Improvements in and relating to Casting Metals.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 24th Mar.,
1900
Improvements in and relating to Casting Metals.
I, WILLIAM JOSHUA PATTERSON, of Hotel Schinley, in the City of Pittsburgh,
County of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America,
Manufacturer, 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 metals, and particularly, though not
exclusively, to the casting of pig metal.
According to a well known method molten pig metal is poured into an endless
connected series of travelling molds and is then carried first with the molds
partially submerged, through a body of water, after which the molds are com-
pletely submerged and carried through the water for the cooling of the metal
contained therein, the molds being then withdrawn from the tank and carried over
a sprocket at the end of the casting machine and dumped therefrom, the molds
returning to the opposite or pouring end. In the use of said apparatus the body
of water was maintained at a low temperature to obtain, as was supposed, the
most rapid cooling of the metal contained in the molds, and as operated it was
found to be efficient. I have discovered, however, that a more rapid and efficient
cooling can be obtained where the water in which the metal contained in the molds
is completely submerged is maintained in a condition of ebullition, it being
believed that the reason for this is that where the water is so cold that contact
with the highly heated metal does not cause boiling, a thin film or layer of steam
is formed over the surface of the metal, which prevents actual contact of the
water with the metal, and therefore retards the cooling of the metal in the molds.
The main object of this invention is therefore to overcome this difficulty in the
treatment of the metal.
It consists, generally stated, in pouring the metal into the endless connected
series of travelling molds and completely submerging the metal contained in
the molds in a body of water in a state of ebullition, this state of ebullition being
of course preferably obtained by maintaining the body of water sufficiently close
to the boiling point that the contact of the water with the hot metal, or the
molds containing it, will lead to such ebullition or boiling and give free escape to
the steam generated and cause repeated contact of the water with the metal or
molds to cool the same. In practising this it is preferred to carry the metal first
through a cooler body of water, such as by partially submerging the molds, until
the metal is set to such an extent that the metal itself will not boil upon contact
with the water, and then to submerge it in the body of water nearly in a state of
ebullition. The invention also comprises certain other improvements in the
apparatus, suitable for practising the invention.
.
To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will
describe the same more fully, referring to the accompanying drawing, in which-
Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of the preferred form of the apparatus
for practising the invention; Figure 2 is a top view of the same; Figures 3 and 4

page_text: are enlarged side views, partly broken away, of the two ends of the machine;
and Figures 5 and 6 are views of another form of apparatus for practising the
invention.
Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each..
In the practice of the invention I prefer to employ two tanks instead of one.
as better control of the condition of the water for treatment of the metal can
be obtained. I will therefore describe the same where two such tanks are
employed.
The framework of the apparatus may be of any suitable construction, that
illustrated in the drawing consisting of standards connected with cross bars b
and otherwise suitably braced. Supported in the frame work are the two
tanks separated by the partition 2. At the receiving end of the machine
is the sprocket wheel e, at the delivery end thereof the sprocket wheel e¹, the
endless connected series of molds f passing around these sprocket wheels and also
passing in regular course over tracks or guide ways provided for them, such
tracks, as illustrated in Figure 1, extending through the tanks, the track c¹ in
the tank. e providing for the partial submerging of the molds therein and then
rising up to the partition, while the track extends downwardly from said
partition into the tank so as to entirely submerge the molds therein and then
rises from said tank, connecting with the inclined track f¹ extending upwardly
toward the sprocket wheel el, at which point the metal is discharged.
Extending under the inclined track fl is the trough g while above the track are
the spray pipes h, said spray pipes being shown as extending longitudinally of
the track, though any suitable arrangement thereof may be employed. At the
foot of the trough is the basin g which receives the water from the spray
pipes, collecting the same and having leading from its base the water pive g
which extends forward to the first tank e. communicating therewith, as shown
in Figure 2. Leading under the track from the basin q¹ to the rear end of the
tank is the second trough which receives any overflow or drippings of water
from the molds and conducts the same into the tank d. The water supply to the
tank may be of course arranged in any suitable way: for example, by a pipe i
leading from the tank into the tank, the tank having an overflow, as at, to
provide means for regulating the temperature of the water in that tank, or by the
tank having an independent supply pipe the object being of course to
maintain the water in the tank e sufficiently cool and quiescent to prevent ebulli-
tion, which might throw the water upon the surface of the metal contained in
the partially submerged molds and cause the boiling of the metal, and to maintain
the water of the tank sufficiently hot that upon the submerging of the molds
containing the highly heated metal in the same they will, through the heat
absorbed by the water, maintain that body of water in a state of ebullition.
