Improvements in Plant for Casting Steel Ingots.
Year: 1886

page_text: .
Improvements in Plant for Casting Steel Ingots.
I, WILLIAM HENERY FOLLETT of Steelton, Dauphin county in the State of
Pennsylvania, one of the United States of America, Engineer 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 :-
At present in a Bessemer mill running three converters there are usually
required about thirty men to run the heats into the mould, remove the ingots,
and reset the moulds by the aid, mainly, of hydraulic cranes, the men working in
turns. About twenty four of the above number of men are termed "pit-men,"
and draw the ingot-moulds out of the pits, load the ingots on trucks running on
suitable tramways, reset the moulds, and help to pour the heats, and four men,
termed "ladle-runners," handle the well known ladles, while the remaining two
men are termed "ladle-liners," and bank and cover the moulds.
By the employment of my improved plant the same work can be accomplished
by four men working in turn, two of said number doing the work of the ladle-
liners and the other two attending to the ladle-runner machines and remaining
machinery.
The object of my invention is therefore to lessen the labour and danger in
casting steel ingots and the cost of handling the same; and it consists in certain
improved apparatus, which I will, now proceed to describe, and point out the
particular features of novelty in the claims at the end of this specification.
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a portion of my
improved plant, a portion of the frame-work being broken away to show the
construction better; Fig. 2, a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a view of a
portion of the grounds of the mill, showing the means for removing the ingots
from the mould. Fig. 4, is a front view of a plant shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a
perspective view of the pouring-ladle; Fig. 6, a sectional view on the line x x of
Fig. 4; Fig. 7, a sectional view taken on the line y y, Fig. 4; Figs. 8 and 9, views
of details.
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Similar letters of reference in the several figures indicate the same parts.
A represents an ordinary Bessemer converter provided with trunnions a, having
their bearings in blocks a¹, the latter being supported on a suitable framework, B,
constructed, as shown, and secured to the masonry B¹ in the usual manner.
One

page_text: of said trunnions is extended beyond the bearing, and is provided with a gear, a³,
engaging with a movable toothed rack, a', operated by any suitable mechanism to
turn the converter on its trunnions and pour its contents when desired. At the
front end of the framework B are provided suitable hangers, 61 61, supporting at
their lower end the horizontal track or rail b', on which the rollers or wheels on
the pouring-ladle are arranged to run.
C represents the pouring ladles, constructed, as shown in Fig. 5, with the hopper
bottom tapering to the perforation c at its centre, and provided with a horizontal
perforation in the projection c* on its under side, through which passes its
supporting shaft C¹, journalled in suitable bearings in the ends of standards D D,
at opposite sides of the frame-work, as shown. This shaft is adapted to be rotated
on its bearings by means of the gear D' on its end, with which engages another
gear, D, mounted on a stud-axle on one of said supporting posts, and provided
with an operating handle, D. A-small-spline, c', extends the length of this shaft
and fits a corresponding groove, c', in the projection on the ladle-bottom, so that
as said shaft is rotated the ladle will be tipped over backward, although it is
permitted to slide freely longitudinally of the shaft and parallel to the trunnions
of the converter. On the front side of the ladle C are provided two supporting
wheels, c² c³, mounted upon short axles extending out, as shown, the wheels
travelling on the track 6' and serving to support the forward side of the ladle and
prevent displacement or strain, owing to the impetus of the metal when the
pouring begins, the shaft C and the track 63 constituting guides on which the
ladle is moved.. At the rear of the ladle is provided a lip, c, adapted to project a
short distance under the mouth of the converter when it is turned down to the
position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1, to discharge its contents into the ladle, for
preventing the molten metal from running down the side of the ladle, and to takė
all the metal from the converter without spilling. It will be noticed that the
front side of the ladle is extended somewhat above the level of the other sides, and
this is done for the purpose of preventing the metal splashing over as it comes
from the converter; also secured to this front side of the ladle are two loops, e,
through which a narrow plate or rod, E, is adapted to slide, said plate projecting
over the top of the ladle down into it, and bearing at its lower end a stopple or
plug, E¹, preferably of fire brick, adapted to close the opening c in the bottom, said
opening being provided with a fire brick lining, c', held in place by a perforated
plate, e, secured to the bottom of the ladle by bolts, as shown. This rod is adapted
to be raised and lowered by means of a lever, E, pivoted upon the side of the ladle
and extending out at one end within convenient reach of the operator. This
ladle is moved back and forth by means of a hydraulic piston, F, operating in a
cylinder, F, placed to one side of the main frame, and having the end of a piston
rod projecting parallel with the ladle, and a knob or projection on its end which
projects between the two lugs e ce on the side of the ladle, so that as said piston
is operated back and forth the ladle will be drawn back and forth, sliding upon
the shaft c¹ and rail b³, as will be readily understood, and when the ladle is to be
tipped backward by rotating the supporting shaft, the piston can remain stationary,
the lugs moving over and disengaging themselves from the end of the piston rod:
The piston is opperated back and forth by two valves, ff, connecting with pipes
ff at opposite ends of the cylinder and with the water or steam supply, so that
by opening one and closing the other the piston can readily be moved forward or
backward, as. desired.
