US4373571A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus and process for electromagnetically shaping a molten material within a narrow containment zone
Assignee: Olin Corp
•
Filing: 1981-04-24
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Granted: 1983-02-15
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Expires: 2001-04-24
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and process is provided for electromagnetically forming a material into a desired thin strip shape. The apparatus and process includes a first portion containing a sump of said material in molten form. A second portion is located downstream of and communicates with the first portion. The second portion defines a containment zone of 5 mm or less for electromagnetically shaping the molten material into the thin strip shape whereby efficiency is improved through reduction of power consumption.
Inventors
- 👤 John C. Yarwood
- 👤 Gerhart K. Gaule
- 👤 Gary L. Ungarean
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 11:55
CPC Classifications
C; C30; C30B; C30B15/00; C30B15/14; B; B22; B22D; B22D11/00; B22D11/01; B22D11/015; C30B15/08; C30B29/00; C30B29/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
In an apparatus for electromagnetically forming a material into a desired thin strip shape, said apparatus comprising: first portion means for containing a sump of said material in molten form, second portion means downstream of and communicating with said first portion means, said second portion means defining a containment zone of 5 mm or less for electromagnetically shaping said molten material into said thin strip shape whereby efficiency is improved by reducing power consumption.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
74 words
In an apparatus for electromagnetically forming a material into a desired thin strip shape, said apparatus comprising: first portion means for containing a sump of said material in molten form, second portion means downstream of and communicating with said first portion means, said second portion means defining a containment zone of 5 mm or less for electromagnetically shaping said molten material into said thin strip shape whereby efficiency is improved by reducing power consumption.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said containment zone is between approximately 0.5 mm and 5 mm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further including means associated with said second portion means for solidifying said molten material into said desired thin strip shape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said means for solidifying said molten material includes means for directing a coolant onto said material in said containment zone whereby said molten material is solidified into said desired thin strip shape within said containment zone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said means for directing a coolant includes a manifold adjacent to said second portion means for directing said coolant between said molten material and said second portion means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said coolant is an inert gas.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said coolant is an inert liquid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second portion means includes concentrator means producing an electromagnetic field to establish said containment zone.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said concentrator means has an inner surface immediately adjacent and surrounding said molten material to form substantially straight vertical surfaces in the molten material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said inner surface is substantially parallel to the direction of casting.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said inner surface is substantially a convex surface facing the molten material being cast.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said concentrator means includes inductor means for applying a magnetic field to said molten material, and means for applying an alternating current to said inductor means to generate said magnetic field wherein said magnetic field forms said containment zone.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said inductor means has the inner surface directly adjacent and downstream from said first portion means and extending downward in the direction of casting for approximately 5 mm or less.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said inductor means includes a means for cooling said inductor means to enhance relative rapid solidification of said molten material into said thin strip shape.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said means for cooling includes a hollow passage in said inductor means for carrying a cooling medium.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said cooling medium is a liquid.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
70 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said concentrator means includes primary coil means and a secondary coil means, said primary coil is a multi-turn coil located adjacent to the secondary coil means for inducing current in the secondary coil means, and wherein said secondary coil means is a sheet of non-magnetic metal having said inner surface located directly adjacent and downstream from said first portion means and which extends downward.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said sheet of non-magnetic metal has a disc-like shape which extends outward from the inner surface at an angle of between 30° and 75° to the casting direction axis.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said angle is preferably between 45° and 60°.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said sheet has a thickness of approximately 5 mm or less.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said multi-turn coil is positioned downstream from the secondary coil means and is extended outward substantially parallel to the plane of the sheet of metal whereby the length of the containment zone can be minimized.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said multi-turn coil is positioned upstream from the secondary coil means and is extended outward substantially parallel to the plane of the sheet of metal whereby the current is efficiently concentrated at the inner surface of the secondary coil means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said multi-turn coil includes means for cooling said secondary coil means to enhance relatively rapid solidification of said molten material into said thin strip shape.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said means for cooling includes joining a single turn of said multi-turn coil to said secondary coil means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said single turn that is joined is the turn located closest to said inner surface.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said multi-turn coil is hollow for carrying a cooling medium.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said cooling medium is a liquid.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1, 9 or 17 wherein said first portion means is a means for electromagnetically containing and forming said sump of molten material.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said electromagnetic means is an inductor.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
69 words
A process for electromagnetically forming a material into a desired thin strip shape comprising the steps of: containing a sump of said material in molten form, receiving the molten material from said sump in a containment zone of 5 mm or less defined by an electromagnetic field, shaping said molten material into said thin strip shape by said electromagnetic field whereby efficiency is improved by reducing the power consumption.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
69 words
A process for electromagnetically forming a material into a desired thin strip shape comprising the steps of: containing a sump of said material in molten form, receiving the molten material from said sump in a containment zone of 5 mm or less defined by an electromagnetic field, shaping said molten material into said thin strip shape by said electromagnetic field whereby efficiency is improved by reducing the power consumption.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 30 wherein said containment zone is between approximately 0.5 mm and 5 mm.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 30 wherein said material is a semi-conductor.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 32 wherein said semi-conductor is a silicon.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 30 including the step of solidifying the molten material into said desired thin strip shape within said electromagnetic field.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 34 including the step of providing a concentrator to form said electromagnetic field which establishes the containment zone.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process of claim 35 including the step of positioning the concentrator immediately adjacent and surrounding the molten material to form the molten material into a thin strip with substantially straight vertical surface.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 36 including the step of cooling the concentrator to partially control the heat generated by the inductor.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 34 including the step of solidifying the molten material by impinging a coolant upon the material.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 38 wherein the coolant is an inert gas.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 38 wherein the coolant is an inert liquid.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 30 or 35 including the step of electromagnetically containing and forming the sump of molten material.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 41 including the step of providing an inductor for electromagnetically containing and forming said sump.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-02-14 | 1986-08-16 | 1987-02-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-02-14 | 1990-08-16 | 1991-02-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-02-14 | 1994-08-16 | 1995-02-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |