A pouring apparatus comprises a ladle configured to include a body and a nozzle, and a controller configured to control a tilt angle of the ladle, wherein the body includes a side face portion, an inner surface of the side face portion is formed in a cylindrical shape or in a conical shape, the nozzle includes a nozzle tip for guiding molten metal to the outside and is integrated with the body on a side of the body, in order to guide the molten metal in the body to the nozzle tip and to pour out the molten metal through the nozzle tip, and the controller controls the tilt angle on the basis of a surface area of the molten metal when the ladle is tilted.

A pouring apparatus comprises a ladle configured to include a body and a nozzle, and a controller configured to control a tilt angle of the ladle, wherein the body includes a side face portion, an inner surface of the side face portion is formed in a cylindrical shape or in a conical shape, the nozzle includes a nozzle tip for guiding molten metal to the outside and is integrated with the body on a side of the body, in order to guide the molten metal in the body to the nozzle tip and to pour out the molten metal through the nozzle tip, and the controller controls the tilt angle on the basis of a surface area of the molten metal when the ladle is tilted.

According to a casting method, a molten metal is sustained at a sustain position between a casting and the next casting, and the molten metal flow is divided from one pouring gate (44) to a plurality of sprue runners (46 and 47) in the casting. The sprue runners (46 and 47) are branched by a V-shaped portion (45) in a V-shape, and the sustain position of the molten metal is set above (any one of P1, P2 and P4) the V-shaped portion (45). The V-shaped portion (45) is filled with the molten metal while a repeated casting is carried out.

According to a casting method, a molten metal is sustained at a sustain position between a casting and the next casting, and the molten metal flow is divided from one pouring gate (44) to a plurality of sprue runners (46 and 47) in the casting. The sprue runners (46 and 47) are branched by a V-shaped portion (45) in a V-shape, and the sustain position of the molten metal is set above (any one of P1, P2 and P4) the V-shaped portion (45). The V-shaped portion (45) is filled with the molten metal while a repeated casting is carried out.

A casting facility control system includes: a database storing conveyance positions and mold information in association with each other; an update section updating the mold information associated with each conveyance position stored in the database; a measurement section measuring a weight of molten metal in a ladle transported to a pouring machine; a calculation section calculating the number of flasks by which the molten metal poured from the ladle can be held; a decision section recognizing, based on the number of flasks by which the poured molten metal can be held, a plurality of molds into which the molten metal to be next transported to the pouring machine is poured, adding up the planned weight of molten metal corresponding to each of the recognized molds, and determining a predicted weight of molten metal to be next transported to the pouring machine; and an output section outputting the predicted weight.

A casting facility control system includes: a database storing conveyance positions and mold information in association with each other; an update section updating the mold information associated with each conveyance position stored in the database; a measurement section measuring a weight of molten metal in a ladle transported to a pouring machine; a calculation section calculating the number of flasks by which the molten metal poured from the ladle can be held; a decision section recognizing, based on the number of flasks by which the poured molten metal can be held, a plurality of molds into which the molten metal to be next transported to the pouring machine is poured, adding up the planned weight of molten metal corresponding to each of the recognized molds, and determining a predicted weight of molten metal to be next transported to the pouring machine; and an output section outputting the predicted weight.

Various non-limiting embodiments disclosed herein relate to nozzle assemblies for conveying molten material, the nozzle assemblies comprising a body, which may be formed from a material having a melting temperature greater than the melting temperature of the molten material to be conveyed, and having a molten material passageway extending therethrough. The molten material passageway comprises an interior surface and a protective layer is adjacent at least a portion of the interior surface of the passageway. The protective layer may comprise a material that is essentially non-reactive with the molten material to be conveyed. Further, the nozzle assemblies according to various non-limiting embodiments disclosed herein may be heated, and may be self-inspecting. Methods and apparatus for conveying molten materials and/or atomizing molten materials using the nozzle assemblies disclosed herein are also provided.

A system and method for transferring molten metal from a vessel and into one or more of a ladle, ingot mold, launder, feed die cast machine or other structure is disclosed. The system includes at least a vessel for containing molten metal, an overflow (or dividing) wall, and a device or structure, such as a molten metal pump, for generating a stream of molten metal. The dividing wall divides the vessel into a first chamber and a second chamber, wherein part of the second chamber has a height H2. The device for generating a stream of molten metal, which is preferably a molten metal pump, is preferably positioned in the first chamber. When the device operates, it generates a stream of molten metal from the first chamber and into the second chamber. When the level of molten metal in the second chamber exceeds H2, molten metal flows out of the vessel and into another structure, such as into one or more ladles and/or one or more launders.

A system and method for transferring molten metal from a vessel and into one or more of a ladle, ingot mold, launder, feed die cast machine or other structure is disclosed. The system includes at least a vessel for containing molten metal, an overflow (or dividing) wall, and a device or structure, such as a molten metal pump, for generating a stream of molten metal. The dividing wall divides the vessel into a first chamber and a second chamber, wherein part of the second chamber has a height H2. The device for generating a stream of molten metal, which is preferably a molten metal pump, is preferably positioned in the first chamber. When the device operates, it generates a stream of molten metal from the first chamber and into the second chamber. When the level of molten metal in the second chamber exceeds H2, molten metal flows out of the vessel and into another structure, such as into one or more ladles and/or one or more launders.

A liquid metal jet supplying molten metal during a direct chill casting operation can be optimized to erode the slurry region of the molten sump, but not the solidified metal, at a rate equal to the casting speed. A model of the erosion of solidifying grains in the slurry region of the molten sump can be non-dimensionalized to be used to generate casting parameters (e.g., optimally sized nozzle openings and optimal molten metal flow rates) that would provide the optimized liquid metal jet during the casting process. An ingot cast using such an optimized liquid metal jet would have improved macrosegregation properties (e.g., reduced macrosegregation or more evenly distributed macrosegregation), such as having ingot solute concentrations varying from the molten metal supply concentration approximately 10% or less or 5% or less across the width or height of the ingot.