Method of tapping molten metal and apparatus for tapping molten metal

Abstract

A method and apparatus for tapping molten metal are provided. The apparatus includes a tapping chamber, a molten metal holding chamber, a regulation part for allowing or shutting off transfer of the molten metal from the holding chamber into the tapping chamber, a tapping channel at the tapping chamber for tapping the molten metal outside, and a gas supply part capable of supplying gas from outside into the tapping chamber. The method includes transferring the molten metal by natural flow down due to difference in level of the molten metal between the holding chamber and the tapping chamber or by pressure of gas supplied through a pressurizing part capable of supplying gas from outside into the holding chamber. The method further includes tapping the molten metal in the tapping chamber though the tapping channel into a target place by pressure of gas supplied through the gas supply part.

1 . A method of tapping molten metal using tapping apparatus, the tapping apparatus comprising:
 a tapping chamber for tapping molten metal,   a molten metal holding chamber in communication with the tapping chamber, for holding the molten metal therein,   a regulation part located between the molten metal holding chamber and the tapping chamber for allowing or shutting off transfer of the molten metal from the molten metal holding chamber into the tapping chamber,   a tapping channel placed at the tapping chamber for tapping the molten metal in the tapping chamber outside, and   a gas supply part capable of supplying gas from outside into the tapping chamber, the method comprising:   (1) at least either of transferring, with transfer of the molten metal allowed by the regulation part, the molten metal in the molten metal holding chamber into the tapping chamber by natural flow down due to difference in level of the molten metal between the molten metal holding chamber and the tapping chamber, and transferring, with the transfer of the molten metal allowed by the regulation part, the molten metal in the molten metal holding chamber into the tapping chamber by pressure of gas supplied through a pressurizing part which is capable of supplying gas from outside and into the molten metal holding chamber, and   (2) tapping, with the transfer of the molten metal shut off by the regulation part, the molten metal in the tapping chamber though an interior of the tapping channel into a target place by pressure of gas supplied through the gas supply part.   
     
     
         2 . The method of tapping molten metal according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 (3) after the tapping, at least either of transferring, with transfer of the molten metal allowed by the regulation part, the molten metal in the molten metal holding chamber into the tapping chamber by natural flow down due to the difference in level of the molten metal between the molten metal holding chamber and the tapping chamber, and transferring, with the transfer of the molten metal allowed by the regulation part, the molten metal in the molten metal holding chamber into the tapping chamber by pressure of gas supplied through the pressurizing part, and   (4) tapping, with the transfer of the molten metal shut off by the regulation part, the molten metal in the tapping chamber though an interior of the tapping channel into a target place by pressure of gas supplied through a gas supply part,   (5) wherein one cycle of steps (3) and (4) is performed or a plurality of cycles of steps (3) and (4) are repeated.   
     
     
         3 . A method of tapping molten metal using tapping apparatus, the tapping apparatus comprising:
 a tapping chamber for tapping molten metal,   a molten metal holding chamber in communication with the tapping chamber, for holding the molten metal therein,   a regulation part located between the molten metal holding chamber and the tapping chamber for allowing or shutting off transfer of the molten metal from the molten metal holding chamber into the tapping chamber,   a tapping channel placed at the tapping chamber for tapping the molten metal in the tapping chamber outside, and   a gas supply/exhaust part capable of supplying gas under pressure from outside into the tapping chamber, and exhausting gas from the tapping chamber for depressurizing, the method comprising:   (6) at least either of transferring, with transfer of the molten metal allowed by the regulation part, the molten metal in the molten metal holding chamber into the tapping chamber by natural flow down due to difference in level of the molten metal between the molten metal holding chamber and the tapping chamber, and transferring, with the transfer of the molten metal allowed by the regulation part, the molten metal in the molten metal holding chamber into the tapping chamber by exhausting gas through the gas supply/exhaust part, and   (7) tapping, with the transfer of the molten metal shut off by the regulation part, the molten metal in the tapping chamber though an interior of the tapping channel into a target place by supplying gas under pressure through the gas supply/exhaust part.   
     
     
         4 . The method of tapping molten metal according to  claim 3 , comprising:
 (8) after the tapping, at least either of transferring, with transfer of the molten metal allowed by the regulation part, the molten metal in the molten metal holding chamber into the tapping chamber by natural flow down due to the difference in level of the molten metal between the molten metal holding chamber and the tapping chamber, and transferring, with the transfer of the molten metal allowed by the regulation part, the molten metal in the molten metal holding chamber into the tapping chamber by exhausting the gas from and depressurizing the tapping chamber through the gas supply/exhaust part, and   (9) tapping, with the transfer of the molten metal shut off by the regulation part, the molten metal in the tapping chamber though an interior of the tapping channel into a target place by supplying gas under pressure through the gas supply/exhaust part,   (10) wherein one cycle of steps (8) and (9) is performed or a plurality of cycles of steps (8) and (9) are repeated.   
     
     
         5 . The method of tapping molten metal according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein, when the level of the molten metal in the molten metal holding chamber is lower than the level of the molten metal in the tapping chamber, with the transfer of the molten metal allowed by the regulation part, the molten metal in the molten metal holding chamber is transferred into the tapping chamber by the pressure of the gas supplied through the pressurizing part of the molten metal holding chamber.   
     
