Device for controlling the pouring of molten materials

Patent · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:869155

Moore, Alan F ^[1]; Duncan, Alfred L ^[2]

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1. Knoxville, TN
2. Clinton, TN

A device for controlling the pouring of a molten material from a crucible or other container. The device (10) includes an annular retainer ring (12) for mounting in the drain opening in the bottom of a conventional crucible (16), the retainer ring defining a opening (14) therethrough. The device (10) also includes a plug member (22) having an annular forward end portion (24) for force-fit reception in the opening (14) of the retainer ring (12) to selectively seal the opening (14) and for being selectively forced through the opening (14). The plug member (22) has a rear end portion (26) for being positioned within the crucible (16), the rear end portion (26) including stop means for prohibiting the rear end portion from passing through the opening (14) in the retainer ring (12) when the forward end portion (24) is selectively forced through the opening. The plug member (22) defines at least one, and preferably a plurality of flutes (32), each extending from a point rearward the annular forward end portion (24) of the plug member (22), and forward the stop means, to a point rearward of the stop means. The flutes (32) permit fluid communication between the interior and exterior of the crucible (16) when the forward end portion (24) of the plug member (22) is forced through the opening (14) in the retaining ring (12) such that the molten material is allowed to flow from the crucible (16).

• Research Organization: LOCKHEED MARTIN ENRGY SYST INC
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• Assignee: Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc. (Oak Ridge, TN)
• Patent Number(s): US 5286009
• OSTI ID: 869155
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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10
12
14
16
22
24
26
32
allowed
annular
bottom
communication
container
controlling
conventional
crucible
defines
defining
device
drain
extending
exterior
flow
fluid
fluid communication
flutes
force-fit
forced
forward
including
interior
material
materials
means
molten
molten material
molten materials
mounting
passing
permit
plug
plurality
portion
positioned
pouring
preferably
prohibiting
rear
rearward
reception
retainer
retaining
seal
selectively
selectively seal
stop
stop means
therethrough