Improvements in and Moulds and Apparatus for Casting Ingots of Steel and other Metals.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Apr., 1892
Complete Specification Left. 2nd Jan., 1893-Accepted, 11th Feb., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Moulds and Apparatus for Casting Ingots
of Steel and other Metals.
I THOMAS TURNER of The Ridge, Oldswinford, Stourbridge in the County of
Worcester, Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My invention has reference, in part, to the ingot moulds described, represented
and claimed in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me dated the
24th day of October 1885, No. 12795; and my said invention consists of the
improvements in the ingot moulds referred to in the said Specification and to
other like ingot moulds and apparatus connected with them, and further of the
improvements hereinafter described in casting ingots of steel and other metals
so as to avoid certain defects common to ingots cast in the ordinary way.
I will describe my present invention as applied to the casting of steel ingots to
which it is particularly applicable.
For the purpose of giving increased durability to a group of ingot moulds made
in one casting I connect the individual moulds of which the group is made up at
their angles instead of at their sides as usual. The outer sides of the walls of the
grouped moulds so made have a zig-zag or undulating figure instead of the
continuous flat sides of ordinary grouped ingot moulds and in consequence of
the figure of the walls of my improved grouped moulds, their partitions or divisions
are so exposed to the air that they remain cool and the cracking of the said
partitions which occurs in large grouped ingot moulds, is avoided, and the durability
of the moulds consequently increased.
In order to facilitate the casting of a large number of ingots in groups of moulds
of the construction described, I place all the runner or tubular bricks, (that is, the
runner bricks in the partition walls of the moulds and those in connection with the
runner pipe or runner ingot mould and the first moulds of the several groups) in
the same horizontal plane above the bed plate so that the molten steel runs at the
same level from the bottom of the runner pipe or runner ingot mould through its
runner bricks to the tubular runner or diaphragm bricks in the partitions of the
moulds. The middle of the passage of the last named runner bricks is made by
preference of greater diameter than the ends. The use of the tubular form of
runner bricks described obviates the necessity for any bricks being set in the
surface of the bed plate under the moulds as are required when the ordinary
diaphragm bricks with inverted U shaped orifices are used. Longitudinal and
cross raised parts are cast upon the bed plate at the part on which the runner pipe
or runner ingot mould is supported and form a channelled block to receive the
runner bricks in connection with the runner pipe or runner ingot mould. Parallel
groups of ingot moulds may be arranged on opposite sides of or around the block
under the runner pipe or runner ingot mould and all the moulds be supplied with
molten steel from the same runner pipe or runner ingot mould.
The base of the
end mould of each group of ingot moulds abuts against the block under the runner
pipe or runner ingot mould and is preferably fixed for casting purposes to the said
block by cottering.
In making grouped moulds having two (or more) parallel rows of ingot moulds
in the same casting, I give to the outer walls or vertical faces of the moulds, the
zig-zag or undulating figure described with respect to a single row or group of
ingot moulds, for keeping the partition walls of the grouped moulds cool; and
г

page_text: in the inner wall between the parallel rows of moulds, I form vertical holes
flues or channels through which air passes for keeping the inner wall cool.
Groups of ingot moulds arranged in columns or piles may be constructed in the
manner last described.
I support these or any of my patent ingot moulds upon a plain bed plate. The
runner or tubular bricks of the kind before described are set in the partition walls
of the bottom group of moulds and the flanges of the runner pipe are made thick
enough to serve as the block and to have runner bricks inserted before the said
moulds and runner pipe are lowered onto the bed plate. The block or base of the
runner pipe containing the tubular runner bricks may be made independent of either
the runner pipe or bed plate and placed between them.
Instead of each group of the ingot moulds being directly fed from the runner
pipe a longitudinal channel of runner bricks opening into the runner pipe may be
stationed midway between parallel groups of ingot moulds and each group be fed
by cross runner bricks from the longitudinal channel opening into them.
