Ladle lid, and melting equipment employing ladle lid

Abstract

[Problem] To efficiently add a metal wire into molten metal by creating a positive pressure state inside a ladle. [Solution] A ladle lid 1 according to the present invention comprises a lid main body 20 that airtightly closes an opening portion 5a of a ladle 5 containing molten metal, a wire rod supply unit 17 that penetrates through the lid main body 20 in a vertical direction and supplies a Mg wire rod into the molten metal, and a venting unit 27 that discharges fumes generated by supplying the Mg wire rod into the molten metal to the outside of the ladle, wherein the venting unit comprises: a vent pipe 28 that penetrates through the lid main body 20 in a vertical direction and has an upper end that protrudes upward; a closing plate portion 29 that closes the upper end of the vent pipe 28; a guiding means 30 that guides the closing plate portion 29 vertically between a closed position CP in which the upper end of the vent pipe 28 is closed by the closing plate portion 29 and an open position OP in which the closing plate portion 29 is separated upward from the upper end of the vent pipe 28 to allow fumes to circulate; and a load adjusting unit 31 that is provided on the closing plate portion 29 to attach loads having different weights thereto.

Description

Ladle lid and melting equipment using the ladle lid

[0001] This invention relates to a ladle lid and a melting apparatus using a ladle lid.

[0002] Conventionally, wire processing devices are known that supply metal wires, such as magnesium, to a ladle used to transport or adjust the composition of molten metal obtained by melting metal, thereby adjusting the composition of the molten metal.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a wire processing device comprising a ladle for containing molten metal and a lid covering the opening of the ladle. The lid of the wire processing device in Patent Document 1 has a guide tube formed therein through which a metal wire (Mg wire) is inserted vertically, allowing the metal wire to be supplied to the molten metal via the guide tube. When the metal wire is supplied to the molten metal, the Mg is rapidly heated at the point of contact with the molten metal, generating MgO fumes. The wire processing device in Patent Document 1 is provided with an exhaust pipe for discharging the fumes from the ladle, and a guide tube for guiding the metal wire is provided inside the exhaust pipe. In other words, the guide tube provided in the wire processing device in Patent Document 1 also serves as the exhaust pipe.

[0004] Patent Document 2 discloses a ladle lid that covers the opening of a ladle, comprising a flange on its periphery, a lid body that rises from the flange to create a space between itself and the opening of the ladle, and a protruding portion on the lower surface of the flange that extends downward from the flange, wherein the lid body is provided with a chimney that communicates with the aforementioned space.

[0005] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2019-63848 Japanese Patent Publication No. 2016-137501

[0006] To exhaust MgO fumes from inside the ladle, the wire processing apparatus in Patent Document 1 is provided with an exhaust pipe, and the ladle lid in Patent Document 2 is provided with a chimney. Since the fumes exhausted outside the ladle contain fine MgO particles, it is necessary to place a fume hood outside the ladle to further exhaust the fumes. As a result, the inside of the fume hood is under reduced pressure, and the inside of the ladle is also under reduced pressure due to the reduced pressure inside the fume hood.

[0007] In this context, considering the efficiency of adding metal wire to the molten metal, it is preferable to maintain a positive pressure state in the ladle as much as possible. Maintaining a reduced pressure state in the ladle, as described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, is undesirable when considering the efficiency of the addition process.

[0008] The atmosphere inside the ladle naturally transitions to a positive pressure state due to the influence of the high-temperature molten metal, provided the ladle is airtight. However, if an exhaust pipe or chimney is provided that communicates with the inside and outside of the ladle, as in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the inside of the fume hood remains under reduced pressure. Therefore, it was difficult to efficiently add Mg wire to the molten metal using the ladles (melting equipment) described in Patent Documents 1 and 2.

[0009] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a ladle lid and melting equipment using the ladle lid that can be exhausted while maintaining an airtight state inside the ladle, and can efficiently add metal wire to the molten metal by creating a positive pressure state inside the ladle.

[0010] To solve the above problems, the ladle lid of the present invention employs the following technical means.

[0011] The ladle lid of the present invention has an opening that opens upward and seals the opening airtightly to a ladle containing molten metal, and comprises a lid body that closes the opening, a wire supply section that penetrates the lid body vertically and supplies Mg wire to the molten metal, and an exhaust section that discharges fumes generated when the Mg wire is supplied to the molten metal from the inside of the ladle to the outside, wherein the exhaust section comprises a vent pipe that penetrates the lid body vertically and whose upper end protrudes upward from the lid body, a closing plate section that closes the upper end of the vent pipe, a guide means for guiding the closing plate section between a closed position in which the upper end of the vent pipe is closed by the closing plate section and an open position in which the closing plate section is separated upward from the upper end of the vent pipe, allowing the fumes to flow, and a load adjustment section provided on the closing plate section for attaching loads of different weights to the closing plate section.

[0012] The guiding means may include a shaft member that is attached to the outer side of the outer peripheral surface of the ventilation pipe and extends in the vertical direction, and an insertion hole that is formed in the closing plate portion and through which the shaft member is inserted so as to be movable in the vertical direction.

[0013] A positioning portion for positioning the closing plate portion at the open position may be provided at the upper end of the shaft member, and an upper position adjusting portion for changing the vertical position of the positioning portion may be provided at the lower end portion of the shaft member.

[0014] The positioning portion has a flange body having an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the insertion hole, a male screw portion is formed at the lower end portion of the shaft member, the upper position adjusting portion has a nut portion that engages with the male screw portion, and the nut portion may be fixed to the upper end of the ventilation pipe that protrudes upward from the lid body.

[0015] The guiding means is provided at the upper end of the ventilation pipe and has a hinge portion that connects the closing plate portion to the upper end of the ventilation pipe so as to be swingable. The guiding means may guide the closing plate portion between the closed position where the upper end of the ventilation pipe is closed by the closing plate portion and the open position where the closing plate portion is swung upward with respect to the upper end of the ventilation pipe using the hinge portion, and the fume flows through the open position.

[0016] In addition, the melting equipment provided with the cooking pot lid of the present invention takes the following technical means.

[0017] The melting equipment of the present invention has an opening that opens upward and a cooking pot in which molten metal is accommodated, a cooking pot lid that hermetically closes the opening of the cooking pot, a roller conveyor that guides the cooking pot in the horizontal direction, and a draft chamber that is provided on the movement path of the roller conveyor and covers the periphery of the cooking pot. The draft chamber has an exhaust device that exhausts the fume exhausted from the cooking pot lid, and a wire supply portion that supplies Mg wire in the vertical direction through the cooking pot lid.

[0018] According to the ladle cover of the present invention and the melting equipment using the ladle cover, exhaust can be carried out while keeping the inside of the ladle in an airtight state, and the metal wire can be efficiently added to the molten metal by making the inside of the ladle in a positive pressure state.

[0019] It is a cross-sectional view of the melting equipment of the first embodiment cut along the vertical direction at the center of the ladle, seen from the rear. It is a cross-sectional view of the melting equipment of the first embodiment cut along the vertical direction at the center of the ladle, seen from the front. It is a three-view drawing (plan view, front view, right side view) of the ladle of the first embodiment. (a) is a plan view of the ladle cover of the first embodiment, and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of (a). (a) is a cross-sectional view of the exhaust part of the ladle cover according to the first embodiment cut along the vertical direction, and (b) is a plan view of the exhaust part. (a) is a diagram showing the operation of adjusting the pressure inside the ladle to a low pressure by the guiding means of the first embodiment, and (b) is a diagram showing the operation of adjusting the pressure inside the ladle to a high pressure. It is a diagram showing the operation of adjusting the pressure inside the ladle by the guiding means of the second embodiment. (a) is a bottom view of the dust collection hood provided in the draft chamber of the melting device of the first embodiment, and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of (a).

[0020] Hereinafter, embodiments of the ladle cover 1 and the melting equipment 2 according to the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings.

[0021] The melting equipment 2 provided with the ladle cover 1 of the present embodiment will be described using FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the melting equipment 2 of the present embodiment cut along the vertical direction at the center of the ladle 5, and is a view seen from the rear of the cut surface. Although the slide door part 3 and the slide door lifting device 4 provided behind the cut surface are not originally visible in FIG. 1, for convenience of explanation, the slide door part 3 and the slide door lifting device 4 are shown by a two-dot chain line.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the melting equipment 2 of the present embodiment cut along the vertical direction at the center of the ladle 5, and is a view seen from the front of the cut surface. Although the ladle cover lifting means (cover lifting means 6) provided in front of the cut surface is not originally visible in FIG. 2, for convenience of explanation, the ladle cover lifting means (cover lifting means 6) is shown by a two-dot chain line.

[0024] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the melting equipment 2 of the present invention has a ladle 5 having an opening 5a that opens upward. In the melting equipment 2 of the present invention, the ladle 5 is movable in the front-rear direction along the conveying surface 7a of a plurality of roller conveyors 7, and the molten metal is adjusted by supplying Mg wire into the ladle 5 at a wire supply position provided on the movement path (a movement path set in the front-rear direction along the conveying surface 7a).

