Improvement in Apparatus for Casting Metal.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Feb., 1898-Accepted, 20th May, 1898
Improvement in Apparatus for Casting Metal.
Partly a communication from EDWARD A. UEHLING, Metallurgical Chemist and
Engineer, of Newark, Essex, New Jersey, U.S.A., and JAMES SCOTT, of
Pittsburg, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
1
I, JAMES WILLIARD MILLER, of Queen Anne's Mansions, Queen Anne's Gate,
in the County of Middlesex, Manufacturers Agent, 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:—
This invention is in the nature of an improvement upon the apparatus for
casting metal described and claimed in the Letters Patent No. 19352, granted to
Edward A. Uehling, on October 15th, 1895.
It relates to improvements in the apparatus for casting metal with particular
regard to the casting of pig iron; although the apparatus and the improvements
contrived are highly useful in the casting of all kinds of metal, such as lead,
copper, etc.
The purpose of this invention is to render the apparatus more effective, to
simplify the construction in matters of detail, to contribute to an increase in the
durability of the apparatus, and to a certain extent to permit what are deemed
important parts of the former apparatus to be dispensed with.
This invention consists of the general and specific construction and arrange-
ment of parts, as well as in certain general details of construction, all as herein-
after more fully set forth.
In the drawings:-
Figure 1 is a view diagrammatic in its nature offered mainly for the purpose
of enabling the correlations of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in
detail in the other figures, to be more readily understood.
Figure 2 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section
taken at one end of the apparatus on the line 2 of Figure 1 and on the line 2 of
Figure 3;
Figure 3 is a plan view at the head or receiving end of the apparatus;
Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 4 of Figure 1 and
Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a view in front elevation partly in section taken on the irregular
line 5 of Figure 6, and relating particularly to the mould or bucket and its sup-
porting mechanism;
Figure 6 is a plan view of the mould and adjacent parts;
Figure 7 is a view in side elevation of one of the mould carrying links detached;
Figure 8 is a view in cross section taken on the line 8 of Figure 6 and showing
a series of moulds;
Figure 9 is a side sectional elevation of the discharge end of the apparatus
taken on the line 9 of Figure 1.
Figure 10 is a broken plan view of the shoot on which the solidified metal is
deposited from the moulds;

page_text: Figure 11 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 11 of Figures 1
and 12 and showing the apparatus for preparing and applying the refractory
material which coats the mould;
Figure 12 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 12 of Figure 11;
Figure 13 is a plan view of the apparatus for preparing and applying the
refractory material; and,
Figure 14 is a view partly in section showing an alternative form of the moulds;
Figure 15 is a view in side elevation and
Figure 16 is a plan view of a detail of the carrier track adjacent to the pour-
ing end; and
Figure 17 is a sectional view on the line 17, Figure 15.
All views are to be taken as indicated by the arrows in the figures referred to.
It will be understood that the present invention relates to improvements in
details of construction; but for the better understanding of the details it will be
explained particularly with reference to Figure 1, the general construction and
operation of the mechanism. At the right of the figure will be observed a track
which serves to receive the ladle carrying car, which ladle conveys the molten
metal from the furnace to the carrier. It is deemed unnecessary to illustrate
the ladle, but it will be explained that it is operated to pour the metal into a
pouring pot having lateral discharge troughs. This pan and its attendant
mechanism are indicated by the letter A Figure 1. The pot as will be shown
further on, is connected with an apparatus by which it may be tilted slightly
from side to side, partly to regulate the flow of the metal therefrom, and also to
permit all the metal received therein to be expelled. Surrounding and adjacent
to the pouring pot is a water pan which serves to protect the mould and its chain
and links from the flying particles of iron, which result from pouring and also
for a purpose presently explained. The metal flowing from the pot enters the
continuously travelling moulds or buckets B. These buckets or moulds are
moved continuously forward and are filled in succession with the molten metal.
The upper line of the moulds at and near the location of the pouring pot is closely
beneath the water pans before referred to, and this propinquity causes the rapid
withdrawal of heat from the metal in the moulds so that their solidification takes
place more rapidly. The moulds carried by the endless chain pass at each end
of the machine around a drum through which the motion to the carrier is produced.