     
         6 . The method of tapping molten metal according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein, when the level of the molten metal in the molten metal holding chamber is lower than the level of the molten metal in the tapping chamber, with the transfer of the molten metal allowed by the regulation part, the molten metal in the molten metal holding chamber is transferred into the tapping chamber by exhausting the gas from the tapping chamber through the gas supply/exhaust part.   
     
     
         7 . The method of tapping molten metal according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein a volume of the tapping chamber is smaller than a volume of the molten metal holding chamber.   
     
     
         8 . The method of tapping molten metal according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein transition from the transferring to the tapping is made triggered by lowering of the level of the molten metal in the molten metal holding chamber.   
     
     
         9 . Apparatus for tapping molten metal, comprising:
 a tapping chamber for tapping molten metal,   a molten metal holding chamber in communication with the tapping chamber, for holding the molten metal therein,   a regulation part located between the molten metal holding chamber and the tapping chamber for allowing or shutting off transfer of the molten metal from the molten metal holding chamber into the tapping chamber,   a tapping channel placed at the tapping chamber for tapping the molten metal in the tapping chamber outside,   a gas supply part capable of supplying gas from outside into the tapping chamber, and   a control section,   wherein the control section is configured to control:   (11) at least either of transferring, with transfer of the molten metal allowed by the regulation part, the molten metal in the molten metal holding chamber into the tapping chamber by natural flow down due to difference in level of the molten metal between the molten metal holding chamber and the tapping chamber, and transferring, with a compression part and with the transfer of the molten metal allowed by the regulation part, the molten metal in the molten metal holding chamber into the tapping chamber by pressure of gas supplied through a pressurizing part which is capable of supplying gas from outside and into the molten metal holding chamber, and   (12) tapping, with the transfer of the molten metal shut off by the regulation part, the molten metal in the tapping chamber though an interior of the tapping channel into a target place by pressure of gas supplied through a gas supply part.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus for tapping molten metal according to  claim 9 , wherein the control section causes:
 (13) after the tapping, at least either of transferring, with transfer of the molten metal allowed by the regulation part, the molten metal in the molten metal holding chamber into the tapping chamber by natural flow down due to the difference in level of the molten metal between the molten metal holding chamber and the tapping chamber, and transferring, with the transfer of the molten metal allowed by the regulation part, the molten metal in the molten metal holding chamber into the tapping chamber by pressure of gas supplied through the pressurizing part, and   (14) tapping, with the transfer of the molten metal shut off by the regulation part, the molten metal in the tapping chamber though an interior of the tapping channel into a target place by pressure of gas supplied through a gas supply part,   (15) wherein one cycle of steps (13) and (14) is performed or a plurality of cycles of steps (13) and (14) are repeated.   
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for tapping molten metal, comprising:
 a tapping chamber for tapping molten metal,   a molten metal holding chamber in communication with the tapping chamber, for holding the molten metal therein,   a regulation part located between the molten metal holding chamber and the tapping chamber for allowing or shutting off transfer of the molten metal from the molten metal holding chamber into the tapping chamber,   a tapping channel placed at the tapping chamber for tapping the molten metal in the tapping chamber outside,   a gas supply/exhaust part capable of supplying gas under pressure from outside into the tapping chamber, and exhausting gas from the tapping chamber for depressurizing, and   a control section,   wherein the control section is configured to control:   (16) at least either of transferring, with transfer of the molten metal allowed by the regulation part, the molten metal in the molten metal holding chamber into the tapping chamber by natural flow down due to difference in level of the molten metal between the molten metal holding chamber and the tapping chamber, and transferring, with the transfer of the molten metal allowed by the regulation part, the molten metal in the molten metal holding chamber into the tapping chamber by exhausting gas through the gas supply/exhaust part, and   (17) tapping, with the transfer of the molten metal shut off by the regulation part, the molten metal in the tapping chamber through an interior of the tapping channel into a target place by supplying gas under pressure through the gas supply/exhaust part.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus for tapping molten metal according to  claim 11 , wherein the control section causes:
 (18) after the tapping, at least either of transferring, with transfer of the molten metal allowed by the regulation part, the molten metal in the molten metal holding chamber into the tapping chamber by natural flow down due to the difference in level of the molten metal between the molten metal holding chamber and the tapping chamber, and transferring, with the transfer of the molten metal allowed by the regulation part, the molten metal in the molten metal holding chamber into the tapping chamber by exhausting the gas from and depressurizing the tapping chamber through the gas supply/exhaust part, and   (19) tapping, with the transfer of the molten metal shut off by the regulation part, the molten metal in the tapping chamber though an interior of the tapping channel into a target place by supplying gas under pressure through the gas supply/exhaust part,   (20) wherein one cycle of steps (18) and (19) is performed or a plurality of cycles of steps (18) and (19) are repeated.   
     
     
         13 . The method of tapping molten metal according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein a volume of the tapping chamber is smaller than a volume of the molten metal holding chamber.   
     
     
         14 . The method of tapping molten metal according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein transition from the transferring to the tapping is made triggered by lowering of the level of the molten metal in the molten metal holding chamber.