Any suitable water tank or apparatus for this purpose may of course be
employed, for example, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, where a single tank kis
used the water is fed at the receiving end of the tank, as at ¹, where the molds
are only partially submerged, so that as it flows backwardly toward the part of the
tank where the molds are entirely submerged it will gradually absorb sufficient
heat to maintain the water in that part of the tank in a state of ebullition. In
this form of machine, a partition may be used, over which the water may flow
into the submerging section of the tank, the tank having an overflow m in front
of the partition to regulate the temperature of the water where the molds are
only partially submerged, and an overflow m' at the end of the tank from which
the molds pass.
In such case the two sections of the tank form in effect two
tanks, one section for primary cooling, and one section n¹ for submerging. The
usual pouring basin for receiving the metal from the casting ladle and having
the troughs carrying the metal in position for pouring into the molds, is of
course employed, and the metal may be poured into the molds either when the
molds are in the water or just before they pass into the tank, the result being the
same..

page_text: In practising the invention where the double tank apparatus is employed, the
metal is poured in a continuous controllable stream into the basin and thence
into the molds as they travel continuously under the pouring spouts p, and as the
molds filled with metal travel within the tank e, the molds being only partially
submerged therein, the cooling action of the water in the tank will cause the
quicker setting of the metal to such an extent that the metal itself will not boil
when brought into direct, contact with the water; the metal when first poured
being so hot that the water coming in contact with the unset face thereof causes
the metal to boil, and honey-combs such top face, and such honey-comb is
liable to break off in the subsequent handling of the pig. The first body of
water is therefore preferably maintained at the proper temperature for causing as
rapid setting of the metal without contact therewith as practicable. At the
proper time after the metal is so set, though still at a very high heat, the molds
are carried up over the partition c² into the tank d, and the molds with the metal
contained therein are entirely submerged in said tank, the water being brought
into direct contact with the metal and the body of water being of such heat
that contact with the metal will cause boiling or ebullition thereof, so providing
for the escape of the steam as quickly as it is formed and the continual or repeated
fresh contacting of the water with the metal, so that instead of the water being
held from contact therewith by a layer of steam generated by the first contact of
water with the metal, this steam is permitted to escape and, though the water is
hotter, on account of the repeated fresh contact of the other portions of water
directly with the metal, a more rapid cooling of the same is effected. After the
metal has been carried through the tank it is carried up the inclined track f
and may be still further cooled by the spraying of the water from spray pipes on
its surface, so that when it is dumped from the machine by the passage of the
molds around the sprocket wheel e¹ it is practically cold, and may be delivered
to the cars.
The apparatus illustrated is arranged for the gradual heating of the
water first as it is sprayed upon the metal being carried up the inclined track f',
this water being collected in the basin g' and carried in the pipe 2 into the tank e,
and as the water travels through this tank, it being itself gradually heated and
then delivered into the tank d. by which time it is raised close to the boiling
point, so that the direct contact of the metal with the water will cause its boiling
or ebullition with the result above described. Any suitable arrangement for the
feeding of the water may, however, be employed.
In practising the invention according to the apparatus shown in Figures 5
and 6, where a single tank is employed, the water, which may, if desired, have
been employed for spraying the molds, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, is carried
to the receiving end of the tank and travels backwardly through that tank until
it is sufficiently heated to boil upon direct contact with the metal, such as where
the track passes down to a lower level, or over the partition 7, and provides
for the submerging of the molds and the metal contained therein, the water
passing from the rear end of the tank at m'. The result in either case is practically
the same, except that the temperatures of the water can be more easily controlled
in the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2.
In either case I am able to obtain a more rapid and effectual cooling of the
metal, while the amount of water used for cooling the same is considerably.
reduced, because of the slower flow of the water through the machine, while the
machine may be shortened and have the same cooling powers.