[0025] Specifically, the roller conveyor 7 provided in the melting equipment 2 of this embodiment is a component called a free roller conveyor, and has a plurality of rotatable conveyor rollers 8. Each conveyor roller 8 is arranged in a line such that the upper end of the roller surface is aligned along the transport surface 7a that extends in the front-rear direction. Each conveyor roller 8 is rotatably mounted to a base 9 installed on the floor or the like. By arranging a plurality of conveyor rollers 8 in a line in the front-rear direction and making each conveyor roller 8 rotatable, the ladle 5 placed on the transport surface 7a of the roller conveyor 7 can be moved in the front-rear direction. In this embodiment, the roller conveyor 7 is described as having rotatable conveyor rollers 8, but in the melting equipment 2 of the present invention, the conveyor rollers 8 may be rotated using an electric motor or the like so that the ladle 5 can be moved in any direction, or the ladle 5 may be moved using balls or the like instead of rollers.

[0026] A wire supply position for supplying Mg wire to the ladle 5 is set along the forward-backward movement path (conveyor path). In this embodiment, the wire supply position is located at the end (front end) of the roller conveyor 7. This is because the melting equipment 2 of this embodiment has a wire supply position at the end of the roller conveyor 7, and is configured to supply Mg wire to the ladle 5 that has been transported forward toward the wire supply position via the roller conveyor 7, perform composition adjustment, and then transport the ladle 5 after composition adjustment backward via the same roller conveyor 7. However, in the case of melting equipment 2 in which the ladle 5 that has been transported to the wire supply position via the roller conveyor 7 is transported out via the roller conveyor 7 in the same direction (for example, when it is transported forward and transported forward), the wire supply position may be located in the middle of the movement path of the roller conveyor 7.

[0027] In other words, the melting equipment 2 includes a ladle 5, a roller conveyor 7, a ladle lid 1, a lid lifting mechanism 6, and a fume hood 10.

[0028] Hereafter, in the description of the ladle lid 1 and the melting equipment 2, the left side of Figure 1 will be referred to as the left side when describing the melting equipment 2 and the ladle lid 1 (ladle 5). Similarly, the right side of Figure 1 will be referred to as the right side when describing the melting equipment 2 and the ladle lid 1 (ladle 5). Furthermore, the direction that penetrates the plane of Figure 1 and moves towards the back (the downstream side in the transport direction when the ladle 5 is brought to the wire supply position) will be referred to as the front, and the direction that penetrates the plane of Figure 1 and moves towards the front (the upstream side in the transport direction when the ladle 5 is brought to the wire supply position) will be referred to as the rear. These directions are shown in the drawings as appropriate.

[0029] In this embodiment, the wire supply position is located at the front end of the movement path (conveying path) of the roller conveyor 7, as described above. A draft chamber 10 is located at this wire supply position to exhaust fumes that have been exhausted outside the ladle 5 from inside the chamber.

[0030] The draft chamber 10 has a frame 11 installed on the floor or the like. The frame 11 in this embodiment has four support columns 11a that are provided at the four horizontal corners (rear left, rear right, front right, and front left corners) and extend vertically, and four crossbars 11b that are spanned between the upper ends of adjacent support columns 11a in the front-rear and left-right directions and extend horizontally (front-rear and left-right directions). A panel 11c is attached to the top of the frame 11 to prevent fumes exhausted outside the ladle 5 from flowing out of the chamber C2. The panels 11c are arranged around the ladle 5, on the front, back, left, and right, at a predetermined distance from the ladle 5, so as to surround the ladle 5. The panels 11c provided on the front, back, left, and right create a space around the ladle 5 that is isolated from the outside. The panels 11c in this embodiment are made of iron plates to prevent molten metal from splashing.

[0031] In this specification, the area surrounding the ladle 5 enclosed by the four panels 11c (the area located inside the four panels 11c when projected onto a horizontal plane) is referred to as "inside the chamber C1," and the area outside the panels 11c (the area located outside the four panels 11c when projected onto a horizontal plane) is referred to as "outside the chamber C2."

[0032] The panels 11c, positioned in front, to the left, and to the right of the draft chamber 10, are arranged so that their lower ends are below the upper end of the ladle 5 (in a mounted state where their lower ends extend below the upper end of the ladle 5) to prevent fumes exhausted from the ladle 5 or ladle lid 1 to the outside of the ladle 5 (inside the chamber C1) from leaking out to the outside of the chamber C2.

[0033] The panel 11c positioned at the rear of the fume hood 10 is positioned so that its lower end is above the upper end of the ladle 5, so as not to come into contact with the ladle 5 being fed into it. However, if the lower end of the panel 11c positioned at the rear of the fume hood 10 is above the upper end of the ladle 5, there is a possibility that fumes exhausted outside the ladle 5 (inside the chamber C1) may leak out of the chamber C2 through the gap between the rear panel 11c and the ladle 5. Therefore, the fume hood 10 in this embodiment has a sliding door section 3 on the rear panel 11c that moves up and down in the vertical direction.

[0034] The sliding door section 3 (sometimes called a shutter or sliding window) is mounted so as to be approximately parallel to the panel 11c located at the rear. In this embodiment, the sliding door section 3 is formed using a steel plate or the like, similar to the panel 11c.

[0035] The fume hood 10 has a sliding door lifting device 4 that moves the sliding door section 3 up and down. The sliding door lifting device 4 moves the sliding door section 3 downward to close the gap between the lower end of the rear panel 11c and the upper end of the ladle 5, preventing fumes from leaking out of the chamber into the outside C2 through this gap. In addition, when the ladle 5 is being loaded into or unloaded from the chamber into the outside C2, the sliding door lifting device 4 moves the sliding door section 3 upward to retract the rear panel 11c above the height at which it would contact the ladle 5, allowing the ladle 5 to move without hindrance.

[0036] The sliding door lifting device 4 of this embodiment includes a sliding door lifting cable 12 with one end attached to the upper end of the sliding door section 3, a sliding door cable guide section 13 provided above the sliding door section 3 which guides the sliding door lifting cable 12 so that one end hangs vertically downward and the other end hangs vertically downward outside the chamber C2, and a sliding door weight 14 attached to the other end of the sliding door lifting cable 12.

[0037] Specifically, the sliding door lifting cable 12 in this embodiment uses a metal chain with excellent strength. The sliding door cable guide section 13 uses a pulley or chain wheel that can wind and guide the sliding door lifting cable 12. The sliding door weight 14 has approximately the same weight as the sliding door section 3 and balances it. When multiple sliding door weights 14 are installed, the weight is the weight of the sliding door section 3 divided by the number of installed weights.

[0038] In this embodiment, the sliding door lifting device 4 has a sliding door rope winding unit 15 located in the upper left of the frame 11 for winding the sliding door lifting rope 12, and the sliding door section 3 can be raised and lowered by winding or unwinding the sliding door lifting rope 12. The sliding door rope winding unit 15 is also equipped with a brake function to prevent the winding speed of the sliding door lifting rope 12 from becoming too high. In this embodiment, a chain is used for the sliding door lifting rope 12, so the sliding door rope winding unit 15 is equipped with a chain wheel capable of winding the chain and an electric motor that rotates the chain wheel.

[0039] In this embodiment, the sliding door rope winding unit 15 uses an electric motor to rotate a chain wheel in a direction that can be freely switched between forward and reverse, thereby enabling the sliding door lifting rope 12 to be unwound and rewound, and the sliding door unit 3 to be raised and lowered vertically. The sliding door lifting device 4 is also equipped with a lower position sensor that detects when the sliding door unit 3 has lowered to a lower position where its lower end is at the same height as the lower end of the front, left, or right panel 11c, and an upper position sensor that detects when the sliding door unit 3 has risen to an upper position where its lower end is above the upper end of the ladle 5 or ladle lid 1 (not shown). By providing the lower position sensor and the upper position sensor, the sliding door unit 3 can be automatically raised and lowered (opened and closed). For example, if the lower position sensor detects the lower end of the sliding door section 3, stopping the rotation of the electric motor will stop the sliding door section 3 at a predetermined lowered position. Conversely, if the upper position sensor no longer detects the lower end of the sliding door section 3, stopping the rotation of the electric motor will stop the sliding door section 3 at a predetermined raised position.

[0040] The fume hood 10 has an exhaust device 16 that sucks in fumes exhausted into the chamber C1. In this embodiment, the exhaust device 16 is located at the top of the chamber C1. The fume hood 10 has an intake port 16a that opens to the top of the chamber C1, and a ventilation passage 16b whose one end communicates with the intake port 16a. In this embodiment, the intake port 16a is provided in a penetrating manner at the top of the panel 11c located on the left side, and connects the chamber C1 to the outside of the chamber C2. An exhaust fan or the like is provided at the other end of the ventilation passage 16b to suck in fumes that have flowed through the ventilation passage 16b. The other end of the ventilation passage 16b may extend to another location (such as outside the building) via the exhaust fan. The fume hood 10 may also be equipped with a filter or the like to remove particulate components such as MgO from the fumes that have flowed through the ventilation passage 16b.

[0041] Furthermore, the exhaust device 16 of this embodiment is equipped with a dust collection hood 16c that collects (concentratedly sucks in) the fumes exhausted into the chamber C1 and sends them to the intake port 16a. In other words, the exhaust device 16 of this embodiment efficiently exhausts only the fumes, rather than exhausting the entire chamber C1, by collecting the fumes using the dust collection hood 16c.

