JPH1038466A - Vacuum float dissolving apparatus and dissolving and casting method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To minimize the mixing of impurities by arranging an induction coil installed surrounding the side of the outer diameter of a crucible, a melting material supplier into which a conductive material to be melted is fed from an upper part of the crucible and a die for injecting molten metal to perform working continuously within one vacuum container. SOLUTION: A reflector 14 is retreated spirally from above a crucible 1 by a spiraling mechanism 14a and a material to be melted is fed into the crucible 1 from a melting material supplier 4. Induction heating and a floating force by an electromagnetic force caused by an eddy current which is induced by electromagnetic induction of an induction coil 2 to be supplied from an AC power source 3 both are simultaneously applied to the melting material to make a molten metal 1a floating being melted and the molten metal is cast into a die 5 after the adjustment of casting condition. In the molten metal 1a melted by the crucible 1, the mixing of foreign matters is very limited because there is no contact with other material during the melting period. This enables the melting of even a material with a high melting point thereby minimizing heat conductivity loss.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for inductively heating a conductive material to be melted in an alternating magnetic field by electromagnetic induction, and generating a magnetic field having a predetermined distribution to float the material to be melted by electromagnetic force. A flotation melting device that can obtain high-purity material by applying force and melting in a floating state.It melts high-purity molten metal, especially in vacuum, and continuously or intermittently melts the material to be melted from above. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a vacuum flotation melting apparatus which is charged and continuously or intermittently takes out a molten metal from an outlet provided at a lower portion in a vacuum, and a method for melting and discharging the molten metal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a levitation melting apparatus, a material to be melted is placed in an alternating magnetic field generated so as to have a predetermined distribution, and eddy current flowing through the material to be melted by electromagnetic induction is used for induction heating and electromagnetic melting. This is a device that gives a product of a predetermined material and size by simultaneously giving both levitation force and force to dissolve the material in a state where it floats and does not contact other objects such as a crucible. Extremely low contamination of foreign matter because it does not come into contact with other objects during melting, and melting of materials with high melting points is possible,
Because of the features such as small heat conduction loss,
It is used for dissolving materials that require a high melting point and high purity, such as titanium and silicon.

FIG. 4 shows a configuration diagram of a conventional example. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 1 denotes a good conductive metal having a bottomed cylindrical shape, an outlet 1b formed at the bottom for discharging molten metal, and a vertically elongated slit radially provided in the cylindrical portion at substantially equal intervals. 1a is a molten metal in which the material to be melted is melted in the crucible 1, and 2 is simultaneously applying to the material to be melted both induction heating and levitation force by electromagnetic force using eddy current flowing by electromagnetic induction. An induction coil, 3 is an AC power supply for supplying current to the induction coil 2, 4 is a molten material supply device for supplying a material to be melted to the crucible 1, 5 is a mold for casting the molten metal 1a, 6 is
Is a plug for closing the outlet 1b, 7 is a connecting pipe for connecting the plug 6 to the support arm 8, 8a is a roller follower for guiding the lifting and lowering and turning of the support arm 8 by engaging the guide groove 10d of the guide plate 10b, 10 Is a lifting mechanism for raising and lowering the support arm 8;
a is a stopper for holding the support arm 8 at a position where the plug 6 closes the outlet 1b, 10c is a position horizontally separated from the center of the outlet, and a straight line for guiding the support arm in the horizontal direction and for ascending and descending. Reference numeral 11 denotes a stopper opening / closing mechanism.
In FIG. 4, a well-conductive metal material having a bottomed cylindrical shape, an outlet 1b for discharging a molten metal 1a formed at the bottom thereof, and a vertically long slit radially provided at substantially equal intervals in the cylindrical portion. The material to be melted supplied from the melted material supply device 4 into the crucible 1 is subjected to induction heating and levitation force by electromagnetic force due to eddy current induced by electromagnetic induction of the induction coil 2 supplied with current from the AC power supply 3. Are given at the same time, and the molten metal 1a melts and floats. This crucible 1
The molten metal 1a melted in the step 1 does not come into contact with other objects at the time of melting, so that foreign matter is extremely little mixed therein, that a material having a high melting point can be melted, heat conduction loss is small,
Because of these features, it is used for dissolving materials that require a high melting point and high purity, such as titanium and silicon.

