Improvements in Runner-boxes for Casting Ingots.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Dec., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 5th Sept., 1900-Accepted, 5th Dec., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Runner-boxes for Casting Ingots.
I, ANDERS ALBERT CASPERSSON, of Hofors, Sweden, Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
When runner-boxes are used in casting ingots they are usually of a width at
their lower end approximately equal to that of the upper end of the ingot. In
this case, however, the dead-heads that are obtained from the metal that finally
fills the box are of such thickness that it is only with difficulty that they can be
knocked off from the ingots if the latter are of any considerable size, as 8 inches
square and above.
The present invention has for object to produce dead-heads which can be easily
knocked off by a sledge-hammer.
In the accompanying drawings there are shown in sectional elevation in
Figs. 1, 3, and 5 and in plan in Figs. 2, 4 and 6, three examples of runner-boxes
in accordance with this invention. According thereto the runner-box B is pro-
vided at its lower end, for the purpose mentioned, with a comparatively thin
bottom C of refractory material, in which a hole is made which may or may not
be closed by means of a brick strainer D (Figs. 3 to 6).
The runner-box, which is either placed, as shown, on the top of the mould A,
or is so made that it can be lowered into the mouth of the mould, is to be located
and secured in some suitable manner so that the hole in its bottom will be
concentric with the mould. When the metal is not to be "strained" it is poured
into the mould in a stream which is kept in the middle of the hole in the bottom,
so that the sharp edges of the hole will not be destroyed by contact with the
metal, and the metal is poured in until the box is properly filled. It is advan-
tageous to heat the runner-box to a red heat immediately before setting it on
the mould, which should be done just before pouring. The metal remains in a
molten state in the hot box for a long time, as the walls of the box are bad heat-
conductors, so that it sinks through the hole in the bottom of the box into the
mould as the metal in the latter contracts in cooling, and in so doing it fills up
the cavities which would otherwise form in the interior of the ingot, thus making
the ingot solid below the runner-box, provided that the metal at the moment of
pouring is free from gas and flows freely, in the same manner as when ordinary
runner-boxes are used.
When such a runner-box is used the dead-head will be united to the ingot by
a neck and the sharper the angles are at the said neck the more easily can the
dead-head be knocked off by hand by means of a sledge-hammer.
It is evident that the device can be so modified that in lieu of one single hole
in the bottom, serving as the ingate, for pouring in the steel, and as the vent-
hole, two or more holes can be employed, one serving as the ingate and one or
more as a special vent-hole or special vent-holes.
If the metal dealt with is very hot and for this reason it is desired to "strain"
it in order to protect the bottom of the mould, the hole in the bottom of the

page_text: runner-box can be partially stopped up by means of a brick strainer D which,
when the mould is filled with metal, is withdrawn from the box which is subsc-
quently filled with metal.
When the hole in the bottom of a box is thus stopped up by a strainer, the
free escape of the air from the mould must be provided for by means of a special
outlet-passage of suitable refractory material, a so-called vent-pipe E. This
vent pipe may be suitably applied in the centre of the "strainer" (Figs. 3 and 4),
or at one side thereof (Figs. 5 and 6). In the former case the vent-pipe and
strainer can either be made in one piece, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, or in
separate parts. In both cases the strainer and the vent-pipe. may be easily
removed when the metal has risen to the runner-box. When the metal is very
hot the strainer can be left in the bottom while the box is being filled, or it may
even be made in one piece with the bottom. If desired two or more holes in the
bottom may be stopped up with strainers.
Dated this 5th day of December 1899
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.
I, ANDERS ALBERT CASPERSSON, of Hofors, Sweden, Engineer, do hereby declaro
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:--
When runner-boxes are used in casting ingots they are usually of a width at
their lower end approximately equal to that of the upper end of the ingot. In
this case, however, the dead-heads that are obtained from the metal that finally
fills the box, are of such thickness that it is only with difficulty that they can be
knocked off from the ingots if the latter are of any considerable size, as 8 inches
square and above.
The present invention has for object to produce dead-heads which can be easily
knocked off by a sledge-hammer.
In the drawings filed with my Provisional Specification there are shown in
sectional elevation in Figs. 1, 3, and 5 and in plan in Figs. 2, 4 and 6, three
examples of runner-boxes in accordance with this invention. According thereto
the runner-box B is provided at its lower end, for the purpose mentioned, with a
comparatively thin bottom C, of refractory material, in which a hole is made
which may or may not be closed by means of a brick strainer D (Figs. 3 to 6).
66
The runner-box, which is either placed, as shown, on the top of the mould A,
or is so made that it can be lowered into the mouth of the mould, is to be located
and secured in some suitable manner as by the means shewn in Fig. 1 so that the
hole in its bottom will be concentric with the mould. When the metal is not to
be strained" it.is poured into the mould in a stream which is kept in the middle
of the hole in the bottom, so that the sharp edges of the hole will not be destroyed
by contact with the metal, and the metal is poured in until the box is properly
filled. It is advantageous to heat the runner-box to a red heat immediately
before setting it on the mould, which should be done just before pouring. The
metal remains in a molten state in the hot box for a long time, as the walls of
the box are bad heat-conductors, so that it sinks through the hole in the bottom
of the box into the mould as the metal in the latter contracts in cooling, and in so
doing it fills up the cavities which would otherwise form in the interior of the

page_text: ingot, thus making the ingot solid below the runner-box, provided that the metal
at the moment of pouring is free from gas and flows freely, in the same manner
as when ordinary runner-boxes are used.
When such a runner-box is used the dead-head will be united to the ingot by
a neck and the sharper the angles are at the said neck the more easily can the
dead-head be knocked off by hand by means of a sledge-hammer.
It is evident that the device can be so modified that in lieu of one single hole
in the bottom, serving as the ingate, for pouring in the steel, and as the vent-
hole, two or more holes can be employed, one serving as the ingate and one or
more as a special vent-hole or special vent-holes.
If the metal dealt with is very hot and for this reason it is desired to "strain"
it in order to protect the bottom of the mould, the hole in the bottom of the
runner-box can be partially stopped up by means of a brick strainer D which,
when the mould is filled with metal, is withdrawn from the box which is subse-
quently filled with metal.
When the hole in the bottom of a box is thus stopped up by a strainer, the
free escape of the air from the mould must be provided for by means of a special
outlet-passage of suitable refractory material, a so-called vent-pipe E. This
vent-pipe may be suitably applied in the centre of the "strainer" (Figs. 3 and 4).
or at one side thereof (Figs. 5 and 6). In the former case the vent-pipe and
strainer can either he made in one piece, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, or in
separate parts. In both cases the strainer and the vent-pipe may be easily
removed when the metal has risen to the runner-box. When the metal is very
hot the strainer can be left in the bottom while the box is being filled, or it may
even be made in one piece with the bottom. If desired two or more holes in the
bottom may be stopped up with strainers.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
1. For producing an ingot with a dead-head which can be easily knocked off,
a runner-box with means for firmly connecting the box with the upper open end
of the mould, and provided with a thin bottom of some suitable refractory
material having one or more perforations.
2. A runner-box according to the preceding claim provided with a protecting
strainer of refractory material with a gas vent pipe separate from or attached
thereto.
3. Improved apparatus for casting ingots, constructed, arranged, and operating
as hereinbefore described with reference to and shown respectively in Figs. 1
and 2, in Figs. 3 and 4, and in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings filed with my
Provisional Specification.
the 5th df Cantamban 1000
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.