Patent ID: 6819704
Filing Date: 2004-11-16
Classification: C22B,F27B,F27D,F27M,Y02P

Abstract:
An induction melting furnace for heating a melt and discharging a metered amount of the melt, the induction melting furnace comprising:a feed chamber having a sealable supply opening for placing a charge of the melt in the feed chamber and for isolating the interior of the feed chamber from the ambient environment, the feed chamber having a sealable delivery opening; a melt chamber for heating the melt in the melt chamber, the melt chamber connected directly to the feed chamber by the sealable delivery opening whereby sealing the sealable supply opening of the feed chamber and unsealing the sealable delivery opening of the feed chamber permits the transfer of the charge from the feed chamber to the melt chamber without subjecting the melt in the melt chamber to the ambient environment, the melt chamber having a melt chamber outlet for discharge of the melt; an at least one induction coil at least partially surrounding the melt chamber; a meter chamber having a meter chamber inlet and a meter chamber outlet, the meter chamber inlet connected directly to the melt chamber outlet by a connecting passage; a means for opening and closing the connecting passage to control the flow of the melt through the connecting passage; and a means for opening and closing the meter chamber outlet, whereby opening the connecting passage while the meter chamber outlet is closed fills the meter chamber with the melt, and opening the meter chamber outlet while the meter chamber is filled with melt and the connecting passage is closed discharges a metered amount of the melt from the meter chamber through the meter chamber outlet.