IMPROVEMENTS IN APPA- RATUS FOR CASTING STEEL
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Michael Scott, of No. 9, Great Queen Street, Westminster,
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPA-
RATUS FOR CASTING STEEL"
Sealed the 19th November 1878, and dated the 23rd May 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Michael Scott at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd May 1878.
MICHAEL SCOTT, of No. 9, Great Queen Street, Westminster, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CASTING STEEL."
My Invention relates to the construction of moulds and apparatus connected
therewith for obtaining sound castings of steel, and for facilitating the transmission
of the melted metal from the furnace or converter to the moulds.
For casting annnlar ingots to be rolled into tyres for railway wheels I construct a
mould and operate with it in the following manner:-The mould consists of a
strong block of metal having an annular hollow sunk in it of the size and shape
required for the ingot, and covered by a lid secured to the mould by bolts. Through
a hole in the lid I provide a runner lined with fire-brick or other refractory material.
In the under block of the mould adjacent to this runner hole I fit a piece which can
slide horizontally in a radial direction within the mould. Under the mould I
provide a hydraulic cylinder with its ram, the stem of which extends upwards
through a central hole of the mould. On the side of this stem I form an incline,
against which bears the end of the horizontal sliding piece above mentioned.
Through the cover of the mould I make several holes immediately over the annular
hollow, and on the cover I provide snugs to hold a cross head or bar across its
centre. The mould is connected by strong ties to the hydraulic cylinder, and the
whole is mounted on trunnions, so that the inould can be canted out of the level.
The casting of a tyre ingot is effected as follows:-The ram of the hydraulic
cylinder being down, and the sliding piece of the mould being drawn back towards
the centre, the mould may be heated, cooled, or tempered by blowing steam or air

page_text: through it or otherwise. The mould is then cauted a little down on the side where
the runner is and the metal is poured in, the mould being canted back to the level
attitude before it becomes quite filled. When it is filled, the ram of the hydraulic
cylinder is caused to rise, and the incline on its stem pushes the sliding piece of the
mould outwards across the runner, cutting it off and closing the runner passage,
and by its farther movement compressing the metal in the mould. When the metal
sets the ram is rapidly lowered, the bolts securing the cover of the mould are
removed, and the cross head or bar is placed over the central hole. The ram being
then again caused to rise, its stem raising the cross head or bar, lifts the cover of
the mould, and with it the ingot, which is made to adhere to the cover by the pieces
of its metal which protrude into or through the holes of the cover. On cutting off
or punching through these pieces the ingot is separated from the cover, and can
then be taken to the rolls to be rolled out to shape, being previously reheated if
necessary.
It is sometimes advantageous to make the mould not truly circular, but to cast
the ingot somewhat thicker at the part farthest from the runner, so that the portion
which receives least of the compression before setting may have most work put on
it afterwards by the rollers.
It is also in some cases of advantage to-make the mould with portions of its
periphery of varied curvature, so as to prevent the appearance of a polygon with
rounded angles, the sides being portions flat or even concave, as by this form there
is less strain on the ingot as it shrinks.
For compressing the metal the mould may have several radially sliding pieces
worked by the one ram.
In casting ingots of other forms, such as those of rectangular section, I operate in
a similar manner, pouring the metal at the one end of the mould, which is inclined
downwards from runner end or mouth. A sliding piece at the mouth of the mould
is then thrust forward by the incline on the stem of the ram, so as to cut off the
runner and give the compression to the metal in the mould.
Several such ingot moulds may be arranged radially round the stem of onc
hydraulic cylinder, and thus several ingots can be cast simultaneously.
For running steel from a furnace I mount in front of the furnace a ladle having
trunnions working in bearings at sufficient height from the ground to command
under it a revolving spout, such as is described in the Specification to Letters Patent
granted to me on the 15th November 1876, No. 4425.
The ladle is provided with worm gear of ordinary kind, by which it can be canted
on its trunnions. It is preferably made of a short oval shape, in plan having its
wider end facing the furnace, and its narrower end, which is farthest from the
furnace fitted with a plug worked by a lever for running out the contents, the said
plug being just above the centre of the revolving spout when the ladle is level. The
wider end is also made with a spout-shaped lip projecting towards the furnace, on
which lip rests the end of a spout, which is hinged to the furnace front. Under
this spout I provide a line of rails or trams, on which are placed two or more slag
trucks, each of which consists of a box or receptacle mounted by truunions on a
truck or wheeled frame, so that it can be tipped..
