Improvements in the Production of Steel (and other Metal) Wire, Plates, Rods, Bars, and the like, and in Apparatus Connected therewith.
Year: 1884

page_text: Improvements in the Production of Steel (and other Metal)
Wire, Plates, Rods, Bars, and the like, and in Apparatus
Connected therewith.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I CARL MARIA PIELSTICKER of 69 Lombard Street London in the County of
Middlesex Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF STEEL (AND OTHER METAL) WIRE PLATES, RODS,
BARS, AND THE LIKE AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for the production
of steel (and other metal) rods, bars, wire, plates, etcetera and is a modification of
our process for which Letters Patent were granted to me in Great Britain under
No 338 and dated January 2nd 1884.
According to this latter process rods of indefinite length were produced direct
from the molten metal by causing the molten metal to enter at one end of a fixed
cooling tube and drawing it out when solidified at the other end. The rod had
therefore to pass through the whole length of the cooling tube and on account of
the resulting friction there existed the danger of the rod breaking off while passing
through the cooling tube. In this our improved process we entirely obviate this
danger by dividing the casting or cooling tube into two parts lengthwise, casting
the molten metal into this mould and then moving forward the lower portion of
the mould itself, which at the same time carries forward the solidified rod. In
order to make the process a continuous one the cooling or casting mould represents
the line of a circle instead of being of a straight line.
Our improved apparatus consists of a wheel made of iron or steel mounted on a
horizontal axis, and rotating in bearings formed in upright supports, the diameter
of the wheel being say, three feet, and the width of the periphery being say six
inches or more. Suitable water channels are provided for in the body of the
wheel, in order to cool the periphery or face of the wheel, cold water entering at
one end of the axis through pipes connected with the hollow axis, and the heated
water escaping at the other end of the axis. In the middle of the face of the
wheel, and round the entire circumference runs a groove of such section as the rod
to be cast is to represent.
The edge of the wheel is bevelled and its face accurately enclosed by a segment
forming a semi circle, the face of the wheel and the concave side of the semi
circular segment both being turned absolutely true. Suitable water channels are
also formed in the semi circular segment in order to keep the concave surface cool.
n

page_text: A groove may also be formed in the concave surface of the semi circular segment
corresponding with the groove in the face of the wheel and both grooves together
may form the section of the rod to be cast.
Both grooves may be lined with refractory material.
An iron or steel bar placed between a projection cast on to the upper end of
the semi circular segment and the upper end of the upright supports keeps the
semi circular segment in its place, while a spring, connected at one end with the
foot of the semi circular segment, and at the other end with a screw passing
through the foot of the upright supports, allows the semi circular segment to
adjust itself to the face of the wheel when this latter rotates, the screw serving
to regulate the relative positions of the wheel and semi circular segment to
each other.
We lay most particular stress upon this adjustment between the wheel and the
semi circular segment by means of the spring and set screw, which while it permits
to enclose the surface of the wheel carrying the groove or movable casting mould,
so accurately that when rotating no metal poured in the groove can escape through
the joint formed at the contact of the face of the wheel with the concave surface of
the semi circular segment, yet, on account of the elastic action of the spring,
allows the wheel freely to rotate, without causing undue wear and tear of the
surfaces. Plumbago or other lubricant may be used to lessen the friction between
the concave side of the semi circular segment and the face of the wheel when the
latter rotates.
In the front of the upper end of the semi circular segment a block of refractory
material is inserted provided with a vertical channel leading into the groove in the
face of the wheel, through which the molten metal is to be cast. The refractory
block is kept in its place by means of bolts passing through an iron facing plate,
which latter is provided with a short projection, going into the groove, just clearing
the sides of the latter and preventing the molten metal from escaping in the wrong
direction. A pulley, spur or bevel wheel, mounted at one end of the horizontal
axis of the wheel, furnishes the means of giving rotation to the latter.
A casting ladle on wheels may run on rails, resting on the top of the upright
supports, right over the vertical channel in the refractory block, or the channel
may be directly connected with a furnace containing the molten metal.
At the beginning of an operation water is made to circulate in the body of the
wheel as well as through the semi circular segment; the groove in the face of the
wheel is closed with some fireclay where the enclosing semi circular seginent ends,
the metal is then poured through the channel of the refractory block into the
groove of the wheel, and after waiting say a minute, the wheel is made to rotate.
The rod to be cast issues as a tangent to the periphery of the wheel and while still
red hot is passed between rolls placed in front, and so shaped and compressed.
We point it out as a matter of great importance in this Invention, that the rod
issues as a tangent to the circumference of the wheel and not under any angle,
which not only greatly facilitates the passing of the rod subsequently between
rolls, but also by obviating any strain or twist in the still soft metal reinoves any
danger (especially when dealing with rods of small sections) of the latter breaking
or tearing off.
The word "rod" throughout the whole of this Specification is to stand for steel
of any section that can be dealt with by this process.

