IMPROVEMENTS IN CASTING INGOTS, AND IMPROVED APPARATUS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Facundo Joaquin Ramon Carulla, of the Atlas
Steel and Iron Works, Sheffield, in the County of York, Civil
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CASTING INGOTS,
AND IMPROVED APPARATUS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH,
Sealed the 16th October 1875, and dated the 27th April 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Facundo Joaquin
Ramon Carulla at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
his Petition, on the 27th April 1875.
I, FACUNDO JOAQUIN RAMON CARULLA, of the Atlas Steel and Iron
Works, Sheffield, in the County of York, Civil Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CASTING
INGOTS, AND. IMPROVED APPARATUS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH," to be as
follows:-
"
One of the usual methods of casting ingots of steel and similar alloys
is to place the ladle containing the molten mass immediately over a
metallic ingot mould, and by unstopping or opening a hole called a
nozzle in the under side of the said ladle allowing the fluid metal to

page_text: rush in a direct and uninterrupted stream into the mould. By this
method it often happens that when by any accident the stream becomes
diverted from a vertical course, the ingot mould is destroyed in con-
sequence of the molten metal coming in contact with any of the sides
of the mould and so melting it, the ingot and the mould becoming
thoroughly welded at that part which the stream has washed against.
This is more especially the case where clusters of ingots are cast upwards
in closed moulds by means of runners or gates radiating from the base
or foot of an open centre mould, through which all the steel to supply
the closed moulds is made to pass. As the quantity of molten fluid sent ]
through the contre mould is many times greater than that which it
would take to fill it, did it not feed the others, so the probability is
greater of the mould being destroyed at any one running.
1
The object of my improvements is to prevent the destruction of the
moulds through the cause which has been explained, and this I effect by
protecting the tops of the moulds by appropriate covers placed above or
fitting into the top of the said moulds, these covers having a hole
through the centre for the passage of the stream of liquid metal,
these protectors being made of any form and material suitable for the
purpose, but preferably in the shape of tubes or funnels of iron or fire-2
clay, or a combination of both, the funnel shape being the most
preferable, as by it the stream can be directed with greater certainty
through the centre of the mould, and thus be kept from touching the
sides.
These covers or protectors can be made so as to fit into the top of the
mould, when they may only last for one running, or they can be made
with feet so as to stand on the mould, in which case the workman can
see into the mould between the feet of the protector or funnel, and stop
turning as soon as he has reached the point to which he has to fill to
make an ingot of the weight he requires. By this latter method
the protector is preserved and may be used many times before it is
destroyed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Facundo Joaquin Ramon Carulla in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 23rd October 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, Facundo
5 JOAQUIN RAMON CARULLA, of the Atlas Steel and Iron Works, Sheffield,
in the County of York, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
O eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Facundo Joaquin Ramon Carulla,
Her special licence that I, the said Facundo Joaquin Ramon Carulla,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Facundo Joaquin Ramon Carulla, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CASTING INGOTS, AND
IMPROVED APPARATUS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Facunda Joaquin Ramon Carulla, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Facundo Joaquin Ramon Carulla,
do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :—
One of the usual methods of casting ingots of steel and similar alloys
is to place the ladle containing the molten mass immediately over a
cast-iron ingot mould, and by unstoppering or opening a hole called a
nozzle in the bottom of the said ladle, allowing the fluid metal to rush

page_text: in a direct and uninterrupted stream into the mould. By this method
it often happens that when by any accident the stream becomes diverted
from a vertical course, through any irregularity in the setting of the
nozzle, or from any other cause, the ingot mould is destroyed in con-
sequence of the molten metal coming in contact with the sides of the b
mould and so melting it, the ingot and the mould becoming thoroughly
welded together at that part which the stream has washed against.
Further, that the portion of the cast-iron mould which has been melted
by the action of the stream of steel becomes incorporated with the steel
itself and deteriorates its quality to a smaller or greater extent, as the 1
part eaten out from the mould is small or great. This is more especially
the case where clusters of ingots are cast upwards in closed moulds by
means of runners or gates radiating from the base or foot of an open
centre mould, through which all the steel to supply the closed moulds is
made to pass. As the quantity of molten fluid sent through the centre ]
mould is many times greater than that which it would take to fill it,
did it not feed the others, so the probability is greater of the mould
being destroyed and the quality of the steel becoming deteriorated at
any one running.
The object of my Invention is to prevent the destruction of the moulds
and the deterioration of the quality of the steel consequent thereupon,
and this I effect by protecting the top of the moulds by appropriate
covers placed above, or fitting into the tops of the said moulds, these
covers having a hole through the centre for the passage of the stream of
liquid metal, and sometimes having grooves at the sides to allow the
heated air and gases to escape freely from the interior of the moulds.

page_text: any
material
My protecting covers may be made of any form, or of
suitable for the purpose, but preferably in the shape of tubes or funnels
of iron or baked fire-clay, or a combination of both (as at Figure 3),
the funnel shape (as at Figures 2 and 3) being the most preferable,
as the stream can thereby be directed with greater certainty through the
centre of the mould, and thus be kept from touching the sides.
These covers or protections can be made so as to fit into the top of the
mould (see Figures 1 and 2) when they may only last for one running,
or they can be made to fit into an iron case with feet so as to stand on
the mould (as at Figure 3), in which case the workman can see into the
mould between the fect of the case or funnel, and stop teeming when
he has reached the desired point. By this latter method the protector is
preserved, and may be used many times before it is destroyed.
I apply my Invention to any metallic ingot moulds, such as those
made of steel or of any similar alloy, as well as to the ordinary ones
made of cast iron. These protecting covers render the economical use
of soft steel or wrought-iron ingot moulds possible, for though less
fusible than cast-iron moulds, and therefore, so long as the stream can
bo kept from the side, moro lasting, their cost is so much greater that
their duration is of paramount importance.
My Invention enables the steel maker to cast in clusters with great
advantage for,-
Firstly. The minimum of scrap is made, the centre ingot being a good
marketable ingot.
Secondly. The large quantity of steel composing a centre ingot
remains in a fluid state for a considerable time and enables even com-
paratively "cold heats" to be successfully teemed, and fill the sur-
rounding moulds which are fed from the centre one.
Thirdly. The centre mould is filled a little higher than the surrounding
) ones, and the steel in it remains fluid long enough to keep under com-
pression and feed the secondary ingots until they become " consolidated"
or imporous and perfectly free from honeycomb.
Fourthly. It is the most expeditious way of upward casting and the
most cleanly, the ingots made by this system being perfectly clean on
the surface, a most important point in the manufacture of articles from
them.

page_text: Fifthly. The quality of the steel is perfectly safe from deterioration
by any accident to the direction of the stream when teeming.
Sixthly. The expense of ingot moulds per ton of steel made is less
by this system than by those in ordinary use.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven- 5
tion, and in what manner the same is or may be performed, I claim as
the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent, the casting of ingots in moulds having covers or protectors at
the top, substantially as and for the purposes above specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Facundo Joaquin Ramon Carulla, 1
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of
October in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-five.