[0004] In this floating melting apparatus in which the molten metal is discharged from the lower part of the crucible, when a small amount of metal melts out at the initial stage of melting and the small amount of the molten metal 1a does not reach the amount to float due to the levitation force, a small amount of metal is melted. The molten metal 1a may fall from the outlet 1b of the crucible 1 to prevent this, and
The plug 6 is used to prevent the molten metal 1a from falling out of the outlet 1b when the power supply 3 is cut off during melting and the molten metal 1a loses buoyancy and falls.

The operation of the plug opening and closing mechanism 11 for opening and closing the plug 6 will be described below. The stopper 6 is supported by a support arm 8 via a connection pipe 7 so as to close the outlet 1b. Support arm 8
Is rotatably and loosely fitted in a horizontal guide to a linear guide 10c that guides the ascending and descending, and engages a roller follower 8a at the rear end of the support arm 8 with a guide groove 10d of a guide plate 10b. A horizontal turn is given to the roller follower 8a engaged with the guide groove 10d during the ascent and descent.

[0006] In the above configuration, opening of the stopper 6 is performed by the elevating mechanism 10.
When the support arm 8 is moved up and down, first, the stopper 10a holding the support arm 8 is released so that the stopper 6 is at a position where the plug 6 closes the outlet 1b, so that the support arm 8 can be moved up and down freely. When the mechanism 10 is urged in the descending direction, the support arm 8 is caused to descend by a combination of linear descending and horizontal turning by the linear guide 10c and the roller follower 8a engaged with the guide groove 10d. The stopper 6 is retracted to the retract position from immediately below the outlet 1b.

In this state, the current of the induction coil 2 is controlled to cast the molten metal 1a into the mold through the outlet, and after completion of the casting, the mold is replaced with another mold to prepare for the next casting. After the tapping is completed, the stopper 6 is raised in the reverse procedure to close the outlet 1b to prepare for the next melting.

[0008]

In the conventional levitation melting apparatus, melting is performed in the air or in an inert gas atmosphere. However, in the air, the oxidized metal is mixed during melting and the melting is performed. The purity of the material decreases. Further, in the inert gas, the oxidation of the metal was reduced, but the gas contained in the dissolved material could not be removed, and the purity of the dissolved material could not be improved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems. An object of the present invention is to eliminate the oxidation of metals and the incorporation of gases, etc. To obtain a high-purity metal material, and
An object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum levitation melting apparatus capable of obtaining a high-purity molded part by casting a molten metal into a mold in a vacuum and molding the molten metal.

[0010]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the molten metal is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape, and is provided radially at substantially equal intervals in the melt outlet and the cylindrical portion formed at the bottom. A crucible made of a good conductive metal having a vertically elongated slit, an induction coil installed to surround the outer diameter side of the crucible, a plug closing the outlet, a flotation melting device having a plug opening / closing mechanism for opening and closing the plug, and a crucible A vacuum flotation and melting apparatus is provided in which a melting material supply device for charging a conductive material to be melted into a crucible from an upper portion and a mold for casting a molten metal at a lower portion of an outlet are provided in a vacuum vessel.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to float and melt in a vacuum to perform casting. According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the vacuum flotation and melting apparatus according to the first aspect, a partition wall that separates the molten material supply device into which the material to be melted is put into the crucible and the flotation melting device and one of the partition walls is provided. A first vacuum gate valve for opening and closing the part is provided, and a flotation melting device, a partition wall for partitioning between the mold and a second vacuum gate valve for opening and closing a part of the partition wall are provided, and the inside of the vacuum vessel is provided. A material supply chamber equipped with a molten material supply device, and a melting chamber of a flotation melting device,
It is a vacuum flotation melting apparatus divided into three chambers, a molding chamber in which a mold is installed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the vacuum flotation and melting apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the mold is positioned between the vicinity of the lower outlet of the crucible and the fixed position of the lower portion away from the outlet. A vacuum flotation and melting apparatus provided with a mold elevating mechanism for elevating and lowering between them. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the vacuum flotation and melting apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein a reflector is provided above the crucible so as to open and close the crucible opening. Equipment.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the vacuum levitation melting apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, an inert gas introducing means is provided in each of the material supply chamber, the melting chamber and the molding chamber. And a vacuum levitation melting apparatus provided with According to the invention described in claim 6, in the vacuum flotation melting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the material supply chamber, the molding chamber, and the melting chamber are independently evacuated and controlled in pressure. Vacuum flotation and melting equipment made possible.