The same workman that attends to the cocks ff may also operate the crank
handle and the lever E³, since the latter is operated only after a mould is filled,
and to begin the cast of another ingot, and before or after the said piston is
advanced. The crank handle need be operated only after a heat is cast. If desired,
the mechanism for tipping the converter may be operated by the same hand.
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The mechanism for supporting and handling the moulds is constructed as
follows: The ingot-moulds G, about six being sufficient to contain one heat, are
placed upon the lifting table H, near together at their bases and directly under the

page_text: path described by the ladle outlet c, so that each mould may be cast into in .
succession from said outlet as the table is advanced.
On the top of said table is provided a fixed rim, h, forming thereon a receptacle
for admitting the plates I, used to protect the table against damage by the molten
steel when cast into the moulds standing on the plates. These plates may be made
of metal and covered with sand when an ingot is to be cast, or may be of fire brick
or any suitable material. The table itself is removable, being attached to the
platen J, on the upper end of the hydraulic piston J, by keys j, inserted through
eyebolts on said table, projecting through slots in said platen. Upon the outer
edge of the rim h are hinged the bevelled side and end strips, h¹, adapted to fold
flat on the rim and to close the crevices between them and the wall of the aperture
in the pit floor L, to prevent metal or dirt running down into the lifting machinery,
while the inner edges of the strips serve to hold in place the sand tamped around
the bases of the moulds in a manner to allow the latter to expand when heated.
If the rim of the table were solid, the tendency of the moulds when expanded by
the hot metal would be to either bind in the recess on the table, so as to prevent
their removal therefrom, or else to bend the rim out of shape; but by making the
rim in sections and hinged to the table the moulds may expand, which will cause
the rim sections to turn on their hinges slightly.
The table H, as before stated, is secured to the top of the platen on the piston
or plunger working in the cylinder J¹, and is operated in the usual manner, lifting
said table with the set of moulds and ingots thereon, for a purpose hereinafter
described.
It may also be used to bring the tops of the moulds closer to the outlet of the
ladle, to obtain better results in casting.
Upon the ends of the table are the extensions or tongues h³ moving in grooves d
in the standards D, and serving to guide and steady the movements of the table.
These standards are secured rigidly to the floor L by means of bolts or in any
other suitable manner, and have pivoted to their inner sides two short levers, K, K,
connected at their upper ends by a cross rod or connecting bar, K¹, adapted to
normally rest against the ingot moulds and operating to tip them over when
operated by suitable mechanism about to be described.
The mechanism for casting the metal into the moulds having now been explained,
I deem it best to describe its operation before describing the mechanism for
disposing of the ingots and moulds after casting. When the metal in the converter
has reached the proper heat, the ladle is moved by means of the hydraulic piston
so that its outlet will be over the mouth of the first mould, and the stopple E' is
placed in the outlet, closing it.
The converter is now inverted by means of the rack and gear and its contents
turned into the ladle. The stopple is then withdrawn and the metal allowed to
flow out into the first mould until it is filled. Then the stopple is replaced and
the ladle is moved by means of the piston until the opening is over the mouth of
the next mould, the stopple is again withdrawn and this mould filled, and so on
until all the moulds are filled. As the ladle is adapted to contain just enough
metal for six moulds, there will usually be nothing left in it, except possibly slag
or refuse matter, which can readily be turned out by rotating the handle E, turning
the shaft, and turning the ladle over backward, as will be readily understood,
the wheels c³ leaving the track and the shaft supporting the entire weight of the
ladle.
When the moulds are filled, and the metal has solidified, the next operation is to
dispose of them, which is accomplished in the following manner.
M is a heavy rail placed in front of the table H, having on its upper side a
tram way rail m, and supported at its ends in a manner to permit of its being
moved sidewise by means of piston rods M' M¹, connected to its opposite ends and
operating in hydraulic cylinders M* M*. To the outer side of this rail are secured
two or more. links, M³, having hooks at their outer ends adapted to project by

page_text: or between the moulds on the table and engage the bar K¹ connected to the
links K.
