Device for melting, use and method

Abstract

A device for melting a metal-containing mixture includes a vacuum melting furnace, in particular with a plasma jet melting means. A metal-containing mixture, in particular catalysts from motor vehicles, is to be fed into a graphite pool through a feed line. A first lateral discharge opening can be inserted into the graphite pool for discharging metal melt, and a second lateral discharge opening, specifically a siphon discharge opening, is provided for molten slags. The discharge openings are to be inserted through a wall of the graphite pool by a piercing lance. The lateral siphon discharge opening comprises an attached siphon with an integrated slag brick. An adaptively designed metal cover plate close to the outlet opening is inserted, in particular a copper cover plate, which is prepared in such a way that it is designed to be replaceable even when the vacuum melting furnace is running.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A device (1) for melting a metal-containing melting material (2), comprising: a vacuum melting furnace (3); a graphite pool (5) which holds the heated melting material (2); a feed line (12) through which the melting material (2) is fed into the graphite pool (5); a first lateral discharge opening (6) which can be inserted into the graphite pool (5) for discharging the molten melting material; and a lateral siphon discharge opening (7,8) which is provided for molten slag, wherein the first lateral discharge opening (6) and the lateral siphon discharge opening (7) are inserted through a wall (13) of the graphite pool (5) by a piercing lance, wherein the lateral siphon discharge opening (8) has an attached siphon (14) with an integrated slag brick (15), wherein an adaptively designed metal cover plate (9) is arranged proximal to the lateral siphon discharge opening (7,8), which is designed to be replaceable even while the vacuum melting furnace (3) is operating.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the metal cover plate (9) is a copper cover plate (10) and designed to be replaceable in a removal direction (17).

13. The device according to claim 11, wherein side walls (16) are provided in the siphon (14) in a region (18) of the metal cover plate (9), and detachable retainers (20) are provided in the metal cover plate (9) with corresponding recesses (21) in the metal cover plate (9).

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein side retainers (19) are provided on the side walls (16) and wherein the removable metal cover plate (9) is removably adapted to the side retainers (19),

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein adapted stepped bevels (22) are provided in the side retainers (19) and wherein corresponding bevels (25) are provided on short sides (24) of the metal cover plate (9).

16. The device according to claim 14, wherein at least two fasteners (23) are provided for retaining on side retainers (19).

17. The device according to claim 12, wherein the adaptively designed removable copper cover plate (10) has a predetermined height (11) of at least twice the size of the siphon discharge opening (8) to be pierced with the piercing lance.

18. The device according to claim 11, further comprising a replacement sensor system which emits a replacement signal from a predetermined opening size (26) in the removable metal cover plate (9).

19. A method, comprising: providing the device according to claim 1; using the removable metal cover plate (9) in the siphon (14) at the vacuum melting furnace (3) for separating the slag from the heated melting material (2) melted in the graphite pool (5), wherein a removal can be undertaken in a removal direction (17) within the siphon (14).

20. A method, comprising: providing the device according to claim 12; feeding catalysts from internal combustion engine motor vehicles as the metal-containing melting material (2) into the graphite pool (5); and replacing the copper cover plate (10) while the vacuum melting furnace (3) is operating.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a device for melting a metal-containing mixture.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a detailed view of a device for melting a metal-containing mixture.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a detailed view of a device for melting a metal-containing mixture.

[0019] FIG. 4 is a detailed view of a device for melting a metal-containing mixture.

[0020] FIG. 5 is a detailed view of a device for melting a metal-containing mixture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a schematic device 1 for melting a metal-containing mixture, in particular a precious metal-containing melting material 2, comprising a vacuum melting furnace 3, in particular with a plasma jet melting means 4, wherein heated melting material 2, comprising the metal-containing mixture, is to be held in a graphite pool 5, wherein metal-containing mixture, in particular of a precious metal-containing melting material 2, in particular catalysts from internal combustion engine motor vehicles, is to be fed into the graphite pool 5 through a feed line 12, wherein a first lateral discharge opening 6 can be inserted into the graphite pool 5 for discharging metal melt, in particular precious metal melt, and a second lateral discharge opening 7, specifically a siphon discharge opening 8, is provided for molten slag, wherein the discharge openings 6, 7 are to be inserted through a wall 13 of the graphite pool 5 by a piercing lance, wherein the lateral siphon discharge opening 8 has an attached siphon 14 with an integrated slag brick 15, wherein an adaptively designed metal cover plate 9 close to the outlet opening is inserted, in particular a copper cover plate 10, which is prepared in such a way that it is designed to be replaceable even when the vacuum melting furnace 3 is running, wherein the metal cover plate 9 close to the outlet opening, in particular a copper cover plate 10, is designed to be replaceable in a removal direction 17.

[0022] FIG. 2 shows a device 1, wherein the siphon 14 has side walls 16 in the region 18 of the metal cover plate 9, and detachable retainers 20 are provided in the metal cover plate 9, in particular a copper cover plate 10, with an exemplary damage opening 28 by application of a piercing lance (not shown) during the operation of the vacuum furnace, in particular with corresponding recesses 21, by way of example also shown in FIGS. 4, 5, in the metal cover plate 9, in particular a copper cover plate 10, wherein side retainers 19 are provided on the side walls 16 and the removable metal cover plate 9 is removably adapted to the side retainers 19, in particular removable in a removal direction 17.

[0023] FIG. 3 shows a device 1 in detail, wherein adapted stepped bevels 22 are provided in the side retainers 19 and corresponding bevels 25 are provided on short sides 24 of the metal cover plate 9.

[0024] FIG. 4 shows a detailed view of a device with retaining steps 26 in side retainers 19 along with adapted retaining steps 27 in the metal cover plate 9.

[0025] FIG. 5 shows a detailed view of a device 1 with retainers 20 and recesses 21 for the advantageous replacement of the metal cover plate 9.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0026] 1 Device for melting

[0027] 2 Melting material

[0028] 3 Vacuum melting furnace

[0029] 4 Plasma jet melting means

[0030] 5 Graphite pool

[0031] 6 First lateral discharge opening

[0032] 7 Second lateral discharge opening

[0033] 8 Siphon discharge opening

[0034] 9 Metal cover plate

[0035] 10 Copper cover plate

[0036] 11 Height

[0037] 12 Feed line

[0038] 13 Wall

[0039] 14 Siphon

[0040] 15 Slag brick

[0041] 16 Side wall

[0042] 17 Removal direction

[0043] 18 Region

[0044] 19 Side retainers

[0045] 20 Retainers

[0046] 21 Recess

[0047] 22 Bevel

[0048] 23 Fasteners

[0049] 24 Short side

[0050] 25 Bevel

[0051] 26 Retaining step

[0052] 27 Retaining step

[0053] 28 Damage opening