IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF STEEL OR OTHER METALLIC INGOTS OR BLOCKS, AND IN APPLIANCES OR APPARATUS THEREFOR, FOR THE PURPOSE OF EQUALIZING AND PRESERVING THE HEAT THEREOF
Year: 1879

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Charles Simmons at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 15th May 1879.
1
CHARLES SIMMONS, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Engineer. 'IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF STEEL OR OTHER METALLIC INGOTS OR BLOCKS,
AND IN APPLIANCES OR APPARATUS THEREFOR, FOR THE PURPOSE OF EQUALIZING
AND PRESERVING THE HEAT THEREOF."
These improvements relate to the manufacture of ingots, and to appliances or
apparatus employed therefor, chiefly applicable to the manufacture of ingots of steel
made by the Bessemer, Siemens or Siemens-Martin processes, for the purpose of
equalizing and preserving the heat thereof.
In the ordinary course of manufacture ingots are cast in moulds constructed of
iron, and as soon as the molten metal is solidified in the mould it is taken there-
from, and is "reheated" for the purpose of being rolled or forged, or the ingot is
removed from the mould in which it has been cast, and is operated upon by means
and in apparatus differing from those which are the essential features of this
Invention.
In the ordinary process of manufacture of ingots it is found that before the interior
(central) portion has become solidified the exterior has become too cool to be operated
upon by rolling or forging, thus necessitating the operation of "reheating."
The object of this Invention is to manufacture ingots (by means and apparatus
hereinafter described) in such a manner as that when the interior (central portion)
of the said ingot is so far solidified as to be capable of being operated upon (by
rolling or otherwise) the exterior of the said ingot will be of sufficiently high
temperature as also to be capable of being operated upon (by rolling or otherwise),
the result being that the said ingot can be rolled or forged without being "re-
heated" or otherwise treated, as is now ordinarily done.
My improvements consist, firstly, in the construction of an apparatus to contain
one or more ordinary or other ingot moulds, in which the molten steel or other
metal is cast, and in which said apparatus the said ingot or ingots will remain for
the purpose of equalizing and preserving the heat thereof, so as to be taken there-
from in such a state as that it or they can be rolled or formed without
heating."
" re-
My improved apparatus consists of an outer casing or box made of or lined with
any suitable material which is a non-conductor of heat, such as fire-clay or ganister,

page_text: or a combination or mixture of substances which are non-conductors of heat, or so
made of metallic or non-metallic substance as that it will be a non-conductor of
heat, the said outer casing or box being open at the top or bottom to allow of the
insertion of an ordinary or other open-ended or closed-top ingot mould, and being
provided with an air-tight cover or top, which is also a non-conductor of heat, and
either with or without a bottom casting plate for the mould to stand on.
The casing or lining of the casing may be entirely of a permanent character, or
a temporary lining of a substance which is a non-conductor of heat may be made
each time that the apparatus is used.
In carrying my Invention into effect the ordinary or other ingot inould can be
placed in the outer casing or box, and the molten steel (or other metal) be cast or
poured therein, and after the said molten steel has become sufficiently solid the
mould is withdrawn; the cover of the casing is affixed, thus rendering it air-tight,
the ingot being retained therein until its temperature has become sufficiently equal
to allow of its being operated upon by rolling or otherwise. As a modification of
the above the mould may first be filled with the molten steel, as is now ordinarily
done, the steel allowed to solidify on the sides, the mould withdrawn, and an
open-ended casing of my improved construction placed over the ingot to exclude
the air, and the ingot retained in this air-tight case until its temperature has
become sufficiently equal to allow of its being operated upon by rolling or forging
without being " reheated."
My Invention consists, secondly, of a modification of the above, in which mode of
manufacture the ingot is cast in an ordinary mould and in the ordinary manner,
being then placed in a box casing with an air tight lid or cover of my improved
construction, as above specified, and being made to contain one or more ingots; or
being made with two or more divisions or cells. As a further modification my
improved casings may be so made as that the air contained therein can be exhausted
therefrom in any ordinary manner.