Improved Method of and Mould for Casting Compound Ingots for Armour Plates and other Plates.
Year: 1894

page_text: The decision of the Chief Examiner, acting on behalf of the Comptroller, of
the 19th day of March 1895, allowed, under Section 18 of the Patents, &c.
Act, 1883, an Amendment of this Specification.
Date of Application, 3rd Mar., 1894-Accepted, 3rd Nov., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (AMENDED).
Improved Method of and Mould for Casting Compound Ingots for
Armour Plates and other Plates.
I, THOMAS HAMPTON of Millhouses near Sheffield in the County of York, Steel
Manufacturer, do hereby declare 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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in the method of casting the second and
any subsequent layers of molten metal for the production of compound ingots, and
te consists in the improved construction of moulds used for that purpose, and refers
more particularly to the manufacture of armour plates.
The object of the invention is to enable the second and any additional layers of
special molten metals or alloys to be poured into the mould, while the preceding
layer or layers are in a semi-fluid condition, in such a manner as to cause as little
disturbance or agitation of the preceding layer of metal as possible, to prevent the
subsequent or following layers of metals or alloys being of different qualities or
properties mixing or amalgamating with the preceding layer and thus loosing
their distinct characteristics.
It is therefore most important to keep the several layers separate and in their
pre-arranged positions, but not to prevent them becoming united and consolidated
at their horizontal junction.
CE
By the use of my improved mould and process of casting, which I have called
spray casting" I obtain a perfect compound ingot for the manufacture of an
armour plate for example, having a hard face, soft centre and a semi-hard back, or
having a hard face and a soft back.
A mould suitable for the above purpose is shown in the annexed sheet of drawings
in which:
Fig. 1, is an end elevation of the mould with the end removed, and showing
sections of two funnels, also a detached portion showing one of the gas escapes.
Fig. 2, plan of part of cover plate showing two of the funnels, and with a
portion removed showing section of conduit pipes, which are otherwise indicated by
dotted lines.
Fig. 3, several views of conduit pipes, blocks, and nozzle.
The mould shown in the drawing consists of a separate base plate 1, but this
may if preferred be cast in one piece with the sides 2, and 2ª.
The sides 2, and 2", and the ends may be made of any dimensions required; they
may be in one piece as 2, or may be built up in sections as shown in 2, and the
body of the mould so constructed is lined with a coating of loam or other refractory
material 3.
On the top of the side walls 2, and 2*, I place a heavy cover consisting of an
under plate or frame 4, and a top plate 5, the said two plates being secured together
by bolts and cotters 6, or by any other means.

page_text: In the upper face of the plate 4, I form intersecting channels to receive the
conduit-pipes 7, and open recesses to hold the blocks 8, and spray nozzles 9, these
several appliances being made from fireclay or other suitable refractory material.
The upper plate 5, is prepared for, and is provided with funnels 10, and 11,
into which the molten metal is poured in the process of casting the ingot.
These funnels may be of any desired form, and their number and position may
be varied according to the size of the ingot and for other reasons.
The arrangement of the conduit pipes 7, may also be varied, but the plan
indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, will be found satisfactory for general use.
The process of casting a three layer ingot for a plate requiring a hard face, a
soft central layer, and a semi-hard back is as follows; The molten steel for the
hard face is first poured into the mould through the funnel 10, which communicates
direct with the interior of the mould; when this is done the molten metal for the
central layer is poured into one or more of the funnels 11, communicating with the
conduit-pipes 7, and the nozzles 9, from which it descends in small streams or
spray, so called, upon the surface of the body of hard steel already in the
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mould.
The division of the molten metal into small streams diminishes its power of
disturbing the bulk of the metal upon which it falls, which is a matter of the utmost
importance in retaining the characteristics of each layer intact.
The third layer is poured into the mould in a similar manner to the previous
one but it may if advisable be poured through a separate funnel or funnels, and
nozzles.
Instead of the whole of the conduit pipes being in communication, they may be
divided into sets or sections, each section having one or more funnels.
To permit the escape of gas generated in the mould the nozzles 9, are pierced
vertically, communicating with the channels in which the conduit-pipes are laid,
and from which the gas can escape either through the joints of the plates, or
through grooves 12, made for the purpose, and I may also make a number of
grooves for the same purpose, marked 13, between the plate 4, and the sides of the
mould.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. In casting compound ingots, pouring the molten-metal-for-the-second, and any
following layers, into the mould for distribution in numerous small-streams through
nozzles--arranged over the area of the mould, for the purpose specified, as
hereinbefore described, and substantially as illustrated.
2. A mould for use in casting compound ingots for armour plates and other
plates having a cover plate provided with one or more funnels 11, connected by
means of conduit-pipes 7, with a number of nozzles 9, opening into the interior of
the mould for the purpose of distributing the molten metal in small streams or
spray over the area of the mould, as hereinbefore described, and substantially as
shown in the drawings.
3. In a mould-for-use-in-casting compound ingots, the combination with a
funnel-(10) having a direct passage for the molten metal into the mould, of one or
more-funnels (11) having indirect passages for the molten metal through a number
of conduits and nozzles, substantially-as-hereinbefore-described und shown.
4. A mould for easting compound ingots-arranged and constructed substantially
as-hereinbefore described and illustrated in-the-annexed-sheet-of-drawings.
Dated the 1st day of March 1894.
ROBT. F. DRURY, C.P.A.,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for Applicant.