When columns or piles of grouped ingot moulds are employed, a runner pipe of
the same height as or higher than the piled moulds and made in one piece may be
connected at its base part with the bottom group of ingot moulds; or the runner
pipe may be made in two or more parts, the lower part only being directly secured
to the bottom group of piled ingot moulds.
The connection of the base of the runner pipe to the bottom group of moulds
may be effected by cross pins taking into recesses made partly in the runner pipe
and partly in the bottom group of moulds; or by flanges and bolts; or by a
dovetail connection and cross pins. By making the runner pipe or runner mould
at its lower part detachable from the group of moulds as described, it can be readily
removed from the moulds when worn and replaced by a fresh one.
The molten steel is fed from the runner pipe or mould by a runner brick or
channel to the first mould of the lowest group of the column and from thence
rises to the grouped moulds above through the diaphragms between them as
described in my Patent before referred to; and for the purpose of facilitating
the filling of the moulds, each group of the column of moulds, above the bottom
group may be provided with a runner brick opening into the runner pipe at or
about the level of the bottoms of the grouped moulds. Where it may not be
desirable to permit the molten steel from the lower group of moulds of the
column of moulds rising through the diaphragms into the moulds above them,
I make the diaphragms between the groups of piled moulds with very small
holes to permit of the escape of air, but not large enough to permit of the
molten steel passing through them. The molten steel may be poured down any
mould of a particular group to fill all the moulds of that group.
In order to avoid the use of a runner pipe of great length and to reduce the
number of parts of the casting apparatus cotter groups of moulds together end
to end or side to side so as to leave between the jointed ends or sides of the
moulds a hole or vertical tubular channel constituting the runner pipe, which is
preferably lined with an imperfect conductor of heat such as loam or ganister or
fire clay.
Instead of making the whole of the runner pipe in the manner last described
only the runner pipe at the lower group of moulds may be so made, a shortened
runner pipe of the ordinary kind being placed on the said base part to complete it.
Some special kinds of steel shrink a great deal in the moulds while cooling and
cause a deep pipe down the centre of the cast ingot owing to the outside of the
ingot cooling quickly while the centre portion only is liquid enough to follow up
the contraction. To avoid the production of "piping" in the cast ingots, I line
the interiors of the moulds which contain the upper portion of the columns of
molten steel with an imperfect conductor of heat such as loam, ganister or other
refractory material the said loam, ganister or like material being fixed in a recess
prepared for it in the interior of the mould and runner. Or a lining of fire
brick or other refractory material may be inserted and embedded in the loam

page_text: or ganister. By the use of these linings a greater quantity of steel is retained
for a time in a liquid state and hence the production of deep pipes in the cast
ingots avoided.
This part of my invention may be applied to single ingot moulds and to grouped
ingot moulds of various kinds.
Dated the 6th day of April 1800
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Moulds and Apparatus for Casting Ingots of
Steel and other Metals.
I THOMAS TURNER of The Ridge, Oldswinford, Stourbridge in the County of
Worcester, Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my 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 has reference, in part, to the ingot moulds described, represented
and claimed in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me dated the 24th
day of October 1885, No. 12795; and my said invention consists of the improve-
ments in the ingot moulds referred to in the said Specification and to other like
ingot moulds and apparatus connected with them herein after described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings; and further of the improvements herein-
after described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in casting ingots of
steel and other metals so as to avoid certain defects common to ingots cast in the
ordinary way.
I will describe my present invention as applied to the casting of steel ingots to
which it is particularly applicable.
For the purpose of giving increased durability to a group of ingot moulds made
in one casting I connect the individual moulds of which the group is made up at
their angles instead of at their sides as usual. The outer sides of the walls of the
grouped moulds so made have a zig-zag or undulating figure instead of the con-
tinuous flat sides of ordinary grouped ingot moulds and in consequence of the figure
of the walls of my improved grouped moulds, their partitions or divisions are so
exposed to the air that they remain cool and the cracking of the said partitions
which occurs in large grouped ingot moulds is avoided and the durability of the
moulds consequently increased.