According to the constitution of the second to sixth aspects, the bottomed cylindrical crucible, the induction coil installed on the outer diameter side of the crucible, and the stopper for closing the crucible bottom outlet are installed in one vacuum vessel. A vacuum chamber divided into a melting chamber and an upper part through a vacuum gate valve, and a material supply chamber containing a melting material supply device into which a material is charged inside, and a lower part through a vacuum gate valve at the lower part of the melting chamber. The vacuum vessel has a configuration in which a mold into which the molten metal melted in the melting chamber is poured, and a molding chamber provided with an elevating mechanism for moving the mold to a position near the lower outlet of the crucible in the melting chamber. The capacity of the vacuum pump can be reduced by allowing each vacuum chamber to be individually vacuum controlled, and by setting the material supply chamber and the molding chamber to a low vacuum area and only the melting chamber to a high vacuum area. In addition, since the vacuum control of the three chambers is individually controlled, only the material supply chamber is returned to the atmosphere at the time of material supply, and the material can be supplied in a vacuum state in both the vacuum melting chamber and the molding chamber. When the material is supplied to the crucible in the vacuum chamber, the material supply chamber is evacuated and an inert gas is supplied to the vacuum melting chamber in the high vacuum area to balance the pressure, thereby preventing the occurrence of a differential pressure, Dissolved material can be supplied while preventing dust and dust from rising. This enables high-purity melting even when, for example, a material is added during the melting operation in the melting chamber or another material is supplied to form an alloy. Also, when supplying the molten metal melted in the melting chamber to the mold in the molding chamber, the inert gas is similarly supplied to the melting chamber to balance the pressure and to supply high-purity molded products. can do. Furthermore, by supplying an inert gas to the molding chamber after casting to make it at atmospheric pressure, the cooling time of the molded article after casting can be shortened. Also during this cooling time,
The melting chamber can be maintained in a vacuum state, and can be prepared for the next melting operation while preventing generation of dust, dust, and impurity gas. In addition, the molding chamber is easily installed and removed via a vacuum gate valve.For example, in the case of forming a wire, the molding chamber is removed from the vacuum gate valve and removed to the molding chamber to which the wire forming unit is attached. It becomes possible to exchange.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the vacuum levitation melting apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the material supply chamber is opened under atmospheric pressure by opening a door of the material supply chamber and melting the chamber. The conductive material to be melted is supplied to the material supply device, and after the material is supplied, the material supply chamber is evacuated by the vacuum exhaust system, and when the material is supplied from the material supply chamber to the crucible in the melting chamber, a high vacuum is applied. After introducing the inert gas into the melting chamber pressure in the region and bringing the pressure to the same level as the pressure in the material supply chamber, the first vacuum gate valve is opened, and the material to be melted is introduced from the melt material supply device in the material supply chamber. After the charging is completed, the first vacuum gate valve is closed, the melting chamber is evacuated to a high vacuum region by a vacuum exhaust system to secure a specified pressure, and then melting is started. The material supply chamber introduces an inert gas and returns to atmospheric pressure to prepare for receiving the next input material. When casting the molten metal into the mold of the next process, first, the pressure of the melting chamber in the high vacuum region is introduced to the same level as the pressure of the molding chamber by introducing an inert gas, and then the vacuum melting chamber is opened. The second vacuum gate valve between the molding chamber is opened, and then the stopper for closing the outlet at the bottom of the crucible in the melting chamber is moved by the stopper opening / closing mechanism to a position retracted from the vertical movement range of the mold in the molding chamber. Upon completion of the stopper movement, the mold in the molding chamber is raised to the vicinity of the crucible outlet by the mold elevating mechanism, and the molten metal is cast. After the casting, the mold is returned to the localization value by the mold elevating mechanism. After closing the second vacuum gate valve and closing the second vacuum gate valve, the melting chamber is evacuated again to a high vacuum region by a vacuum exhaust system,
In preparation for the next melting operation, the molding chamber was introduced with an inert gas and cooled at atmospheric pressure, the mold was removed, and after the mold was removed, the molding chamber was newly installed with the next mold, A method of melting and tapping a vacuum flotation and melting apparatus, which is evacuated to a specified pressure by a vacuum exhaust system and used for the next melting operation.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to continuously perform operations from material supply to melting operation and casting operation in the vacuum vessel.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of a main part of an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, members denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the conventional example have approximately the same functions, and therefore description thereof will be omitted. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a good conductive metal having a bottomed cylindrical shape, an outlet 1b formed at the bottom for discharging a molten metal, and a vertically long slit radially provided in the cylindrical portion at substantially equal intervals. 1a is a molten metal in which the material to be melted is melted in the crucible 1, 1c is a manifold for supplying and draining cooling water to and from the crucible 1, 2 is induction heating using eddy current flowing to the material to be melted by electromagnetic induction. And an electromagnetic coil, which simultaneously provide both a levitation force and an electromagnetic force, an AC power supply for supplying a current to the induction coil, a melting material supply device for supplying a material to be melted to the crucible, and
Is a mold for casting the molten metal 1a, 6 is a stopper for closing the outlet 1b,
Reference numeral 7 denotes a connecting pipe connecting the stopper 6 to the support arm 8, reference numeral 8a denotes a roller follower that guides the lifting and lowering and turning of the support arm 8 by engaging with the guide groove 10d of the guide plate 10b, reference numeral 9 denotes the molten material supply device 4, and A fusing / melting device having a crucible 1, an induction coil 2, a stopper 6, and a stopper opening / closing mechanism, a vacuum container for accommodating a mold 5, and 9a is an insulation for introducing a conductor for supplying an alternating current to the induction coil 2 into the vacuum container 9. Vacuum flange, 10
Is a lifting mechanism for raising and lowering the support arm 8, 10a is a stopper for holding the support arm 8 at a position where the plug 6 closes the outlet 1b, 10c is a position horizontally separated from the center of the outlet, and A linear guide for turning and raising and lowering the direction, 11a is the above-described plug opening / closing mechanism of the plug 6, 12
Is a mold elevating mechanism for elevating and lowering the mold 5, and 13 is a linear guide 1.
A vacuum introducing flange for communicating 0c with the vacuum vessel, a heat shielding reflector for shielding radiant heat of the molten metal 1a,
14a is a turning mechanism for turning and retracting the reflector from above the crucible, 15 is a vacuum exhaust system for exhausting the inside of the vacuum vessel, 1
5a is a shut-off valve of the vacuum evacuation system 15, 16 is a door for supplying a material from the outside to the molten material supply device 4, 17 is an inert gas introducing means for supplying an inert gas into the vacuum vessel 9, and 17a is an inert gas introducing means. 3 shows a gas shut-off valve of the active gas introducing means 17.