[0042] As shown in Figures 8(a) and 8(b), the dust collection hood 16c is positioned above the chamber C1. In this embodiment, the dust collection hood 16c is suspended from a crossbar 11b extending in the left-right direction using bolts or the like. The dust collection hood 16c is formed in a cylindrical shape and has a hood opening 50 on its bottom surface that opens downwards. The dust collection hood 16c is designed to draw fumes into the hood from below through the hood opening 50 and send the drawn-in fumes to the intake port 16a formed on the upper part of the panel 11c.

[0043] Specifically, the dust collection hood 16c has a hood opening 50 that opens downward at the lower center, an inclined surface portion 51 formed around the hood opening 50 (outer circumference), an annular bottom portion 52 formed adjacent to the outer circumference of the inclined surface portion 51, a cylindrical surface portion 53 extending upward from the outer edge of the bottom portion 52, and an upper surface portion 54 that closes the upper end of the cylindrical surface portion 53. The inclined surface portion 51 is formed as a conical surface that slopes inward towards the inner circumference as it goes upward, and by making the opening area at the top smaller than that at the bottom, the dust collection speed (suction speed) when sucking up fumes can be accelerated. There is a narrow clearance in the vertical direction between the upper end of the inclined surface portion 51 and the upper surface portion 54, and the space between the upper end of the inclined surface portion 51 and the upper surface portion 54 is a narrow passage 55 that sucks fumes sucked in from the hood opening 50 into the inside of the hood. The constriction 55 is formed around the entire circumference and is in communication with the hood opening 50, so that fumes exhausted from any direction in the circumferential direction can be sucked in without leakage. In addition, because the constriction 55 is formed with a narrow clearance in the vertical direction, the dust collection speed (suction speed) of fumes that have moved along the conical inclined surface 51 to the upper end of the inclined surface 51 can be further accelerated, and fumes can be drawn into the hood with strong suction force.

[0044] The interior (inside the hood), enclosed by the inclined surface 51, bottom surface 52, cylindrical surface 53, and top surface 54, is a circumferentially continuous annular cavity, allowing fumes that have passed through the narrow passage 55 to be transported along the circumferential direction. A hood exhaust port 56, which communicates with the intake port 16a, is formed on the left side of the cylindrical surface 53. The hood exhaust port 56 penetrates the cylindrical surface 53 in the left-right direction, allowing fumes sucked into the dust collection hood 16c to be transported to the ventilation passage 16b.

[0045] The upper surface portion 54 is formed with a wire insertion portion 57 for inserting an Mg wire in the vertical direction and a lid lifting cable insertion portion 58 for inserting a lid lifting cable in the vertical direction. The wire insertion portion 57 is formed in a cylindrical shape along the vertical direction, allowing the Mg wire to be inserted into the cylinder. The lid lifting cable insertion portion 58 is also formed in a cylindrical shape along the vertical direction, allowing the lid lifting cable 6a to be inserted into the cylinder. Because the concentration of fumes is high inside the hood opening 50, the cylindrical wire insertion portion 57 and lid lifting cable insertion portion 58 make it possible to move the Mg wire and lid lifting cable 6a in the vertical direction without them coming into contact with the high-concentration fumes.

[0046] By providing the dust collection hood 16c described above, the inclined surface portion 51 formed on a conical surface that widens downwards and the narrow passage 55 formed with a narrow clearance in the vertical direction work synergistically, allowing for efficient dust collection (suction) without leakage of leaked fumes, even without increasing the dust collection airflow.

[0047] The draft chamber 10 has a wire supply unit 17 at the top of the frame 11. Specifically, an upper casing 18 is provided at the upper opening of the frame 11, which is surrounded by four slats 11b extending in the left-right and front-back directions. The upper casing 18 is positioned to close the upper opening of the frame 11. The wire supply unit 17 is located inside the upper casing 18. The wire supply unit 17 supplies Mg wire to the ladle 5 that has been transported, by letting it hang down in the vertical direction (approximately vertical direction). The Mg wire supplied from the wire supply unit 17 descends vertically through the chamber C1, passes through the ladle lid 1 (described later) in the vertical direction, and is supplied to the molten metal contained in the ladle 5.

[0048] As shown in Figure 3, the ladle 5 has a bottomed cylindrical ladle body 5b. An opening 5a is formed at the top of the ladle body 5b, opening upwards. The ladle body 5b has a metal outer plate 5c and a refractory layer 5d provided on the inside of the outer plate 5c. The refractory layer 5d is fixed to the outer plate 5c. The inside of the ladle body 5b is formed in an inverted truncated cone shape, with the inner diameter decreasing towards the bottom, allowing molten metal to be contained within the refractory layer 5d.

[0049] As shown in Figure 3, the ladle 5 has a left shaft portion 5e that protrudes to the left from the left side and a right shaft portion 5f that protrudes to the right from the right side. The left shaft portion 5e and the right shaft portion 5f are arranged coaxially and are integrally attached to the ladle body 5b. The left shaft portion 5e and the right shaft portion 5f are provided to tilt the ladle body 5b when pouring molten metal from the ladle 5 after the component adjustment with Mg wire has been completed in the next process.

[0050] A tilting mechanism 5g is provided at the tip (left end) of the left shaft portion 5e for tilting the ladle 5 via the left shaft portion 5e and the right shaft portion 5f. The tilting mechanism 5g is composed of multiple gears and, when connected to a drive shaft or the like provided in the hot water dispensing equipment, allows power to be input to tilt the ladle body 5b. Note that if the left shaft portion 5e and the right shaft portion 5f are directly connected to the hot water dispensing equipment, the tilting mechanism 5g does not need to be provided on the ladle 5 and may be provided on the hot water dispensing equipment.

[0051] The ladle 5 has a molten metal outlet 5h on its rear side. The molten metal outlet 5h protrudes horizontally toward the rear, and a molten metal outlet 5i is formed at its tip (rear end). The upper surface of the molten metal outlet 5h is a substantially flat surface extending horizontally, and the lower surface of the molten metal outlet 5h is an inclined surface that slopes upward toward the rear. The molten metal outlet 5h, like the ladle 5, has a metal outer plate and a refractory layer provided on the inside of the outer plate, fixed to the outer plate. A passage 5j through which molten metal flows is formed inside the refractory layer in the molten metal outlet 5h. The front end of the passage 5j communicates with the inside of the ladle 5, and the rear end of the passage 5j communicates with the molten metal outlet 5i.

[0052] In other words, in the ladle 5, when the ladle body 5b is tilted using the tilting mechanism 5g, the molten metal moves from the inside of the ladle 5 to the outlet 5i through the passage 5j, and the molten metal is dispensed from the outlet 5i of the outlet section 5h.

[0053] As described above, the ladle body 5b is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape, and the upper opening 5a is annular. Because a part of the ladle body 5b is made of refractory material, it is difficult to airtightly close the upper opening 5a of the ladle body 5b even if one attempts to close it with the ladle lid 1. Therefore, a nozzle 19 that can be airtightly sealed to the upper opening 5a of the ladle body 5b is provided.

[0054] The ferrule 19 is made of a heat-resistant metal and is formed into a short cylindrical shape with a short vertical dimension. The inside of the ferrule 19 is formed in the same inverted truncated cone shape as the inside of the ladle body 5b. The inner diameter of the lower part of the ferrule 19 is approximately equal to the opening diameter of the upper opening 5a of the ladle body 5b.

[0055] The ladle lid 1 closes the opening 5a (the upper opening of the nozzle 19) at the top of the ladle 5, and airtightly isolates the inside of the ladle 5 from the outside. The ladle lid 1 is partially made of refractory material to prevent heat from escaping from the inside of the ladle 5 to the outside.

[0056] Since the ladle lid 1 is made of refractory material, it is too heavy to be raised or lowered manually. Therefore, the melting equipment 2 of this embodiment has a lid lifting mechanism 6 that uses an electric motor or the like to raise and lower the ladle lid 1.

[0057] First, before explaining the ladle lid 1, let's explain the lid lifting mechanism 6.

[0058] As shown in Figure 2, the lid lifting mechanism 6 (ladle lid lifting mechanism) includes a lid lifting rope 6a with one end attached to the upper end of the ladle lid 1, a lid guide portion 6b provided above the ladle lid 1 which guides the lid lifting rope 6a so that one end hangs vertically downward and the other end of the lid lifting rope 6a hangs vertically downward in the chamber C1, and a lid weight 6c attached to the other end of the lid lifting rope 6a.

[0059] In this embodiment, a metal chain with excellent strength is used for the lid lifting cable 6a. In addition, a chain wheel capable of winding and guiding the lid lifting cable 6a is used for the lid guide section 6b. In this embodiment, the lid guide section 6b provided on the lid lifting means 6 is attached to the rib 11b of the frame 11, but the lid guide section 6b of the present invention may also be attached to a support frame that extends horizontally from the support column 11a of the frame 11. The lid weight 6c has approximately the same weight as the ladle lid 1 and balances it with the ladle lid 1. If multiple sliding door weights 14 are installed, their weight is the weight of the ladle lid 1 divided by the number of installed weights. In addition, the lid lifting means 6 of this embodiment has a lid cable winding section 6d for winding the lid lifting cable 6a on the upper right side of the frame 11. The lid rope winding section 6d includes a chain wheel for winding the lid lifting rope 6a, and an electric motor with a brake function that rotates the chain wheel in both forward and reverse directions. By using the rotational driving force of the electric motor to unwind and rewind the lid lifting rope 6a, the lid lifting means 6 of this embodiment can automatically raise and lower the ladle lid 1 without human power.

[0060] Next, the ladle lid 1 of this embodiment will be described in detail.