This part of my invention is illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying
drawings.
Figure 1 represents in side elevation and plan, a group of ingot moulds made in
one casting in which the individual moulds are connected at their angles and the
outer sides of the walls of the grouped moulds a, a have a zig-zag or undulating
figure as seen in the plan, whereby the partitions or divisions 6, 6 of the said
grouped inoulds are so exposed to the air that they remain cool and are prevented
from cracking as before described.
The same object may be attained by modifying the form of the grouped moulds
in the manner represented in Figures 2 and 3. In the modification Figure 2 each
of the grouped moulds a, a has a nearly circular figure in plan so as to give the
outer sides of the walls an undulating or scolloped figure and thereby to expose
their partitions or divisions b, b to the air.
In the modification Figure 3, the square moulds a, a are connected side by side
and are partly separated in line with their partitions or divisions b, by cross
depressions c, c so as to expose the said partitions or divisions b, b to the air for the
purpose before described.
My invention consists further of the following improvements. In order to

page_text: facilitate the casting of a large number of ingots in groups of moulds of the con-
struction described, I place all the runner or tubular bricks, (that is the runner
bricks in the partition walls of the, moulds and those in connection with the runner
pipe or runner ingot mould and the first moulds of the several groups) in the same
horizontal plane above the bed plate so that the moulten steel runs at the same
level from the bottom of the runner pipe or runner ingot mould through its runner
bricks to the tubular runner or diaphragm bricks in the partitions of the moulds.
The middle of the passage of the last named runner bricks is made by preference
of greater diameter than the ends. Longitudinal and cross raised parts are cast
upon the bed plate on which the runner pipe or runner ingot mould is supported
and form a channelled block to receive the runner bricks in connection with the
runner pipe or runner ingot mould Parallel groups of ingot moulds may be
arranged on opposite sides of or around the block under the runner pipe or runner
ingot mould and all the moulds be supplied with moulten steel from the same runner
pipe or runner ingot mould. The base of the end mould of each group of ingot
moulds abuts against the block under the runner pipe or runner ingot mould and is
preferably fixed for casting purposes to the said block by cottering.
This part of my invention is illustrated in Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the accom-
panying drawings, Figure 4 representing in vertical longitudinal section and
Figure 5 in horizontal section, partly in plan, grouped moulds provided with this
part of my invention and Figures 6 and 7 representing two forms of the runner or
tubular bricks which I use, drawn to a larger scale. The vertical longitudinal
scction Figure 4 is taken on the line CD Figure 5 and the horizontal section
Figure 5 is taken on the line A B Figure 4. d, d d are parallel groups of ingot
moulds arranged on opposite sides of the runner pipe or runner ingot mould e; fis
the bed plate on which the groups of ingot moulds are supported; 9, 9, 9 are the
runner or tubular bricks in the partition walls and outer walls of the series of
moulds, in connection with the runner pipe e, the said runner or tubular bricks
being situated above the bed plate fand all in the same horizontal plane so that
the molten steel runs direct at the same level from the bottom of the runner pipe e
through its runner bricks ', 93, to the tubular runner bricks g, g in the first moulds
and partitions of the moulds as will be understood by an examination of
Figure 4.
The middle of the passage of each of the runner bricks g is of greater diameter
at its middle than at its ends as best seen in the enlarged views Figures 6 and 7.
The tubular runner bricks g may either have a middle projection at its upper part
as seen in Figure 7 or a projection at each end as seen in Figure 6 for retaining
them in their places in the partition walls and other parts of the moulds.
The use of the tubular form of runner bricks described and represented obviates
the necessity for setting bricks in the surface of the bed plate funder the moulds
as are required where the ordinary diaphragm bricks with inverted shaped
orifices are employed.
It will be seen by referring to Figure 5 that longitudinal and cross raised
parts h, h,
are cast upon the bed plate and form a channelled block to receive
the cross and longitudinal runner bricks g³, g in connection with the runner pipe or
runner ingot mould e.
