Improvements relating to the Casting of Hollow Metal Ingots and to Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1887

page_text: Improvements relating to the Casting of Hollow Metal Ingots and
to Apparatus therefor.
I, MANASSAH GLEDHILL, Director of Sir Joseph Whitworth & Co. Limited, of
Openshaw, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to the casting of hollow or tubular ingots, blocks or masses of
steel or other metal, and is designed to afford the means for more advantageously
using the cores therein and more conveniently removing the said cores from the
castings than heretofore.
In the production of a hollow or tubular ingot, block or mass of cast metal, it is
very important that the core should accurately maintain its normal condition in
respect of its shape and dimensions, and should not be liable to injury and deformation
by the heat or to displacement by reason of the pressure of the fluid metal.
Moreover, after casting, the core should be capable of ready removal and should
leave the interior surface of the casting in a good condition to be acted upon by
boring or other tools.
I have, therefore, devised a method which consists essentially in the use of a hollow
metal core kept cool and in good condition, throughout the operation of casting, by
water or other liquid forced through it, and arranged in combination with a withdrawing
bar and means for operating the same so as to readily and conveniently effect the
insertion and removal of the said core.
According to one method of carrying my invention into effect, I construct an
apparatus or machine which has a strong bed provided with horizontal rails or bars
whereon the mould-box bottom is arranged to slide or travel. The said mould-box
is constructed of any suitable shape and dimensions and is preferably formed
of steel.
Upon columns or uprights secured on the sides of the bed I mount a strong
cross-head at such a height that the mould-box can freely move on the rails into and
from the space below the said cross-head. In combination with the said mould-box,.
arrange suitable means for pouring the fluid metal into the same either when the
[

page_text: mould-box is under the cross-head or when it is in any other convenient position on
the bed. I also arrange, in combination with the said mould-box, hydraulic
apparatus whereby I can subject the fluid metal in the said mould-box to any
desired pressure.
The hollow core is taper throughout its length; it may be formed of cast-iron or
other suitable metal, but I find that a core formed of a steel bar coated or covered
with cast iron is the best for my purpose; its upper end is screw-threaded or other-
wise adapted for ready connection with, and disconnection from, the withdrawing
bar.
On the aforesaid cross-head I mount two hydraulic cylinders, the rams of these
cylinders are connected with the aforesaid withdrawing bar so that they can move
the same vertically through the said cross-head. The said withdrawing-bar is tubular
and is connected with a suitable pump or other means for forcing the liquid through
the same.
When the core has been properly inserted into the mould and connected
to the withdrawing bar and the metal has been poured into the mould, pressure is
applied by the hydraulic apparatus to the latter, and the water is admitted and forced
through the withdrawing bar and core.
At the proper time the hydraulic rams on the aforesaid cross-head are caused to
act and slowly raise the withdrawing bar, which thus withdraws the core from the
casting while the metal is kept under pressure.
It is desirable that the water should be kept under a high pressure in the core, and
for this reason I provide a valve which can be adjusted to reduce the escape orifice to
a very small area.
The flow of water should be continued until the core has been completely
withdrawn.
The core is made considerably longer than the ingot and extends through the lower
end of the mould-box into a deep cistern or tank below the same, so that, in
withdrawing the core from the casting, by reason of its length the said core presents
for a considerable time a cold surface to the heated metal with which it is in
contact.
Instead of constructing and arranging the parts so that the core is withdrawn by
raising it from the mould-box, I sometimes provide for otherwise withdrawing it.
For instance I provide a pit below the bed and arrange the withdrawing bar and
other parts so that the core can be withdrawn into the said pit.
In some instances instead of arranging the mould-box to travel on the bed, I use
a stationary mould-box under the cross-head and provide rails at a convenient
height for a travelling ladle from which the molten metal is poured into the
mould-box.
Dated this 12th day of December 1887.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: CHIC Casting of How Metal Ingots and
to Apparatus therefor.
of
I, MANASSAH GLEDHILL, Director of Sir Joseph Whitworth & Co. Limited,
Openshaw, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers, 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 :-
My invention relates to the casting of hollow or tubular ingots, blocks or masses
of steel or other metal, and is designed to afford the means for more advantageously
using the cores therein and more conveniently effecting the insertion and removal
of the said cores than is practicable with the apparatus heretofore employed.