page_text: Improvements in the Production of Steel (and other Metal)
Wire, Plates, Rods, Bars, and the like, and in Apparatus
Connected therewith.
I CARL MARIA PIELSTICKER, of 69 Lombard Street, London, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF STEEL (AND OTHER METAL) WIRE, PLATES, RODS,
BARS AND THE LIKE, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH (partly com-
municated by Doctor Friedrich C. G. Müller of Brandenburgh on the Havel, Prussia,
Germany), and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This Invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for the production
of steel (and other metal) rods, bars, wire, plates, and the like, and is a modifi-
cation of our process for which Letters patent were granted to us in Great Britain
under N° 338 and dated January 2, 1884.
According to this latter process rods of indefinite length were produced direct
from the molten metal by causing it to enter at one end of a fixed cooling tube
and drawing it out when solidified at the other end.
The rod had therefore to find its passage through the whole length of the cooling
tube, which caused considerable resistance through friction.
In this our improved process we entirely obviate this resistance by dividing the
casting or cooling tube into two parts lengthwise, casting the molten metal into
this mould and then moving forward the lower portion of the mould itself, which
at the same time carries forward the solidified rod.
* In order to make the process a continuous one the cooling or casting mould is of
circular form instead of being of a straight line.
Our improved apparatus of which Figure 1 is the elevation and Figure 2 the
end view partly in section, consists of a drum or wheel A made of iron or steel,
mounted on the horizontal axis B and rotating in bearings formed in the upright
supports C, the diameter of the drum being say three feet and the width of the
periphery being say six inches or more.
The drum A is made hollow in order to cool the periphery or face of the wheel,
cold water entering at one end a of the axis through pipes connected with the
hollow axis, and the heated water escaping at the other end 6 of the axis. In
the middle of the face d of the drum and round the entire circumference runs a
groove of such section as the rod to be cast is to represent.
The edge of the wheel is bevelled and its face accurately enclosed by a segment D
forming a semi circle, the face of the wheel and the concave side of the semi
circular segment both being turned absolutely true.
The semi circular segment is also made hollow in order to keep the concave
surface cool, cold water entering at e and the heated water escaping at f. In order
to protect the inner or concave side of the semi circular segment still further
against the action of the molten metal, a groove y is provided for, opposite to and
of the same width as the groove in the circumference of the drum, the former