These drums are provided with a ratchet and pawl mechanism presently described,
the function of which is to insure safety in case of a breakage in the chain. The
inclination of the carrier is upward from the point of receiving the metal to the
point of discharge. This is not essential but desirable. At the dis-
charge end is located an inclined spring controlled shoot on which
the metal, which has solidified during the travel of the mould, is
deposited when the mould becomes inverted to its original position. The shoot
serves to direct the solidified metal either to the transverse conveyor, which is
described in the previous patent referred to, or to a waiting car or to a pile. On
the return of the empty mould to the original position it is desirable, and indeed
an important part of the invention, that the mould shall be thoroughly coated
on the interior with a refractory material, the function of which is to prevent
too great cohesion between the mould and its contained metal. At E, Figure 1,
is shown the location of the apparatus for preparing the refractory material and
for projecting it against the inverted mould on its return.
The operation described causes the iron or other metal to be received in a
definite and uniform quantity in each mould, there by producing pigs of uniform
size, shape and character. The solidification of the fluid metal is accomplished
by the prolonged exposure, due to the length of the carrier, coupled with the
active influence toward solidification exerted by the relation of the travelling
moulds with the superposed water pan. The operation of casting and of prepar-
ing the moulds for further casting is a continuous one, with the important result,

page_text: of the greatest interest to the furnace man, that no matter what may be the output
of his furnace, whether below or above the ordinary, and whether or not it be
increased even much beyond the usual, this output may be safely disposed of and
the product rapidly and economically handled. It is well known that where the
output of a furnace is cast into a sand pig bed, the capacity of the furnace is
limited, first because the contained metal preserves the fluid property only for a
limited time; and, second, because even though the limits of fluidity permit the
use of a larger casting shed, the usual territorial limits at the furnace frequently
forbid the utilization of a larger number of beds. With the apparatus here shown
these considerations are put entirely aside.
In Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are illustrated the details of construction at the receiving
end of the carrier, or in other words, the details involved in the part indicated
by the letter A in Fig. 1.
F is the pouring pot having the central longitudinal trough F¹, the lateral
pouring troughs FF3, and the central well F. The pot F is mounted at its
front and rear ends in the trunnions t; and extending upwards from one end of
the pot is the standard connecting through the medium of the rod t with the
standard 3. The outer end of the rod t is screw threaded and receives in the stan-
dard the internally threaded hand wheel #*. As the hand-wheel is turned
to the right or to the left the pot F is tilted on its trunnions, and in this manner
the contained metal may be caused to flow more rapidly out of either trough F2 F³,
or at the conclusion of the pouring the contents of the well F may be expelled
by further tilting the pan.
On each side of the pan F is a water pan G of a width entirely to cover the
mould and carrier beneath the same, and of a length to extend considerably be-
yond the utmost limit of the pouring pot. The tank G is made with the inclined
bottom s, the inclination being such that it will be parallel with the line of move-
ment of the moulds. Toward the shallower end of the pan a water supply pipe sl
is located, and at the opposite end the overflow outlet pipe s2 is located. A com-
panion in all respects to the pan G is supported on the opposite side of the pour-
ing pot over the companion carrier. A stream of cold water constantly leads into
the pans and out through the overflow. The area of the pan is such that the
particles of iron expelled from the pot in pouring will be prevented from entering
between the links in the carrier. The location of the pan G is such with relation
to the travelling moulds, as presently described, as materially to assist in the
solidification of the molten metal by cooling the same without contact with
the metal contained in the moulds.
The carrier proper comprises an endless double chain made up of links which
links support moulds of peculiar shape. The details of construction in this con-
nection are illustrated in Figs. 5 to 8.
B represents the moulds or buckets. These moulds or buckets are of the peculiar
shape shown; that is to say, they are wider than they are long in the direction of
their movement, and at each lateral end they are provided with the flanges or
ears r. At each lateral edge just above the flange is provided a projection r¹,
the purpose of which is to prevent the metal when poured into the mould from
spattering out into the chain. The rear side of the mould, 2, Fig. 8, is shorter
than the forward side, ³, and the forward side terminates in the sharp edge
and the forward curved projection 5. The nose or projection overlaps the rear
wall of the next preceding mould, and the purpose of the sharp edges is to
afford a sharp line for dividing the stream of inflowing metal to cause it to enter
the two moulds without being superposed up on the top of the side of either mould.
