IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CASTING OF INGOTS FROM METAL PREPARED BY BESSEMER'S PROCESS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Weild, of the City of Manchester, and
County of Lancaster, Consulting Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CASTING OF INGOTS FROM METAL PREPARED BY
BESSEMER'S PROCESS."
Sealed the 4th November 1864, and dated the 11th May 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Weild at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 11th
May 1864.
I, WILLIAM WEILD, of the City of Manchester, and County of Lancaster,
Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CASTING OF INGOTS FROM METAL PREPARED BY BESSÉMER'S
PROCESS," to be as follows:-
Hitherto in casting ingots from metal prepared by Bessemer's process,
(Patents dated 17th October 1855, No. 2321, 7th December 1855, No. 2768,
15th March 1856, No. 630, and 1st March 1860, No. 578,) the molten
metal has been received in a vessel having a valve at its bottom, which is
opened to allow the metal to pass out directly into the ingot mould that is
placed in a vertical position below it, and when the ingot mould is suffi-
ciently filled the valve is closed to prevent any further escape of the metal
till the vessel is brought over the next mould to be filled. This
system has not been found satisfactory, as there are difficulties in the
working of the valve, and in discharging the molten metal directly into the

page_text: ingot mould owing to obstructions in the valve orifice, and besides this the
pressure of the molten metal, and the distance it has to fall into the ingot
mould causes the metal to become greatly agitated and mixed with air to such
extent as to make the ingots so cast spongy and defective, so that flaws appear
in articles afterwards formed of such ingots. It is the object of this Invention
to remove the above-mentioned objections, and it consists in the following
arrangements, a horizontal flue is formed in a circle, segment of a circle, or in
a straight line, and this flue is covered with slabs of metal closely jointed
together, and with an even upper surface in which a continuous groove is
formed, and upon these metal slabs another series of metal slabs are laid so as
to be closely jointed with each other and the slabs below, and through each of
the upper slabs a hole is formed, and upon each upper slab an ingot mould is
placed over the hole through the slab, so that by this arrangement all the
ingot moulds are brought into communication with the groove, and thus with
each other, each end of the groove being stopped up. When the molten
metal is to be cast, the vessel containing it is brought over one of the ingot
moulds (say the middle one,) and close to its orifice, material being applied to
exclude the air, then the valve is opened and the metal passes down the ingot
mould, then along the groove formed in the slabs above the flue, and then it
rises simultaneously and without agitation into all the ingot moulds till they
are filled. The flue under the grooved metal slabs is heated by any convenient
means (say the waste heat from furnaces) for the purpose of heating the slabs
so that the metal may not be cooled in passing along the groove, and all the
surfaces coming in contact with the molton metal are coated with lampblack,
clay, or charcoal in the usual manner, when the metal in the ingot moulds has
cooled those parts of the metal in the groove and in the hole through the
upper slab upon which the mould rests, are broken away, and then the upper
slabs can be replaced over the grooved slabs ready for the casting of the next
set of ingots. The ingot moulds may be arranged upon the metal slabs in a
circle with one mould or "gateway" in the centre, "gates" being formed in
the metal slabs radiating from the centre mould or "gateway," to each of the
moulds surrounding it. The upper slab having the hole through it by which
the metal rises into the mould, may be bushed with burnt fire-clay, so that
the metal will be effectively protected against "chill," in passing through the
small orifice into the mould.

page_text: ,
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed,
by the said William Weild in the Great Seal Patent Office on the,
11th November 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM'
WEILD, of the City of Manchester, and County of Lancaster, Consulting
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters'
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Weild, Her special license that I, the said William Weild, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Weild, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter, during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and'
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel®
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CASTING OF
INGOTS FROM METAL PREPARED BY BESSEMER'S PROCESS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said William Weild, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said.
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Weild, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement and accompanying Drawings, that is to say :-
Hitherto in casting ingots from metal prepared by the method known as
"Bessemer's process," the molton metal has been received in a vessel having
a valve at its bottom which is open to allow the metal to pass out directly into
the ingot mould, which is placed in a vertical position below it, and when the
ingot mould is sufficiently filled, the valve is closed to prevent any further
escape of the metal till the vessel is brought over the next mould to be filled';
this system has not been found satisfactory, as there are difficulties in the
working of the valve, aud in discharging this molten metal directly into the
ingot mould, owing to obstructions in the valve orifice, and besides this the