In operating with this apparatus I first by means of the worm gear invert the
ladle and heat its interior lining by gas flames kindled under it. When it is suffi-
ciently heated I turn the ladle mouth upwards to a position inclined downwards
towards the furnace, and rest the furnace spout on its projecting lip. The furnace
then being tapped, the fused metal runs along the spout into the wider end of the
ladle, which is turned more and more towards a level attitude, the hot metal being
thus made to flow over the plug at the narrower end of the ladle.
When the slag from the furnace appears in the spout, the ladle is canted some-
what more rapidly, so that its projecting lip escapes from under the furnace. spout,.
which thereupon drops and directs the run of slag into the box of the slag truck
below. The ladle having been charged its plug is raised, and the metal-flows from
it into the revolving spout, by which it is directed into the moulds.

page_text: Should there be a risk of a cold set in the ladle, it can be rapidly canted back-
wards, so as to run its contents into the slag boxes, and in order to provide for
running the metal from them on to a pig bed, I prefer to mount them each by two
sets of trunnions, one set near the lower corner for tipping slag, and the other set
near the centre of gravity for emptying out metal, the slag trunnions being for this
purpose made removeable. After the metal has been run from the ladle, it can be
canted backwards towards the furnace and be cleared of such slag as remains in it,
the furnace spout being in that case removed.
When the steel is run from a converter into the ladle I mount the ladlo by its
trunnions at the end of a girder or strong arm, which near its middle is itself
mounted on a vertical and horizontal axis, so that the ladle can sweep round in a
horizontal plane, and can also be raised or lowered in a vertical plane, the weight of
it and its contents being partly balanced by a counterweight on the farther end of the
girder, which weight may be made to shift.
The canting of the ladle on its trunnions is effected, as already described, by means
of the usual worm gearing.
For governing the vertical movement of the girder I link to it at a convenient
distance from its fulcrum the ram of a hydraulic cylinder, which can be raised or
lowered by opening or closing suitable valves. The ladle in this case may be of
circular form in plan, with a projecting lip a little to the one side of its middle line,
to receive the metal from the mouth of the converter, and a plug in the bottom a
little to the other side of the middle line, so as not to be under the direct stream of
metal from the converter. As the contents of the converter are poured into the
ladle, beginning with the latter in its raised position, the ladle is gradually lowered
by moving the girder on its horizontal axis, so as to suit the gradual depression of
the neck of the converter. The ladle being charged is brought round by the hori-
zontal sweep of the girder till its plug is directly over the moulds or git or the axis
of the revolving spout leading thereto, the plug is then raised and the contents of
the ladle are run out.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Michael Scott in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd November
1878.
MICHAEL SCOTT, of No. 9, Great Queen Street, Westininster, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CASTING STEEL."
My Invention relates to the construction of moulds and apparatus connected
therewith for obtaining sound castings of steel, and for facilitating the transmission
of the melted metal from the furnace or converter to the moulds.
I will describe the apparatus which I employ for this purpose, referring to the
accompanying Drawings.
Fig. 1 represents an elevation partly in section of a mould and compressing
apparatus suitable for casting an annular ingot, such as may be rolled to form the
tyre of a railway wheel; Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the mould; Fig. 3 is a
sectional plan, and Fig. 4 is a plan of the mould cover.
The mould consists of a block of metal A hollowed out annularly to the shape of
the ring which is to be cast therein, the middle core consisting of two parts B, B,
between which are fitted two sliding blocks or plungers C, C. The cover D is held
down by bolts secured by cotters, and it has through it suitable air holes and two
runners E, E. The mould is conveniently mounted on trunnions as shewn, so that
it can be canted or inverted. To these trunnions is connected by links a hydraulic
cylinder F, on the ram of which is fixed a long wedge G. This wedge passes up
through holes in the mould and its cover, its inclined edges bearing against the
plungers C, C. The ram and its wedge G being lowered down, and the plungers
C, C, being retracted, the metal is poured into the mould by the runners E, E. The
ram and wedge G are thereupon caused to rise, and the inclined edges of the wedge
acting on the plungers C, C, force them outwards, so that they cut off the metal of
the runners, close their orifices, and compress the metal in the mould. The cover of
the mould is then released by driving out the cotters of the bolts, the ram is
lowered, a cross head H. mounted upon it, shown in plan in Figure 5, is turned
partly round, and the ram is again caused to risc. The cross head is now in such a
position, that as the ram rises, it bears against bolts or pins I, and pushes them
upwards, thus raising the metal out of the mould.
