Ak Steel Corporation

Steven L Boston

David J Meneice

A zinc-coating pot for galvanizing steel strip has two levels along its bottom surface. The first, shallower level is located under a coating roll, thereby creating an area where the molten zinc-coating metal flow rate is relatively high. Dross particles remain suspended and do not accumulate on the bottom of the zinc-coating pot in this region. A second, deeper level is located to one side of the first level. This second level creates a space wherein the molten metal flow rate is less than the terminal velocity of the dross particles. This encourages sedimentation of the dross particles in this region. It provides an accumulation area for any bottom dross to be later removed by a dross removal mechanism, such as mechanical scoops or by pumping, without interruption to the coating process.

Dross collecting zinc pot

An apparatus for removing bottom dross from molten zinc contained in a coating pot includes a pump, a traversing carriage for positioning the inlet of the pump in a desired horizontal location and a slide mechanism for positioning the inlet of the pump in a desired vertical location. The pump is moved in horizontal and vertical direction to remove the accumulated bottom dross. The bottom dross contained in molten zinc is pumped into a V-shaped channel and allowed to flow into either a removable basket or into a pre-melt pot. The pump of the present invention is a pedestal, centrifugal graphite pump powered by an air motor. The pump has a housing enclosing an impeller. The distance between the impeller and the inner wall of the housing is sufficiently large to avoid plugging by the bottom dross but sufficiently small to permit pumping.

Growing community of inventors

Newburgh, IN, United States of America

Steven L Boston