Improvements in Mill Appliances and in Extracting Ingots from Moulds.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Oct., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 16th July, 1891-Accepted, 22nd Aug., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by HENRY AIKEN, Mechanical Engineer, of
Mawhinney Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America.]
Improvements in Mill Appliances and in Extracting Ingots from
Moulds.
I, JOHN THOMSON KING, of 4 Clayton Square, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to an improvement in mill appliances. Many of its parts
and elements are of general application in mill machinery, and as such I intend to
claim them but the invention relates principally to an improvement on apparatus
for extracting steel ingots from their molds. The ingot extractor comprises a stop
or resistance device which is applied to the ingot when the mold containing it is
in an upright position, and lifting mechanism which is applied to the mold to draw
or strip it from the ingot. Such device is very advantageous. It dispenses with
much labour heretofore necessarily employed in extracting ingots, saves wear on
the mold, and the mechanism required is much less costly than in apparatus of the
sort heretofore used for the same purpose.
Apparatus under my invention consists essentially of a loosely suspended cylinder
having a plunger arranged so that on the application of pressure in the cylinder
the plunger and cylinder shall tend to move in opposite directions. In combination
with these or other suitable mill appliances are hydraulic gripping and moving
devices and connections.
Ingots are extracted from moulds under my invention by placing the mould in
an upright position and pushing the ingot down from the mould whilst the mould
is supported, or drawing up the mould from the ingot while the latter is held
down.
TC
1 1
1800
Per pro J. T. KING,
J. Johnson.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mill Appliances and in Extracting Ingots from
Moulds.
I JOHN THOMSON KING of 4 Clayton Square, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster Patent Agent 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 an improvement in mill appliances. Many of its parts
and elements are of general application in mill machinery and as such I intend to
claim them, but the invention relates principally to an improvement on apparatus
for extracting steel ingots from their moulds. The ingot extractor comprises a
stop or resistance device, which is applied to the ingot when the mould containing
it is in an upright position, and lifting mechanism which is applied to the mould to
draw or strip it from the ingot. Such device is very advantageous. It dispenses
with much labour heretofore necessarily employed in extracting ingots, saves wear
on the mould, and the mechanism required is much less costly than in apparatus of
the sort heretofore used for the same purpose.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improvement partly in section.

page_text: Figure 2 is a horizontal section on the line I-II of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the device on the line III-III of
Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a side elevation partly in section of the lower part of the apparatus
showing the parts in a different position.
Like symbols of reference indicate like parts in each.
In the drawing, 2 represents a jib or elevated track composed of parallel beams,
adapted to accommodate a trolley which is mounted thereon, and which is adapted
to be moved back and forth by an hydraulic racking cylinder 4. On this trolley
are two vertical cylinders 5, which are set side by side in sockets 3' on the trolley
on which they are suspended by flanges 5' on the cylinders. Each of the cylinders
is provided with a piston 6 and ram 7, and encircling the latter is a piston 8, having
a hollow projecting ram 9. Each ram 9 is provided with a yoke 10, which fits
around a shoulder or recess on the ram, and has an arm 11, in sliding engagement
with a vertical guide-rod 12 depending from the truck 3, which rod guides the
rams in their vertical motion and prevents them from turning. The yoke 10 is
made in two parts bolted together around the ram as shown in the drawing and is
provided with depending links 13, adapted to engage hugs 24 on the ingot mould
for the purpose of lifting the latter. The cylinders are also provided with arms 11',
which are in sliding contact with the guide rod. Each of the rams 7 has an
encircling collar 15 connected by toggle-arms 16 to the links 13, and at its lower
end is provided with a shoe 17, which is preferably made in sections connected by
a ring 17, and is therefore removable, so that if burned by contact with the hot
ingots, it may be replaced. The following is a description of the water connections
of each of the cylinders 5. A jointed or flexible pipe 18 leads to the cylinder
above the piston 6, a similar pipe 19 enters the same below the piston 8, and for
the purpose of supplying water to the underside of the piston 6, I employ a jointed
pipe 20, which enters a tube 21, at the end of the cylinder into which tube projects
a pipe 22, which is fixed to the piston so as to communicate with a passage leading
through the same, and extends through a stuffing box, into the tube 21, thereby
maintaining a constant communication between the tube and the underside of the
piston in every position of the piston in the cylinder.
