Improvements in Syphons for Drawing-off Molten Metals, Acids, and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 11th May, 1899-Accepted. 8th Lily
1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Syphons for Drawing-off Molten Metals, Acids,
and the like.
I, REUBEN GILBERT COLLINS, of the Village of Clark, Town of Dollar Bay
County of Houghton, and State of Michigan, United States of America, Gentle
man, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and what manner the same
is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
5 following statement:
-
My invention relates to improvements in siphons, adapted to draw off and con-
duct away molten metals, acids and the like.
The object I have in view is to provide a means for conducting the molten metal.
acids and the like, from one receptacle to another in a convenient, cheap, safe and
practical manner, and with greater certainty and ease than is accomplished in the
practice of older methods.
In is the further purpose of my invention to provide a means whereby the flow
of the liquid conducted by my siphon may be conveniently regulated.
It is also my purpose to provide a simple, cheaply constructed siphon tube, and
to protect the ends thereof with a covering composed of a refractory material, such
as graphite, or the like and further, to line the conducting tube with a portion of
the same, or like material conveyed thereby, and conducting the metal through
the interior tube.
To this end my invention consists in a siphon tube hermetically and temporarily
sealed, the contents being extracted so as to render the interior thereof as near a
perfect vacuum as possible.
In the preferred form of my siphon the ends are temporarily closed by the
material, or means, whereby they may be rapidly removed by the action of the
liquid, which is to be conducted through the siphon.
One of the most important uses for which my invention may be employed is
for drawing molten metal, such as copper from a furnace, such as one of the rever-
beratory type, containing such metal, and conducting it thereby into such places,
r receptacles, as may be desired.
I prefer to construct my siphon of an ordinary iron tube, and line it with another
ube composed of a metal similar to that to be conveyed by the siphon. This can
e done either by lining the iron tube before the siphon is used or by impeding
he flow of the metal within the iron tube as a result of which the metal therein
ecomes comparatively chilled and a laminae of such metal, as I am at the time
nveying, adheres to the inner surface of the iron pipe, thus forming a tube
the metal conveyed within the iron siphon tube, and thus protecting the surface
the iron against the washing effect of the moving molten metal. When such a
hon is used the ends thereof may be protected by a covering of refractory
aterial, such as graphite or the like, or the entire tube may be made of such
terial.
With these and other objects in view, which may hereafter appear, my inven-
n consists in the novel construction and combination of parts more fully described
particularly pointed out in the following specification
Do077

page_text: To enable others skilled in the art to practice my invention, I will proceed to
describe the same in detail, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,
wherein
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my siphon in position to convey molten metal from
a reverberatory furnace to a receptacle,
Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of one end of the siphon tube, showing the
protecting shield surrounding the same.
Fig. 3 is a similar view of one end of the siphon showing a restricting valve
for impeding the flow of the metal through the tube.
Fig. 4 is a cross section, of the tube showing the internal tube formed of the
metal to be conveyed.
Fig. 5 is an enlarged end of the siphon tube, showing a seal for the same.
Fig. 6 is a modification of Fig. 5.
Like letters of reference refer to similar parts in all of the views."
Referring to Fig. 1. A represents a siphon tube which may be constructed of
an ordinary iron pipe bent at each end to conform to a convenient shape, such as
shown. a is a tube composed of a refractory material, which surrounds the end
of the siphon that is designed to be immersed in the molten metal. A similar
protection may be placed on each end of the siphon, if desired. I have left it off
of the lower end for the sake of clearness.
In Fig. 2 a is a packing of a fibrous material that resists the action of heat,
such as asbestos, mineral wool, or the like, employed in this case as a means for
retaining the tube a in position on pipe A.
B is a furnace containing molten metal C.
f is the door opening, through which the metal is usually ladled out. f is a
shifting closure counter-balanced by weight f2 attached to cord, or chain f. The
door f may be shifted to a position to accommodate the siphon tube a. A chain
is passed over the trolley wheel h' and is attached by clips to each end of the siphon.
The cord, or chain i over the wheel and the counter-weight serves as a means
for suspending the siphon for conveniently handling and operating it while in use.
Referring now to Fig. 3, a² is a needle valve formed of a refractory material,
such as graphite, around a bent hook a³, the latter is attached to or terminated in
a threaded stem a', which passes through clip a³ and a attached to the siphon tube.
A threaded wheel a' serves as a means for raising and lowering the valve piece a²
when opening or closing the valve, which in this case is effected between the end
of the pipe A and the tapered portion a².
Fig. 4 is a cross section of the tube A, as a9a10 are stratas of the material com-
posing the internal lining of the tube A, in effect the material is substantially
solid.
In Fig. 5, a disc of fusible metal a¹2 is shown spun or expanded into the end of
the tube A, the larger outside surface of the disc comes flush with the end of the
pipe, so as not to form a pocket for containing air, which would, to some extent,
weaken the effect of the siphon in starting.
In Fig. 6 a ring a fits over the end of the tube, first having the disc a¹4
attached therein from the inner side thereof.
A second ring als surrounds the first, and the latter is caulked or upset between
the rings a and the pipe, for the purpose of making the joint. After both ends
of the siphon tube have been sealed in the manner described the tube A is ex-
hausted of air through cock a¹.
The operation of the device is as follows:-
After my siphon has been constructed and exhausted in the manner described,
it is ready for use.
In practice it is well to prepare several siphons and have them ready in the event
of an accident or failure of one to operate properly.
Before placing the siphon in position for operation I prefer to place the cylin-
der a around the upper end to protect the siphon tube from the destructive effect
of the moving molten metal.