In the production of a hollow or tubular ingot, block, or mass of cast metal, it is
very important that the core should accurately maintain its normal condition in
respect of its shape and dimensions, and should not be liable to injury and
deformation by the heat or to displacement by reason of the pressure of the fluid
metal. Moreover, after casting, the core should be capable of ready removal and
should, when removed, leave the interior surface of the casting in a good condition to
be acted upon by boring or other tools.
I have, therefore, devised a method consisting essentially in the use of a hollow
metal core which is kept cool and in good condition throughout the operation of
casting by water or other liquid forced through it, and which is arranged in
combination with apparatus for readily and conveniently effecting its insertion and
removal.
In the casting of hollow ingots according to my invention, I find it advantageous
to use machinery of the kind or class described in the specification of former Letters
Patent granted to Sir Joseph Whitworth and dated 7th September A.D. 1874,
No. 3062.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a front clevation of a machine somewhat similar to those described in
the said former specification, adapted to the purposes of my present invention, the
movable cross-head hereinafter described being shown in its lowermost position.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the said machine with the cross-head raised, some of
the parts being removed, showing also a ladle hereinafter mentioned.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation, drawn to an enlarged scale, showing the mould-
box with the core therein.
Figures 4 and 5 are views similar to Figures 1 and 2, illustrating a modified
arrangement of the said machine.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the base or bed of the machine. B, B are pillars or columns, which are
firmly secured in the said base or bed, and which support the fixed head C. This
head is provided with hydraulic cylinders D, the rams D¹ of which are connected by
cross-pieces D and suspension rods E with a strong cross-head F fitted to slide
vertically upon the pillars or columns B and provided with a plunger F adapted to
enter the upper end of the mould-box when the latter is raised to apply pressure to
the metal therein as hereinafter mentioned. The pillars or columns B are provided
for a portion of their length with interrupted or segmental screw-threads and are
fitted with nuts G. On each nut G there is a worm-wheel G¹ with which is geared
a worm G, Figures 4 and 5. The worm-shafts G³ are arranged to be operated by.

page_text: chain-gearing or in any other convenient manner so as to partially rotate the nuts G
simultaneously, and thus release the cross-head F so that it is free to be raised by
the rams D into any required position. The nuts may then be partially rotated in the
reverse direction to lock the cross-head F.
His the mould-box, which is supported upon the ram J¹ of the hydraulic
cylinder J, whereby the said mould-box may be raised to apply the requisite pressure
to the metal therein.
Suitable means are provided for pouring the fluid metal into the mould-box either
when the same is under the cross-head F, or when it is in any other convenient
position on the bed A or on rails secured thereto.
In the machine shown in the drawings, rails K are provided upon which a ladle
or carrier L is arranged to travel so that it may be moved into the required position to
receive the molten metal from a furnace and may then be moved into the machine
above the mould-box as shown in Figures 2 and 5.
a is the hollow core which is slightly taper throughout its length; 6 is a bar
for inserting the said core in the mould-box and removing it therefrom. The core
may be formed of cast-iron or other suitable metal; I find, however, that a core
formed of a steel bar coated or covered with cast iron is the best for my purpose.
The upper end of the said core is screw-threaded or otherwise adapted for ready
connection with, and disconnection from, the bar b.
In the machine shown in Figures 1 and 2, two hydraulic cylinders c are mounted
on the cross-head F, and the rams c¹ of these cylinders are connected by a cross-bar c²
with the bar b, so that they can move the same vertically through the said cross-head F.
The inserting and withdrawing bar bis tubular and is connected, by a flexible pipe d
or in any other convenient manner, with a suitable pump or other means for forcing
the liquid through the said bar and through the hollow core a. e is a pit or well
into which the water passing through the core will be discharged.
The
The operation of the machine is as follows, that is to say the mould-box H is put
in position on the ram J' under the cross-head F and plunger F; the core a is then
lowered into the position shown in Figures 1 and 2, that is to say, until its upper end
is level, or nearly level with the top of the mould-box, so that it will not interfere
with the movement of the ladle L, after the bar bis detached from the core.
cross-head is then raised into the position shown in Figure 2, and, the ladle L being
introduced into the machine, the required amount of metal is poured into the mould.
