Vibratory System And Method For Molten Steel Transfer

Abstract

A vibratory system and method for use in transferring molten metal. The vibratory system includes a vibrator which generates vibrational energy used to dislodge particulate positioned in a ladle for storing molten metal in an industrial molten metal transfer and manufacturing process. In one example, the vibratory system includes a transfer device for guiding the molten metal from the ladle and the vibrator is connected to the transfer device. In an example of a method for dislodging the particulate from the ladle, particulate is added to the ladle and vibrational energy is applied or transferred to the ladle to dislodge the particulate from the ladle allowing a flow of the molten metal to exit the ladle unobstructed by the particulate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vibratory system for use in transferring molten metal, comprising:
 a ladle configured to store molten metal, the ladle defining a cavity to store the molten metal and a ladle opening configured to allow the molten metal to exit the ladle, the ladle opening in communication with the cavity;   a slide gate connected to the ladle in communication with the ladle opening, the slide gate configured to selectively allow the molten metal to flow from the cavity through the ladle opening; and   a vibrator in vibratory communication with the ladle configured to generate vibrational energy operable to dislodge a particulate positioned in the ladle opening allowing the molten metal to exit through the ladle opening unobstructed by the particulate.   
     
     
         2 . The vibratory system of  claim 1 , further comprising a transfer device defining a passage, the transfer device further comprising:
 a first position wherein the transfer device is disengaged from the slide gate; and   a second position wherein the transfer device is engaged with the slide gate, wherein the transfer device is configured to reciprocally move between the first position and the second position allowing the molten metal to flow through the passage of the transfer device unobstructed by the particulate when the transfer device is in the second position.   
     
     
         3 . The vibratory system of  claim 2 , wherein the transfer device further comprises:
 an articulatable arm; and   a shroud connected to the articulatable arm, the shroud is configured to engage with the slide gate when the transfer device is in the second position, the shroud defining the passage of the transfer device.   
     
     
         4 . The vibratory system of  claim 3 , wherein the vibrator is connected to the articulable arm, the vibrator is configured to transfer the vibrational energy to the ladle to dislodge the particulate when the transfer device is in the second position and the shroud is engaged with the slide gate. 
     
     
         5 . The vibratory system of  claim 4 , wherein the articulatable arm further comprises:
 a first arm; and   a second arm connected to the first arm and the shroud, the second arm configured to move relative to the first arm.   
     
     
         6 . The vibratory system of  claim 5 , wherein the vibrator is connected to the second arm. 
     
     
         7 . The vibratory system of  claim 3 , wherein the vibrator is connected to the shroud, the vibrator is configured to transfer the vibrational energy to the ladle to dislodge the particulate when the transfer device is in the second position and the shroud is engaged with the slide gate. 
     
     
         8 . The vibratory system of  claim 1 , wherein the vibrational energy comprises a frequency between 4900 vibrations per minute to 42,000 vibrations per minute. 
     
     
         9 . The vibratory system of  claim 8 , wherein the vibrational energy comprises a frequency between 7300 vibrations per minute to 28,000 vibrations per minute. 
     
     
         10 . The vibratory system of  claim 8 , wherein the vibrator comprises a pneumatic rotary vibrator. 
     
     
         11 . The vibratory system of  claim 1 , wherein the slide gate further comprises:
 a first position wherein the slide gate prevents the flow of molten metal through the slide gate; and   a second position wherein the slide gate allows the flow of molten metal through the slide gate, wherein the vibrator is connected to the slide gate and is configured to transfer the vibrational energy to the ladle to dislodge the particulate when the slide gate is in the second position allowing the flow of the molten metal to exit the ladle unobstructed by the particulate.   
     
     
         12 . The vibratory system of  claim 1 , wherein the vibrator is connected to the ladle and is configured to transfer the vibrational energy to the ladle to dislodge the particulate allowing the flow of the molten metal to exit the ladle unobstructed by the particulate. 
     