P represents a table or platen, about as long as the table H; and adapted to be
raised and lowered by means of a piston working in a hydraulic cylinder, N, placed
parallel with the cylinder J, but some distance above it.
Q represents a tramway, of which a part is formed by the rail m, as stated,
extending out into the grounds of the mill or to the blooming furnace, as desired,
and R represents a small flat tram car for running on said way and transporting
the ingots in a manner to be described.
The filled moulds are now standing upon the table H, with about one third of
their length projecting above the level of the rail M. The links Ms are then passed
by or between them and engaged with the bar K¹. Then the rail is drawn over
to the position shown in dotted lines by the piston rods, M¹ M³, and the bar K¹
will draw over the moulds until they rest against said rail, being prevented from
sliding back at the base by the pins x on the bottoms of the moulds entering the
groove h³ in the hinged strips h' on the table, as shown in Fig. 7. The table H is
now moved up by the cylinder J, and the moulds and ingots are lifted and moved
to the right until one end rests upon the top of a table or platen, P. Then the
two tables are raised together, and the moulds lifted some distance above the level
of the floor L. The rail M is now moved out to its normal position, in line with
the rail of the tramway, the flat car R run in under the moulds, and the two
tables and P returned to normal position, leaving the moulds lying upon their
sides upon the cars, which is then run out into the grounds or another portion of
the mill, and the ingots removed from the mould by means of a hydraulic or steam
operated piston, S, pushing them out, as shown in Fig. 3. This piston may operate
to remove the ingots and place them upon another car, as shown in the drawings,
or upon the hearth of the blooming mill, and in this manner part of the original
heat be utilized.
In replacing the empty moulds upon the table H erectly the handling occurs in
reverse order. The tram car with the moulds in place is run in between the
tables H and P, which latter then lift them above the car, which is then run away
and the rail moved back. The moulds can then be lowered to the level of the mill
floor L, where the table P stops, and the table H descending to its normal position
in the pit, the piston M¹ returns the rail to its projected position, which erects the
moulds upon the table H, the pins x stepping into the grooves h³ and assisting to
seat the bases of the moulds correctly, and the bar K' serving to curb the rapid
motion of the tops of the moulds as they are tipped back upon their bases.
From the above description the various advantages of my invention over the
ordinary plants in use will be evident. The ladle while at work is moved only
endwise that is, in a direction parallel with the axis of the converter's trunnions-
and as it is tipped or turned on the shaft C¹ only at the end of a heat, to rid it of
slag or residuuin, the liability of spilling metal or splashing it in moving from one
mould to another is lessened; also, by reason of the raised dash-plate and the lip
projecting under the converter-mouth the first or full flow can be received as well
as the last small stream, thus receiving the metal at all stages of the pouring
without raising and lowering the ladle.
If desired, the flow from the converter into the ladle may be continuous, and the
stopple mechanism operated as described, if the rate of flow is an average one, the
capacity of the ladle being such that it will not overflow, or the whole contents of
the converter poured in at once and the ladle moved over each mould in succession
and the stopple manipulated as usual.
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
claim is :-
1st. The combination of the converter, the ladle mounted on stationary guides
parallel to the trunnions of the converter, mechanism for moving the converter

page_text: along the guides, and a device for closing its outlet and interrupting the flow of
metal therefrom, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described, set
forth and illustrated in the drawings annexed.
2nd. The combination of the converter, the ladle mounted on stationary guides
parallel to the trunnions of the converter, in position to receive the metal from the
mouth of the converter at all stages of the pouring, mechanism for moving the
ladle along the guides, and a device for opening and closing its outlet and regulating
the flow of metal therefrom, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described, set forth, and illustrated in the drawings annexed.
3rd. The combination of the converter, the ladle mounted on stationary guides
parallel to the trunnions of the converter, in position to receive the metal from the
converter at all stages of the pouring, and having its front higher than the other
sides, mechanism for moving the ladle along the guides, and a device for opening
and closing its outlet and regulating the flow of metal therefrom, substantially as
and for the purposes herein before described, set forth and illustrated in the drawings
annexed.
4th. The combination of the converter, the ladle mounted on stationary guides
parallel to the trunnions to the trunnions of the converter, in position to receive
the metal from the converter at all stages of the pouring, and having the lip at the
side toward the converter, mechanism for moving the ladle along the guides, and a
device for opening and closing its outlet and regulating the flow of metal there-
from, substantially as, and for the purposes herein before described, set forth and
illustrated in the drawings annexed.