[0061] Figure 4(a) is a plan view of the ladle lid 1, and Figure 4(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Figure 4(a). In this embodiment, even if the ladle lid 1 is cut along a straight cutting line, the cutting line does not pass through each of the key parts, and the key parts are not shown on the cut surface, making it difficult to understand the structure of each key part. Therefore, in Figure 4(b), the cutting line is bent so that it passes through each of the key parts, as shown by line A-A in Figure 4(a), and the cross-sectional structure is shown by cutting along the bent cutting line.

[0062] As shown in Figures 4(a) and 4(b), the ladle lid 1 includes a lid body 20, a packing 21 that makes airtight contact between the lid body 20 and the nozzle 19, a guide body 22 that aligns the ladle lid 1 with the nozzle 19 when the lid is closed, a wire insertion hole 23 through which an Mg wire is inserted, a fall prevention member 26 that prevents the lid refractory layer 24 from falling off the lid outer plate 25, and an exhaust section 27 provided on the lid body 20 for exhausting fumes from inside the ladle 5.

[0063] The lid body 20 comprises a circular lid outer plate 25 corresponding to the opening shape of the ladle body 5b (mouthpiece 19), and a refractory lid layer 24 fixedly attached to the underside of the lid outer plate 25. The outer diameter of the ladle lid 1 (lid outer plate 25) is formed to be the same as or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the ladle body 5b (mouthpiece 19), ensuring that the opening of the ladle body 5b (mouthpiece 19) can be securely closed.

[0064] The outer lid plate 25 is made of a heat-resistant metal. The outer lid plate 25 is formed in a stepped shape, with the top surface gradually increasing in height towards the inner diameter (inner circumference). In this embodiment, the outer lid plate 25 is formed in a three-tiered stepped shape.

[0065] The lid refractory layer 24 is positioned on the underside of the lid outer plate 25, fixed to the lid outer plate 25. The upper surface of the lid refractory layer 24 in this embodiment is formed in a stepped shape to match the stepped shape of the lid outer plate 25. The outer peripheral side of the lower surface of the lid refractory layer 24 is formed as an inclined surface that slopes upward towards the inner side (inner circumference). The inner peripheral side of the lid refractory layer 24 is formed as a flat surface parallel to the central side of the lid outer plate 25 (the first surface portion 25a, which will be described later).

[0066] Specifically, the lid body 20 (lid outer plate 25) of this embodiment has the following configuration.

[0067] As described above, the uppermost of the three-tiered tiered lid outer plate 25, the first surface portion 25a is formed in a roughly circular flat shape. In the center of the first surface portion 25a, a wire insertion hole 23 for inserting Mg wire into the ladle 5 is formed so as to penetrate the ladle lid 1 (lid outer plate 25 and lid refractory layer 24) in the vertical direction.

[0068] Of the three tiered, stepped upper surfaces of the lid outer plate 25, the second surface portion 25b, located in the middle tier (one tier below the first surface portion 25a), is formed as a roughly annular flat plate. The inner diameter of the second surface portion 25b is approximately equal to the outer diameter of the first surface portion 25a. Between the first surface portion 25a and the second surface portion 25b, a cylindrical first stepped surface 25c is formed, extending in the vertical direction. Between the second surface portion 25b and the first stepped surface 25c, a first reinforcing rib 25d, triangular in side view, is formed. The first reinforcing rib 25d is formed to protrude outward from the outer surface of the lid outer plate 25, and its edges are connected to both the second surface portion 25b and the first stepped surface 25c by means of welding or other means, preventing the lid outer plate 25 from deforming due to the weight of the lid refractory layer 24.

[0069] Of the three tiers of the lid outer plate 25, the third surface 25e, located at the lowest tier (one tier below the second surface 25b), is formed in a substantially annular, flat shape, similar to the second surface 25b. Between the second surface 25b and the third surface 25e, a cylindrical second stepped surface 25f is formed, extending in the vertical direction. The inner diameter of the third surface 25e is approximately equal to the outer diameter of the second surface 25b. Between the third surface 25e and the second stepped surface 25f, a second reinforcing rib 25g, which is triangular in side view, is formed, similar to the first reinforcing rib 25d. The second reinforcing rib 25g is formed so as to protrude outward from the outer surface of the lid outer plate 25, and its edge is connected to both the third surface portion 25e and the second stepped surface 25f by means of welding or other means, preventing the lid outer plate 25 from deforming due to the weight of the lid refractory layer 24, similar to the first reinforcing rib 25d.

[0070] The third surface 25e has a rope attachment section 25h for attaching the lid lifting rope 6a. Multiple rope attachment sections 25h are provided at equal angles around the center of the lid outer plate 25. In this embodiment, the ladle lid 1 (third surface 25e) has three rope attachment sections 25h. The rope attachment sections 25h are designed to allow the screwing in of hook members or the like, and one end of the lid lifting rope 6a can be connected via a hook member or U-shaped fitting.

[0071] Further outward (on the outer circumference side) from the exhaust section 27 on the first surface 25a, a fall prevention member 26 is provided to prevent the lid refractory layer 24 from falling off the lid outer plate 25. Fall prevention members 26 of the same shape as those on the first surface 25a are also attached to the second stepped surface 25f and the third surface 25e.

[0072] The fall prevention member 26 in this embodiment is a strip plate member whose cross-section, when cut along the vertical direction, is formed in a substantially L-shape, and the bent central portion is fixed to the lower surface (the lower surface of the first surface portion 25a and the third surface portion 25e) or inner surface (the inner circumferential surface of the second stepped surface 25f) of the lid outer plate 25 by welding or the like. Both ends of the fall prevention member 26 extend away from the central portion toward the interior of the lid refractory layer 24 relative to the central portion, and by being embedded in the lid refractory layer 24, both ends exert an anchoring effect that prevents the lid refractory layer 24 from falling from the lid outer plate 25. In addition, a screw member or the like that which provides an anchoring effect may be used for the fall prevention member 26 of the present invention.

[0073] A packing 21 is provided on the lower surface of the outer circumference of the lid refractory layer 24, which makes airtight contact with the nozzle 19. In this embodiment, the packing 21 is made of a heat-resistant material such as ceramic wool that is easily elastically deformable, and is able to tightly adhere to the nozzle 19 without creating any gaps between them. The packing 21 is formed in an annular shape corresponding to the nozzle 19, and is able to tightly adhere to the nozzle 19 around its entire circumference.

[0074] On the outer surface of the lid outer plate 25, which is located further outside the packing 21, there is a guide body 22 that aligns the ladle lid 1 with the nozzle 19 when the lid is closed, so that the packing 21 is positioned on the upper surface of the nozzle 19. In this embodiment, the guide body 22 is attached to four locations on the outer surface of the lid outer plate 25: left, right, front, and rear. The guide body 22 in this embodiment is a long metal plate that is bent in the middle in the vertical direction. The upper part of the guide body 22 (the part located above the bent portion) is attached to the outer circumferential surface of the lid outer plate 25 so as to extend in the vertical direction. The lower part of the guide body 22 (the part located below the bent portion) is inclined downward and outward relative to the upper part. By providing a guide body 22 that is bent in the middle in the vertical direction, when the ladle lid 1 is lowered onto the ladle 5 (mouthpiece 19), the lower part of the guide body 22, which is inclined downward and outward, aligns the position of the packing 21 with the upper part (directly above) of the ladle 5 (mouthpiece 19), so that the opening at the top of the ladle 5 can be airtightly closed with the ladle lid 1.

[0075] The wire insertion hole 23 allows the Mg wire supplied downward from the wire supply unit 17 to be inserted through the lid body 20 and supplied to the molten metal. The wire insertion hole 23 in this embodiment has a first hole 23a formed slightly forward of the center of the first surface portion 25a, and a second hole 23b formed on the first surface portion 25a at a position offset further forward from the first hole 23a. Both the first hole 23a and the second hole 23b have an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the Mg wire so that the Mg wire can be inserted, and they penetrate the ladle lid 1 in the vertical direction. The second hole 23b is provided as a spare for the first hole 23a. The second hole 23b may remain closed and not be used, but it is used when supplying other wire materials or inoculants to the molten metal in addition to the Mg wire in the first hole 23a, or when supplying additional Mg wire when the amount of molten metal is large.

[0076] In the ladle lid 1 of this embodiment, the wire insertion holes 23 are formed at positions offset to the front of the center (center of the circle) of the substantially circular first surface portion 25a, with respect to both the first hole 23a and the second hole 23b. The exhaust portion 27 is also formed at a position offset to the front of the center of the first surface portion 25a, corresponding to the position of the wire insertion holes 23.

[0077] In this embodiment, the wire insertion holes 23 in the ladle lid 1 are all formed at a position offset to the front. However, the wire insertion holes 23 in the ladle lid 1 of the present invention may be provided at a position offset in the front-rear direction with respect to the center (center of the circle) of the first surface portion 25a, or at a position offset in the left-right direction. For example, the first hole 23a may be provided at a position offset in front of the center of the first surface portion 25a, and the second hole 23b may be provided at a position offset behind the center of the first surface portion 25a.

