Manufacture of Steel.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Jan., 1887
Complete Left, 25th Oct., 1887
Complete Accepted, 25th Nov., 1887
Manufacture of Steel.
We, DUNCAN MCCORKINDALE, M.D. Steel Manufacturer, of Clydesdale Iron and
Steel Works, Mossend, Lanarkshire, and GEORGE DOUGALL, Brick Manufacturer, of
Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire, do hereby declare the nature of our Invention to be as
follows:-
"
This Invention has reference to a simple improvement in the manufacture of fire-
clay stoppers for securing to the ends of the "
or rods used in the
swan necks
transporting and pouring ladles for stopping the molten steel or metal flowing out
through the spouts of these, in casting ingots, or other articles, or purposes, and
which will prevent accidents by the exposing or loosening of the bolt securing the
stopper to its swan neck or rod.
These stoppers each consist of a short cylindrical or slightly tapered block usually
about four or five inches long, and three inches diameter, but they might be of various
sizes, with a round point at the stoppering end, and flat with the sharp corners taken
away at the back end, and with a hole right up the centre for a securing bolt to pass
up through, and a deep recess for the bolt head in the point of the block, the back
end of bolt being screwed or cottered to secure the hole to its actuating swan neck
or stem passed down through the molten metal. Heretofore the hole in the point for
inserting and securing the head has only been made parallel or cylindrical with
roughened or grooved sides for retaining the fire-clay, ganister, or other material to
protect the head from being burned or getting loose, and this has not been found
sufficient so that accidents happen by the clay falling out and the molten metal getting
at the bolt head. The Improvements of this Invention consist in forming or moulding
this hole in the point of the block for the reception of the bolt head and the protecting
clay over it, of a conoidal form, widest within, so that when the fire-clay or other.

page_text: material is inserted to fill up this hole, even although it shrinks or gets loose by the
heat, it still retains its position and protects the head of the bolt, so as to prevent
accidents from the molten metal getting at the bolt to burn it away, and be more
durable for effecting the purpose it has to serve.
A further improvement consists in the mode and means of forming this tapered
hole within the fire-clay block when moulding it. One mode of effecting this consists
in making and securing a wooden ring or pattern the size of the hole, and fitting it
on the end of the centre core piece or mandrel which forms the hole through the
clay and mould while forming the soft clay block, and leaving this wooden ring
within the mould after drawing out the central mandrel, which wood ring would be
burned out in the firing of the block stopper. Another arrangement for forming
this block hole consists in making the said ring in three, four, or more parts,
preferably of metal which may be removed one part at a time after removing the
central mandrel; or by another arrangement a sharp shaping blade or cotter may be
made to rotate on the central core or spindle; and cuts this conical recess out of the
clay block after it has been formed with a cylindrical hole.

page_text: Improvements in and Connected with Stoppers Used in the
Manufacture of Steel.
We, DUNCAN MCCORKINDALE, M.D. Steel Manufacturer, of Clydesdale Iron and
Steel Works, Mossend, Lanarkshire, and GEORGE DOUGALL, Brick Manufacturer, of
Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire, do hereby declare the nature of our invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:
Our Invention has reference to a simple improvement in the manufacture of fire-
27 or rods used in the
clay stoppers for securing to the ends of the "swan necks
transporting and pouring ladles for stopping the molten steel or metal flowing out
through the spouts of these in casting ingots, or other articles, or purposes, and which
will prevent accidents by the exposing or loosening of the bolt securing the stopper
to its swan neck or rod.
These stoppers each consist of a short cylindrical or slightly tapered block, usually
about four or five inches long, and three inches diameter, but they might be of
various sizes, with a rounded point at the stoppering end, and flat with the sharp
corners taken away at the back end, and with a hole right up the centre for a
securing bolt to pass up through, and a deep recess for the bolt head in the point
of the block, the back end of bolt being screwed or cottered to secure the stopper or
block to its actuating swan neck or stem .passed down through the molten metal.
Heretofore the hole in the point for inserting and securing the head has only been
made parallel or cylindrical with roughened or grooved sides for retaining the fire-
clay, ganister, or other material to protect the head of the bolt from being burned or
getting loose, and this has not been found sufficient, so that accidents happen by the
clay falling out and the molten metal getting at the holt head. The improvements of
this invention consist in forming or moulding this hole in the point of the block for
the reception of the bolt head and the protecting clay over it, of a conoidal form,
widest within, so that when the fire-clay or other material is inserted to fill up this
hole, even although it shrinks or gets loose by the heat, it still remains in the hole and
protects the head of the bolt, so as to prevent accidents from the molten metal getting
at the head of the bolt to burn it away, and be more durable for effecting the purpose
it has to serve.
A further improvement consists in the mode and means of forming this tapered
hole within the fire-clay block when moulding it. One mode of effecting this consists
in making and securing a wooden ring or pattern the size of the hole, and fitting it
on the end of the centre core piece or mandrel which forms the hole through the clay
and mould while forming the soft clay block, and leaving this wooden ring within the
mould after drawing out the central mandrel, which wood ring would be burned out in
the firing of the block stopper. Another arrangement for forming this block hole
consists in making the said ring in three, four, or more parts, preferably of metal,