In FIG. 1, after the inside of the vacuum vessel 9 is evacuated by the vacuum exhaust system 15, the inert gas is introduced from the inert gas introduction means 17 by opening the gas shut-off valve 17 a to introduce the material to be melted. Door 1 after 9 is at atmospheric pressure
6 is opened and supplied to the molten material supply device 4. The molten material supply device 4, an outlet 1b formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom and discharging the molten metal 1a formed in the bottom, and a vertically long slit radially provided in the cylindrical portion at substantially equal intervals, and cooling water. A flotation and melting apparatus including a crucible 1 made of a good conductive metal having a manifold for supplying and discharging water, an induction coil 2, a plug 6, and the like, and a mold 5 for casting molten metal are housed in a vacuum vessel 9. . The AC power supply 3 is installed under the atmospheric pressure outside the vacuum vessel 9 and is connected by a conductor to the induction coil 2 in the vacuum vessel 9 through an insulating vacuum flange 9a to supply an AC current. The melting operation is performed by evacuating the inside of the vacuum container 9 to a vacuum exhaust system 15.
To start after reducing the pressure to a predetermined pressure. Next, the reflector 14 is turned and retracted from above the crucible 1 by the turning mechanism 14 a, and the material to be melted is put into the crucible 1 from the melting material supply device 4. The molten material is provided with both induction heating and buoyancy by electromagnetic force at the same time by eddy current induced by electromagnetic induction of the induction coil 2 to which current is supplied from the AC power supply 3, and melts into a molten metal 1 a. After the tapping conditions are adjusted, tapping is performed to the mold 5. During melting, the reflector 14 is turned by the turning mechanism 14a above the crucible 1, so that the radiant heat from the crucible 1 does not overheat the equipment above the heat. Melt 1 melted in this crucible 1
a is extremely low in foreign matter mixing because it does not come into contact with other substances during melting, is capable of melting even a material having a high melting point, has a small heat conduction loss, and is melted in a vacuum. No metal oxidation, no gas absorption during melting,
Further, since it has a characteristic of degassing from the molten metal 1a, it is used for dissolving a material having a high melting point and high purity, for example, titanium, silicon and the like.