The said ladle is then taken away, the bar b again attached to the core and the core
raised into the position indicated in Figure 4, and pressure is applied to the metal
in the mould by means of the press J. The rams c¹ are then caused to act and slowly
withdraw the core a while the metal in the mould is under pressure. During the
whole or part of the operation, water is forced through the core to keep the same cool.
The flow of water should be continued until the core has been completely withdrawn.
It is important that the water in the core should be kept under a pressure about
equal to (or if necessary greater than) the pressure exerted on the exterior thereof by
the fluid metal, in order to obviate or diminish the tendency of the core to alter its
shape. For this reason I prefer to provide the said core at its lower end with a valve
or cock whereby the area of the escape orifice can be made very small and which can
be adjusted, before the insertion of the core into its place in the mould-box, to increase
or diminish the area of the said orifice and thus regulate the pressure in the core. Or,
instead of using a valve, the lower end of the core may be closed by a plug having
a small hole through it. By subjecting the core to a high internal pressure and at
the same time keeping it comparatively cool, I ensure the preservation of its shape
notwithstanding the heat and pressure of the fluid metal surrounding it, and am,
therefore, enabled to readily withdraw it without injuring the interior surface of the
casting.
The core is preferably made considerably longer than the ingot so that it will
extend through the lower end of the mould-box, the tank or well e being made deep
enough to receive the lower part of the said core. Therefore, in withdrawing the core
from the casting, the said core, by reason of its length, will present for a considerable

page_text: time a cold surface to the heated metal with which it is in contact. The cylinder J
and ram Jare made of annular form in transverse section to permit the passage of
the core through them.
Instead of constructing and arranging the parts so that the core is withdrawn by
raising it from the mould-box, I sometimes provide for otherwise withdrawing it.
For instance, I provide a deep pit below the bed A and arrange the inserting and
withdrawing-bar and the hydraulic cylinders c as shown in Figures 4 and 5, so that
the core can be withdrawn into the said pit, that is to say I attach the cylinder c to
the underside of the bed A and secure the bar to the lower end of the core a. By
this arrangement, I obviate the necessity for detaching the bar b from the core to
permit the introduction of the ladle L into the position over the mould-box. It is,
however, necessary, in this instance, to disconnect the supply pipe d' from the pipe a
and after the corea has been lowered into the position shown in Figure 5, to raise the said
pipe d by means of a crane or otherwise sufficiently to permit the introduction of the
said ladle into the machine. A stuffing-box g is provided at the upper end of the
core a for ensuring a tight joint around the pipe d when connected with the said
core.
In some instances, I arrange the mould-box H to travel on suitable rails on the
bed A, so that it can be moved out of the machine to receive the charge of inolten
metal and can then be returned to its place on the rain J¹.
It is obvious that the hollow core in combination with means for inserting and
withdrawing the same and for maintaining a circulation of water or other liquid
through it, is advantageously applicable in cases where no pressure is applied to the
metal in the mould. In such cases, moreover, it is not necessary, though it may
sometimes be desirable, to keep the water in the core under pressure.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it understood that
I do not claim generally or irrespectively of the improvements herein set forth the
manufacture of hollow ingots by casting, as I am aware that such manufacture is well
known; but I am not aware that any use has been heretofore made, in such manufac-
ture, of hollow cores capable of ready insertion into and removal from the mould-
box and protected against injury by heat or pressure as herein set forth; and I
claim :-
First. In the manufacture of hollow ingots, blocks or masses of metal by casting
them in a mould, the use of a hollow or tubular core kept cool by forcing water or
other liquid into or through the same, for the purposes specified.
Second. The core consisting of a steel tube coated or covered with cast iron and
provided with means for attachment to the bar, substantially as, and for the purposes,
specified.
Third. The apparatus consisting of the hollow core (with or without the valve,
cock or plug) and the detachable bar for inserting and withdrawing the said core,
arranged in combination with means for raising and lowering them and with
means for forcing liquid through them, substantially as, and for the purposes, specified.
Fourth. A press wherein the apparatus consisting of the aforesaid hollow core and
bar and means for operating them and supplying them with liquid are arranged in
combination with a stationary or a travelling mould-box and with means for applying
pressure to the metal in the same, substantially as described with reference to Figures 1,
2 and 3 or with reference to Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, for the purposes specified.
DL: 10:1 1
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.