JP4463799B2 - Molten metal supply method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a molten metal supply method.

In a factory where aluminum is formed using a large number of die-casting machines, aluminum materials are often supplied not only from within the factory but also from outside the factory. In this case, a container such as a ladle containing molten aluminum is transported from the material supply factory to the molding factory, and the molten material is supplied to each die-casting machine. It has been broken.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-6464

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a molten metal supply method that can reduce the waiting state of a container containing molten metal as much as possible and suppress energy loss.

  In the method according to the present invention, a first factory having a holding furnace for holding molten metal and a second factory having a furnace for melting metal are provided at a distance from each other through a public road. A method of supplying molten metal melted in a furnace of No. 1 to the holding furnace of the first factory, wherein the molten metal is accommodated in a container that can be sealed from the furnace of the second factory, and the molten metal is accommodated. The container placed on a truck is transported to the first factory via the public road, the container transported to the first factory is placed on a vehicle and transported to the holding furnace, and a pressure gas is applied to the container. The molten metal accommodated in the container is supplied to the holding furnace through a pipe attached to the container.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a metal supply system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in the figure, the first factory 10 and the second factory 20 are provided, for example, in places separated by a public road 30.

  In the first factory 10, a plurality of die cast machines 11 as use points are arranged. Each die-casting machine 11 uses a molten aluminum as a raw material and molds a product having a desired shape by injection molding. Examples of the product include parts related to an automobile engine. Of course, the molten metal is not limited to an aluminum alloy but may be an alloy mainly composed of other metals such as magnesium and titanium. In the vicinity of each die-casting machine 11, a holding furnace (hand holding furnace) 12 for temporarily storing molten aluminum before a shot is arranged. The holding furnace 12 is configured to store molten aluminum for a plurality of shots so that molten aluminum is injected from the holding furnace 12 to the die cast machine 11 via a ladle 13 or a pipe every shot. It has become. Each holding furnace 12 has a liquid level detection sensor (not shown) for detecting the liquid level of molten aluminum stored in the container and a temperature sensor (not shown) for detecting the temperature of molten aluminum. Has been placed. The detection results by these sensors are transmitted to the control panel of each die-cast machine 11 or the central control unit 16 of the first factory 10.

  A pallet 17 for receiving a container 100 described later is disposed in the receiving part of the first factory 10. The container 100 received by the pallet 17 of the receiving unit is delivered to a predetermined die casting machine 11 by a delivery vehicle 18, and molten aluminum is supplied from the container 100 to the holding furnace 12. The container 100 that has been supplied is returned to the pallet 17 of the receiving unit by the delivery vehicle 18 again.

  The first factory 10 is provided with a first furnace 19 for melting and supplying aluminum to the container 100, and the container 100 supplied with the molten aluminum by the first furnace 19 is also a delivery vehicle 18. Is delivered to a predetermined die-casting machine 11.

  The first factory 10 is provided with a display unit 15 that displays when it is necessary to add molten aluminum in each die-casting machine 11. More specifically, for example, a unique number is assigned to each die-casting machine 11, and the number is displayed on the display unit 15. This corresponds to the number of the die-casting machine 11 that requires addition of molten aluminum. The number on the display unit 15 to be lit is turned on. Based on the display on the display unit 15, the operator uses the delivery vehicle 18 to carry the container 100 to the die cast machine 11 corresponding to the number and supplies molten aluminum. The display on the display unit 15 is performed by the central control unit 16 controlling based on the detection result by the liquid level detection sensor.

  The second factory 20 is provided with a second furnace 21 for melting aluminum and supplying it to the container 100. A plurality of types of containers 100 having different capacities, pipe lengths, heights, widths, and the like are prepared. For example, there are a plurality of types having different capacities depending on the capacity of the holding furnace 12 of the die casting machine 11 in the first factory 10. The container 100 supplied with molten aluminum by the second furnace 21 is placed on a transport truck 32 by a forklift. The truck 32 carries the containers 100 through the public road 30 to the vicinity of the pallet 17 in the receiving section of the first factory 10, and these containers 100 are received by the pallet 17 by a forklift. Further, the empty container 100 in the receiving section is returned to the second factory 20 by the truck 32.

