Improvements in Casting Ingots, Blooms, Billets, Slabs, or the like, and in Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 1st Feb., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Casting Ingots, Blooms, Billets, Slabs, or the like,
and in Apparatus therefor.
I, HENRY AIKEN, of Homestead, in the County of Allegheny, State of Pennsylvania,
and United States of America, engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
The invention described herein relates to certain improvements in the production of
ingots, blooms, billets, slabs, etc., by casting, and is especially applicable where the
metal to be cast is contained in large ladles such as are employed in connection with
open hearth furnaces and Bessemer converters. Generally stated the method consists
in teeming a quantity of metal into a mold o larger transverse dimensions than
required in the ingot, billet, etc., and then displacing the metal laterally and vertically,
and in addition to this shaping operation the method comprehends as an additional
step, a division of the metal into a series of sections, for the simultaneous production
of a number of blooms, billets, etc.
It is practically impossible to teem open hearth or Bessemer metal from a large
ladle, into which the metal must be drawn from the furnace or converter, into a small
mold, such as is employed in the manufacture of bloom billets, etc., without cutting
the sides of the mold by the molten metal. Hence, it is customary to employ bottom
castings for this purpose, each mold being connected to a common runner or gate, but
this manner of forming the blooms, billets, etc., is objectionable on account of the
labor, time, expense and loss involved therein.
The apparatus preferably employed in the practice of the method, consists in a mold
or series of molds capable of being increased in horizontal dimensions so that the
metal may he poured thereinto from a large ladle containing a large quantity of metal,
and, after the metal has been poured out may be reduced in horizontal dimensions,
thereby increasing the vertical depth of the metal and reducing its cross-sectional
area.
In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, Fig. 1 is a top
plan view of my improved apparatus; Fig. 2 is a view partly in side elevation and
partly in section of the same; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a modified form
or construction of my apparatus; Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of the same, the
section being taken in the plane of the line x, x, Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a view partly in
end elevation and partly in section of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3; Figs. 6, 7,
and 8 are views similar to Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of a form of apparatus employed in the
manufacture of a single series of ingots, and in Fig. 9, the dam or abutment is shown
in plan, side elevation and section.
At the ends of a suitable bed or foundation 1, preferably formed of a single casting,
are secured the fluid pressure cylinders 2, 2ª provided with pistons 3, 3ª, which are
connected to or bear against the ends of a rectangular frame 4. This frame 4 rests
upon a plate or series of plates 5 arranged upon the bed 1 between the fluid pressure
cylinders 2, 2ª as shown in Figs. 1, 2, etc., said plate or series of plates 5 extending
along the bed a sufficient distance to permit of the movement of the frame. One,
two or more transverse partitions 6 are arranged within the frame 4, said partitions
being formed integral with the sides of the frame as shown in Fig. 1 or fitting, as
regards their edges, in grooves formed in the sides of the frame, as shown in Fig. 3,
bolts 7 being employed in the latter construction to hold the sides of the frame against
the edges of the partition. Between the ends of the frame and the partitions 6 next
adjacent to such ends, and between adjacent partitions 6 when two or more are
employed, is arranged a dam or abutment 8 stationary with relation to the frame and
the partition or partitions moving therewith. This dam or abutment 8 is formed with

page_text: a tenon 9 adapted to fit in a socket 10 formed in the bed or foundation 1 as shown in
Figs. 1 and 9, or if desired the dam or abutment may be formed integral with the
plate 5, as shown in Fig. 4.
In order to permit of the expansion of the dams or
abutments, when heated by the molten metal and at the same time prevent the escape
of the metal around their edges, yielding lining plates 11 are placed along one of the
sides of the frame 4, said plates being held against the edges of the dams or abutments
by springs 12 passing through the sides of the frame, each of said springs bearing at
one end against the plate 11 and at the opposite end against a tension plate 13, which
is adjustably held in position by bolts 14, as shown. These plates 11 are readily
removable from the frame and can, therefore, be replaced in case of injury by contact
with the molten metal. The opposite side of the frame is protected by removable
plates 15, which may be held in operative position in the same manner as the plates 11,
if desired, as shown in Fig. 7, but by making the springs 12 sufficiently strong, a
proper adjustment of the several parts of the apparatus can be secured, by means of
the plate 11 alone.
In casting ingots, referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the frame 4 is shifted, by a
- proper adjustment of the controlling valves of the cylinders 2, 2ª, to the right, thereby
moving the left hand end of the frame and the partitions 6 and 6 into proximity to
the dams or abutments 8, 8ª and 8° respectively, and moving the partitions 6, 6ª and
right hand end of the frame 4 away from said dams or abutments, thus opening the
matrices a, b, c, and closing or contracting the matrices e, f, g which have previously
been partially filled with molten metal. The cross-sectional area of the metal in the
matrices e, f, g, is diminished and the depth of metal increased by this movement of
the frame and partitions as shown at g in Fig. 2, the metal nearly filling the matrices
thus reduced in dimensions. Molten metal is now teemed into the enlarged
matrices a, b, c, and the frame 4 shifted to the left, thus closing said matrices and
causing the metal therein to ride to a height proportionate to the amount of metal
poured therein. The movement of the frame to the left, opens the matrices e, f, g, so
I that the ingots can be removed therefrom, and a fresh charge of molten metal
teemed therein.
.