[0078] Furthermore, in the ladle lid 1 of this embodiment, two exhaust sections 27 (ventilation pipes 28), described later, are provided, one each at positions offset to the left and right of the center of the first surface 25a (more precisely, slightly forward to the left and slightly forward to the right). In the ladle lid 1 of the present invention, it is preferable that the exhaust sections 27 are arranged such that the offset direction of the exhaust section 27 and the offset direction of the wire insertion holes 23 are perpendicular to each other. In other words, if the first holes 23a and the second holes 23b are arranged side by side in the front-to-back direction, it is preferable that the exhaust sections 27 are arranged side by side in the left-to-right direction. Also, if the first holes 23a and the second holes 23b are arranged side by side in the left-to-right direction, it is preferable that the exhaust sections 27 are arranged side by side in the front-to-back direction. For example, the first holes 23a and the second holes 23b are arranged separately in the front-to-back direction, such that the center of the first surface 25a is located midway between the first holes 23a and the second holes 23b with respect to the center of the first surface 25a. Furthermore, two exhaust sections 27 can be arranged on the left and right sides, respectively, such that the center of the first surface section 25a is located midway between one exhaust section 27 and the other exhaust section 27 with respect to the center of the first surface section 25a. In this way, the exhaust sections 27 and the wire insertion holes 23 can be arranged with a distance between them in the front, back, left, and right directions, making it possible to reliably perform fume exhaust and Mg wire supply without them interfering with each other.

[0079] Next, the exhaust section 27 provided on the ladle lid 1 of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, the exhaust section 27 is formed to the left and right of the first hole 23a on the first surface 25a, respectively, but the left and right exhaust sections 27 have the same structure. Therefore, in the following, the right exhaust section 27 of the left and right exhaust sections 27 will be used as an example to describe the exhaust section 27 of the present invention.

[0080] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the exhaust unit 27 of the present invention is provided on the ladle lid 1 and exhausts fumes generated inside the ladle 5 to the outside of the ladle 5 while maintaining a positive pressure state inside the ladle 5.

[0081] Specifically, the exhaust section 27 of the present invention includes a vent pipe 28 that penetrates the lid body 20 in the vertical direction and whose upper end protrudes upward from the lid body 20, a closing plate section 29 that closes the upper end of the vent pipe 28, a guide means 30 that guides the closing plate section 29 between a closed position CP where the upper end of the vent pipe 28 is closed by the closing plate section 29 and an open position OP where the closing plate section 29 is spaced upward from the upper end of the vent pipe 28, allowing fume to flow, and a load adjustment section 31 provided on the closing plate section 29 for attaching loads of different weights to the closing plate section 29.

[0082] The ventilation pipe 28 is a metal member formed in a cylindrical shape around an axis that extends vertically, and penetrates the lid body 20 in the vertical direction. The lower opening 28a of the ventilation pipe 28 opens to the lower surface of the lid body 20 (the lower surface of the refractory layer 5d). The upper end of the ventilation pipe 28 protrudes above the upper surface of the lid body 20 (the upper surface of the first surface portion 25a), and the upper opening 28b of the ventilation pipe 28 opens at a position above the upper surface of the lid body 20 (the upper surface of the first surface portion 25a).

[0083] The closing plate portion 29 is a plate member having an area capable of closing the ventilation pipe 28. When viewed from above, the closing plate portion 29 has a closing portion 42 that closes the ventilation pipe 28, and guide portions 32 provided on both the left and right sides of the closing portion 42. The closing portion 42 is a circular plate member having an outer diameter larger than the outer diameter of the ventilation pipe 28. A load adjustment insertion hole 43 is formed in the center of the closing portion 42 through which the load adjustment portion 31 (load adjustment bolt 33) is inserted.

[0084] As shown in Figure 5(b), the closing portion 42 provided in the closing plate portion 29 of this embodiment is a disc-shaped metal plate having an outer diameter larger than that of the ventilation pipe 28. In this embodiment, the closing portion 42 is a disc, but any metal plate having an area capable of closing the ventilation pipe 28 may be rectangular in shape. A load adjustment insertion hole 43 is formed approximately in the center of the closing portion 42.

[0085] The guide portion 32 has a left guide portion 32a that extends to the left from the left end of the closing portion 42 and a right guide portion 32b that extends to the right from the right end of the closing portion 42. The left guide portion 32a and the right guide portion 32b are arranged symmetrically with respect to the center of the closing portion 42. Through holes 36 are formed in the center of the left guide portion 32a and the right guide portion 32b for the shaft member 35 of the guide means 30 to pass through. In other words, the through holes 36 have a left through hole 36a formed in the left guide portion 32a and a right through hole 36b formed in the right guide portion 32b.

[0086] The guide means 30 guides the closing plate portion 29 between a closed position CP, where the upper end of the vent pipe 28 is closed by the closing plate portion 29, and an open position OP, where the closing plate portion 29 is separated upward from the upper end of the vent pipe 28, allowing fume to flow. In other words, a lower stopper is attached to the closed position CP to restrict the downward movement of the closing plate portion 29, and an upper stopper is attached to the open position OP to restrict the upward movement of the closing plate portion 29.

[0087] The guiding means 30 causes the closing plate portion 29 to be separated upward from the upper end of the vent pipe 28. However, "separated upward" includes not only the state where all parts of the closing plate portion 29 are separated upward from the upper end of the vent pipe 28, but also the state where only a part of the closing plate portion 29 is separated upward from the upper end of the vent pipe 28. In other words, when all parts of the closing plate portion 29 are separated upward from the upper end of the vent pipe 28, the closing plate portion 29 is not in contact with the upper end of the vent pipe 28 at any point. Therefore, fumes can be exhausted from between the closing plate portion 29 and the upper end of the vent pipe 28. Also, when a part of the closing plate portion 29 is separated upward from the upper end of the vent pipe 28, a part of the closing plate portion 29 is in contact with the upper end of the vent pipe 28. Even if a part of the closing plate portion 29 is in contact with the upper end of the vent pipe 28, if other parts are separated, fumes can be exhausted from the separated part. In other words, the state in which any part of the closing plate portion 29 is separated above the upper end of the ventilation pipe 28 is a manner in which the closing plate portion 29 is moved vertically while being kept approximately horizontal. Also, the state in which a part of the closing plate portion 29 is separated above the upper end of the ventilation pipe 28 is a manner in which the closing plate portion 29 is swung upward and moved vertically.

[0088] Hereafter, the guide means 30 provided on the ladle lid 1 of the present invention will be described as follows: the first embodiment will describe a mode in which the closing plate portion 29 is moved vertically while being kept substantially horizontal, and the second embodiment will describe a mode in which the closing plate portion 29 is swung upward and moved vertically. "First Embodiment" The guide means 30 of the first embodiment has a shaft member 35 attached to the outside of the outer circumferential surface of the ventilation pipe 28 and an insertion hole 36 formed in the closing plate portion 29. The shaft member 35 is a rod-shaped member extending vertically, and in the illustrated example, a long bolt arranged vertically is used. As described in the description of the closing portion 42, the insertion hole 36 is formed in the guide portion 32 of the closing plate portion 29 and penetrates the guide portion 32 vertically. The insertion hole 36 has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the shaft member 35, and the shaft member 35 is inserted into the insertion hole 36 so as to be movable vertically.

[0089] Although the shaft member 35 in the illustrated example is a long bolt, a rectangular bar-shaped member can also be used for the shaft member 35 in the present invention. In this case, it is preferable to form a rectangular hole in the insertion hole 36 that is large enough for the shaft member 35 to be inserted through.

[0090] In the first embodiment, a positioning portion 37 is provided at the upper end of the shaft member 35 to position the closing plate portion 29 in the open position OP. The positioning portion 37 is larger in dimensions than the outer diameter of the insertion hole 36 and contacts the closing plate portion 29 to restrict the shaft member 35 from passing through the insertion hole 36. In other words, the positioning portion 37 in the first embodiment is a flange body having an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the insertion hole 36, and by contacting the closing plate portion 29 that has moved upward, it positions the closing plate portion 29 in the open position OP. In the illustrated example, the positioning portion 37 uses the head of a bolt formed in a flange shape at the upper end of the shaft member 35. In addition, the positioning portion 37 in the first embodiment can use any member other than a bolt head (for example, a positioning pin that crosses the shaft member 35 horizontally), as long as it can restrict the shaft member 35 from passing through the insertion hole 36.

[0091] As shown in Figure 5(a), the guide means 30 guides the closing plate portion 29 vertically between the open position OP and the closed position CP.

[0092] As shown by the dashed line in Figure 5(a), in the open position OP, the upper surface of the closing plate portion 29 (guide portion 32) is in contact with the lower surface of the positioning portion 37 (bolt head). Since the closing plate portion 29 is restricted by the positioning portion 37 (bolt head), it does not move above the open position OP. In the open position OP, there is a gap in the vertical direction between the closing plate portion 29 and the ventilation pipe 28, so there is a possibility that fumes generated inside the ladle 5 may leak out of the ladle 5 through the gap.

[0093] As shown by the solid line in Figure 5(a), in the closed position CP, the lower surface of the closing plate portion 29 (closing portion 42) is in contact with the upper end of the vent pipe 28. Since the closing plate portion 29 is in contact with the upper end of the vent pipe 28, the closing plate portion 29 does not move below the closed position CP. In the closed position CP, the vent pipe 28 is closed by the closing plate portion 29, so fumes generated in the ladle 5 are not exhausted outside the ladle 5.