In order to preserve the heads of the pins I, they are covered with loam or other
suitable refractory material, and in order to preserve a useful cutting edge at the
bases of the runners E, E, removeable pieces of steel e, e, are inserted in the mould
cover at the outer sides of the runners. The core segments B, B, instead of being
fixed to the mould, may be made of separate pieces, and the plungers C, C, being
slightly tapered, will, as they are thrust outwards, operate as wedges, pushing the
segments B, B, asunder, and so giving additional compression to the metal cast in
the mould. The plungers C, C, may be arranged to be drawn back by the descent
of the rain, thereby allowing the segments B, B, to approach each other, and so
leave the cast ring free to contract.
The plungers C, C, may be made smaller than the front parts of the spaces in
which they advance, so as to form round them sockets or shoes available for receiving
spokes.
Fig. 6 is a sectional plan, and Fig. 7 a section of a modified form of mould for
casting a steel ring or wheel. In this mould there are four plungers C, which are
shewn in the Figures in different positions, to illustrate their movements in com-
pressing the metal. There are also opposite to them four moveable blocks K, which
are kept in position by wedge bolts, while the metal is being poured into the
mould and compressed by the plungers, but which by driving out the bolts kare
aferwards permitted to move outwards when the plungers C are thrust further out.
These blocks being convex, form in the cast ring concavities, the straightening out
of which, by the advance of the plungers C, gives a farther compression to the
metal, relieving it from the core.
I will now describe the means of compressing straight ingots, referring to Fig. 8,

page_text: which is a section shewing two straight ingot moulds, and Fig. 9, which is a plan
thereof. In this case, the moulds A, A, which may have solid ends as A, or re-
moveable ends a, as shewn for A', are placed at an inclination so as to be filled
with metal by the runners E, allowing escape of air by holes b. The two plungers
C, C, are simultaneously pushed apart by the ascent of the wedge G, cutting off the
runners, closing their orifices, and compressing the metal in the moulds. Pieces of
refractory material d, d, may be provided on the lower sides of the moulds to
receive the flow of hot metal from the runners E, E.
In order to resist the strains produced by the hydraulic pressure in the cylinder
F, that cylinder is tied to a block in which the plungers are fitted, and the moulds
themselves are also tied to the said block by suitable links. The inclined edges of
the wedge G, instead of bearing directly against the ends of the plungers C, C, may
bear against rollers mounted on those plungers so as to diminish friction, and in
that case, the wedge G may be made with curved edges, so as to vary the com-
pressing force at different parts of its stroke. Also, instead of employing a wedge
G, the ram of the hydraulic cylinder may be linked to the middle joint of a toggle,
the ends of which are jointed to the plungers C, C, so that as the ram ascends, the
toggle becomes straightened, pushing the plungers into the mould with increasing
force, and it draws them back when the ram descends.
It is obvious that the arrangement shewn in Figs. 8 and 9 may be applied to
ingots of different forms, such as those for armour plates and the like. When a
plate of considerable width is cast, there may be several sets of plungers arranged
side by side, and simultaneously advanced for compression of the metal.
Fig. 10 represents an elovation, and Fig. 11 a plan of apparatus which I employ
for running steel from a furnace. In front of the furnace I mount a ladle A, having
trunnions working in bearings at sufficient height from the ground to command
under it a revolving spout B, such as is described in the Specification to Lettors
Patent granted to me on the 15 November 1876, No. 4425. The ladle A is pro-
vided with worm gear worked in the ordinary way by a hand wheel a, by whichi
the ladle can be canted on its trunnions. The ladle is preferably made with its
side next the furnace flattened, and having a spout-shaped lip projecting therefrom
towards the furnace. The opposite side of the ladle is more rounded, and is pro-
vided with a plug C, which may be worked by a lever in the usual way, the said
plug being immediately over the centre on which the spout B revolves. A spout D
extends from the tap hole of the furnace, and rests on the lip of the ladle. This
spout Dia hinged at d to the furnace front, so that it can move vertically with the
lip of the ladle. Under the spout D I provide a line of rails or trams on which
run slag trucks, one of which is shewn at E, consisting of a box or receptaclo
mounted by trunnions on its wheeled frame so that it can be tipped. I make these
trucks with two sets of trunnions, the one set c¹ at the lower corners on which the
box is canted for tipping out slag, the other set e² near the centre of gravity on
which the box is canted to tip out metal, the pins of the lower trunnions e¹ being
at that time removed.
