IMPROVEMENTS IN CASTING-LADLES FOR CASTING IRON, STEEL AND OTHER METALS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, ANDERS GERHARD ARFWEDSON, of Bofors Iron Works, Sweden, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CASTING-LADLES
FOR CASTING IRON, STEEL AND OTHER METALS," and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
-
This casting-ladle is distinguished from those hitherto used in that it is surrounded
even during the casting operation by the furnace in which it has been heated.
The construction and arrangement of this ladle will be seen by reference to the
annexed drawing where Fig 1 is an elevation, partly in section, and Fig 2 a plan
of the ladle, also partly in section.
.
A is the vessel, in which the melted metal is received. For this purpose a
plumbago crucible of suitable dimensions may be conveniently used, and such a one
is represented in the drawing. A¹ is the cover of the vessel or crucible. B is a
foot supporting the crucible and made of fire-brick or graphite. C. C. C are bricks
projecting from the furnace for keeping the crucible stable.
The furnace consists of a cylinder D of sheet iron, lined with fire bricks E and
provided with a lid F having a small covered opening G through which the melted
metal is poured in. The bottom of the furnace H, which should be loose in order
that the fuel remaining in the furnace unconsumed may be removed and extin-
guished, is provided with grates or perforations, so that air may be forced in
through the bottom, when the furnace, previously to the casting operation, is placed
upon an accurately fitting wind or blast-box K. The gases of combustion are most
advantageously led away through the opening L above the spout or gutter M which
is lined with plumbago or some other suitable material. N are trunnions by
which the whole ladle is supported, when it is carried by a crane or some other
contrivance, and on which the ladle tips in the act of casting.
When heating the ladle, the crucible is surrounded by small coke, with the view
of attaining a lively combustion when the blast is entering from the blast box
through the perforated bottom. The gases of combustion passing away heat the
spout or gutter M, which is of a very great importance.
When the ladle is to be used it is placed beneath the large ladle or the converter
or the furnace, from which the melted metal is to be taken, the cover of the crucible

page_text: .
.
is removed, the coke is packed down carefully, so that glowing coke may surround
the crucible as high as possible, and the crucible is filled with melted metal through
the small opening in the lid of the furnace.
To effect the casting, the whole ladle is carried by means of a crane or by
another suitable contrivance to the chills or moulds and is rotated on the
trunnions N, so that the metal runs over the lip of the crucible through the spout
or gutter M and down into the moulds.
It will be observed that it is not intended that any melting of the metal should
take place in the furnace but, on the contrary, in order that it may be easily heated
and convenient to manage, the furnace ought to be small in relation to the crucible,
and should be made of thin sheet iron and thin brick, so that no melting, at least
of metal not readily fusible may be effected therein. The object of the invention
is to produce a casting-ladle which, without being too expensive to manufacture or
to heat shall cool the melted metal poured into it to so small an extent, that the
metal with or without special additions of manganese, silica, chrome, wolfram
et cetera previously heated, shall be sufficiently quick running to be cast in chills
or moulds even of small dimensions. Further this ladle makes it possible even for
somewhat infusible metals to be poured over the lip of the ladle and allows of a
large charge of metal to be sub-divided to different purposes, in which case the
special additions need only be made to such a quantity as is wanted for the special
purpose.
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 use for pouring metal previously melted of a casting-ladle consisting of
a crucible surrounded by a furnace, the said crucible being exposed to the burning
fuel both while it is being heated and during the casting operation substantially as
described and for the purpose specified.
2. The casting-ladle constructed, arranged and operating substantially as described
with reference to the drawings.