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. The herein-described method of casting metals, consisting in pouring the
metal into an endless connected series of travelling molds and carrying the
molds containing the metal through a body of water in a state of ebullition..
2. The herein-described method of casting metals, consisting in pouring the

page_text: metal into an endless connected series of travelling molds, first cooling the metal
without contact with water and then submerging the molds containing the metal
and carrying them through a body of water in a state of ebullition.
3. The herein-described method of casting metals, consisting in pouring metal
into an endless connected series of travelling molds, and first cooling the metal
by partially submerging the same in water, and then submerging the molds
entirely in a body of water in a state of ebullition.
4. The herein-described method of casting metals, consisting in pouring the
metal into an endless connected series of travelling molds, first carrying the
molds containing the metal through a body of water too cool to boil, and then
carrying the molds through a body of water in condition of boiling.
5. The herein-described method of casting metal, consisting in pouring the
metal into an endless connected series of travelling molds, submerging the
molds containing the metal in a body of water and causing the water to boil by
the heat of the metal.
6. The herein-described method of casting metals consisting in pouring the
metal into an endless connected series of travelling molds, and first partially sub-
merging the molds containing the metal in water and then completely submerging
the molds containing the metal in a body of water in a state of ebullition, and
during such process heating the water by the partial submerging of the molds so
as to bring it to the necessary temperature for boiling when the molds are entirely
submerged therein.
7. The herein-described method of casting metal, consisting in pouring the
metal into an endless connected series of travelling molds, cooling the metal by
first partially submerging the molds containing the same in water, then submerg-
ing the molds in a body of water in a state of ebullition, and then spraying the
metal when still in the molds, and heating the water by first spraying the metal,
then passing it into contact with the partially submerged molds and thereby
bringing it to the heat necessary for boiling when the molds are entirely
submerged therein.
8. In pig metal casting apparatus, the combination with a suitable frame, of
an endless connected series of travelling molds passing around the same, and
two water tanks arranged in line, and tracks in said tank for said travelling
molds, the tracks passing upwardly over a partition between the tanks.
9. In pig metal casting apparatus, the combination with a suitable frame, of
an endless connected series of travelling molds passing around the same, and two
water tanks arranged in line and tracks in said tanks for said travelling molds,
the tracks being arranged to carry the mold partially submerged through one
tank and wholly submerged through the other tank.
10. In pig metal casting apparatus. the combination with a suitable frame.
of an endless connected series of travelling molds passing around the same, and
two water tanks arranged in line, and tracks in said tanks for said travelling
molds, a water supply to said tanks for maintaining the body of water therein at
different heats.
11. In. pig metal casting apparatus, the combination with a suitable frame, of
an endless connected series of travelling molds passing around the same, and two
water tanks arranged in line. and tracks in said tanks for said travelling molds,
and an inclined trackway in line with and back of said tanks having spray pipes
over the same.
12. In pig metal casting apparatus, the combination with a suitable frame, of
an endless connected series of travelling molds passing around the same, and two
water tanks arranged in line, and tracks in said tanks for said travelling molds,
and an inclined trackway in line with and back of said tanks having spray-pipes
over the same. a trough under the inclined trackway and water connections
therefrom to the front tank.
13. In pig metal casting apparatus. the combination with a suitable frame, of
an endless connected series of travelling molds passing around the same, and
two water tanks arranged in line and tracks in said tanks for said travelling molds,

page_text: and an inclined track-way in line with the back of said tanks having spray
pipes over the same, a trough under said inclined tracks having a basin at the base
thereof, and a connecting pipe extending from said basin to the front tank.
14. In pig metal casting apparatus, the combination with a suitable frame, of
an endless connected series of travelling molds passing around the same, and
two water tanks arranged in line, and tracks in said tanks for said travelling
molds, and water connections providing for the flow of the water from the front
tank into the rear tank.
15. In pig metal casting apparatus, the combination with a suitable frame, of
an endless connected series of travelling molds passing around the same, and
two water tanks arranged in line and tracks in said tanks for said travelling
molds, the tracks in the front tank providing for the partial submerging of the
molds and the tracks in the rear tank providing for the complete submerging
of the molds.
1...
1000
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.