In this flotation and melting apparatus in which the molten metal is discharged from the lower part of the crucible 1, a small amount of metal is melted in the initial stage of melting, and when the small amount of molten metal 1a does not reach the amount of floating due to the buoyancy force, In order to prevent the molten metal 1a from falling out of the outlet 1b of the crucible 1 to prevent this, and to drop from the outlet 1b when the power source 3 is cut off during melting and the molten metal 1a loses buoyancy and falls. A plug 6 is used to prevent this.

The operation of the plug opening and closing mechanism 11a for opening and closing the plug 6 will be described below. The stopper 6 is connected to a support arm 8 via a connecting pipe 7.
To support the outlet 1b. The support arm 8 is mounted so as to be pivotable in the horizontal direction with a linear guide 10c for guiding the ascending and descending as a fulcrum.
The roller follower 8a is engaged with the guide groove 10d of the guide plate 10b at the portion exposed to the atmosphere through the vacuum introduction flange 13 on the upper part of the linear guide 10c and the guide groove 10c.
In association with the roller follower 8a engaging with the member d, lifting and lowering is performed through a member 10e attached to the lifting and lowering device 10, and horizontal turning is given along the way.

In the above configuration, opening of the stopper 6 is performed by the lifting mechanism 10.
When the support arm 8 is raised and lowered, first, the stopper 10a holding the member 10e is released so that the stopper 6 is at a position where the plug 6 closes the outlet 1b, so that the member 10e and the support arm 8 can be freely raised and lowered. By urging the elevating mechanism 10 in the descending direction, the support arm 8 is caused to perform a descending operation combining linear descending and horizontal turning with the linear guide 10c and the roller follower 8a engaged with the guide groove 10d. The plug 6 is retracted to the retracted position from immediately below the outlet 1b.

