AN IMPROVED FLOAT FOR SENSING THE LEVEL OF A MOLTEN METAL SURFACE

摘要

A float (10) for sensing a molten metal level (28), comprises an upper section (11) which has an essentially flat under surface (12) adapted to rest on the molten metal surface and a lower section (13) adapted to be submerged beneath the level (28) of the molten metal. The area of the flat under surface (12) is at least 10% of the area of an image of the float (10) projected downwardly. The volume of the lower section (13) of the float (10) submerged beneath the level (28) of the molten metal displaces a volume of molten metal essentially equal in weight to the weight of the float (10) and any vertical force applied to the float (10) by attachments thereto. Preferably, the area of the flat undersurface (12) is at least 25% of the area of the image projected downwardly; the float (10) may be formed from a lightweight refractory material.