The reason for the duplication of the parts of the apparatus is that it may be
adapted to extract simultaneously two ingots from their moulds, and it should be
understood, that it is within the scope of my invention to employ an apparatus
having but one cylinder 5, and adapted to extract but one ingot at a time. I shall
first describe the operation of one of the cylinders in extracting an ingot and shall
then explain the mode of conjoint use of both cylinders. A car 23 carrying an
ingot in its mould 25, is brought beneath the track 2, and if necessary the trolley 3
is moved so that the ram 7 shall be directly above the ingot, the rams 7 and 9 being
first elevated to permit the mould to be carried into such position.
This lifting of the rams 7 and 9 is effected by admitting water to the cylinder
through the pipes 22 and 19. The water entering the pipe 22 acts on the under-
side of the piston 6, so as to lift the ram 7, independently of the ram 9, and to
draw the shoe 17 up against the collar 15, and the latter against the yoke 10, and
then exerts equal opposite pressures on the pistons 6 and 8, while the water from
the pipe 19, acting on the outer side of the piston 8 raises the ram 9 and the
ram 7, which by reason of the water column between the pistons 6 and 8 arc
practically connected. (It should be noted that when the ram 7 is lifted inde-
pendently of the mould lifting ram 9 as before stated, the engagement of the
shoe 17 with the collar 15 lifts the latter, and spreads the links into the position
shown in Figure 4). The mould having been brought into place the ram 9 is
lowered by exhausting the water from the pipe 19, thus bring the links opposite to
lugs 24, on the sides of the mould and the ram 9 is then lowered by exhausting
water from the pipe 20, thus causing the shoe 17 to descend on the ingot as shown
in Figure 3, and the gravity of the collar 15, causing it to drop, draws the links
together against the sides of the mould, so as to fit under the lugs in the manner

page_text: illustrated in Figure 3. The connection of the links by toggle-levers with the
collar, serves to equalize the motion of the links, and to cause them to close
symmetrically upon the mould, the operation of engaging the links being entirely
automatic.
The valve in the water supply pipe 18 is now closed so as to confine a body of
water above the piston 6 and to prevent it from rising and the valve admitting
water through the pipe 19 is opened, thereby causing the entrance of water into
the cylinder below the piston 8, and raising this piston the ram 9, yoke 10 and
links 13 which exert on the mould a lifting action, and as the ingot is prevented
by the ram 7 from rising, the mould is stripped from it, leaving it standing on
the car.
If the water pressure exerted on the outer face of the piston should be
insufficient to raise it and to strip the mould from the ingot, an increment of
pressure may be supplied by admitting water through the pipe 18 into the cylinder,
which exerting an upward pressure on the cylinder, tends to lift it slowly in its
socket 31, and thus, by reason of the bearing of the piston 8 on the lower end of
the cylinder, it exerts an additional lifting force on the mould. As soon as the
frictional resistance of the mould on the ingot is thus overcome, the piston 8 will
begin to rise, and the water supply through the pipe 18 may be ent off. The
cylinder is guided and prevented from turning by reason of the engagement of its
arm 11 with the guide rod 12. When the mould is freed from the ingot, the
exhaust valve of the pipe 18 is opened and as the ram 8 continues to ascend, it
engages the piston 6, and lifts the ram '7 from the ingot. When the mould has
been lifted quite clear of the ingot, the trolley 3 may be moved so as to carry the
then suspended mould over a car standing in another position, it may be on a
second track, and the exhaust valve of the pipe 19 is opened so as to permit the
ram 9 to descend and to deposit the mould on such car. Then to free the links 13
from the mould, the ram 7 is raised by water admitted through the pipe 20 so as
to cause its shoe 17 to engage and lift the collar 15 which acting on the arms 16
spreads the links 13, and frees them from the lugs on the mould.
The apparatus thus affords an efficient means for extracting ingots without
necessitating subsequent handling either of the ingots or the mould, and it will be
recognized by those skilled in the art as a most desirable labor saving contrivance.
When constructed as shown in the drawing the apparatus may be employed for
stripping two ingot moulds at once, both cylinders 5 being operated simultaucously.
Its action in this regard is shown in Figure 1. As a matter of convenience in
practice, instead of casting the ingots in the casting pit and then lifting them on
to the car, I prefer to teem the steel into the moulds when the latter are on the
car, and after solidification of the steel, to bring the car into position under the
apparatus. To this end I set the moulds on a bottom plate resting on the bed of
the car, the mould being held in position by engagement of its lower edge with
lugs on the plate. It will be observed that during the work of stripping the
mould from the ingot the ingot is not pressed down upon with any considerable
force, but resistance is merely offered thereto to prevent it from rising with the
mould. Therefore no injurious strain put upon the car on which the mould is
carried. Although this is a feature of special advantage which I intend to claim
specifically, do not limit the generic claim of this Patent to the absence of
downward pressure on the ingot, since, broadly considered it would be within the
scope of my invention to employ a post or plunger which is made to engage the
ingot with a positive pushing force.