In this state, the mold 5 is raised to the vicinity of the outlet 1b by the elevating device 12, and the current of the induction coil 2 is controlled to cast the molten metal 1a into the mold 5 via the outlet. After completion of the mold, the mold 5 is lowered by the elevating device 12, and then replaced with another mold to prepare for the next casting. After the bath is completed,
The stopper 6 is raised in the reverse procedure to close the outlet 1b to prepare for the next dissolution.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main part of another embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes an outlet 1 which is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom and discharges a molten metal formed at the bottom.
b, a crucible made of a good conductive metal having vertically elongated slits radially provided at substantially equal intervals in a cylindrical portion, 1a is a molten metal in which the material to be melted is melted in the crucible 1, and 1a is a melted metal in the crucible 1. 1c is a manifold for supplying and draining cooling water to and from the crucible 1; 2c is a material to be melted, using eddy current flowing by electromagnetic induction to simultaneously perform both induction heating and buoyancy by electromagnetic force. Giving induction coil, 3
Is an AC power supply for supplying current to the induction coil 2, 4 is a molten material supply device for supplying the material to be melted to the crucible 1, 5 is a mold for casting the molten metal 1a, 6 is a stopper for closing the outlet 1b, 7 is A connecting pipe for connecting the plug 6 to the support arm 8, a roller follower 8 a for engaging the guide arm 10 d with a guide groove 10 d to guide the lifting and lowering and turning of the support arm 8, a melting material supply device 4, and a levitation melting Equipment, vacuum container for housing the mold, 9
a is an insulating vacuum flange for introducing a conductor for supplying an alternating current to the induction coil 2 into the vacuum vessel 9; 10 is an elevating mechanism for elevating and lowering the support arm 8;
For holding the outlet 1b in a position to close the outlet 1b,
0c is a position horizontally separated from the center of the outlet, and is a linear guide for turning and raising and lowering the support arm in the horizontal direction, 11a is a stopper opening / closing mechanism, 12 is a mold elevating mechanism for elevating and lowering a mold, and 13 is a straight line. A vacuum introduction flange for connecting the guide 10c to the vacuum vessel, a heat shielding reflector 14 for shielding radiant heat of the molten metal 1a, a turning mechanism 14a for turning and retracting the reflector from above the crucible, and a vacuum exhaust 15 for exhausting the inside of the vacuum vessel System, 15a, 15b, 15c are shut-off valves of the vacuum exhaust system 15, and 16 is a molten material supply device 4.
For supplying material from the outside to the vacuum chamber 17
Inert gas introducing means for supplying an inert gas into the inside, 17
a, 17b, 17c are gas shut-off valves of the inert gas introducing means 17, 18a is a first vacuum gate valve between the molten material supply device and the flotation melting device, 18b is a flotation melting device,
3 shows a second vacuum gate valve between the mold and the mold.

FIG. 2 differs from FIG. 1 in that a first vacuum gate valve 18 is provided between the molten material supply device and the flotation melting device.
a, and a second vacuum gate valve 18b is provided between the levitation melting apparatus and the mold to provide a material supply chamber 100 having a melting material supply apparatus and a melting chamber 200 of the levitation melting apparatus.
And a mold chamber 300 in which a mold is installed. The three chambers are separated from each other, and the three chambers can be controlled to different vacuum pressures or atmospheric pressures into which an inert gas is introduced.

In order to control each of the three chambers to a different vacuum pressure or an atmospheric pressure into which an inert gas has been introduced, one of the vacuum exhaust systems 15 (for low vacuum) is connected to the material supply chamber 100 via a shut-off valve 15a. Is connected to the molding chamber 300 via a shut-off valve 15c.
(For high vacuum) through the shut-off valve 15b
It is connected to the.

The inert gas introducing means 17 is connected to the material supply chamber 100 via the gas shut-off valve 17a, and to the melting chamber 200 via the gas shut-off valve 17b.
Each is connected to the molding chamber 300 via 7c.
Thus, the two evacuation systems 15, three shutoff valves 15a, 15b, 15c, and three gas shutoff valves 17
By combining a, 17b, and 17c, the pressure in each of the three chambers can be individually controlled.

