Patent ID: 8320427

Claim:
A cold-walled induction guide (CIG) adapted for a liquid metal pour, the CIG comprising: a medium frequency (MF) CIG operatively connected to a source of liquid metal and to a sink of a high frequency (HF) CIG through a central channel, the MF CIG including a medium frequency electric power source (MFPS) wherein induction energy from the MFPS melts a skull on the source of liquid metal and melts a plug of solid metal within the central channel, maintaining a pool of liquid metal available to the high frequency (HF) CIG; and the HF CIG operatively connected to the central channel of the MF CIG and to a liquid metal discharge path, the HF CIG including a high frequency power supply (HFPS) and a central orifice, wherein induction energy from the HFPS melts a plug of solid metal within the central orifice when the HFPS is applied, thereby establishing a flow of liquid metal to the discharge path, further comprising a plurality of medium frequency (MF) induction coils being powered by the MFPS; a plurality of MF copper fingers including generally annular segments arranged around the central channel of the MF CIG, and wherein the plurality of MF induction coils are wound around the plurality of MF copper finger segments and wherein inner walls of the MF copper fingers form the central channel; an electrical insulating coating on the inner walls of the MF copper finger segments in contact with the liquid metal; a plurality of high frequency (HF) induction coils being powered by the HFPS; a plurality of HF copper fingers including generally annular segments arranged around the central orifice of the HF CIG, wherein the plurality of HF induction coils are wound closely around the plurality of HF copper finger segments and wherein inner walls of the HF copper finger segments form the central orifice; and an electrical insulating coating on the inner walls of the HF copper fingers segments in contact with the liquid metal; and a support arrangement for the MF CIG, the support arrangement including a baseplate formed as a bottom of the liquid metal source, wherein the plurality of MF copper finger segments are fixedly engaged to the baseplate at a plurality of outer circumferential locations and at a plurality of inner circumferential locations; and a support arrangement for the HF CIG, the support arrangement including an annular spacer separating the plurality of HF copper finger segments from the plurality of MF copper finger segments at an outer radial location, wherein the plurality of HF copper finger segments are fixedly engaged to an underside of the baseplate at a plurality of inner circumferential locations and the plurality of HF copper finger segments are fixedly engaged to the baseplate through the spacer and the plurality of MF copper finger segments.