  The second factory 20 is provided with a display unit 22 that displays when it is necessary to add molten aluminum to each die-casting machine 11 in the first factory 10. The configuration of the display unit 22 is substantially the same as that of the display unit 15 arranged in the first factory 10. The display on the display unit 22 is performed by, for example, being controlled by the central control unit 16 in the first factory 10 via the communication line 33. In addition, in the display part 22 in the 2nd factory 20, it was determined that molten aluminum is supplied from the 1st furnace 19 in the 1st factory 10 among the die-cast machines 11 which need supply of molten aluminum. The die cast machine 11 is displayed separately from the other die cast machines 11. For example, the number corresponding to the die cast machine 11 determined in such a manner blinks. As a result, it is possible to prevent the molten aluminum from being erroneously supplied from the second factory 20 side to the die cast machine 11 determined to be supplied with the molten aluminum from the first furnace 19. In addition to the above, the display unit 22 displays data transmitted from the central control unit 16.

  Next, the operation of the metal supply system configured as described above will be described.

  The central control unit 16 monitors the amount of molten aluminum in each holding furnace 12 via a liquid level detection sensor provided in each holding furnace 12. Here, when the necessity of supplying molten aluminum occurs in a certain holding furnace 12, the central control unit 16 detects the “unique number” of the holding furnace 12 by a temperature sensor provided in the holding furnace 12. The “temperature data” of the holding furnace 12, “morphological data” regarding the form of the holding furnace 12 (to be described later), the final “time data” that the molten aluminum disappears from the holding furnace 12, and “traffic” Data, “quantity data” and “temperature data” of the molten aluminum required in the holding furnace 12 are transmitted to the second factory 20 side via the communication line 33. In the second factory 20, these data are displayed on the display unit 22. Based on these displayed data, the operator empirically reaches the holding furnace 12 immediately before the molten aluminum is exhausted from the holding furnace 12, and the second temperature is set so that the molten aluminum at that time reaches a desired temperature. The shipping time of the container 100 from the factory 20 and the temperature at the time of shipping the molten aluminum are determined. Alternatively, these data are taken into, for example, a personal computer (not shown), and the container 100 reaches the holding furnace 12 immediately before the molten aluminum runs out from the holding furnace 12 using predetermined software, and the molten aluminum at that time has a desired temperature. The shipping time of the container 100 from the second factory 20 and the temperature at the time of shipping the molten aluminum may be estimated and the time and temperature may be displayed. Alternatively, the temperature of the second furnace 21 may be automatically controlled based on the estimated temperature. The amount of molten aluminum to be accommodated in the container 100 may also be determined based on the “quantity data”.

  When the truck 32 on which the container 100 is placed departs at the shipping time and arrives at the first factory 10 through the public road 30, the container 100 is received from the truck 32 onto the pallet 17 of the receiving unit.

  Thereafter, the received container 100 is delivered together with the pallet 17 to a predetermined die casting machine 11 by a delivery vehicle 18, and molten aluminum is supplied from the container 100 to the holding furnace 12.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in this example, high-pressure air is sent from the receiver tank 101 into the sealed container 100 so that the molten aluminum accommodated in the container 100 is discharged from the pipe 102 into the holding furnace 12. It comes to be supplied. In FIG. 2, 103 is a pressurizing valve, and 104 is a leak valve.

  Here, the holding furnace 12 has various heights, and can be adjusted by an elevating mechanism provided in the delivery vehicle 18 so that the tip of the pipe 102 is at an optimum position on the holding furnace 12. However, depending on the height of the holding furnace 12, there are cases in which it is not possible to cope with only the lifting mechanism. Therefore, in the present system, as “form data” regarding the form of the holding furnace 12, data relating to the height of the holding furnace 12, the distance to the holding furnace 12, and the like are sent to the second factory 20 side in advance, and the second factory 20 On the side, based on this data, an optimal form, for example, an optimal height container 100 is selected and delivered. Note that an optimally sized container 100 may be selected and delivered according to the amount to be supplied.

  Thus, in this embodiment, according to the request | requirement from the 1st factory 10 side, since molten aluminum was accommodated in the container 100 and it comprised so that this container 100 might be delivered to the required holding furnace 12, It is possible to deliver an optimal amount of molten aluminum using an optimal container 100 at an optimal temperature and an optimal temperature. Therefore, it is possible to deliver molten aluminum using the container 100 having a form corresponding to the use point while suppressing energy loss as much as possible.

  Here, the pallet 17 will be described in more detail. The pallet 17 is combined with the container 100 like a bolt and a nut, so that it has a different effect.

  FIG. 3 schematically shows the pallet 17. The pallet 17 is disposed on the plate 41, a support portion 42 disposed so as to be able to support and lift the plate 41 from below, the plate 17 is disposed on the plate 41, and sends pressurized gas and leaks the container (re-pressure). The pressure regulating mechanism 220 can be provided. In this example, the pressure adjusting mechanism 220 includes at least a pressure tank 223, a pressure valve 221, and a leak valve 230. 221b is a joint with piping, and 223b is a pressure gauge. The configuration of such a pressure regulating mechanism is arbitrary, and may include a decompression tank, a vacuum pump, and the like.