page_text: pressure of the molten metal, and the distance it has to fall into the ingot mould,
causes the metal to become greatly agitated, and mixed with air to such
extent as to make the ingot so cast spongy and defective, so that "flaws,"
appear in articles afterwards formed of such ingots.
"
It is the object of this Invention to remove the above-mentioned objections,
and, it consists in the following arrangements:-A horizontal flue is formed. in
a circle, segment of a circle, or in a straight line, and this flue is covered; with,
slabs of metal closely jointed together, and with an even upper surface; in.
which, a continuous groove is formed, and upon these metal slabs another series
of metal slabs are laid, so as to be closely jointed; with each other and, the.
slabs below, and through each slab. a hole is formed, and upon each upper
slab an ingot mould is placed over the hole through the slab, so that by, this
arrangement all the ingot moulds are brought into communication, with the
groove and thus with each other, each end of the groove being stopped up:
The ingot moulds may be arranged in, a. circle upon a metal slab, or upon a,
series of metal slabs with one mould or "gateway," in the centre, gates being
formed in the lower metal slab or slabs radiating from the centre mould or
gateway "to each of the moulds surrounding it. The upper slab or slabs,
having the holes through. it by which. the metal rises into the moulds may be
bushed with burnt fire-clay so that the metal will be effectively protected:
against "chill," in passing through the small orifices into the moulds. When,
the molten metal is to be cast, the vessel containing it is brought over one of
the ingot moulds (say the middle one) and close to its orifice, and material may
be applied, if desired, to exclude air, then the valve is opened, and the metal
passes down the ingot.mould, then along the groove formed in the slabs above
the flue, and then it rises simultaneously and without agitation into all the ingot
moulds till they are filled. Immediately when the moulds are filled the upper
slab or slabs are slided on one side so that the communication between, the
hole passing through the upper slab and the "gateway" is cut, and thus the
metal is separated while it is fluid, and as the hole through which the metal
passes into the mould is coned, the larger end, towards. the mould, it readily
withdraws from the upper slab when the metal has cooled. In place of
separating the metal between the "gateway" and the mould, while molten,
it may
be allowed to cool, and the ingot may be broken away from those parts
of the metal in the "gateway." When the metal in the holes in the upper slab
or slabs and in the "gateways." is, removed, the slab or slabs are replaced over
the "gateways," those parts to come in contact, with, the molten metal being
previously coated with lampblack, clay, or, charcoal in the usual. manner, when
they are ready for the casting of another set, of ingots. The flue under the

page_text: 66
grooved metal-slabs,, or under the slab. or slabs in which the "gateway" or
gateways" are formed, is heated. by. any convenient means, say, the waste
heat from the furnaces, for, the purpose of. heating the slabs and preventing:
the molten metal from being chilled in its passage to the ingot moulds.
The manner in which I prefer to carry my. Invention into effect, is illusė:
trated, by. the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
Fig. is a sectioual elevation, and. Fig. 2; a plan view, shewing a series of:
six ingot moulds placed round a. central. ingot mould, the lower ends of all!
the, ingot, moulds communicating with the central mould. by passages. or
gateways.radiating from it..
a, represents the ground line ;.b,,a flue. heated by, the products of combustion:
from the, waste beat. of the furnaces, or from a special furnace; c is a base
plate or, slab forming the top of the flue, and in its upper surface: a central-
conical cavity is formed, having six radiating branches forming." gateways";;
these gateways are less at the bottom than at the top so that the metal left.in
them after, each casting operation may be easily withdrawn from them. The
lower slab (c) is covered by another slab. (d) which is kept central by a ring or;
margin, (c) round the lower slab (c); as shewn. The upper slab-(d) fits close:
to the lower one (c), and covers, the "
gateways" (c) so as to make them.
close channels open at each end, the outside end of each channel or gateway:
communicating by means of a hole. (d) in. the slab with the ingot mould (e)
placed above, and the inside end of each channel communicating by, a hole
(d) in the slab with the central ingot, mould (e). The edge of the upper slab
(d) is toothed for a short extent and is made to geer with a worm (f) carried
in bearings attached to or formed. upon the lower slab (c). This worm can be
rotated either way by means of a handle (9) to which a reversable pawl is
jointed so as to act upon a toothed wheel (91) fixed on the axis of the worm
shaft. This reversible pawl handle and toothed wheel being similar to: those
very commonly used for imparting intermittent movements in self-acting
lathes, and other self-acting tools. By giving rotatory motion to the upper
slab (d) by means of the worm (f) the communication between the radiating
"gateways." (c) and the ingot moulds (e), can be readily cut off. The central
ingot mould is made higher than those surrounding it so as to give sufficient
head" of molton metal to overcome the resistance to the passage of the
molten metal through the "gateways.' When the casting operation is to be
performed the "gateways" and ingot moulds.are.coated with clay wash in the
usual manner, the upper slab (d) is adjusted over. the "gateways" (c) and the
ingot moulds (e) are fixed in their places, and assuming that the slabs and
ingot moulds are sufficiently heated, the molten metal is brought by the
.:
"

page_text: vessel (h) with a valve in it over the central ingot mould as shewn in Fig. 1.
The metal is allowed to descend into this mould when it passes through the
bottom along the "gateways" (c2), and simultaneously rises in all the ingot
moulds except that it maintains a higher level in the central mould. When
the outside moulds are filled the upper slab (d) is moved by means of the
screw or worm (f) and this simultaneously cuts or separates the molten
metal in the outside holes (d') in the upper slab (d) from their " gateways
in the lower slab (c), so that when cooled the ingot and its mould can be
readily removed, as the metal passing through the slab (d) will easily with-
draw being coned with the larger end towards the ingot. The central ingot
is broken away after it has cooled a little, then the upper slab (d) is lifted by
a suitable crane, and the metal in the gateways (9) is removed, the gateways
receive another wash of clay, the upper slab (d) is replaced and adjusted, when
another series of ingots may be cast, and so on.
I have now particularly described the nature of my Invention, and the
manner in which the same may be carried into effect, and claim as my Inven-
tion the system or mode of casting ingots of metal prepared by the method
known as Bessemer's process, as herein-before described, also the formation
of "gateways" in metal slabs, the heating of such slabs by flues, the sepa-
ration of the molten metal in the ingot moulds from that in the gateways
by sliding the upper slab in casting ingots of metal, substantially as herein-
before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Weild, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eighth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
W. WEILD. (L.S.)