Improvements in Apparatus for Smelting and Casting.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Apr., 189'-Accepted, 16th May, 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
Improvements in Apparatus for Smelting and Casting.
1 EDUARD TAUSSIC of Bahrenfeld. Holstein in the Empire of Germany,
Factory Manager, 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 :-
The object of this invention for improvements in apparatus for smelting and
casting is to construct an apparatus which shall allow of smelting and casting in a
partial vacuum. The smelting furnace is for this purpose connected with the
casting apparatus and the moulds in such a way that they form an airtight enclosed
whole the separate parts of which are all easy of access.
In the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings.
Fig. represents a front elevation of an apparatus for smelting and casting
constructed according to this invention.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line A. B.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation and
Fig. 4 is a plan.
The smelting of metals in the furnace is effected by means of electricity, the
furnace being placed in the circuit of a suitable electric generator such as a dynamo.
The electric current is directly conducted through the metal to be melted which is
used in a granulated condition by means of electrodes of the same metal as that
to be melted or, of a more refractory metal. The resistance thus introduced into
the circuit between the electrodes produces high concentrated temperature
within the metal to be melted and melts it. The electrodes E E' are in the
shape of plates fixed on the end-walls of the furnace, and are insulated, and
embedded in the walls of the furnace and connected with the positive and
negative conductors. The discharge pipe R for the molten metal, is connected
to the casting-moulds G, running on rails. The whole arrangements are perfectly
air tight so
as to prevent the entrance of external air into the furnace or
moulds.
The moulds G are partially exhausted of air by the air-pump L through the
suction-pipe which branches off from the discharge-pipe R.
The interior of
the furnace is connected with the suction-pipe of the air-pump by means of the
short tube t. The air-pump L thus draws air and the emitted gases out of the
mould and the furnace by means of the tube and its connections, and expels
them through the pipe r.
In order to be able to examine the process of smelting openings g g¹ covered
with glass are provided at certain parts of the furnace.
The furnace is charged through a shaft or funnel T provided with double air-
tight sliding-covers which may be removed when necessary.
In order to indicate when the casting-mould is filled up the highest point of
the same is provided with a plug made of a very fusible alloy, which immediately
on being reached by the molten metal becomes fused. The vacuum gauges
indicate the amount of vacuum in the furnace and in the mould box.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. An air-tight enclosed furnace O provided with electrodes E in the shape
of plates on opposite sides and in detachable and air-tight connection with an
airtight vessel G containing the moulds, whereby the hollow space of the mould

page_text: as well as that of the furnace can be partially exhausted during the smelting
and casting by means of an air-pump substantially as described.
2. The apparatus for smelting and casting substantially as described with
reference to the drawings.
Dated this 13th day of April 1891.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.