page_text: which may be removed one part at a time after removing the central mandrel; or by
another arrangement a sharp shaping blade or cutter may be made to rotate on the
central core or spindle and cut this conical recess out of the clay block after it has
been formed with a cylindrical hole.
And in order that our said Invention, and the manner of performing or carrying
the same into effect or practice may be properly understood, we have hereunto
appended an explanatory Sheet of Drawings, in which the same reference letters are
used to indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown. Figures 1
and 2 represent a sectional elevation, and a plan with the top removed, respectively, of
the parts of the mould, as put together while forming our new or improved stopper A, A',
with its new tapered or conoidal hole A' in the point in line with the usual bolt hole A²
through the stopper. In this arrangement an outer cast iron cylindrical die or
mould D is used within which is placed the fireclay to form the stopper A A' over the
pressing die on which is formed or secured the central mandrel C, C², for forming
the bolt hole A2 in the stopper A, A¹. Within the upper part of this mould D is
placed a metallic or wrought-iron cylindrical die D' fitting it tightly, and curved
hollow on its inner surface to form the rounded point of the stopper A, A, and having
a vertical hole through its centre into which is inserted a wooden plug B, and by
which die D' the compressed stopper A' is pressed out of the mould D. The mould Ď
rests concentrically on the lower movable die C, which has the central mandrel or
core piece C, C, passing up through the clay in the mould D and through a hole
formed in the centre of the wooden plug B. The part B of the plug B within the
mould D is made the size and shape of the tapered hole A' to be formed in outer
central end of the stopper A, and rests at its lower end on the shoulder or projecting
surface of the removable mandrel C, the upper part 2 of the mandrel being made
of less diameter to pass through the central hole in the wooden plug B, and maintain
all concentrically in the centre of the stopper A and mould D, DT. After the clay
within the mould D has been sufficiently compressed by the raising of the die C, or
the pressing down of the upper die D', to form the stopper A A', all as shown, the
central mandrel C, C and the parts of the mould D, D', are removed from the
block A, and the wooden ring B, B', left within the block to be burned out in
the firing or baking of the block stopper, and so form the conoidal hole A. Figures 3
and show corresponding views to Figures 1 and 2, only in this arrangement the
upper die D is formed with a hollow boss or collar D round which is placed the
conical wooden plug or ferrule B', to be operated and burned out of the stopper
after the parts of the mould are removed, all otherwise as in the former arrangement.
Figures 5 and 6 are similar views partly in section of a modified arrangement of the
mould and its fittings forming the tapering hole A in the stopper A, A', in which a
wooden plug is not used, and the hole is formed by a cutting or shaping blade c, c',
within a hollow cylindrical stem C³. This hollow stem C³, is mounted to rotate on
the upper part of the mandrel C within the hole in the top of the mould D', with
a square head or other means of turning the spindle; and has mounted on an axis c²
within it a cutter or shaping blade c, c, which passes out through a slot in the lower
part of the stem C³ to cut the tapered part. A' within the clay stopper by the gradual
outward movement of the hand lever part c¹ of the cutter c, working out through
slot in the upper part of the hollow spindle C3 while it is being turned; the cuttings
of the clay enter the interior of the hollow spindle (³, and are easily removed
through the lower hollow end when the spindle is taken out of the mould, thus
leaving the conoidal hole A' formed in the stopper without any wooden or removable
plug, all ready for firing. Figures 7 and 8 show corresponding views of another
arrangement of mould and its fittings for forming the block tapered hole A' in the
stopper, corresponding to Figures 1 and 2, and in which a metallic conoidal hollow
ring or plug is used, formed in three, four or more segments, six E, E', being shown
in the Drawings, resting on the shoulder or bearing surface of the central mandrel C, C³,
and kept tight in position in the centre by passing through the upper part D¹ of the
mould. After the conoidal or tapered hole A has been formed in the clay block A, A¹,
the mandrel C, 0, 0, is removed, the two parts of the plug E, E, are removed
:

page_text: through the hole in the mould D', and these being removed, then the four parts E¹E'
can similarly be removed through the hole in the mould D', and the stopper with the
conoidal hole A', in it is then ready for firing. Although we have only so far described
and shown the hole A formed in the end of the stopper as conoidal, for inserting the
head F of the retaining bolt F, as indicated in dotted lines, and leaving room for
filling in the protecting fire-clay over it, as indicated at A in the sectional elevations
Figures 9, 10 and 11, in the stoppers A, it will be understood they may be formed,
as shown in these Figures square, curved or angled inside to enable a greater taper
to be given to the hole A' above the head F¹ of the bolt F to prevent the fire-clay or
ganister filled in from falling out and so prevent the bolt head F¹ from being burned
away by the molten metal. In Figure 9 the inner part of the hole A is shown as
formed of a square shape, and the outer part conoidal; while in Figure 10 the hole A
is shown as made of a wide curved tapering shape inside; and in Figure 11, of a
double conoidal shape.
Having now particulary described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
First. A stopper for use in the manufacture of steel, having a conoidal, tapered or
curved hole A in the point or end of the stopper, for the reception of the bolt head
and the protecting clay or silicious earth over it, all substantially as and for the
purposes herein described, in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Second. The herein described modes and means or appliances for forming conoidal,
tapered or curved holes in the points or ends of stoppers used in the manufacture of
steel, all substantially as herein distinguished in reference to, and shown in the
accompanying Drawings.
Dated this 95th day of Ontahan 1007