Dross press with rocking press head

Details Dross press with rocking press head Dross press with rocking press head

1999-07-06

2000-10-24

Kastler, Scott

Metallurgical apparatus

Means for melting or vaporizing metal or treating liquefied...

Means to melt and separate metal from mass of diverse...

266227, C22B 700

Patent

active

061362638

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to dross presses and more particularly to a dross head movement system.
Dross presses are used to press dross contained in a dross pot. The hot dross is extracted from a furnace and placed in the dross pot. The dross pot is then transferred to the dross press where the dross is pressed by a press head and the molten metal, usually aluminium, is collected in a sow mould positioned beneath the dross pot. The dross pot is provided with at least one drainage hole to allow the molten aluminium to flow into the sow mould.
A problem which arises with present press head and skim box systems is that the liquid aluminium becomes trapped in the dross. Many systems have been designed to increase the yield such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,397,104 and 4,527,779.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a dross head movement system which increases the yield of metal from dross.
Although the dross can contain other metals, the normal use is for aluminium, and hereinafter the term aluminium will be used to cover all suitable metals which may be processed in a dross press.
According to the present invention there is provided a dross press including a press head and a skim box and including a head system comprising pressing means for pressing the dross in said skim box, said press means including means for providing a rocking movement for said press head in which the press means for providing rocking movement of the press head comprises a plurality of hydraulic rams spaced apart on the press head which each hydraulic ram is provided with control means enabling hydraulic pressure to be exerted by all rams to produce a uniform pressure on the press head. The control means is also operable to enable hydraulic pressure to be exerted on either one or the other ram to cause the head to rock from side to side.
Preferably the head is generally conical in shape with a substantially flat top.
The head can be cooled as described in our co-pending patent application Ser. No. WO96/32513.
Preferably on the top of the head a control stop is mounted for the hydraulic control system. The control stop preferably comprises a generally rectangular or inverted semi conical structure which co-operates with first and second limit switches as the head rocks. The limit switches are connected to appropriate control valves to control the flow of hydraulic fluid into each of the hydraulic rams.
In a further embodiment three or more hydraulic rams are provided on the head to enable the head to be rocked in several different directions.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:


BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows in schematic cross-section elevation of a dross press in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 shows schematically the dross press head of FIG. 1 in plan view;
FIG. 3 shows an alternative guide stop member; and
FIG. 4 shows diagrammatically the electrical and hydraulic control system.
With reference now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the dross press 10 comprises a press head 12 and a skim box 14 for holding hot dross 16 skimmed from a furnace (not shown).
The drawing is not dimensionally accurate but shows the basic principle.
Once the hot dross has been loaded into the skim box, a certain quantity of aluminium 20 will drain naturally from the skim box into a sow mould 18.
In normal operation head 12 is pressed downwards into the dross and this pressure causes further aluminium to be squeezed from the dross. This may be done in a single pressing operation or using several strokes of a central hydraulic ram.
A problem which exists with smooth sided heads is that the dross becomes compressed but the pressure is even and further compression will not substantially extract any further aluminium.
In the present invention the head 12 is provided with two hydraulic rams 22 and 24 which are independently operable. The operating rods 26, 28 of each ram are connected to the top of head 12 by bearings 30,32 w

REFERENCES:
patent: 5397104 (1995-03-01), Roth
patent: 5667957 (1997-09-01), Roth
patent: 5811056 (1998-09-01), Bramley
patent: 5882580 (1999-03-01), Pownall
patent: 5906790 (1999-05-01), Bramley

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