"Many modifications in the form and relative arrangement of the parts of the
apparatus within the scope of my invention will suggest themselves to those skilled
in the art, and such modifications I intend to include in the following claims:
:-
The toggle-levers 16, in combination with the arins or links 13, and the means
for operating them; the relative arrangement of the pipes 21 and 22; and the
exterior guides for the rams or cylinders, are devices which I intend to claim
broadly as mill appliances without limitation to their application to ingot extracting

page_text: apparatus. For example, the toggle-levers 16, the arms or links and the operating
mechanism may be used in ingot tongs &c. The cylinder 5 its rams and water
connections may also be used in other apparatus and combinations.
I also intend to claim broadly in ingot extracting apparatus, a loosely suspended
cylinder having a plunger and arranged so that on the application of pressure to
the cylinder, it shall protect the plunger and shall tend to raise the cylinder.
It should be noted also, that unless expressly so stated, the claims relating to
the rams and lifting mechanism are not limited to the concentric arrangement of
the rains in the same cylinder, since they may be arranged in separate cylinders.
Instead of the mechanism illustrated in the drawings I may use a simple crane
having a horizontal lifting jib as means for extracting the ingots. A vertical
hydraulic cylinder is set on the mast or on the jib, and when the ingot is to be
extracted, the mould is connected to the jib, the plunger of the cylinder is caused
to bear on the ingot and to hold it down, and the jib is lifted so as to raise and
strip the mould from the ingot, leaving the ingot standing on the car.
In using
this form of my improvement, I may first lift the mould from the car or from the
ground by lifting the crane jib and may then (while the mould is suspended)
cause the plunger to bear down on the ingot with sufficient force to eject the ingot
from the mould.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what 1
claim is
First. In ingot extracting apparatus, the combination of mould-lifting mechanism,
and a stop by which the ingot is held from being lifted with the mould; substan-
tially as and for the purposes described.
Second. In ingot extracting apparatus the combination with a stop and mould-
lifting mechanism, of a car movable to carry a mould in an upright position beneath
the stop substantially as and for the purposes described.
Third. Extracting an ingot from its mould by placing the mould in an upright
position and pushing the ingot down from the mould while the mould is supported,
or drawing the mould up from the ingot while the latter is held down; substan-
tially as and for the purposes described.
Fourth. The combination of the upright cylinder, two independently movable
rams arranged therein, one encircling the other, fluid supply pipes, and lifting
appliances secured to one of the rams; substantially and for the purposes
described.
Fifth. The combination of the upright cylinder two independently movable
rams arranged therein, a fluid supply pipe entering the cylinder and supplying
motive fluid to one side of one of the rams, a hollow stem 22 extending through
the head of the said ram, and supplying motive fluid to the opposite side thereof,
and a fluid supply-pipe entering the cylinder at the outer side of the other ram ;
substantially as and for the purposes described.
Sixth. The combination of the suspended and upwardly movable upright
cylinder, two independently movable rams arranged therein, a fluid supply pipe
entering the cylinder and supplying motive fluid to one side of one of the rams, a
hollow stem 22 extending through the head of said ram and supplying motive
fluid to the opposite side thereof, and a fluid supply pipe entering the cylinder at
the outer side of the other ram; substantially as and for the purposes described.
Seventh. In ingot extracting apparatus the combination of a suspended and
upwardly movable cylinder, a plunger arranged therein, and lifting appliances
substantially as and for the purposes described.
Eighth. The combination of a lifting motor, laterally movable links or arms
connected with the lifting motor and adapted to be raised thereby, and inde
pendently acting mechanism connected with the arms and adapted to spread them
substantially as and for the purposes described.
Ninth. The combination with pivotally mounted links or arms and a lifting

page_text: plunger of toggle levers connected with the links or arms a plunger operative to
move the toggle levers, and a collar mounted on the last named plunger and
connecting the toggle levers; substantially as and for the purposes described.
Tenth. In ingot extracting apparatus, the combination with the cylinder 5 of
rams arranged therein, one inside the other, one of the said rams projecting down-
wardly and adapted to engage the ingot, lifting appliances on the other ram, and
fluid connections by which the last named ram may be raised independently of the
other; substantially as and for the purposes described.
