Improvements in the Arrangement and Construction of Apparatus for Exhausting Gases from Molten Metal.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Jan, 1898-Accepted, 7th May, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Arrangement and Construction of Apparatus
for Exhausting Gases from Molten Metal.
I, JACOB TRIPLER WAINWRIGHT, Metallurgical Engineer, of 1254, Michagan
Avenue, Chicago, State of Illinois, in the Republic of the United States of
America, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particulary described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
:-
By my invention, an improved apparatus is produced for volatilizing and exhaust-
ing impurities from molten metal, and is particulary applicable for treating
molten iron or steel.
The objects of my invention are:
First. The production of an improvement wherewith an unlimited quantity
of gas is extracted from a self-regulating inflow and outflow of molten metal. I
accomplish this by means of the combination of elements set forth hereinafter in
Claim 1.
Second. The production of an improvement wherewith an unlimited quantity of
gas is extracted with a thorough exhaustion of a self-regulating inflow of molten
metal.
I accomplish this by means of the combination of elements set forth hereinafter
in Claim 2.
Third. The production of an improvement wherewith a thorough exhaustion
of an inflow of molten metal is effected without churning or violently agitating
same.
Also, I accomplish this by means of the combination of elements set forth herein-
after in Claim 2.
Fourth, The production of an improvement wherewith an unlimited quantity
of gas is extracted with a prolonged thorough exhaustion of molten metal having
a self-regulating outflow. I accomplish this by means of the combination of
elements set forth hereinafter in Claim 3.
Fifth. The production of an improvement wherewith an unlimited quantity
of gas is extracted with a thorough exhaustion of a continuous flow of molten metal
without churning or violently agitating said metal. I accomplish this by means
of the combination of elements set forth hereinafter in Claim 4.
Sixth. The production of an improvement wherewith an unlimited quantity of
gas is extracted with a thorough exhaustion of a self-regulating inflow and outflow
of molten metal. I accomplish this by means of the combination of elements set
forth hereinafter in Claim 5.
Seventh. The production of an improvement wherewith a quick start is made
in extracting an unlimited quantity of gas with a thorough exhaustion of the
molten metal. I accomplish this by means of the combination of elements set forth
hereinafter in Claim 6.
Eighth. The production of an improvement wherewith an unlimited quantity
of gas is extracted from a self-regulating inflow of congealable molten metal sup-
plied at long intervals of time. I accomplish this by means of the combination
of elements set forth hereinafter in Claim 7.

page_text: Ninth. The production of an improvement wherewith an unlimited quantity of
gas is extracted from an intermittant supply of congealable molten metal having
a self-regulating outflow and supplied at long intervals of time. I accomplish
tais by means of the combination of elements set forth hereinafter in Claim *8.
Tenth. The production of an improvement wherewith an unlimited quantity of
gas is extracted from a self-regulating inflow and outflow of congealable molten
metal supplied at long intervals of time. I accomplish this by means of the
combination of elements set forth hereinafter in Claim 9.
Eleventh. The production of an improvement wherewith an unlimited quantity
of gas is extracted from molten metal in a manner to prevent damage to the appar-
atus by grit and corroding gases. I accomplish this by means of the combination
of elements set forth hereinafter in Claim 10.
The accompanying drawings are merely conventional, and show a preferred
device in which are embodied all of the above mentioned improvements.
Figure 1 shows a central vertical longitudinal section, the inlets and outlets
and their seals, and the remaining parts connected thereto by the pipe G.
Figure 2 shows a sectional plan of the vacuum-chamber, above its bottom.
Figure 3 shows a sectional plan of the inlet and outlet conduits to the vacuum-
chamber, below its bottom.
In the device shown, an elevated vacuum or gas chamber is shown at C.
To said chamber is attached a device for exhausting the air and gases, as here
shown, an air or gas exhaust pump V; by means of pipe F; H; G; and a pipe Y
forming a continuation with a three-way cock Z, arranged for either a straight
open passage, or to let in air, either above, er below it; and above said coek is a
secondary chamber W and exhaust pump X thereto.
