| 摘要 |
<p>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate an operation for taking out a solidified material from a crucible by melting a metal material in a floated state by high frequency induction heating in a substantially zero gravity environment, solidifying the material, bringing a pair of crucibles formed in a cup shape into contact with an opening edge, and forming a melting and solidifying space. SOLUTION: In the case of melting and solidifying a metal material, first a pair of crucibles 31, 32 formed in a cup shape from a plurality of segment pieces 31a, 32a radially arranged are drawn from an outer cylinder 21, the material is charged therein, again forced in, and both ends of the crucibles 31, 32 are brought into close contact with one another. Then, a high frequency current is supplied to an induction coil 11 to melt the material in a melting and solidifying space 41 in a floated state. Ends 51a, 52a of center plugs 51, 52 are brought into contact with molten metal M, small solidified shells 61, 62 are formed at the ends, and the metal M is sandwiched between the shells 62. The current flowing to the coil is slightly reduced in this state to solidify the overall metal M by cold radiating.</p> |
