FIELD

The disclosure relates to a stirring device, and more particularly to a stirring device having degassing and feeding functions.

BACKGROUND

Stir-melting is a process for melting an alloy, and has been developed into various stirring mechanisms, such as stir-casting, in-situ synthesis, squeeze-casting, cast-forging, semi-solid casting, etc.

Referring toFIG. 1, a conventional stirring device1for stir-melting includes a furnace11for containing a metal melt2, a rotary motor14disposed above the furnace11, a rotatable shaft12that is coupled to be driven by the rotary motor14to rotate and that extends axially into the furnace11, and a stirring head13coupled to rotate with the rotatable shaft12so as to stir the metal melt2in the furnace11.

The stirring device1can be used to mix reinforcing particles (e.g., silicon carbide particles) with an aluminum matrix for preparing an aluminum-based composite, which is widely applied in precision machinery due to its superior thermal conductive properties and being lighweight. When the stirring device1is used for preparing the aluminum-based composite, the reinforcing particles are added onto a surface of the aluminum matrix in the furnace11. However, a layer of oxide (i.e., aluminum oxide) formed on the surface of the aluminum matrix might also be carried into the aluminum matrix as the reinforcing particles on the surface of the aluminum matrix are being drawn into the aluminum matrix, causing the oxide to surround the reinforcing particles and thus inhibit the ability of the aluminum matrix to wet the reinforcing particles, thereby prolonging the time period for mixing the reinforcing particles and the aluminum matrix. In addition, agglomerates of the reinforcing particles might produce defects, such as formation of microporosity in the aluminum-based composite and uneven distribution of the reinforcing particles in the aluminum matrix. Furthermore, the surface tension on the aluminum matrix might hinder the reinforcing particles that are relatively lightweight from entering into the aluminum matrix, which might cause the reinforcing particles to spill out of the furnace11. Therefore, adding the reinforcing particles into the conventional stirring device1might even cause industrial accidents to the operator.

SUMMARY

An object of the disclosure is to provide a stirring device having degassing and feeding functions so as to overcome the shortcomings described above.

According to the disclosure, there is provided a stirring device which has degassing and feeding functions, and which is adapted to be installed in a furnace that contains a metal melt. The stirring device includes a stirring unit, a gas supplying unit, and a feeding unit.

The stirring unit includes a drive mechanism and a shaft member. The shaft member extends axially into the furnace, and includes a hollow rotary shaft coupled to be driven by the drive mechanism to rotate and a stirring head coupled to rotate with the hollow rotary shaft.

The gas supplying unit includes a gas supply and a piping member fluidly communicating with the gas supply and the shaft member.

The feeding unit includes a storage tank and a feeding tube fluidly communicating with the storage tank and the shaft member.

