Continuous Casting Furnace with Movable Withdrawal Chamber
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing continuous casting furnaces for reactive metals like titanium require complex configurations, additional equipment, and increased vertical space, and methods to prevent oxygen exposure often involve costly coatings or require additional processing steps.
Innovation Solution
A continuous casting furnace design with a single mold, cutter, and movable withdrawal chamber that allows for continuous casting with minimal equipment and space requirements, using an inert gas atmosphere to prevent oxygen exposure and eliminate the need for coatings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a coating is applied to protect hot ingots from oxygen exposure, then the ingots are protected from oxidation, but additional processing equipment and steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the inert atmosphere principle by filling the furnace and withdrawal chamber with inert gas (such as argon or nitrogen) to create an oxygen-free environment. This eliminates the need for protective coatings on hot ingots, as the inert atmosphere directly prevents oxidation by excluding oxygen from contact with the hot metal surfaces throughout the entire casting and withdrawal process.
2Productivity
If two molds and two withdrawal chambers are used for alternating pouring, then continuous casting is achieved, but device complexity and vertical space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the withdrawal chamber movable rather than stationary. The withdrawal chamber can be raised and lowered to receive ingots from the mold and then moved horizontally to the withdrawal position. This dynamic configuration allows a single withdrawal chamber to handle continuous casting operations that would otherwise require two separate chambers, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining productivity.
3Ease of operation
If ram lifts extending below withdrawal chambers are used, then ingots can be lowered into withdrawal chambers, but additional vertical space is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dimensionality change principle by transitioning from purely vertical ingot transfer to a combination of vertical and horizontal movement. The movable withdrawal chamber is raised to receive the ingot vertically from the mold, then moves horizontally to the withdrawal position, and finally lowers the ingot horizontally. This multi-dimensional approach eliminates the need for long vertical ram lifts extending below the withdrawal chamber, significantly reducing vertical space requirements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient, cost-effective continuous casting of reactive metals with reduced equipment complexity and space requirements, maintaining an inert environment to prevent oxidation and allowing for the production of uncoated ingots.
Implementation Method 1
using an inert gas atmosphere to prevent oxygen exposure and eliminate the need for coatings
Data Source
AI summary
A continuous casting furnace is configured for efficiently continuously casting ingots, including titanium alloy ingots. The furnace is configured with an internal cutter for cutting an ingot within the furnace interior chamber. The furnace typically includes a first interior chamber in which a continuous casting mold is disposed and a withdrawal chamber which is separable from the first interior chamber to facilitate withdrawal of finished ingots therefrom while casting continues within the first chamber.