PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MINIMIZING THE POTENTIAL FOR EXPLOSIONS IN THE DIRECT CHILL CASTING ALUMINUM OF LITHIUM ALLOYS

摘要

An apparatus and a system including a casting pit; a mold including a reservoir and a cavity; a coolant feed operable to introduce a coolant to a periphery of a metal emerging from the mold cavity; an array of water vapor exhaust ports about at least the top periphery of the casting pit; a mechanism to introduce an inert fluid into the coolant feed. A method for a direct chill casting including, after detecting a bleed out, exhausting generated gas from the casting pit at a flow volume rate that is enhanced relative to a flow volume rate prior to detecting bleed out or run out; introducing an inert gas into the casting pit; and introducing an inert fluid into a coolant feed to the casting mold.

主权项

1. An apparatus comprising:
a casting pit having a top portion, an intermediate portion and a bottom portion; a mold located at the top portion of the casting pit, the mold comprising a reservoir and a cavity; a coolant feed operable to introduce a coolant to a periphery of a metal emerging from the mold cavity; a movable platen operable to support a metal as the metal solidifies in the mold; a mechanism for detecting the occurrence of a bleed out; an array of water vapor exhaust ports about at least the top periphery of the casting pit; and a mechanism to introduce an inert fluid into the coolant feed.