It will also be seen by referring to the said Figure that all the parallel
grouped moulds on either side the runner pipe or runner ingot mould e are supplied
from the same runner pipe or runner ingot, mould and that the base of the end
mould of each group of ingot moulds abuts against the block hand is fixed for
casting purposes to the said block by the cotters at i, i.
My invention consists further of the following improvements :-
In making grouped moulds having two or more parallel rows of ingot moulds
in the same casting, I give to the outer walls or vertical faces of the moulds the
zig-zag or undulating figure described and represented with respect to a single
row or group of ingot moulds for keeping the partition walls of the grouped
moulds cool and in the inner wall between the parallel rows of moulds I form

page_text: wall
vertical holes flues or channels through which air passes for keeping the quer
cool.
Groups of ingot moulds arranged in columns or piles may be constructed in the
manner last described.
I support these or any of my patent moulds upon a plain bed plate. The runner
or tubular bricks of the kind before described are set in the partition walls of the
bottom group of moulds and the flange of the runner pipe is made thick enough to
serve as the block and have runner bricks inserted before the said moulds and
runner pipe are lowered onto the bed plate. The block or base of the runner pipe
containing the tubular runner bricks may be made independent of either the runner
pipe or bed plate and placed between them.
This part of my invention is illustrated in Figures 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 of the
accompanying drawings.
Figure 8 represents in vertical longitudinal section and Figure 9 in horizontal
section, groups of ingot moulds, having two parallel rows of moulds in the same
casting, arranged in columns or piles and supported upon a plain bed plate f and
provided with tubular runner bricks g, g of the kind before described, the outer
walls of the parallel rows of moulds being formed of a zig-zag or undulating figure,
as described with respect to the single row of grouped moulds Figures 1, 4 and 5,
for keeping the partitions of the said moulds cool, vertical air holes, flues or
passages being formed between the parallel rows of moulds for keeping the inner
walls cool.
The vertical section Figure 8 is taken on the line L M Figure 9 and the
horizontal section Figure 9 is taken on the line J K Figure 8.
Figure 10 represents in elevation and Figure 11 in horizontal section on the
line NO, Figure 10, another group of ingot moulds having two parallel rows of
moulds in the same casting in which group of moulds the outer walls are made in
the manner represented with respect to a single row or group of moulds Figure 2,
the said arrangement Figures 10 and 11 also having vertical air holes, flues or
passages for keeping the inner walls cool.
In Figures 8 and 9 the flange of the runner pipe e forms the channelled block
in which the parallel cross runner bricks 1, 1 are inserted for feeding each group of
the parallel rows of moulds, the runner pipe e supplying the said cross runner bricks
with the molten metal in the manner seen in Figure 9. The parallel rows of
grouped moulds are pinned or bolted to the channelled block e³ of the runner pipe e
at i, i.
Instead of each group of ingot moulds being directly fed from the runner pipe e
as represented in Figures 8 and 9, a longitudinal channel of runner bricks opening
into the runner pipe may be stationed midway between the parallel groups or rows
of ingot moulds and each group or row be fed by cross ruuner bricks from the
longitudinal channel opening into them.
2
Figure 12 represents partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal section and
Figure 13 in plan, a runner pipe e in which the channelled block containing the
tubular runner bricks is made independent of the runner pipe and bed plate. The
section Figure 12 is taken on the line G H Figure 13. The said independent
channelled block is marked m and is situated between the plain bed plate fand the
flange or base e of the runner pipe e as seen in Figure 12.
My invention consists further of the following improvements :-
When columns or piles of grouped ingot moulds are employed a runner pipe of
the same height as or higher than the piled moulds and made in one piece may be
connected at its base part with the bottom group of ingot moulds; or the runner
pipe may be made in two or more parts, the lower part only being directly secured
to the bottom group of piled ingot moulds. The connection of the base of the
runner pipe to the bottom group of moulds may be effected by cross pins taking into
recesses made partly in the runner pipe and partly in the bottom group of moulds ;
or by flauges and bolts; or by a dovetail connection and cross pins.
