the liquid passage portion further includes a plate-like layer covering the net-like layer from the outside, The impurity recovery tool according to claim 1 , wherein the plate-like layer has a plurality of through holes formed therein.

3. The case body is formed by a mesh-like cage-shaped main body capable of capturing the impurities, and a plate-shaped support member provided at least along a circumferential direction of the cage-shaped main body and covering the cage-shaped main body from the outside, The impurity recovery tool according to claim 1 , wherein the operating portion is connected to the support body, and a plurality of through holes are formed in a portion of the support body opposite to the portion to which the operating portion is connected.

4. The cage-shaped body includes: A first net portion and a second net portion opposed to each other; A third net portion facing the opening; A fourth net portion and a fifth net portion opposed to each other, the fourth net portion and the fifth net portion being cylindrically connected to the first net portion and the second net portion; Including, The support is A first plate portion that covers the first net portion and to which the operating portion is connected; A second plate portion covering the second net portion; A third plate portion covering the third net portion; A fourth plate portion covering the fourth net portion; A fifth plate portion covering the fifth net portion; Including, The impurity recovery tool according to claim 3 , wherein at least one of the second plate portion and the third plate portion has a plurality of through holes formed therein.

5. 4. The impurity collector according to claim 3, wherein the cage-shaped body is made of carbon fiber, glass fiber or ceramic fiber, and the support is made of ceramic.

6. At least two of the operation units are disposed at intervals on the case body along an axial direction that is a direction toward and away from the opening, The impurity recovery device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the operating portion is rotatably connected to the case body such that a second end portion opposite to a first end portion connected to the case body moves along the axial direction around a first end portion connected to the case body.

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