[0094] The distance between the open position OP and the closed position CP affects the amount of fume that can be exhausted at one time. If the distance between the open position OP and the closed position CP is long in the vertical direction, the amount of fume that can be exhausted at one time will be large, and the fume will be exhausted more easily. If the distance between the open position OP and the closed position CP is short in the vertical direction, the amount of fume that can be exhausted at one time will be small, and the fume will be exhausted more difficult to expel.

[0095] In other words, the vertical distance between the open position OP and the closed position CP of the closing plate portion 29 corresponds to the valve opening degree of the pressure regulating valve. If the vertical distance between the open position OP and the closed position CP is increased, the range of pressure adjustment when the closing plate portion 29 is opened during pressure adjustment in the ladle 5 becomes larger, so it can handle rapid pressure adjustments in the ladle 5. On the other hand, if the vertical distance between the open position OP and the closed position CP is shortened, the range of pressure adjustment when the closing plate portion 29 is opened during pressure adjustment in the ladle 5 becomes smaller, so it is beneficial to reduce pressure fluctuations in the ladle 5 and maintain a constant pressure.

[0096] As described above, adjusting the vertical distance between the open position OP and the closed position CP is important for adjusting the pressure inside the ladle 5 in various ways. Therefore, the lower end of the shaft member 35 in the first embodiment is provided with an upper position adjustment section 38 that changes the vertical position of the positioning section 37 (open position OP). This upper position adjustment section 38 adjusts the "vertical distance between the open position OP and the closed position CP" as described above. The upper position adjustment section 38 adjusts the length of the shaft member 35 up to the positioning section 37 (open position OP), in other words, it changes the vertical distance between the open position OP and the closed position CP, thereby adjusting the amount of fume that can be exhausted at once when the closing plate section 29 is in the open position OP.

[0097] Specifically, the upper position adjustment section 38 has a male threaded portion 35a formed at the lower end of the shaft member 35 and a nut portion 39 fixed to the ventilation pipe 28. The length of the shaft member 35 up to the positioning section 37 (from the closed position CP to the open position OP) is adjusted by screwing the male threaded portion 35a into the nut portion 39.

[0098] The male threaded portion 35a is formed at the lower end of the shaft member 35. The nut portion 39 is fixed to the outer surface of the ventilation pipe 28 that protrudes upward from the lid body 20 by welding or the like. A screw hole 39a is formed in the center of the nut portion 39, penetrating the nut portion 39 in the vertical direction, and a female threaded portion 39b is formed on the inner surface of the screw hole 39a, which screws onto the male threaded portion 35a of the shaft member 35. In other words, when the shaft member 35 is rotated in one direction around an axis that is oriented vertically, the male threaded portion 35a of the shaft member 35 is screwed into the female threaded portion 39b of the nut portion 39 in a biting direction, and the vertical distance between the open position OP and the closed position CP is shortened. Conversely, when the shaft member 35 is rotated in the other direction around an axis that is oriented vertically, the male threaded portion 35a of the shaft member 35 is screwed into the female threaded portion 39b of the nut portion 39 in a biting direction, and the vertical distance between the open position OP and the closed position CP is lengthened.

[0099] In the first embodiment, the guide means 30 is provided with a sleeve member 40 that slides vertically through the middle portion of the shaft member 35 in the vertical direction. The sleeve member 40 is a cylindrical member arranged so that its axis faces vertically, and a guide hole 41 is formed inside it in a through-hole in the vertical direction. The inner diameter of the guide hole 41 is larger than the outer diameter of the shaft member 35, and the shaft member 35 is inserted into the guide hole 41 so as to be movable along the vertical direction.

[0100] The load adjustment section 31 includes a load adjustment insertion hole 43 formed in the center of the closing section 42, a load adjustment bolt 33 inserted through the load adjustment insertion hole 43, and a nut-shaped load adjustment weight 44 that screws onto the load adjustment bolt 33. The load adjustment insertion hole 43 is formed in the center of the closing section 42 and penetrates the closing plate section 29 in the vertical direction. The inner diameter of the load adjustment insertion hole 43 is the same as or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the load adjustment bolt 33.

[0101] The load adjustment bolt 33 is installed with its head facing downwards and is positioned to align with the vertical direction. A male thread 33a is formed on the upper part of the load adjustment bolt 33.

[0102] The load-adjusting weight 44 has an insertion hole 44a into which the load-adjusting bolt 33 is inserted in the vertical direction. In the illustrated example, a nut is used which has a female thread 44b inside the insertion hole 44a that screws onto the male thread 33a of the load-adjusting bolt 33. The load-adjusting weight 44 allows the weight applied to the closing section 42 (closing plate section 29) to be changed by changing the thickness (or outer diameter) of the head along the vertical direction, or by changing the number of weights that are screwed onto the load-adjusting bolt 33.

[0103] For example, in the load adjustment section 31, increasing the number of load adjustment weights 44 screwed onto the load adjustment bolts 33 or increasing the outer diameter of the load adjustment weights 44 will increase the weight of the load adjustment weights 44 applied to the closing plate section 29, increasing the force required to move the closing plate section 29 downwards, making it possible to adjust the internal pressure inside the ladle 5 to a higher pressure. Conversely, in the load adjustment section 31, decreasing the number of load adjustment weights 44 screwed onto the load adjustment bolts 33 or decreasing the outer diameter of the load adjustment weights 44 will decrease the weight of the load adjustment weights 44 applied to the closing plate section 29, reducing the force required to move the closing plate section 29 downwards, making it possible to adjust the internal pressure inside the ladle 5 to a lower pressure.

[0104] In other words, the load adjustment unit 31 adjusts the pressure inside the ladle 5 by changing the weight of the load adjustment weight 44 that is screwed onto the load adjustment bolt 33.

[0105] Next, we will explain the operation of adjusting the pressure inside the ladle 5 using the ladle lid 1 described above, or in other words, the method of adjusting the pressure inside the ladle 5 using the ladle lid 1 of the present invention (the method of adjusting the pressure of the melting equipment 2).

[0106] Furthermore, when the ladle 5 is brought into the wire supply position, the sliding door section 3 is assumed to be stopped in the raised position.

[0107] First, the ladle 5 is moved forward along the roller conveyor 7 and brought into the wire supply position. Once the ladle 5 is brought into the wire supply position, the sliding door section 3, which is mounted approximately parallel to the panel 11c located at the rear of the draft chamber 10, is lowered downward by the electric motor of the sliding door lifting device 4. When the lower end of the sliding door section 3 is at the same height as the lower end of the panel 11c located in front of, to the left of, or to the right of the draft chamber 10, the lower position sensor detects the lower end of the sliding door section 3, the rotation of the electric motor stops, and the lowering of the sliding door section 3 ends.

[0108] In the draft chamber 10 with the sliding door section 3 lowered, the inside C1 of the chamber is isolated from the outside C2, and the exhaust device 16 exhausts the fumes inside C1 of the chamber to the outside C2.

[0109] Next, the ladle lid 1 is lowered using the lid lifting mechanism 6. The ladle lid 1 is positioned above the ladle 5 when it is being brought in, and is retracted to a position where it does not come into contact with the ladle 5 being brought in. When the electric motor provided on the lid cable winding section 6d of the lid lifting mechanism 6 is driven, the chain wheel of the lid cable winding section 6d rotates, and the ladle lid 1 and the lid weight 6c, which are balanced via the lid guide section 6b and the lid lifting cable 6a, begin to move. Specifically, the ladle lid 1 attached to one end of the lid lifting cable 6a descends, and the lid weight 6c attached to the other end rises, causing the ladle lid 1 to hang vertically downwards until it reaches the upper opening of the ladle 5.

[0110] When the ladle lid 1 descends to the upper opening of the ladle 5, the guide body 22 of the ladle lid 1 aligns the position of the packing 21 of the ladle lid 1 with the top (directly above) of the ladle 5 (mouthpiece 19), so that the upper opening of the ladle 5 is airtightly closed by the ladle lid 1.

[0111] When the upper opening of the ladle 5 is airtightly closed by the ladle cover 1, Mg wire is supplied in a hanging state from the wire supply unit 17 disposed on the upper casing 18 of the frame 11 of the draft chamber 10 to the ladle cover 1 along the vertical direction (substantially vertical direction). The Mg wire supplied from the wire supply unit 17 descends along the vertical direction in the chamber C1, penetrates the ladle cover 1 described later in the vertical direction, and is supplied to the molten metal accommodated in the ladle 5.

[0112] As shown in Fig. 6(a), in the ladle 5, when the Mg wire is supplied to the molten metal, a part of Mg rapidly heated by the molten metal reacts with oxygen in the molten metal to generate fumes containing MgO particles. Further, since the inside of the ladle 5 is airtightly closed by the ladle cover 1, the internal pressure in the ladle 5 becomes a positive pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure due to the heat from the molten metal and the generation of fumes. Let the upward force acting on the closing plate portion 29 due to the pressure in the ladle 5 in this positive pressure state be F １ be.

[0113] On the other hand, in addition to the weight of the closing plate portion 29, the weight of the load adjustment unit 31 combining the load adjustment bolt 33 and the load adjustment weight 44 is applied to the ladle cover 1. The total weight of these members is the force W １ (gravity W １ ) acts downward. Also, the atmospheric pressure (external atmospheric pressure) is applied to the ladle cover 1 as a force F ０ acting downward.