The apparatus thus far described, is adapted for the production of comparatively
large ingots, the walls of the ends of the frame, partitions and dams or abutments
being made plain. In order to adapt the apparatus to the production of small ingots
or billets a series of projections 16 are formed on the faces of the end walls of the
frame and on the faces of the partitions and dams or abutments, the projections on
adjacent faces being arranged in line with each other and extending into the matrices
such a distance, that when the matrix is closed as hereinbefore stated, said projections
will come into contact with each other, as for example, when the frame 4 is shifted to
the left, the projections 16 on the partition 6 extending into the matrix a, will come
into contact with the corresponding projections 16 on the dam or abutment 8, thus
dividing the metal in said matrix into a series of sections or small ingots or billets.
The walls of the recesses formed by the projections 16, may be varied in shape and
arrangement in accordance with the cross-sectional shape of the ingot or billet desired ;
as for example the walls formed by the projections extending into the matrix e are
constructed to form hexagonal billets or ingots while in matrices and the ingots
are given a rectangular, slab-like shape in cross-section. These projections 16 may
be formed integral with the dams or abutments 8 and also with the partition 6 shown
in Figs. 3 and 4, as these parts are made removable and can be readily renewed.
But as regards the end walls of the frame and the partitions 6 formed integral there-
with as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it is preferred to provide removable lining or facing
plates having the projections 16 formed thereon, as shown, thus preserving the parts
of the apparatus not readily renewable from injury by the molten metal.
The apparatus shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 is constructed to form a double series of
ingot sections, while in the construction of apparatus shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, only
a single series of ingot sections are formed. In this form of apparatus it is preferred
to form the frame 4 integral with the bed or foundation 1, the dam or abutment 8
being movable back and forth in the frame by the piston 3 of the cylinder 2.

page_text: It will be observed that the partitions 6 and dams or abutments divide the frame
into a series of matrices or molds, each matrix or mold having a wall movable toward
or from the opposite wall, as for example the end walls of the frame in Figs. 1 to 4
form the movable walls of the matrices or molds at the ends of the frame, the
partitions 6 forming the movable walls of the intermediate matrices or molds, the
abutments or dams 8 forming in both cases the stationary wall, except in the form of
apparatus shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, where the dam or abutment is the movable
member. If desired' the abutments or dam may be made movable in the form of
apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 4, as for example by connecting the plate 5 having
the abutments formed integral therewith, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, to the pistons 3, 3",
the frame 4 being held stationary.
While preferring to effect the displacement of the metal by lateral pressure applied
through the medium of a movable wall or walls, as herein before described, it is
evident that the same function or object, i.e. forcing the molten metal to assume the
desired shape, may be effected by a vertically movable plunger. As for example
the molten metal can be teemed into a frame or mold, having at least two of its sides
made of a greater width than the corresponding sides of the ingot or billet to be
produced, and a plunger then forced down along one side of the mold, thereby
displacing the metal laterally and increasing its vertical depth. By forming a series
of projections on all or part of the operative faces of the mold or plunger or both,
similar to the projections 16 hereinbefore described, a series of small ingots or billets
can be shaped simultaneously, the metal being divided as it rises up between the
mold and plunger.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim
:
1. The method of manufacturing solid ingots, billets, etc., which consists in partially
filling a mold with molten metal, and then displacing the entire or substantially
entire body of metal while still in a fluid state, laterally and upwardly, thereby
increasing its vertical depth and diminishing its cross-sectional area, substantially as
set forth.
2. The method of manufacturing ingots, billets, etc., which consists in partially
filling a mold with molten metal, displacing the metal while still in a fluid state
laterally and upwardly for the purpose of increasing its vertical depth and diminishing
its cross-sectional area, and simultaneously with such displacement, dividing the
metal inore or less perfectly into a series of sections, substantially as set forth.
3. The method of manufacturing ingots, billets, etc., which consists in partially
filling a mold with molten metal and then displacing the metal, while still in a fluid
state, laterally and upwardly by laterally applied pressure, thereby increasing its
vertical depth and diminishing its cross-sectional area, substantially as set forth.
4. The method of manufacturing ingots, billets, etc., which consists in partially
filling a mold with molten metal, displacing the metal, while still in a fluid state,
Laterally and upwardly by laterally applied pressure for the purpose of increasing its
vertical depth and diminishing its cross-sectional area and simultaneously with such
displacement dividing the metal more or less perfectly into a series of sections,
substantially as set forth.
5. In an apparatus for casting ingots, a mold having one of its side walls movable
with reference to increasing and diminishing the cross-sectional area of the mold,
substantially as set forth.
6. In an apparatus for casting ingots, a mold having one of the side walls movable
towards and away from the opposite side wall, the movable and its opposing wall
having a series of projections extending into the matrix of the mold, substantially as
set forth.
7. In an apparatus for casting ingots, the combination of a movable frame provided
with one or more transverse partitions and two or more transversely arranged dams or
abutments, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 8. In an apparatus for casting ingots, the combination of a frame and a trans-
versely arranged abutment or dam, one of said members being movable with relation
to the other, substantially as set forth.
9. In an apparatus for casting ingots, the combination of a movable frame provided
with one or more transverse partitions and two or more transversely arranged dams or
abutments, the adjacent faces of the frame partitions and abutments or dams having
projections formed thereon, substantially as set forth.
10. In an apparatus for casting ingots, the combination of a movable frame provided
with one or more transverse partitions, two or more transversely arranged dams or
abutments and yielding lining plates bearing against the edges of the dams or
abutments, substantially as set forth.
Q:
D'LL D
TT SA ALT 191
ambo 1000
Witnesses:
DARWIN S. WOLCOTT.
F. E. GAITHER.
HENRY AIKEN.