A melting and tapping method of a vacuum levitation melting apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the melting method using the vacuum levitation melting apparatus, first, the upper door 16 is opened in the material supply chamber 100 under the atmospheric pressure, and the conductive material to be melted is charged into the melt material supply apparatus 6. After the charging, the door 16 is closed, the shut-off valve 15a connected to the material supply chamber 100 is opened, and the vacuum exhaust system 15 evacuates to a specified pressure. Next, the pressure of the high-vacuum melting chamber 200 is increased by opening the gas shut-off valve 17b from the inert gas introducing means 17 to introduce an inert gas to the same pressure as that of the material supply chamber. The first vacuum gate valve 18a between the melting chamber 200 is opened. Next, after the reflector 14 in the melting chamber is turned and retracted from above the crucible 1 by the reflector turning mechanism 14a, the conductive material to be melted is put into the crucible 1 from the melting material supply device 6 in the material supply chamber 100.
After charging the material, the first vacuum gate valve 18a is closed, the melting chamber 200 is evacuated again to a specified pressure, and the reflector 14 is returned to the home position. After the material is charged, power is supplied from an AC power supply 3 to the induction coil 2 arranged outside the crucible 1 to perform levitation melting. Next, when the molten metal 1a melted by the flotation melting is cast into the mold 5, a high vacuum melting chamber 2 is used.
After the gas shutoff valve 17b is opened from the inert gas introducing means 17 and the inert gas is introduced to the same pressure as in the material supply, the melting chamber 200 and the molding chamber 300 Open the second vacuum gate valve 18b. Next, with the stopper 6a holding the linear guide 10c and the support arm 8 opened while the stopper 6 closing the outflow port 1b of the crucible 1 is inserted, the guide of the cylindrical cam type guide plate 10b is lifted by the lifting mechanism 10. The plug 6 connected to the support arm 8 is moved along the groove 10d to a position where the mold 5 arranged at the lower part of the crucible 1 does not obstruct the elevating area where the die 5 moves up and down. After opening the stopper 6, the mold 5 is moved by the mold elevating mechanism 12,
The casting is performed close to the outlet 1b of the crucible 1 so that the molten metal 1a does not scatter outside. After casting, the operation is reversed.
That is, the mold 5 after casting is lowered to the localization value by the mold elevating mechanism 12, the second vacuum gate valve 18b is closed, and at the same time, the melting chamber is evacuated again to the specified pressure. Next, the stopper 6 connected to the support arm 8 is raised by the lifting mechanism 10,
Along the guide groove 10d of the cylindrical cam type guide plate 10b,
After being swiveled and moved straight up, it is inserted back into the outlet 1b of the crucible 1 and held by the upper stopper 10a. Next, the shutoff valve 15c of the vacuum exhaust system 15 of the molding chamber 300 is closed, the gas shutoff valve 17c of the inert gas introduction means 17 is opened, an inert gas is introduced, the molding chamber is returned to the atmospheric pressure, and the molded product is returned. Remove after cooling. While the molded product is being cooled, a new material can be charged from the material supply chamber into the crucible 1 in the melting chamber in the same procedure as described above, and the next melting operation can be performed.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main part of another embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, the material supply chamber 100,
The dissolving chamber 200 has the same configuration as that shown in FIG. FIG. 3 shows an example in which the molding chamber 300 is separated from the separation surface, and the mold 5 in the molding chamber 300 is replaced with another molding unit, for example, the wire rod molding unit 19.

[0029]

According to the present invention, a bottomed cylindrical crucible in which segments made of a good conductive metal are laminated in a vacuum vessel in a circumferential direction via an insulating plate, and the outer periphery of the crucible is surrounded. An induction coil installed in the crucible, a melting material supply device for charging the conductive material to be melted from the top of the crucible, and a mold for casting the molten metal are provided.
By continuously performing from the material supply to the melting operation and the casting operation, there is little mixing of dust, dust, impurity gas, etc.
There is an effect that a metal material with higher purity can be obtained.

Further, by disposing a reflector capable of opening and closing the crucible opening at the top of the crucible, it has an effect of blocking radiant heat during melting and preventing the upper portion of the vacuum vessel from being heated. In addition, the mold into which the molten metal is poured is placed at the bottom of the crucible so as to be able to move up and down by the mold elevating mechanism, and after opening, the mold is brought as close as possible to the crucible outlet to prevent the molten metal from scattering outside. There is.

Furthermore, the vacuum vessel is separated into three chambers, a material supply chamber, a vacuum melting chamber, and a molding chamber, by a vacuum gate valve, and each vacuum chamber can be independently evacuated and pressure controlled. In addition, the volume of the vacuum chamber can be set to an optimum size and an optimum pressure according to the application, and as a result, the capacity of the vacuum pump can be reduced. Further, during the vacuum melting operation, the next new material can be supplied, which is effective for the continuous melting operation.