[0114] As described on the left side of Fig. 6(a), when the internal pressure in the ladle 5 has not yet risen sufficiently, the relationship of Equation (1) holds. In this case, since the downward force F １ + W ０ is stronger than the upward force F １ on the closing plate portion 29 of the exhaust portion 27, the closing plate portion 29 cannot be moved upward, and the ventilation pipe 28 remains in a closed state by the closing plate portion 29.

[0115] F １ ≦ F ０ + W １ ... Equation (1) Eventually, when the internal pressure in the ladle 5 increases, the upward acting force changes from F １ to F ２ (F１ <F ２ ) changes to a state in which the relationship in equation (2) holds, as shown on the right of Figure 6(a).

[0116] F ２ > F ０ +W １ ...Equation (2) If the relationship in Equation (2) holds, then the pressure inside the ladle 5 causes an upward force F to act on the closing plate portion 29. ２ The force acting downward on the closing plate portion 29 as the resultant force of atmospheric pressure and gravity of the load adjustment portion 31 is (F ０ +W １ As it becomes larger than the opening, the closing plate portion 29 moves upward by the guide means 30, and the fumes inside the ladle 5 are exhausted to the outside of the ladle 5 through the gap between the closing plate portion 29, which is positioned in the open position OP by the positioning portion 37, and the upper end of the ventilation pipe 28.

[0117] The fumes exhausted outside the ladle 5 pass through chamber C1 and are exhausted outside the chamber C2 by the exhaust device 16 of the fume hood 10. Therefore, the atmosphere surrounding the melting equipment 2 is not contaminated by the fumes generated in the ladle 5.

[0118] On the other hand, in the ladle 5 where exhaust has been performed, the pressure inside the ladle 5 decreases, and a force F acts upward on the closing plate portion 29 due to the pressure inside the ladle 5. ２ Power F １ It decreases to this. Then the relationship in equation (1) becomes valid, and the force acting downward on the closing plate portion 29 as the resultant force of atmospheric pressure and gravity of the load adjustment portion 31 is (F ０ +W １ ) is more force F １ As it becomes larger, the closing plate portion 29 moves downward by the guide means 30, and the opening at the top of the vent pipe 28 is closed by the closing plate portion 29, thus blocking the exhaust of fumes. When the opening at the top of the vent pipe 28 is closed by the closing plate portion 29, the pressure inside the ladle 5 begins to rise again due to the heat from the molten steel and the generation of fumes.

[0119] Thus, in the ladle 5 and melting equipment 2 using the ladle lid 1 of the first embodiment, the closing plate portion 29 reciprocates between the open position OP and the closed position CP, and the pressure F is higher than atmospheric pressure. １ and F２ Since the pressure (internal pressure) inside the ladle 5 is adjusted between these two points, the inside of the ladle 5 can be maintained in a positive pressure state higher than atmospheric pressure, thereby improving the melting efficiency of the Mg wire into the molten metal.

[0120] As shown in Figure 6(b), when the number of load adjustment weights 44 is increased to two, the weight of the closing plate portion 29 and the combined weight of the load adjustment portion 31, which includes the load adjustment bolt 33 and the load adjustment weights 44, result in a force W ２ A downward force is applied. This force W ２ This is the force W when there is one load-adjusting weight 44. １ It is larger. Furthermore, when the load adjustment weight 44 is increased to two, the upward force acting due to the pressure inside the ladle 5 is F. ３ (F ３ > F １ ) and the atmospheric pressure (external pressure) applied to the ladle lid 1 is F ０ It will remain unchanged.

[0121] As shown on the left of Figure 6(b), if the internal pressure inside the ladle 5 has not yet risen sufficiently, that is, if equation (3) is true, the closing plate portion 29 of the exhaust section 27 cannot be moved upward by the guide means 30, and the vent pipe 28 remains closed by the closing plate portion 29.

[0122] F ３ ≤ F ０ +W ２ ...Equation (3) Note that W ２ >W １ Therefore, the right-hand side of equation (3) is greater than the right-hand side of equation (1). Also, the force F when equality holds is ４ is force F ２ Because it is larger, the closing plate portion 29 cannot move upward unless the pressure inside the ladle 5 becomes higher than in the case of Figure 6(a).

[0123] Eventually, as the pressure inside the ladle 5 increases, a force F acts upward. ３ From F ４ (F ３ <F ４ ) changes to a state in which the relationship in equation (4) holds, as shown on the right of Figure 6(b).

[0124] F ４ > F０ +W ２ ...Equation (4) If the relationship in Equation (4) holds, then a force F acts upward on the closing plate portion 29 from the pressure inside the ladle 5. ４ The force F acting downward on the closing plate section 29 is the resultant force of atmospheric pressure and gravity from the load adjustment section 31. ３ As it becomes larger, the closing plate portion 29 moves upward by the guide means 30, and the fumes inside the ladle 5 are exhausted to the outside of the ladle 5 through the gap between the vent pipe 28 and the closing plate portion 29.

[0125] At this time, F is higher than atmospheric pressure. ３ and F ４ The internal pressure inside the ladle 5 is adjusted between these two points, but even under the same positive pressure state, F ３ F is better １ Higher pressure, F ４ F is better ２ Because the pressure is higher, the internal pressure in the ladle 5 is adjusted in a higher pressure range, which improves the melting efficiency of the Mg wire into the molten metal compared to the case shown in Figure 6(a).

[0126] In the examples shown in Figures 6(a) and 6(b), the number of load-adjusting weights 44 was increased, but a similar effect can be obtained by changing the weight of the load-adjusting weights 44 to a heavier one.

[0127] In this way, in the ladle lid 1 of the first embodiment, the internal pressure inside the ladle 5 can be arbitrarily adjusted in a positive pressure state by changing the number (or weight) of the load adjustment weights 44 of the load adjustment section 31. This prevents contamination of the atmosphere around the melting equipment 2 by fumes generated in the ladle 5, while improving the melting efficiency of Mg wire into the molten metal by maintaining a positive pressure state. [Second Embodiment] The ladle lid 1 of the second embodiment shows a configuration in which the closing plate section 29 is swung upward and moved in the vertical direction.

[0128] As shown in Figure 7, the guide means 30 provided in the exhaust section 27 of the ladle lid 1 of the second embodiment is provided at the upper end of the vent pipe 28 and has a hinge section 45 that swingably connects the closing plate section 29 to the upper end of the vent pipe 28.

[0129] Furthermore, the guide means 30 guides the closing plate portion 29 between the closed position CP and the open position OP. In the second embodiment, the open position OP of the guide means 30 is achieved by the closing plate portion 29 swinging upward relative to the upper end of the ventilation pipe 28 using the hinge portion 45, thereby faucet flow.

[0130] Specifically, the hinge portion 45 provided on the guide means 30 of the second embodiment is shown in Figure 7.

[0131] As shown in Figure 7, the hinge portion 45 is provided at the upper opening of the ventilation pipe 28. In the illustrated example, the hinge portion 45 is provided at the right opening end of the ventilation pipe 28, but in the second embodiment, the hinge portion 45 may be provided at the left or front / rear opening ends.

[0132] The hinge portion 45 swings freely around an axis oriented horizontally between the opening at the top of the ventilation pipe 28 and the closing plate portion 29.

[0133] In other words, as shown on the left of Figure 7, in the closed position CP of the guide means 30 of the second embodiment, the lower surface of the closing plate portion 29 (closing portion 42) is in contact with the upper end of the vent pipe 28. Since the closing plate portion 29 is in contact with the upper end of the vent pipe 28, the closing plate portion 29 does not move below the closed position CP. In the closed position CP, the vent pipe 28 is closed by the closing plate portion 29, so there is no gap in the vertical direction, and fumes generated in the ladle 5 are not exhausted to the outside of the ladle 5.

[0134] As shown on the right in Figure 7, in the open position OP, the closing plate portion 29 swings upward with respect to the hinge portion 45. Since the closing plate portion 29 is spaced above the opening at the top of the ventilation portion, a gap is formed in the vertical direction between the closing plate portion 29 and the ventilation pipe 28, and fumes generated in the ladle 5 are exhausted to the outside of the ladle 5 through this gap.

[0135] As shown in Figure 7, in the ladle lid 1 of the second embodiment, as in Figures 6(a) and 6(b), F is higher than atmospheric pressure. １ and F ２Since the pressure inside the ladle 5 is adjusted between the two (under positive pressure), it is possible to prevent contamination of the atmosphere around the melting equipment 2 by fumes generated in the ladle 5, while also improving the melting efficiency of the Mg wire into the molten metal under positive pressure.

[0136] A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a ladle lid 1 as described in the following item. (Item 1) A ladle lid 1 that has an opening 5a that opens upward and airtightly closes the opening 5a to a ladle 5 containing molten metal, comprising: a lid body 20 that closes the opening 5a; a wire supply unit 17 that penetrates the lid body 20 in the vertical direction and supplies Mg wire to the molten metal; and an exhaust unit 27 that discharges fumes generated when the Mg wire is supplied to the molten metal from the inside to the outside of the ladle 5, wherein the exhaust unit 27 penetrates the lid body 20 in the vertical direction and the upper end A ladle lid 1 having a vent pipe 28 protruding upward from the lid body 20, a closing plate portion 29 that closes the upper end of the vent pipe 28, a closing position CP where the upper end of the vent pipe 28 is closed by the closing plate portion 29, and an open position OP where the closing plate portion 29 is spaced upward from the upper end of the vent pipe 28, allowing the flow of the fume, and a guide means 30 for guiding the closing plate portion 29 between these two positions, and a load adjustment portion 31 provided on the closing plate portion 29 for attaching loads of different weights to the closing plate portion 29.