Underneath the mould B is provided the reinforcing integral rib r. The func-
tion of this rib is to afford increased strength in the mould and to resist and
balance the expansion without in any measure interfering with its operation or
with the shape of the contained metal.
The chains B¹, which are arranged in pairs and serve to support the moulds on

page_text: each side, are identical in construction and each comprises a set of outer links p
and inner links p¹, the ends of which links are joined by an arrangement presently
described to rolfers 72. The rollers 2 run upor. a track p³ properly secured on
each side of the line of movement of the moulds B. The links p are flat, but are
given a certain bend so that the end which is outside at one roller 2² will be be-
tween the next following roller 12 and the end of the next link p. Each end of
the link P' is bored to receive the bolt p', which constitutes the shaft of the roller p².
Around the bolts p is a bushing 2 which is made with the shoulders p. The
inner end of one link p embraces the bushing about the reduced portion thereof
between the shoulder 76 and the end; whereas the adjacent link p embraces the
bolt p beyond the end of the bushing 26. The purpose of these shoulders and of
the bushing is to permit the links to have a certain play with relation to each
other, the shoulders preventing their jamming one against the other. It will be
understood that the reduced portion of the bushing is wider than the link to
bring about the condition here mentioned. It will be now stated that the com-
panion link p is secured to the bolt constituting the shaft of the roller 22 in
precisely the same manner as is above described with regard to the link p, and
for the same purpose. The link 71, however, differs in construction from the
link P in the particular that the link p¹ is provided with the laterally extending
elongated ear 77 having the central bolt-hole 28. To form this lateral extension
it has been found that a convenient method is to forge the link with the ear p
in the same plane as the body of the link, and thereupon to turn over the ear p',
to cause it to present a right angle to the link proper. To compensate for the
bend in the link the ear is made wider at the rear end than at the forward end.
It thus follows that the extreme edge of the link is exactly in line with the
movement of the chain. The connection between the mould B and the. links p
is effected by passing a bolt through the flange r on the mould and through the
bolt-hole 28 in the link. In case of a fracture of the mould or any other condition
· necessitating the withdrawal of the mould from the carrier, a ready, rapid and
convenient means is thus presented for effecting the separation of the parts, while,
on the other hand, a broad and sufficient support of the ends of the moulds in the
chain is supplied.
While ordinary prudence directs that the chain shall be made of a strength
sufficient to insure it against breaking, it is necessary to consider the possibility
of a breakage and incidentally the fact that workmen engaged about the apparatus
may be subject to a serious risk in such an event. With a view to insuring
against danger arising from a breakage in any part of the apparatus, the
drums H H, Figs. and 10, are supplied at the opposite ends of the carrier,
which drums serve through the medium of the teeth o thereon, to engage the links
in the chain B₁ between the rollers pa therein, with the ratchet and pawl mechan-
ism H2. In case of a breakage the pawls prevent the recoil of the drums and
thus serve to a certain extent to prevent the collapsing of the carrier.
At the discharge end of the carrier, Figs. 9 and 10, is located the shoot C. This
shoot comprises a series of parallel bars n joined at opposite ends to rods n' n²,
the former of which, n', is joined to the frame n³, while the other rod, n², is con-
'nected with a pair of rods which pass up through the frame n³ and are
surrounded with a spiral spring n between the adjusting nut no and the frame.
Below the outer end of the shoot C is located the transverse conveyor, if such be
employed; but instead of the conveyor a car, or any other convenient means for
receiving the metal may be located. In the figures is illustrated a transverse
conveyor similar to that shown in the patent of Uehling above mentioned. It will
be understood, however, that this conveyor may be dispensed with if desired.