  Further, the plate 41 is provided with a turntable 43 that is a rotation mechanism capable of rotating a load (for example, the container 100) mounted on the plate. Reference numeral 44 denotes a motor for rotating the turntable. Further, a pressure sensitive sensor 45 such as a piezoelectric element for measuring the weight of the load is provided on the turntable 43.

  The plate 41 has a plate-like structure provided with a mounting surface for mounting a load such as a container 100 on the pallet 17. In order to improve the mechanical strength of the plate 41, a reinforcing structure such as a honeycomb structure in which the extension direction is parallel to the normal direction of the plate may be employed inside the plate. In this example, the support portion 42 of the plate 41 is a leg that mechanically supports the plate 41 from below, but a plate-like support portion may be adopted. Further, the number of support portions may be determined as necessary, such as the weight of the load.

  This support portion can hold a predetermined space between the lower surface of the plate and the ground so that the loading platform can be scooped up by, for example, the vehicle 18 in which the loading platform moves up and down, a forklift, etc. Arranged to be able to.

  Furthermore, a pressure adjusting mechanism 220 for supplying pressurized gas is mounted on the plate 41. In this example, the pressure tank 223 is mounted, but a pressure reducing mechanism capable of depressurizing a predetermined space may be mounted.

  By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to pressurize or depressurize the object to be mounted on the pallet 17.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a state in which the container 100 is mounted on the pallet 17. FIG. 5 is a view showing a state in which the pallet 17 is lifted by the delivery vehicle 18 in which the loading platform 51 moves up and down.

  By installing a pressure adjusting mechanism such as a pressurizing mechanism or a pressure reducing mechanism in advance like the pallet 17, it is possible to supply molten metal from the container 100 if only the container 100 is replaced. With this configuration, productivity can be improved as compared with the case where the container 100 and the pressure regulating mechanism 220 are fixed.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, “unique number”, “temperature data”, “chemical composition data”, “morphological data”, “time data”, “traffic data”, “quantity data”, “temperature data”, etc. Is transmitted to the second factory 20 side via the communication line 33, but at least one of these, or some other data indicating the demand on the first factory side is transmitted to the second factory side. You may make it transmit. Then, the second factory side may optimize some parameters according to this demand, for example, time, temperature, quantity, container shape, etc., and deliver the molten metal to the first factory side. Accordingly, it is not always necessary to provide a display unit on the second factory side, and it is of course possible to cope with the control using a personal computer, for example. In addition, the molten metal composition produced in the melting furnace in the first factory can be adjusted or matched according to the molten metal composition produced in the melting furnace in the second factory. The composition of the molten metal produced at this factory may be sent in advance to the second factory. Thereby, even when the molten metal produced in a plurality of factories is mixed and used, the composition can be kept optimal.

It is the schematic which shows the structure of the metal supply system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the container and holding furnace which concern on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure showing roughly the pallet concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows roughly a mode that the container was mounted in the pallet which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows a mode that the pallet carrier which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention lifted with the delivery vehicle which raises / lowers.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 1st factory 11 Die-casting machine 12 Holding furnace 13 Ladle 16 Central control part 17 Pallet 18 Delivery vehicle 19 1st furnace 20 2nd factory 21 2nd furnace 30 Public road 32 Truck 100 Container

Claims (3)

Molten metal melted in the furnace of the second factory, the first factory having a holding furnace for holding the molten metal and the second factory having a furnace for melting the metal are provided through public roads Is supplied to the holding furnace of the first factory ,
Containing the molten metal in a sealable container from the furnace of the second factory;
The container containing the molten metal is placed on a truck and conveyed to the first factory via the public road,
The container transported to the first factory is placed on a delivery vehicle and transported to the holding furnace,
By supplying the pressurizing gas to the container from a pressurizing mechanism that is independent of the container and is provided with a leak valve on a path for sending the pressurizing gas to the container. A molten metal supply method, wherein the molten metal accommodated in the container is supplied to the holding furnace through a pipe attached to the container. The molten metal supply method according to claim 1,
The holding furnace is provided with a liquid level detection sensor for detecting the liquid level of the molten metal,
The molten metal supply method, wherein the detection result by the sensor is transmitted to the control panel. The molten metal supply method according to claim 1 or 2,
The molten metal supply method, wherein the molten metal is molten aluminum.

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