Said pipe H is of enlarged diameter and provided with a jet J controlled by a
cock K, through which water flows to condense the gases drawn from the cham-
ber C. It also has a removable cleansing bottom L. Although not essential, it
is convenient to have a water-guage and a vacuum-guage in connection with this
condenser.
The exhausted chamber W may be closed by the cock Z; and at a subsequent
start furnish immediate exhaustion to the chamber C, which may thereafter be
upheld by either one or both of said pumps.
To said chamber C is also attached an inlet conduit B, with an inverted lower
end provided with a receiving cup, A, and a luted outlet plug M at its lower point;
and an outlet conduit D, with an inverted lower end with spout E, and a luted
plug N at its lower point. When charged with liquid metal, said inverted ends
constitute traps to form seals to the chamber C.
Said removable plugs or stopped openings are for the purpose of removing the
liquid seals, and constitute a means for removing the traps."
The parts or bottoms, O, P, are separable from the upper part at the luted
joints, R, S.
The roof T is removable; and provided with an opening U covered with mica,
through which the chamber may be inspected. When the apparatus is empty, it is
desirable to maintain an elevated temperature in the interior by means of an
ignited blast of gas and air introduced through this opening U.
The inside of the apparatus is made in part, or in whole, of suitable acid,
neutral, or basic material; and the various parts are incased, connected, luted, and
cooled; all in accord with known practice in the construction and operation of
metallurgical furnaces and receptacles.
The height at which the bottom of the chamber C may be above the top of the
seals will depend on the specific gravity of the metal, and the degree of exhaus-
tion obtained in said chamber. The difference of level in the cups A, E, directs the
flow as indicated.
To operate said device, the cups A, E, are first filled with molten metal; the
chamber C is exhausted, in either or both of said ways; and metal poured into
the receiving cup A, from which it flows through the inlet B, and over the elevated

page_text: bottom of the vacuum-chamber C and is thereby thoroughly exhausted and deprived
of impurities thus eliminated, thence through the outlet D, into the cup E, from
which it may be cast or collected.
It will be observed that this apparatus does not churn or violently agitate the
molten metal; thereby a better product is produced, as compared with the product
from a device by which the molten metal is violently broken up and churned.
Also, that a prolonged thorough exhaustion of the metal is effected by merely
retarding the flow.
When it becomes necessary to discontinue the operation, the traps are removed
by removing the luted plugs M, N. Thus, means which differ from previous
practice are provided for treating intermittant supplies of molten metal.
Having now particulary described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
Claim 1. In combination with an exhauster, a connected vacuum-chamber with
a trap inlet and a trap outlet, substantially.
Claim 2. In combination with an exhauster, a connected vacuum-chamber with
an elevated bottom and a trap inlet, substantially.
Claim 3. In combination with an exhauster, a connected vacuum-chamber with
an elevated bottom and a trap outlet, substantially.
Claim 4. In combination with an exhauster; a connected vacuum-chamber with
an elevated bottom, an inlet, and an outlet, arranged to form a siphon; substan-
tially.
Claim 5. In combination with an exhauster; a connected vacuum-chamber with
an elevated bottom, a trap inlet, and a trap outlet; substantially.
Claim 6. In combination with an exhauster, a connected vacuum-chamber with
an elevated bottom, and a connected secondary-chamber, substantially.
Claim 7. In combination with an exhauster, a connected vacuum-chamber hav-
ing an inlet with removable trap, substantially.
Claim 8. In combination with an exhauster, a connected vacuum-chamber
having an outlet with removable trap, substantially.
Claim 9. In combination with an exhauster, a connected vacuum-chamber
having an inlet with removable trap and having an outlet with removable trap,
substantially.
Claim 10. In combination with an exhauster and connected vacuum-chamber,
an internally cooled condenser connected intermediate between said exhauster and
vacuum-chamber, substantially.