page_text: wmen an iron pipe, such as my siphon, is immersed within molten copper, there
is practically no disintegration thereof, while the molten metal remains in a
quiescent state. As soon, as the molten metal is set in motion, as it is when being
drawn up into the siphon, there is produced a disintegration of the iron composing
5 the tube, by a sort of washing process, as the molten metal comes into contact
with the salient projections, extremities or exposed angle surfaces of the iron
tube. To overcome this difficulty I provide a covering a, as shown in Figs. 1
and 2, the lower end of which has internal projections that butt against the end
of the siphon tube in the manner shown. When placed in the metal the cylin-
der a tends to float and is held firmly against the tube.
There is produced very little if any, disintegration of the iron within the in-
terior of my siphon as a result of the movement of the hot metal therein. I avoid
this by using an iron tube somewhat larger than the stream of metal I desire to
convey, and by restricting the flow of the metal within the tube, as when the
valve at the lower end is partially closed, the metal therein becomes practically
chilled, and a laminae of such metal as I am at the time conveying, adheres to
the inner surface of the iron pipe, thus forming a tube of the metal con-
veyed within the iron siphon tube. The more the flow is impeded by closing the
valve the thicker this inner tube, thus formed, becomes. The result of this is to
prevent disintegration of the iron tube, by lining it with a coating of the metal
conveyed.
The seals at the ends of the siphon are preferably of a nature to be removed
or dissolved, by the operation of the liquid conveyed within the siphon tube.
As soon as the siphon has been placed within the molten metal the upper end,
when opened, admits the molten metal, which by nature of the vacuum is raised
and flows through the tube. To restrict the flow of the metal the valve a² is
inserted within the end of the tube, by means of the hand wheel a and the end
of the tube partially closed thereby.
When the metal strikes the lower end of the siphon, the seal in turn is thereby
dissolved, or otherwise removed.
It is of course obvious that a siphon tube made of other metal, or material, than
iron may be used, and that seals may be placed upon the end of my siphon in any
manner other than that shown, without departing from the spirit of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A siphon substantially such as described, temporarily sealed at both ends, a
siphon tube practically exhausted of air between the said seals, the seal of the
upper end adapted to be moved therefrom, after the said end has been submerged
vithin the material to be conveyed thereby.
2. A siphon substantially such as described, temporarily sealed at both ends, a
iphon tube practically exhausted of air between the said seals, one or both of the
aid seals being adapted to be removed by the action of the material to be con-
eved thereby.
3. A siphon tube substantially such as described, which consists of a tube prac-
cally exhausted of air, a seal on either end of the said tube, the said siphon
lapted to be sealed before being placed in the material to be conveyed thereby,
ad the seal of the upper end adapted to be removed therefrom after the said end
as been submerged in the said material.
4. A siphon, substantially such as described, temporarily sealed at both ends,
siphon tube practically exhausted of air between the said seals, one or both of
e said seals composed of a material which is soluble in the liquid to be conveyed
the said siphon.
5. A siphon, substantially such as described, for conveying molten metal, con-
ting of an exterior tube, an interior tube composed of a metal similar to that
veyed therein, and a means for governing the flow of metal through the said
hon.

page_text: 6. A siphon, substantially such as described, for conveying molten metal, con-
sisting of an interior tube that has been previously exhausted of air, an interior
tube composed of the metal conveyed therein, and a means for restricting or
impeding the flow of metal through the said siphon.
7. A siphon, substantially such as described, for conveying molten metal, con-
sisting of a tube temporarily sealed, a shield of refractory material surrounding
the end of the said siphon tube, and a means for controlling the position of the
said siphon.
S. A siphon, substantially such as described, for conveying molten metal, con-
sisting of a tube, a seal at each end, and a means for exhausting the said tube,
located between the said seals.
9. A siphon, substantially such as described, for conveying molten metal, con-
sisting of a tube, a ring adapted to fit the end of the said tube, and a disc of fusible
metal fixed within the said ring.
10. A siphon, substantially such as described, for conveying molten metal, con-
sisting of a tube, a disc of fusible metal expanded into the end of the said tube,
and a means for exhausting the said tube.
11. The combination of a furnace containing molten metal, a door or opening
within the said furnace, a shifting closure for the said opening, and a pipe or
siphon extending through the said closure, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 11th day of May 1890.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents for Applicant,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents for Applicant,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C.