The Dow Chemical Company

Harvey L King

William E Mercer, Ii

Carl F Baker

James E Hillis

William G Green

Vladimir Petrovich

An automatic handling system is described for delivering a molten metal, such as magnesium or magnesium alloys, to a casting machine. The handling system comprises a programmable logic controller (PLC) for monitoring and controlling the sequential delivery of shots of a precise quantity of molten metal from a furnace or holding pot to a shot delivery apparatus of the casting machine. In the preferred system, the PLC also monitors and/or controls the temperatures of the molten metal in the holding pot and in a metal transfer system, the operation of a pump for pumping molten metal from the holding pot to the shot delivery apparatus, and the level of metal in the pot, and the operation of the the casting machine.

Method and apparatus for handling molten metals

An automatic ladling system is described for delivering a molten metal to the mold or die of a molding or casting machine. The ladling system comprises a programmable logic controller (PLC) for monitoring and controlling the sequential delivery of shots of a precise quantity of molten metal from a furnace or holding pot to a shot delivery apparatus of the casting machine. In the preferred system, the PLC also monitors and/or controls the temperature of the molten metal in the holding pot, the temperature of the molten metal in a metal transfer system, the operation of a pump for pumping molten metal from the holding pot to the shot delivery apparatus, the level of molten metal in the pot, and the operation of the casting machine.

Method and apparatus for charging metal to a die cast

A method for producing a high purity magnesium alloy is disclosed in which the alloying components are introduced in the molten state into molten magnesium. In accordance with the process of the invention, a predetermined amount of primary magnesium is heated and melted in a crucible. Predetermined amounts of desired alloying metals are selected and heated to their melting temperature in a separate crucible. The molten alloying metals are then introduced into the molten magnesium to substantially instantaneously alloy with the molten magnesium in a reaction raising the temperature of the melt. Elemental manganese when first alloyed with other alloying metals prior to its addition to the molten magnesium is found to consistently be more effective in reducing the iron impurity level of the melt to a level below 50 ppm. The introduction of a molten alloy of manganese and one or more rare earth metals into the molten magnesium, reduces a settling out of the rare earth metal from the melt and increases the alloying efficiency for the rare earth metal to greater than 80%. The efficiency of the process of the invention is substantially increased, the consumption of time and energy is decreased, and the production of magnesium chloride slag and gaseous HCl is avoided.

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Lake Jackson, TX, United States of America

Harvey L King