Alcoa has been granted a patent for an apparatus and method to filter molten metal using ceramic foam filters or other filtration media in a receptacle. A vibrator induces vibrations in the metal to enhance priming, filtering, and drainage. The device can be retrofitted to existing filter systems and is adjustable in frequency and amplitude. GlobalData’s report on Alcoa gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Alcoa, Fiber-reinforced material joining techniques was a key innovation area identified from patents. Alcoa's grant share as of May 2024 was 69%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Vibrating device for filtering molten metal
A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11986881B2) discloses a device and method for filtering molten metal. The device includes a receptacle with an inlet and outlet for the molten metal, a filter within the receptacle, and a vibrator to induce vibrations in the molten metal. The method involves pouring molten metal onto a filter in a receptacle and vibrating either the metal, filter, or reservoir to prime the filter by displacing air and allowing the metal to pass through the filter pores. The device's unique design includes a resilient element between the refractory liner and shell of the receptacle, with the vibrator generating a force at a specific angle relative to the metal flow direction.
Furthermore, the patent claims specify various configurations and features of the device, such as the use of a ceramic foam filter with specific pore densities to remove aluminum oxides from the molten metal. The method also includes adjusting the frequency and magnitude of vibrations during the process and filtering the metal through multiple filters with different pore densities. The innovative approach of vibrating the molten metal to enhance filtration efficiency sets this patent apart in the field of metal processing, offering a novel solution for improving the quality of metal casting processes.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
