The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 16, 1995
Filed:
May. 26, 1993
Akira Fukuzawa, Tokyo, JP;
Kazuyuki Sakuraya, Tokyo, JP;
Toshiaki Watanabe, Tokyo, JP;
Motoo Yamazaki, Shizuoka, JP;
Tadashi Morita, Kanagawa, JP;
Tatsuo Take, Kanagawa, JP;
Michiru Fujita, Kanagawa, JP;
National Research Institute for Metals, Tokyo, JP;
Chubu Electric Power Company, Incorporated, Aichi, JP;
Fuji Electric Co., Ltd., Kanagawa, JP;
Abstract
Apparatus to float and melt particularly small pieces of high-melting point metal continuously while making the amount of meltable liquid metal greater than the capacity of a crucible. A conductive crucible having segments includes an upper cylindrical crucible portion and a lower closed-end crucible portion. An induction coil is arranged outside the upper crucible portion, whereas an induction coil is arranged below the induction coil. The lower crucible portion is in contact with the upper crucible portion and located on the inside of the induction coil at the initial melting stage. The lower crucible portion is lowered as a columnar metal grows and solidifies between molten metal and the lower crucible portion. A continuous feeder continuously feeds cold material. A molten metal surface thermometer and a molten metal surface level gauge are arranged above the crucible. The operation of the continuous feeder is regulated within a desired range of values of the molten metal surface thermometer. On the other hand, the lower crucible portion is successively lowered within a desired range of values of the molten metal surface level gauge.