5th. The combination, with the converter, the ladle movable on stationary guides
parallel to the converter trunnions, having the outlet, and a device for closing the
outlet, of the series of moulds, the table on which they are mounted, and means for
raising and lowering said table, substantially as, and for the purposes hereinbefore
described, set forth and illustrated in the drawings annexed.
6th. In a Bessemer plant, and in combination with the converter, the ladle
movable on stationary guides parallel to the converter trunnions, having the
outlet, a device for opening and closing said outlet, a series of moulds, the table
upon which they are mounted, means for raising and lowering said table, a vertically
movable table arranged parallel with said mould supporting table, and a bar or rod
operated by a suitable motor to tip the whole series of moulds, so that one end
will rest upon the said second table, a tramway arranged between the tables, and a
tramcar or truck mounted thereon, substantially as and for the purposes herein-
before described, set forth, and illustrated in the drawings annexed.
7th. In a Bessemer plant, and in combination with the converter, the longi-
tudinally movable ladle having the outlet, and a device for opening and closing
said outlet, the series of moulds, the table on which they are mounted, means for
raising and lowering said table, the pivoted rail on one side of the moulds, the
sliding rail on the other side, and means for operating the latter toward and from
said moulds, links or hooks connecting said rails, a table arranged parallel to the
table on which the moulds are mounted and means for raising and lowering it, and
a tramway between the two tables, one of the rails of said tramway being formed
by the sliding rail, and a suitable truck or car mounted on the tramway, sub-
stantially as, and for the purposes herein before described, set forth and illustrated
in the drawings annexed.
8th. In a Bessemer plant, and in combination with the converter, the longi-
tudinally movable ladle having the outlet and a device for opening and closing
said outlet, the series of tapering moulds, the table on which they are mounted,
means for raising and lowering said table, a vertically movable table arranged
parallel with said mould supporting table, and a bar or rod operated by a suitable
motor to tip the whole series of moulds, so that one end will rest upon said second
table, a tramway arranged between said tables, extending out from between them,
and a truck or car mounted thereon, a rod or piston operated by a suitable motor
arranged in proximity to the tramway and projecting at right angles thereto, for

page_text: the purpose of forcing the ingots out of the moulds one at a time, substantially as
and for the purposes herein before described set forth and illustrated in the drawings
annexed.
9th. The combination, with the converter and the series of moulds, of the ladle
having the wheels on one side running on the stationary track and supported at
the other side upon a shaft or guide capable of being rotated, whereby said ladle
may be tipped over and the slag or other refuse matter discharged therefrom, and
means for moving said ladle longitudinally on the guides substantially as and for the
purposes herein before described, set forth and illustrated in the drawings annexed.
10th. The combination with the converter and the series of moulds, of the ladle
mounted upon the shaft, and having the outlet and a device for opening and closing
it, a rod operated by a suitable motor for moving said ladle longitudinally on the
shaft, connected detachably to the ladle, so that as the ladle is tipped to dump slag
and refuse matter it will be automatically disengaged from the ladle, and will be
automatically re-engaged when the ladle returns to normal position, substantially
as, and for the purposes herein before described, set forth and illustrated in the
drawings annexed.
11th. The combination, with the converter and a series of moulds, of the ladle
having the recess, the shaft on which it is mounted capable of being rotated, and
having the spline and means for moving said ladle longitudinally on said shaft,
substantially as, and for the purposes hereinbefore described, set forth and illustrated
in the drawings annexed.
12th. The combination, with the converter and the series of moulds, of the ladle.
"mounted upon the shaft, and having the outlet and a device for opening and closing
it, and the two lugs mounted on the sides, a rod operated by a suitable motor for
moving the ladle longitudinally, having the lug or projection on its end placed
between the lugs on the ladle, whereby when the ladle is tipped to dump the
slag, &c., it will be automatically disengaged from the operating rod, and upon
being returned to normal position will be automatically re-engaged, substantially
as, and for the purposes hereinbefore described, set forth and illustrated in the
drawings annexed.
13th. The combination, with the moulds having the pins or projections near
their bases, of the table on which said moulds are supported, having the groove at
one edge into which said pins project when the moulds are tilted to prevent their
bases from slipping substantially as, and for the purposes hereinbefore described,
set forth and illustrated in the drawings annexed.
14th. The combination, with the moulds, of the mould supporting table having
the strips hinged to its edges, for the purpose of permitting the expansion of the
moulds when heated, substantially as, and for the purposes herein before described,
set forth and illustrated in the drawings annexed.
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