Patent GB-191501528-A (GB)
Title: Method of and Apparatus for Continuous Casting.
Inventor: MELLEN GRENVILLE
IPC: B22D11/06
Filed: 1915-01-30
Abstract: 1528. Mellen, G. May 16, 1914, [Convention date]. Casting-machines; metal-pouring; casting processes; moulds; castings.-A continuous-casting machine of the type employing chains of co - operating mould segments has a special arrangement of moulds and guides with cooling and cleaning devices, and of melting - pot and metal - supply control. Metal is supplied to the chain of moulds by a nozzle 40, Fig. 8, having a curved surface 42 filling the mould space and a small clearance at 44 to chill any back-flow of metal. An air space 43 prevents the metal in the supply pipe 37 from being cooled unduly. The pipe 37 has a ball-andsocket connexion with the delivery pipe 20, Fig. 1, of the melting-pot. Modified nozzles are shown in Figs. 9 and 11. A valve is fitted at 21, and an emergency draining - plug at 18<1>. The normal method of emptying the pot is by running it back on its rails 6 to withdraw the nozzle. The ball- and-socket connexion is slotted to enable the pipe 37 to incline downwardly when thus freed from the mould. A blower 30 delivers air to an ash-pan 11. The hot gases circulate round the pot at 17 and are deflected on to the surface of the metal by the cover 13. The rails 6 are arranged to centre the melting-pot horizontally with reference to the mould, and the screws 16 provide vertical adjustment. A float 24 in connexion with an adjustable weight 29 controls a valve 25 to maintain a constant level of metal in the discharge pipe. A guide 22 is shaped to shield the float from direct impact of metal. The mould sections are loosely linked together and are pushed between cooled guides 73, 74, Fig. 2, and side guides 76, 77, by sprocketwheels, thus maintaining the ends of the sections in metal-tight contact. The guides 73, 77 are sectional and sprmg - controlled. The framing supporting the moulds is constructed of plates, channels, and angle - bars forming casings and return guides for the moulds, as shown in section in Fig. 2. Curved end and side guides are provided to aid the sections in passing round the sprockets. Rollers 49, 50 engage inclines 105, 106 arranged as shown in Fig. 13, so that the contacting surfaces of the mould sections are brought into parallel relation before meeting and are so maintained during the approach to contact. Corresponding inclines effect a similar separation. A central worm 56 engages wheels driving the sprocket shafts through couplings 57 provided with breaking-pins 58. The upper mould sections return at 120, Fig. 3, the distance from the nozzle being such that the metal is sufficiently set to retain its shape under the pressure from behind. The lower sections continue a further distance to act as supports during complete solidification. The bars may pass direct to drawing or rolling plant. A blower 86 supplies air to the casings 65, 66, whence it escapes round the moulds. While returning, the sections separate slightly, permitting air to pass between and blow away metal dust. More than two chains of mould sections may be employed, and in a modification, the sections are in the form of notched plates mounted on endless springs 303, Fig. 23.