Further, since the three chambers are separated from each other, a clean environment can be maintained without exposing all the rooms to the atmosphere even during maintenance. Furthermore, like a molding room,
Even if the type of work is changed, if the molding chamber is unitized for each work, there is an effect that productivity can be improved by replacing the unit.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a main part of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a main part of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a main part of another embodiment of the invention of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 4 material supply device 9 vacuum container 9a insulating vacuum flange 11a stopper opening / closing mechanism 12 mold elevating mechanism 13 vacuum introducing flange 14 reflector 14a reflector turning mechanism 15 vacuum exhaust system 15a shutoff valve 15b shutoff valve 15c shutoff valve 16 door 17 inert gas introduction Means 17a Gas shut-off valve 17b Gas shut-off valve 17c Gas shut-off valve 18a First vacuum gate 18b Second vacuum gate 19 Wire forming unit

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A crucible made of a good conductive metal having a bottomed cylindrical shape, a molten metal outlet formed at the bottom thereof, and a vertically elongated slit radially provided in the cylindrical portion at substantially equal intervals, and a crucible. An induction coil installed to surround the outer diameter side of the
A flotation / melting device having a plug for closing the outlet, a plug opening / closing mechanism for opening and closing the plug, a melting material supply device for feeding a conductive material to be melted into the crucible from the upper part of the crucible, and pouring the molten metal into a lower part of the outlet. A vacuum flotation melting apparatus characterized in that a mold and a mold are provided in a vacuum vessel. 2. A vacuum flotation melting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a partition for separating the molten material supply device for charging the material to be melted into the crucible and the flotation melting device and a part of the partition are opened and closed. A single vacuum gate valve is provided, and a flotation melting device and a partition wall separating the mold and a second vacuum gate valve for opening and closing a part of the partition wall are provided. A vacuum flotation / melting apparatus characterized by being divided into three chambers: a material supply chamber provided with the above, a melting chamber of the flotation / melting apparatus, and a molding chamber in which a mold is installed. 3. The vacuum lifting and melting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mold is moved up and down between a vicinity of the lower crucible outlet and a fixed position at a lower part away from the outlet. A vacuum levitation melting apparatus characterized by comprising: 4. A vacuum levitation melting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a reflector provided above the crucible so as to open and close the crucible opening. apparatus. 5. A vacuum levitation melting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an inert gas introducing means is provided in each of the material supply chamber, the melting chamber, and the molding chamber. Vacuum flotation melting equipment. 6. A vacuum levitation melting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the material supply chamber, the molding chamber and the melting chamber can be independently evacuated and controlled in pressure. Characteristic vacuum levitation melting equipment. 7. A vacuum levitation melting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the material supply chamber opens a door of the material supply chamber under atmospheric pressure, and a conductive material is supplied to the molten material supply apparatus in the chamber. After supplying the molten material, after the material is supplied, the material supply chamber is evacuated by the vacuum evacuation system, and when the material is supplied from the material supply chamber to the crucible in the melting chamber, the pressure of the melting chamber in the high vacuum region is increased by an inert gas. After bringing the pressure to the same level as the pressure in the material supply chamber, the first vacuum gate valve is opened and the material is supplied from the melted material supply device in the material supply chamber. After closing, the melting chamber is evacuated to a high vacuum area with a vacuum exhaust system to secure the specified pressure, melting is started, the material supply chamber is returned to atmospheric pressure by introducing an inert gas, and the next input material is received. When casting the molten metal into the mold of the next process, First, an inert gas is introduced into the melting chamber pressure in the high vacuum region to make it the same level as the pressure in the molding chamber, and then the second vacuum gate valve between the vacuum melting chamber and the molding chamber is opened. The stopper that closes the outlet at the bottom of the crucible in the melting chamber is moved by the stopper opening / closing mechanism to a position retracted from the vertical movement range of the mold in the molding chamber, and simultaneously with the completion of the stopper movement, the mold in the molding chamber is moved by the elevator mechanism. The molten metal is cast by raising the vicinity of the crucible outlet, and after casting, the mold is returned to the localization value by the elevating mechanism, the second vacuum gate valve is closed, and after the second vacuum gate valve is closed, the melting chamber is closed. After the vacuum evacuation system again evacuated to the high vacuum area, the molding chamber was introduced with an inert gas and cooled at atmospheric pressure, and the mold was taken out. In the molding chamber, the next mold is newly installed, and the vacuum evacuation system is evacuated to the specified pressure. Dissolution and tapping methods of the vacuum levitation melting apparatus being characterized in that as provided in the work.