page_text: groove y being well filled with refractory material; or a groove may also be formed
in the concave surface of the semi circular segment corresponding with the groove
in the face of the wheel and both grooves together may form the section of the
rod to be cast.
Both these grooves may be lined with refractory material.
The upper part of the semi circular segment ends in a rectangular opening E in
which is placed a.square block of refractory material G G¹, which is divided into
two parts, the upper part G¹ being enabled to be raised closely under the nozzle of
a casting ladle by means of the lever K. A vertical channel H communicates
with the groove as in the face of the drum A through which the molten metal is
poured,
Immediately in front of the rectangular opening are two eyes or bosses L.
through which the spindle M passes, resting in bearings N in the vertical
supports C; the segment D being in this manner hung on to the spindle M.
Between the two eyes or bosses is placed a box R as a receptacle for lubricating
material, a narrow slit or opening being formed in the under side of the box for
the lubricant to fall on the face of the drum A. The outer face plate of the box R
is provided with a short projection going into the groove x just clearing the sides
preventing the metal from escaping in the wrong direction.
S is a spring, connected at one end with the foot of the semi circular segment,
and at the other end with a screw P passing through the foot of the upright
supports through which the semi circular segment is made to adjust itself to the
face of the drum A when this latter rotates, the screw serving to adjust the tension
of the spring.
F is a screw working within a lug F1 upon the segment D. and arranged to
bear against an abutment or stop piece U, whereby the position of the segment D
to the face of the drum A can be regulated.
We lay most particular stress upon the manner in which the segment D is made
to enclose the face of the drum A, by hanging freely upon the spindle M and upon
the adjustment between the face of the drum A and the semi circular segment D
by means of the spring S and set screw P, which while it permits to enclose the
surface of the drum carrying the groove or movable casting mould x so accurately
that when rotating no metal poured in the groove can escape through the joint
formed at the contact of the face of the drum A with the concave surface of the
semi circular segment D yet, on account of the elastic action of the spring, allows
the drum freely to rotate, without causing undue wear and tear of the surfaces.
Motion is imparted to the pinion W from the pulley V upon the same shaft, this
pinion gearing with the spur wheel T causes the drum A to rotate.
A casting ladle on wheels may be run on rails right over the vertical channel H
in the refractory block G G¹, or the channel may be directly connected with a
furnace containing the molten metal.
At the beginning of an operation water is made to circulate in the body of the
drum A as well as through the semi circular segment D; the groove x in the face
of the drum is temporarily closed with some fire clay where the enclosing semi
circular segment ends, the metal is then poured through the channel H of the
refractory block G G into the groove of the drum A and after waiting say a
minute, the drum is made to rotate. The rod to be cast issues at O as a tangent
to the periphery of the drum and while still red hot is passed between rolls placed
in front and so shaped and compressed.
We point it out as a matter of great importance in this Invention, that the rod
issues as a tangent to the circumference of the drum and not under any angle,
which not only greatly facilitates the passing of the rod subsequently between
rolls, but also by obviating any strain or twist in the still soft metal removes any
danger (especially when dealing with rods of small sections) of the latter breaking
or tearing off.
Instead of producing only one rod at a time, two or more may be cast
simultaneously, by providing two or more grooves on the face of the drum A.

page_text: When the production of plates or bars of a flat section is intended, the
channel H in the refractory block G G¹ forms a slit, extending across the width of
the face of the drum, of such width as the plate or bar is to represent.
The word "rod" throughout the whole of this specification is to stand for
Steel (or other metal) of any section that can be dealt with by this process and
apparatus.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that
I claim is
1. The process or method of continuous production of steel, (and other metal)
wire, plates, rods, bars and the like, direct from the molten metal by means of a
cooling tube formed by a groove running round the face or periphery of a drum
or wheel which rotates on a horizontal axis, and a fixed semi circular body enclosing
and covering the groove as described.
2. The herein described apparatus for the continuous production of steel (and
other metal) wire, plates, rods, bars, and the like direct from the molten metal,
which consists in a wheel or drum A carrying a groove x rotating on an axis B
enclosed by a semi circular segment D provided with the refractory block G and
channel H, whereby the groove x is enabled to receive continuously the molten
metal, and the solidified rod to issue continuously at O as a tangent to the
periphery of the drum A substantially as set forth.
3. In apparatus for the continuous production of steel (and other metal) wire,
plates, rods, bars, and the like direct from the molten metal, a cooling tube formed
in two parts, the one part moveable, by forming a groove in the face or periphery
of a drum, rotating on a horizontal axis, and the other part fixed, forming the
segment of a semi circle enclosing and covering the groove, substantially as
described.
4. The herein described method of adjusting the segment D to the face or
periphery of the drum A, which consists in hanging a segment D. on a spindle M
resting in bearings N of supports C, and a spring S and set screw P. connected
with the lower end of the segment and passing through the foot of the supports C
substantially as set forth.