Sand catcher for production of steel and other metals

Abstract

A device and method for improved production of steel and other metals. The device and method captures sand or other insulating material used in the handling of molten metals and prevents or minimizes contamination of finished or intermediate metal products with said sand or other insulating material.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a retaining component comprising a container, said container comprising three walls and a bottom component, said three walls and bottom component made of a refractory material;   a ramp component mounted on said retaining component, said ramp component made of a non-refractory material;   wherein said ramp component is disposed at an angle with respect to said retaining component such that material delivered to said ramp component travels by gravity into said retaining component.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle coupled to said retaining component. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more support elements, said support elements comprising refractory material. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said bottom component of said retaining component is positioned at an acute angle with respect a long axis of said retaining component. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said retaining component is made of ⅛″ thick steel. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said ramp component is made of 26 gauge sheet metal. 
   
   
       7 . A method of capturing sand or other insulating material in a flow stream comprising sand or other insulating material and molten metal, said method comprising:
 placing a catching device in a path of said flow stream, said catching device comprising:
 a retaining component comprising a container, said container comprising three walls and a bottom component, said three walls and bottom component made of a refractory material; 
 a ramp component mounted on said retaining component, said ramp component made of a non-refractory material; 
 wherein said ramp component is disposed at an angle with respect to said retaining component such that material delivered to said ramp component travels by gravity into said retaining component; 
 said catching device optionally comprising one or more support elements; 
   initiating a flow of said flow stream; and,   removing said catching device from said path of said flow stream after a finite time.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the step of engaging said one or more support elements to a support before said step of initiating a flow. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said finite time is 1-5 seconds. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said flow stream comprising sand or other insulating material comprises sand and molten steel.