It is well known that to prevent the adherence of the pig to the metallic mould
the mould must be coated preferably with a refractory material. In the Uehling
patent above mentioned this fact is set forth and a means to the accomplishment
of this end is shown and described. In the present invention my correspondents

page_text: employ a preferred construction illustrated in Figs. 11, 12 and 13, and the location
of the apparatus is indicated in Fig. 1 at E. The apparatus comprises a slacking
tank m, a tempering tank m¹ and a spraying tank E. Between the slack-
ing tank m and the tempering tank m', the former of which is on a higher level
than the latter, is the movable door m², beyond which is the screen m³. A similar
door m is provided at the end of the tempering tank m¹, beyond which is also a
screen m³. Communication between the tempering tank m¹ and the spraying
tank E is effected through a feed tank me. In the bottom of the spraying tank E¹
and supported on the rotating spurred drums m² at opposite ends of the tank, is
an endless conveyor E2. Beneath the upper line of the conveyor is a false
bottom m8.
Extending down into the spraying tank E', from an air-supply pipe 1, are the
air conducting pipes 7. At the end of the pipe 7, which projects beyond the spray-
ing tank E, it is embraced by a lever 2 which is connected by the arm 13 with
the crank on the shaft which is driven in unison with the spurred drum m
by the belt pulley 16. The purpose of this lever and crank connection, as will
readily be understood is to cause the lower ends of the pipes to be oscillated
from side to side of the spraying tank E.
Dipping down from the air supply pipe k, which extends longitudinally of the
tank E and which receives its supply of air from the same source as the pipe 1,
namely the air supply pipe E, are the pipes, each of which extends below the
level of the liquid contained in the tank and has the return bend indicated in
Fig. 12. The extremity of the pipe enters the lower bell mouth 2 of the up-
ward extending spray pipe 3. The location of the spray pipes ³, which are
preferably three in number for each line of moulds, or six in number in the tank,
is such that the contents of the tank E will under pneumatic pressure be sprayed
against the entire interior surface of the mould. This is illustrated in Fig. 11.
The operation of the mechanism shown in Figs. 11, 12 and 13 is as follows:-
The lime or other refractory material, is slacked in the tank m, the door m²
being lifted the contents of the tank are swept upon the screen m³, the finer
particles only passing through to the tank m². Here the slacked material is
tempered to the necessary consistency, and the door m being open it is swept
upon the screen m5 into the feed tank me and thus upon the endless conveyor E²
and into the tank E¹, where a constant agitation of the introduced matter is
effected by the influx of air under pressure through the pipes . The air pressure
received through the pipe causes the thoroughly mixed refractory material
to be sprayed in a fine stream against the interior of the mould.
It is found in practice that the heating of the links constituting the chain is
objectionable, and with a view to permitting these links to be cooled and at the
same time be lubricated without injuriously affecting the moulds themselves, is
provided longitudinally of the carrier above each of the lateral chains thereon a
water pipe L having at suitable intervals perforations to permit water to be sprayed
or otherwise projected against the links constituting the chain and against the
rollers which support the links. As the water is projected against the links and
rollers and not against the moulds, the injury to the moulds of the sudden cooling
thereof is prevented.
In Fig. 14 is illustrated an alternative arrangement for the moulds. In this
arrangement the rear edge of each mould overlaps the next succeeding mould.
Otherwise the arrangement is the same as illustrated in Figure 8.
The details relating to the construction of the track (Figures 15 to 17) are
designed to reduce to the. minimum any obstruction which may be due to the
lodgment on the track in the path of the rollers 2 of particles of iron which
spatter during the pouring of the molten metal.. To this end the flat track p³
is removed for a distance of a few feet each way from the spout F3 and in its place
is the narrow vertical track s secured in its vertical position by means of bolts s¹.
The tracks is central with relation to the track p³ and the rollers p³ move thereon.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion as communicated from my foreign correspondents and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :--
1. In a casting apparatus of the nature described the combination with the
continuously moving moulds of a casting pot and means for tilting the same,
whereby the liquid metal may be directed into either mould or in equal or vary-
ing streams into both, substantially as described.
2. In a machine for casting metal, the combination with the movable moulds,
of a casting pot having the central well and lateral troughs, substantially as
described.