In operating with this apparatus I first, by means of the worm gear worked
from a, invert the ladle A, and heat its interior lining by gas flames kindled under
it. When it is heated I turn the ladle mouth upwards to an inclined position, such
as indicated by the dotted lines A', the furnace spout being in the position D¹ resting
on the lip of A'. The furnace then being tapped, the fused metal runs along the
spout D into the wider part of the ladle A¹, which is turned by the worm gear
more and more towards a level attitude, so that the metal in the ladle is caused to
flow in mass over the plug C.
When it is desired to prevent slag from passing into the ladle, the ladle is canted
farther, so that its projecting lip escapes from under the furnace spout, which there-
upon drops and directs the run of slag into the truck E below. The ladle having
been charged its plug C is raised, and the metal flows into the revolving spout B,
by which it is directed into the moulds F.
Should there be a risk of a cold set in the ladle A it can be rapidly canted back-

page_text: wards by the worm gear, so as to run its contents into the slag truck E. Also after
the metal has been run from the ladle it can be canted backwards (as shewn by the
dotted lines A²), and so cleared of such slag as remains it.
When the steel is run from a converter I mount the ladle as shewn in elevation
at Fig. 12, and in plan at Fig. 13. In this case the ladle A rests by its trunnions
(provided with worm gear) in bearings at the end of a girder frame G, which near
its middle is itself mounted by horizontal and vertical axes, so that the ladlo can
sweep round in a horizontal plane, and can also be raised or lowered in a vertical
plane, the weight of it and its contents being partly balanced by a counterweight H,
which may be made to shift along the girder frame.
For raising and lowering the ladle A a hydraulic cylinder K is mounted on
trunnions on the revolving frame of the girder, and its ram is linked to the girder.
The ladle A is preferably made of circular form in plan, with a projecting lip a on
one side of its middle liue, and a plug C on the opposite side of the middle line, the
plug being thus removed from the direct stream of metal entering the ladle by the
lip a from the converter. As the contents of the converter are poured into
the ladle, beginning with the latter in its raised position, indicated at A¹, the ladle
is gradually lowered, so as to suit the gradual depression of the mouth of the con-
verter. The ladle being charged is brought round by the horizontal sweep of the
girder G till its plug C is directly over a mould or git, or the axis of a revolving
spout leading thereto. The plug C is then raised and the contents of the ladle are
run out.
Having thus describe the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I hereby declare that I make no general claim to the com-
pression of metal cast in a mould by the use of a plunger or piston fitting the
inould, and pressing on the whole area of its section, nor do I claim the use of a
compressing plunger of smaller area than the section of the mould applied in an
open-ended mould, or in a mould closed after being charged with the molten metal,
but I claim,-
First. For obtaining sound castings of steel, the use of closed moulds having
passages in which plungers operate to cut off the runners, internally close their
apertures, and compress the metal in the moulds, substantially as herein described.
Second. For advancing the plungers referred to in the preceding claim, the use of
a wedge moved by hydraulic pressure, substantially as herein described.
Third. The construction of tyro, ingot, or annular moulds, and apparatus con-
nected therewith, as herein described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive of the
accompanying Drawings.
Fourth. The construction of compressing apparatus for ingot moulds, as herein
described with reference to Figs. 8 and 9 of the accompanying Drawings.
Fifth. The arrangement of canting ladle in combination with a hinged furnace
supply spout and with a revolving discharge spout, as and for the purposes herein
set forth with reference to Figs. 10 and 11 of the accompanying Drawings.
Sixth. Mounting the box or receptacle of a slag truck by two sets of trunnions
so arranged that it may be conveniently applied for tipping out either slag or
metal, as herein described with reference to Fig. 10 of the accompanying Drawings.
Seventh. Mounting a ladle on a girder framing capable of movement on a hori-
zontal and also on a vertical axis, as and for the purposes herein set forth with
reference to Figs. 12 and 13 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Michael Scott, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-third day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
TATT INT SEAMASTE