This part of my invention is illustrated in Figures 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19. In

page_text: the columns or piles of grouped ingot moulds represented in vertical longitudinal
section in Figure 14 and horizontal section in Figure 15, the detachable runner
pipe, made in one piece, is connected to the base part of the bottom group of ingot
moulds by cross pins 1, 2 taking into recesses made in the base and bottom group
of moulds the said pins when driven in tightening the projecting parts 1, 1 of the
base of the runner pipe upon the projecting part of the bottom group of moulds
as best seen in Figure 15.
In the column or piles of grouped moulds represented in vertical longitudinal
section in Figure 16 and horizontal section in Figure 17 the runner pipe is made in
several pieces, the base part m being made separable from the lower group of moulds
and connected thereto by a dovetail connection at P and cross pins p, while the
upper parts m³, m³ of the runner pipe are cast respectively with the middle and top
groups of ingot moulds (see Figure 16).
In the columns or piles of grouped moulds represented in longitudinal section in
Figure 18 and horizontal section in Figure 19, the runner pipe is composed of a
base part n and a long pipe n' above it, the base part n being connected to the
bottom group of moulds by flanges and screw bolts at n. By making the runner
pipe or runner mould at its lower part or base detachable from the lower group of
the piled moulds as described and represented it can be readily removed from the
moulds when worn and replaced by a fresh one.
The molten steel is fed from the runner pipe or mould in the several arrangements
represented by a runner brick or channel to the first mould of the lowest group of
the column and from thence rises to the grouped moulds above through the
diaphragms between them as described in my Patent before referred to. For the
purpose of facilitating the filling of the moulds, each group of the column of moulds,
above the bottom group, may be provided with a runner brick på represented in
Figure 16 opening into the runner pipe m³, m³ at or about the level of the bottoms
of the grouped moulds.
Where it may not be desirable to permit the molten steel from the lower group
of moulds of the column of moulds, rising through the diaphragms into the moulds
above them, I make the diaphragms between the groups of piled moulds with very
small holes to permit of the escape of air, but not large enough to permit of the
molten steel passing through them. Diaphragms of this kind are represented in
Figure 16 and marked 7, 9. When the runner bricks p³, p³ are used in the piled
moulds, the molten steel may be poured down any mould of a particular group to
fill all the moulds of that group.
Some special kinds of steel shrink a great deal in the moulds while cooling and
cause a deep pipe down the centre of the cast ingot owing to the outside of the
ingot cooling quickly while the centre portion only is liquid enough to follow up
the contraction. To avoid the production of "piping" in the cast ingots I line the
interiors of the moulds which contain the upper portion of the columns of molten
steel, with an imperfect conductor of heat such as loam, ganister or other refractory
materials as represented at n° Figures 14 and 16 the said loam, ganister or like
material being fixed in a recess prepared for it in the interior of the mould and
runner. Or a lining of fire brick or other refractory material may be inserted and
embedded in the loam or ganister as represented in Figure 20 where the linings of
fire brick are marked no and the ganister or like material in which they are
embedded is marked n7.
By the use of these linings, a greater quantity of steel is retained for a time in a
liquid state and hence the production of deep pipes in the cast ingots avoided.
My invention consists further of the following improvements. In order to avoid
the use of a runner pipe of great length and to reduce the number of parts of the
casting apparatus I cotter groups of moulds together end to end or side to side so
as to leave between the joined ends or sides of the moulds a hole or vertical
tubular channel constituting the runner pipe which is preferably lined with an
imperfect conductor of heat such as loam or ganister or fire clay.
Instead of making the whole of the runner pipe in the manner last described,

page_text: only the runner pipe at the lower group of moulds may be so made, a shortened
runner pipe of the ordinary kind being placed on the said base part to complete it.
This part of my invention is illustrated in Figures 21, 22, 23 and 24 of the
accompanying drawings.