3. In a machine for casting metal, the combination with the movable moulds,
of the protective water pans located above the line of movement of the moulds and
sufficiently close thereto to aid in the cooling of the contained metal, substantially
as described.
4. In a. machine for casting metal, the combination with the movable moulds,
of the pouring pot having the lateral discharge troughs, F2 F3, and the water pan
having its bottom parallel with the line of movement of the moulds and superposed
above the moulds and about the pouring pot, whereby the mould carrier is pro-
tected from the particles of iron discharged from the trough in pouring and the
cooling of the contained metal is partially effected, substantially as described.
5. In a machine for casting metal, the combination with the endless carrier
and moulds thereon, of the carrier moving drums provided with pawl and ratchet
check mechanism, substantially as described.
6. In a machine for casting metal, the combination with the movable moulds,
of the chain carrier for the moulds, comprising links p p¹, the links p¹ having the
mould supporting ears, substantially as described.
7. In a machine for casting metals, the combination with the moulds, of the
endless carrier comprising links joined together in pairs, and rollers connected
with each pair of links, and a track on which the rollers move, substantially as
.described.
8. In a machine for casting metals, the combination with the moulds, of an
endless carrier therefor, comprising an endless chain made of links p, p, said
links p having the mould supporting ears, and each pair of links connected with
the next preceding pair through the medium of the roller mechanism, comprising
the roller på having the internal bushing po provided with shoulders, all as set
forth.
9. In a machine for casting metal, the movable mould B having the angular
extremity and the nose to overlap the next adjacent mould, substantially as
described.
10. In a machine for casting metal, the mould formed with the lateral upward
projecting splasher r¹, substantially as and for the purpose described.
11. In a machine for casting metals, the mould B having the reinforcing, ex-
ternal rib substantially as described.
12. In a machine for casting metals, the combination with the mould having
the lateral flanges r of the endless chain having the links p¹ with the lateral ears p
to receive the flange r, substantially as receive.
13. In a machine for casting metals, the combination with the endless chain
and the moulds carried thereon, and means for moving the chain, of a water-pipe
located above each chain and adapted to spray water upon the chain without
attacking the mould, substantially as described.
14. In a machine for casting metals, the combination with the endless mould
carrier and the moulds thereon, of the spring-controlled shoot C located beneath
the discharge end of the carrier, substantially as described.
15. In a machine for casting metals, the combination with an endless carrier
and the moulds thereon, of the shoot C made up of parallel bars having one end

page_text: elevated and the other end depressed and held by a spring retained supporting
rod, substantially as described.
16. In a machine for casting metals, the combination with the endless carrier
and the moulds thereon, of the shoot C secured at one end to the frame n³, said
shoot composed of parallel bars n, joined by a transverse rod n¹ n³, and rod n¹ and
the spring n bearing upon the frame n³ and supporting the rod, substantially as
described.
17. In a machine for casting metals, the apparatus for preparing the refrac-
tory material for discharge against the returning moulds, comprising the slacking
tank, tempering tank and mixing or spraying tank, substantially as described.
18. In a machine for casting metals, the combination with the spraying tank E¹
and means for introducing therein refractory material mixed with water, of com-
pressed air conveying pipes leading into the tank operating to agitate its contents
by air pressure substantially as described.
19. In a machine for casting metals, the combination with the spraying tank E
and means for introducing refractory material mixed with water therein, of the
oscillating compressed air conveying pipes, substantially as described.
20. In a machine for casting metals, the combination with the spraying tank E',
and means for introducing refractory material mixed with water therein, of the
oscillating pipes, and means for introducing compressed air through the same
into the tank, and the spraying pipes projecting upward from the tank and com-
prising the member k¹ and 3, the former having the lower bend and the latter
having the bell mouth 2, substantially as described.
21. In a machine for casting metals, the spraying device, comprising, in com-
bination, the mixing tanks m m³, the spraying tank E', the endless conveyor in
the spraying tank, the oscillating pipe 7, connected with a pneumatic supply
and operating to agitate the mass, a pneumatic spray device directing a spray of
mixed material against the inverted mould, substantially as described.
Dated this 16th day of February 1898
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.