Eleventh. In ingot extracting apparatus, the combination with the cylinder 5
of rams 7 and 9 arranged therein, one inside the other, a yoke secured to the
ram 9 and links depending from the yoke; substantially as and for the purposes
described.
Twelfth. In ingot extracting apparatus the combination with the cylinder 5 of
rams 7 and 9 arranged therein, one inside the other, a yoke secured to the
ram 9, links depending from the yoke, and toggle-levers connecting the links and
adapted to be operated by one of these rams; substantially as and for the purposes
described.
Thirteenth. In ingot extracting apparatus, the combination with the cylinder 5,
of rams 7 and 9 arranged therein, one inside the other, links, toggle-levers con-
necting the links and adapted to be operated by one of these rams, and a collar
on the other ram connecting the toggle-levers; substantially as and for the purposes
described.
Fourteenth. The combination with the ram 9 having a shoulder or recess b
formed thereon, of a yoke made in sections fitted around the ram and secured
together, and depending links; substantially as and for the purposes described.
Fifteenth. In ingot extracting apparatus, the combination of the suspended and
upwardly movable cylinder, rams 7 and 9 contained therein, a Huid supply pipe
entering the cylinder between the heads of the rams and fluid-supply-pipes entering
at the ends of the cylinder, one of the rams having a projecting end adapted to
engage the ingot, and the other ram having lifting appliances for the mould;
substantially as and for the purposes described.
Sixteenth. In ingot extracting apparatus, the combination of the cylinder,
rams 7 and 9 contained therein, a fluid supply-pipe entering the cylinder between
the heads of the rams and fluid-supply pipes entering at the ends of the cylinder,
one of the rams having a projecting end adapted to engage the ingot, and the other
rain having lifting appliances for the mould; substantially as and for the purposes
described.
Seventeenth. In ingot extracting apparatus, the combination of the cylinder,
rams 7 and 9 contained therein, a fluid supply pipe entering the cylinder between
the heads of the rams, and fluid supply pipes entering at the ends of the cylinder,
one of the rams having a projecting end adapted to engage the ingot, and the
other ram having lifting appliances for the mould, and an external guide for the
ram; substantially as and for the purposes described.
Eighteenth. In ingot extracting apparatus the combination with a ram adapted
to fit on the ingot, of a removable shoe for the ram; substantially as and for the
purposes described.
Nineteenth. In ingot extracting apparatus, the combination of two adjacent
cylinders having lifting rams, of an interposed guide bar and guides for the rains;
substantially as and for the purposes described.
Twentieth. In ingot extracting apparatus, the combination of two adjacent
cylinders having lifting rams, of an interposed guide-bar, and guides on the rams
and cylinders; substantially as and for the purposes described.
Twenty-first. In ingot extracting apparatus, the combination of two adjacent
cylinders each of which has rams 7 and 9 contained therein, a fluid supply pipe
entering the cylinder between the heads of the rams and fluid supply pipes
entering at the ends of the cylinder, one of the rams having a projecting end

page_text: adapted to engage the ingot, and the other ram having lifting appliances for the
mould substantially as and for the purposes described.
Twenty-second. In ingot extracting apparatus the combination of an elevated
trolley, a racking cylinder connected with the trolley and adapted to move it back
and forth, an upright cylinder carried by the trolley and having a plunger adapted
to engage the ingot, and mould-suspending devices also carried by the trolley and
situate in proper position to suspend the mould directly under the plunger;
substantially as and for the purposes described.
Twenty-third. The combination of the mould lifting and stripping cylinder, a
racking cylinder, and adjacent cars, one carrying the mould and ingot beneath the
cylinder and the other adapted to receive the mould when the lifting cylinder is
moved above the same by the racking-cylinder; substantially as and for the
purposes described.
Twenty-fourth. In ingot extracting apparatus the combination with a vertical
ram adapted to bear on the ingot of a second mould lifting ram; substantially as
and for the purposes described.
Twenty-fifth. In ingot extracting apparatus the combination of a mould lifting
ram, links or arms adapted to be lifted by the latter, and a vertically acting
ram adapted to bear on the ingot and in its vertical motion to engage and spread
the links or arms; substantially as and for the purposes described.
Twenty-sixth. In ingot extracting apparatus, the combination with laterally
movable links or arms and a lifting ram, of an ingot restraining ram, a collar
mounted thereon and adapted to be moved by the ram, and toggle-levers, con-
necting the collar with the links or arms; substantially as and for the purposes
described.
Dated the 15th day of July 1891.
Per pro J. T. KING,
W. B. Johnson.