     
         13 . The vibratory system of claim of  claim 1 , wherein the molten metal comprises molten steel; and the particulate comprises sand. 
     
     
         14 . A vibratory system for use in transferring molten metal, comprising:
 a ladle configured to store molten metal, the ladle defining a cavity to store the molten metal and a ladle opening configured to allow the molten metal to exit the ladle, the ladle opening in communication with the cavity;   a slide gate connected to the ladle and configured to selectively allow the molten metal to flow from the cavity through the ladle opening, the slide gate comprising:
 a first position configured to prevent the flow of molten metal through the slide gate; and 
 a second position configured to allow the flow of molten metal through the slide gate; 
   a transfer device having a first position wherein the transfer device is disengaged from the slide gate and a second position wherein the transfer device is engaged with the slide gate, transfer device further comprising:
 an articulatable arm; and 
 a shroud connected to the articulatable arm and configured to engage the slide gate when the transfer device is in the second position; and 
   a vibrator in vibratory communication with the ladle, the vibrator is connected to the articulatable arm and is configured to generate and transfer high frequency vibrational energy to the ladle to dislodge a particulate positioned in the cavity of the ladle obstructing the flow of the molten metal through the ladle opening.   
     
     
         15 . A method for dislodging a particulate from a ladle for storing molten metal, the method comprising:
 adding the particulate into a cavity defined by the ladle wherein the particulate obstructs a flow of the molten metal from exiting the ladle; and   applying vibrational energy to the ladle through a vibrator configured to dislodge the particulate from the ladle allowing the flow of the molten metal to exit the ladle unobstructed by the particulate.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein a slide gate is connected to the ladle, the slide gate comprising a first position preventing the flow of molten metal from passing through the slide gate and a second position allowing the flow of the molten metal to exit the ladle and pass through the slide gate, the method further comprising:
 providing a transfer device configured to guide the molten metal passing through the slide gate;   connecting the vibrator to the transfer device, the vibrator configured to transfer the vibrational energy to the transfer device; and   engaging the transfer device with the slide gate, the vibrator configured to transfer the vibrational energy through the transfer device and the slide gate to the ladle to dislodge the particulate from the ladle allowing the flow of the molten metal to exit the ladle unobstructed by the particulate when the slide gate is in the second position.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the transfer device comprises an articulatable arm and a shroud connected to the articulatable arm, the method further comprises:
 connecting the vibrator to the articulatable arm, the vibrator configured to transfer the vibrational energy to the articulatable arm; and   moving the articulatable arm and engaging the shroud with the slide gate, the vibrator configured to transfer the vibrational energy through the articulatable arm, through the shroud and through the slide gate to the ladle to dislodge the particulate from the ladle allowing the flow of the molten metal to exit the ladle unobstructed by the particulate when the slide gate is in the second position.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the transfer device comprises a shroud, the method further comprises:
 connecting the vibrator to the shroud, the vibrator configured to transfer the vibrational energy to the shroud; and   engaging the shroud with the slide gate, the vibrator configured to transfer the vibrational energy through the shroud and the slide gate to the ladle to dislodge the particulate from the ladle allowing the flow of the molten metal to exit the ladle unobstructed by the particulate when the slide gate is in the second position.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein a slide gate is connected to the ladle, the slide gate comprising a first position preventing the flow of molten metal from passing through the slide gate and a second position allowing the flow of the molten metal to exit the ladle and pass through the slide gate, the method further comprising:
 connecting the vibrator to the slide gate, wherein the vibrator is configured to transfer the vibrational energy through the slide gate to the ladle to dislodge the particulate from the ladle allowing the flow of the molten metal to exit the ladle unobstructed by the particulate when the slide gate is in the second position.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising: connecting the vibrator to the ladle, the vibrator configured to transfer the vibrational energy to the ladle to dislodge the particulate from the ladle allowing the flow of molten metal to exit the ladle unobstructed by the particulate.