[0137] According to the ladle lid 1 described in item 1, fumes generated inside the ladle 5 can be efficiently exhausted to the outside of the ladle 5 while maintaining an airtight state inside the ladle 5, and by maintaining a positive pressure state inside the ladle 5, Mg wire (metal wire) can be efficiently melted or added to the molten metal inside the ladle 5. (Item 2) The ladle lid 1 described in item 1, wherein the guide means 30 is attached to the outside of the outer surface of the vent pipe 28 and has a shaft member 35 that extends in the vertical direction, and has an insertion hole 36 formed in the closing plate portion 29 through which the shaft member 35 is inserted so as to be movable in the vertical direction.

[0138] According to the ladle lid 1 described in item 2, the guide means 30 allows the ladle lid 1 to move vertically while maintaining a horizontal position, and a gap is formed between the upwardly moved ladle lid 1 and the ladle 5 (opening 5a of the ladle 5) that allows fumes to flow. Therefore, fumes generated in the ladle 5 can be reliably exhausted to the outside of the ladle 5. (Item 3) The ladle lid 1 described in item 2, wherein the upper end of the shaft member 35 is provided with a positioning part 37 for positioning the closing plate part 29 to the open position OP, and the lower end of the shaft member 35 is provided with an upper position adjustment part 38 for changing the vertical position of the positioning part 37.

[0139] (Item 4) The ladle lid 1 described in Item 3 is configured such that the positioning part 37 positions the closing plate part 29 to the open position OP, and the upper position adjustment part 38 changes the vertical position of the positioning part 37, so that the distance the closing plate part 29 moves from the open position OP to the closed position CP, in other words, the opening degree (valve opening degree) of the closing plate part 29 can be freely changed, and the pressure (internal pressure) inside the ladle 5 can be adjusted with high precision. (Item 4) The positioning part 37 has a flange body (bolt head) whose outer diameter is larger than the inner diameter of the insertion hole 36, a male threaded part 35a is formed at the lower end of the shaft member 35, the upper position adjustment part 38 has a nut part 39 that screws into the male threaded part 35a, and the nut part 39 is fixed to the upper end of the vent pipe 28 that protrudes upward from the lid body 20.

[0140] (Item 5) The ladle lid 1 described in Item 4 can use a bolt (long bolt) with a flange body whose outer diameter is larger than the inner diameter of the insertion hole 36 as the positioning part 37, and a nut part 39 that screws onto the male thread part 35a can be used as the upper position adjustment part 38, so the guide means 30 can be constructed using readily available and replaceable components such as bolts and nuts. (Item 5) The guide means 30 is provided at the upper end of the vent pipe 28 and has a hinge part 45 that swingably connects the closing plate part 29 to the upper end of the vent pipe 28, and the ladle lid 1 described in Item 1 guides the closing plate part 29 between a closed position CP in which the upper end of the vent pipe 28 is closed by the closing plate part 29 and an open position OP in which the closing plate part 29 swings upward relative to the upper end of the vent pipe 28 using the hinge part 45, thereby allowing the fume to flow.

[0141] According to the ladle lid 1 described in item 5, a hinge portion 45 that pivotably connects the closing plate portion 29 allows for the provision of a guide means 30 that is simple in structure yet offers excellent ease of component replacement and maintenance.

[0142] A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a melting apparatus 2 as described in the following item: (Item 6) A melting apparatus 2 comprising a ladle 5 having an opening 5a that opens upward and containing molten metal inside; a ladle lid 1 as described in any of Items 1 to 5, which airtightly closes the opening (opening 5a) of the ladle 5; a roller conveyor 7 that guides the ladle 5 in the horizontal direction; and a draft chamber 10 provided on the movement path of the roller conveyor 7 and covering the periphery of the ladle 5, wherein the draft chamber 10 comprises an exhaust device 16 that exhausts fumes exhausted from the ladle lid 1 and a wire supply unit 17 that supplies Mg wire in the vertical direction through the ladle lid 1.

[0143] According to the melting equipment 2 described in item 6, the ladle 5 can be moved to a draft chamber 10 located on the movement path of the roller conveyor 7, and once the ladle 5 is moved into the draft chamber 10, it is possible to adjust the molten metal while supplying Mg wire by airtightly sealing the inside of the ladle 5.

[0144] It should be noted that the embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. In particular, matters not explicitly disclosed in the embodiments disclosed herein, such as operating conditions, various parameters, dimensions, weight, and volume of components, do not deviate from what is normally practiced by those skilled in the art, and the values ​​adopted are those that can be easily anticipated by those skilled in the art.

[0145] 1 Ladle lid 2 Melting equipment 3 Sliding door section 4 Sliding door lifting device 5 Ladle 5a Ladle opening 5b Ladle body 5c Outer plate 5d Ladle refractory layer 5e Left shaft section 5f Right shaft section 5g Tilting mechanism 5h Melting outlet section 5i Melting outlet 5j Melting passage 6 Lid lifting means 6a Lid lifting rope 6b Lid guide section 6c Lid weight 6d Lid rope winding section 7 Roller conveyor 7a Conveying surface 8 Conveyor roller 9 Base 10 Draft chamber 11 Frame 11a Support column 11b Rail 11c Panel 12 Sliding door lifting rope 13 Sliding door rope guide section 14 Sliding door weight 15 Sliding door rope winding section 16 Exhaust device 16a Inlet 16b Ventilation section 16c Dust collection hood 17 Wire supply section 18 Upper casing 19 Mouthpiece 20 Lid body 21 Packing 22 Guide body 23 Wire insertion hole 23a First hole 23b Second hole 24 Lid refractory layer 25 Lid outer plate 25a First surface 25b Second surface 25c First stepped surface 25d First reinforcing rib 25e Third surface 25f Second stepped surface 25g Second reinforcing rib 25h Cable attachment section 26 Fall prevention member 27 Exhaust section 28 Ventilation pipe 28a Lower opening 28b Upper opening 29 Closing plate section 30 Guide means 31 Load adjustment section 32 Guide section 32a Left guide section 32b Right guide section 33 Load adjustment bolt 33a Male thread 35 Shaft member 35a Male threaded section 36 Through hole 36a Left through hole 36b Right through hole 37 Positioning section 38 Upper position adjustment section 39 Nut section 39a Male threaded hole 39b Female threaded section 40 Sleeve member 41 Guide hole 42 Closure section 43 Load adjustment through hole 44 Load adjustment weight 44a Insertion hole 44b Female thread 45 Hinge section 50 Hood opening 51 Inclined surface section 52 Bottom surface section 53 Cylindrical surface section 54 Top surface section 55 Narrow passage 56 Hood exhaust port57 Wire insertion section 58 Cover cable insertion section C1 Inside chamber C2 Outside chamber CP Closed position OP Open position W1 Force W2 Force

Claims

1. A ladle lid having an opening that opens upward and airtightly closing the opening to a ladle containing molten metal, comprising: a lid body that closes the opening; a wire supply section that penetrates the lid body vertically and supplies Mg wire to the molten metal; and an exhaust section that discharges fumes generated when the Mg wire is supplied to the molten metal from the inside of the ladle to the outside, wherein the exhaust section comprises: a vent pipe that penetrates the lid body vertically and whose upper end protrudes upward from the lid body; a closing plate section that closes the upper end of the vent pipe; a guide means for guiding the closing plate section between a closed position in which the upper end of the vent pipe is closed by the closing plate section and an open position in which the closing plate section is separated upward from the upper end of the vent pipe, allowing the fumes to flow; and a load adjustment section provided on the closing plate section for attaching loads of different weights to the closing plate section.

2. The ladle lid according to claim 1, wherein the guiding means comprises a shaft member attached to the outer circumferential surface of the vent pipe and extending in the vertical direction, and a through hole formed in the closing plate portion through which the shaft member is inserted so as to be movable in the vertical direction.

3. The ladle lid according to claim 2, wherein the upper end of the shaft member is provided with a positioning portion for positioning the closing plate portion to the open position, and the lower end of the shaft member is provided with an upper position adjustment portion for changing the vertical position of the positioning portion.

4. The ladle lid according to claim 3, wherein the positioning portion has a flange body with an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the insertion hole, a male threaded portion is formed at the lower end of the shaft member, the upper position adjustment portion has a nut portion that screws into the male threaded portion, and the nut portion is fixed to the upper end of the ventilation pipe that protrudes upward from the lid body.

5. The ladle lid according to claim 1, wherein the guiding means is provided at the upper end of the vent pipe and has a hinge portion that pivotably connects the closing plate portion to the upper end of the vent pipe, and the closing plate portion is guided between the closed position in which the upper end of the vent pipe is closed by the closing plate portion and the open position in which the closing plate portion is pivoted upward relative to the upper end of the vent pipe using the hinge portion, thereby allowing the fume to flow.

6. A melting apparatus comprising a ladle having an opening that opens upward and containing molten metal inside; a ladle lid according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which airtightly closes the opening of the ladle; a roller conveyor that guides the ladle horizontally; and a draft chamber provided on the movement path of the roller conveyor and covering the periphery of the ladle, wherein the draft chamber comprises an exhaust device for exhausting fumes exhausted from the ladle lid and a wire supply unit for supplying Mg wire in the vertical direction through the ladle lid.

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