Figure 21 represents in longitudinal vertical section and Figure 22 in horizontal
section, columns or piles of grouped moulds in which the groups of moulds are
cottered together at r, r so as to leave between them a hole or vertical tubular
channels constituting the runner pipe the said runner pipes being lined with loam
ganister or other imperfect conductor of heat as represented. The vertical tubular
channel or runner pipe s is surrounded by the funnel or mouth piece t which is also
lined with an imperfect conductor of heat. Any required number of piled ingots
may have their runner pipe constructed in the manner represented in Figures 21
and 22. The vertical section Figure 21 is taken on the line F F Figure 22 and
the horizontal section Figure 22 is taken on the line H H Figure 21.
Figure 23 represents in vertical section partly in elevation and Figure 24 in
horizontal section, columns or piles of grouped moulds in which only the base y of
the runner pipe is made by cottering together end to end the lower group of
moulds, at u u. In this case a shortened lined runner pipe of the ordinary kind is
placed on the base part y to complete it as represented in Figure 23.
The vertical section Figure 23 is taken on the line J, J Figure 24 and the
horizontal section Figure 24 is taken on the line I, I Figure 23.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that I claim
as my invention of "Improvements in and moulds and apparatus for casting ingots
of steel and other metal."
:
First Forming the outer walls of single rows of grouped ingot moulds and
parallel rows of grouped ingot moulds of a zig-zag or undulating figure or with
vertical depressions or channels in order to expose to the air the partitions or
divisions of the said grouped moulds substantially as herein before described and
illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 5, 9 and 11 and in several of the other figures of the
accompanying drawings, whether the inside walls of parallel rows of the said grouped
moulds are provided with vertical holes, flues or channels for the passage of air
through them or are made solid.
Secondly: The combination with a plain bed plate supporting the grouped ingot
moulds of tubular runner bricks, preferably of the kinds described and represented
arranged in the partition walls of the moulds and the walls of the first moulds of
the groups and also in the base of the runner pipe all of the said tubular runner
bricks being situated in the same horizontal plane above the plain bed plate
substantially as herein before described and illustrated in Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 and
in several of the other figures of the accompanying drawings.
:-
Thirdly The adaptation to or combination with the runner pipe of grouped
moulds of the channelled block represented in Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying
drawings for receiving the tubular runner bricks; also making the base or flange
of the runner pipe form the channelled block to receive the tubular runner bricks
as represented in Figures 8 and 9; also the independent block or base of the runner
pipe containing the tubular runner bricks as in Figures 12 and 13 of the accom-
panying drawings.
Fourthly-Making the runner pipe of columns or piles of grouped ingot moulds
in one or more parts and connecting the base or lower part only of the said
runner pipe to the bottom group of piled ingot moulds for the purpose and substan-
tially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19
of the accompanying drawings.
Fifthly Making the runner pipe or the base of the runner pipe, by cottering
or connecting together end to end or side to side, groups of piled ingot moulds so
as to leave between the joined parts a vertical hole or tubular channel constituting

page_text: the runner pipe or base of the runner pipe substantially as hereinbefore described
and illustrated in Figures 21, 22, 23 and 24 of the accompanying drawings.
Sixthly-The combination with each group of piled grouped ingot moulds,
above the bottom group, of a tubular runner brick opening into the runner pipe at
or about the level of the bottoms of the grouped moulds for the purpose and
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figure 16 of the accom-
panying drawings; also the use of diaphragms perforated with small holes,
between the groups of piled moulds for the purpose and substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in Figure 16 of the accompanying drawings.
Lastly-Preventing deep "piping" in the upper portions of the columns of
molten steel cast in moulds and runner pipes of the kinds claimed in the preceding
claims, by the use of linings of loam, ganister, fire clay or other imperfect
conductor of heat fitted in recesses in the upper parts of the said moulds and
runner pipes substantially as herein before described and illustrated in Figures 14
and 16 of the accompanying drawings; also the use for the same purpose of linings
of fire brick or other refractory material inserted and embedded in loam, ganister
or the like substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figure 20 of
the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 2nd day of January 1893
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicant.