Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Casting Slag and Metals.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd May, 1899-Accepted. 29th July 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Casting Slag and
Metals.
We, WILLIAM JOSHUA PATTERSON, Manufacturer, and ALFRED MILLER ACKLIN
Consulting Engineer, Citizens of the United States of America, residing respec-
tively at Hotel Schenley and 1312, Wylie Avenue, both in the City of Pittsburgh,
County of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, do
5 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:-
Our invention relates to apparatus for casting slag and metals, and more particu-
larly to the method of casting slag and metals in which the material is poured into
molds secured to an endless-carrier which passes through a tank containing a
cooling liquid, so that the material in the molds is hardened and discharged
from the molds at the opposite end of the apparatus.
The main objects of the present invention are to improve the construction of
the endless carrier in such a way as to increase it strength and durability.
To enable others skilled in the art to make and use our invention, we will
describe the same more fully referring to the accompanying drawing, in which-
Figure 1 is a side elevation, broken away, of our improved apparatus, showing
in a general way the apparatus, without going into details; Figure 2 is an
enlarged cross section on the line 2-2 Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view, broken
away: Figure 4 is an enlarged section on the line 3-3, Figure 1; Figure 5 is
an enlarged side view of a portion of the carrier; Figure 6 is a side view of two
links of the carrier showing one filler-block in place; Figure 7 is a perspective
view of the filler-block; Figure 8 is a like view of one of the links; Figure 9 is
a perspective view of clamp: Figures 10 and 11 are details of spindle and split
ring: Figure 12 is a cross section of the tank showing the depressions or pockets
n the same and the manner in which pockets can be cleaned; Figure 1 is a side
iew of a portion of a different form of our improved casting apparatus; Figure 2*
sa plan view thereof; Figure 3* is a view of one of the links of the endless
arrier; Figure 4* is a section on the line 4-4, Figure 1'; Figure 5* is an enlarged
iew of one of the wheels of the carrier, together with a portion of the axle and the
rotecting device; Figure 6 is a face view of the protecting device employed on
he end of the axle; Figure 7 is a face view of the protecting device employed
the other end of the axle; Figure 8 is a sectional view of the device shown in
igure 7 Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of another form of
sting apparatus involving our invention; Figure 2" is a cross section on line 2-2
gure 1: Figure 3" is a cross section on line 3-3, Figure 1º; Figure 4" is a
oss section on line 4-4, Figure 1; Figure 5" is an enlarged detail view of the
erflow and its adjusting mechanism; Figure 6" is an enlarged detail of sprocket
eel and portion of endless conveyor engaging therewith; Figure 7 is a top view
same; Figures 8 and 9 are detail views of the wheels which support the
less conveyor and travel on the track of the frame; and Figure 10" is a fon
w of a portion of the spraying pipe.

page_text: In the drawings the letter a represents the structure which supports the
apparatus, said structure being braced in such manner as to give the requisite
strength. At the ends of the structure a are the shafts & upon which are mounted
the sprocket wlieels c, around which the endless carrier 1) passes and by means
of one of which said carrier is driven.
This carrier D is made up of open links d which have the curved seats d' at their
ends within which the axles e fit. The axle e passes through the adjoining ends
of the links. The links bear against the clamps which surround the axles.
These clamps are U-shaped, as shown in Figure 9, and the free ends have openings
through which the bolt passes. By tightening this bolt i, the clamping force
of the clamp is increased. By the use of this clamp the necessity of weakening
the axle by a hole for a linch-pin is avoided.
The filler-blocks f are adapted to fit within the open links d, said blocks pre-
ferably having the semi-circular seats fl at their ends, which, in conjunction
with the seats d' of the links encircle the axles. The blocks f have the ribs f
formed thereon and the bosses f³ with the bolt holes f' therein. The filler-blocks
fit snugly within the links, and bolts g pass through said holes f and through
registering openings in lugs h¹ depending from the bottom of the pans or molds h.
These molds may be formed of wrought iron, cast-iron, or other suitable material,
and the shape of the same may be varied to suit the circumstances.
The axles e have their ends bent, as at e', to bring the wheels secured thereto
up on a higher plane than the main portion of the axle, whereby the molds h
are also lowered. The molds have the bifurcated lugs 2 at their ends, said
lugs engaging the vertical portions of the axles and acting to prevent the wobbling
of said axles and retain the vertical portions at right angles to the plane of the
travel of the molds. This is of particular advantage when the molds have dis-
charged their contents and pass back toward the loading point in the inverted
position. The wheels are mounted on the ends of the axles between the collar /
and the split ring m, a washer being interposed between said ring and the outer
face of the wheel. The ring m is made of wrought iron, or steel, and when the
free ends are brought around so that the ring encircles more than half of the
axle it is locked thereon, and being located in the annular groove m of the axle
it can have no lateral movement thereon. In this manner the wheel is secured
to the axle without the use of a linch-pin. Furthermore, by this construction an
oil passage o may be formed in the axle extending from the outer end thereof,
where the oil is admitted to about the mid-point of the wheel-bearing. In this
manner oil may be applied to the wheel-bearings while the apparatus is in
operation.
As stated above, the wheels are made to travel on a higher plane than the
main portion of the axle, consequently the tracks upon which said wheels travel,
are on a correspondingly elevated plane.
We also employ a tanks through which the molds are carried, and by the use
of axles bent as above set forth the tracks may be secured to the exterior walls
of the tank, so that the molds pass down into the tank to be partially or entirely
submerged, as the case may be. The tracks before the tank is reached and after
it is passed are supported in a suitable manner by the structure a.
The bottom of the tank s has the pockets, or depressions, therein which act to
collect the sediment, or any drippings from the molds. Openings t¹ are formed in
the tank at these pockets provided with heads 12, so that these pockets may be
readily cleaned out when desired. These heads 2 may be secured in place in any
suitable manner, and when removed a scraper or other suitable instrument may
be inserted in the openings and any sediment or deposit in said pockets may be
removed.
At the pouring end of the apparatus, or lower end, where the metal
in a liquid
or molten state it is liable to overflow and drip from the molds as they travel
along. To prevent this molten metal from dropping onto the inverted molds

page_text: b
un on their way around to be filled, we employ the shields u upon which
the metal falls. The tank itself collects any metal that may fall from the molds.
and as the metal will have hardened by the time the molds pass out of and beyond
the tank it will hardly be necessary to employ the shields beyond the tank."
In the operation of the apparatus the molds are poured at the lower end of
the structure a from a suitable pouring spout or ladle, and travel in the direction
of the arrow, Figure 1. When the molds reach the tank the track being on a
lower plane, said molds descend into the water.
permits the wheels to travel on a track above the plane of the molds, and without
The form of axle employed
the tank. The molds on leaving the tank travel up the incline to the top of the
frame where the molded pigs or slag is discharged onto a suitable chute or
platform.
In Plates 5 and 6 we have illustrated another manner of preventing the axles
from turning. The letter A represents the links of the carrier, said links as shown
in Figure 3 being open loop-shaped links. In order to stiffen and strengthen the
link a short section of metal pipe B is located between the inner faces of the sides
of the link, and a bolt or rivet C passes through said pipe and opening D formed
in the link. In this way the central portion of the link is suitably braced and
strengthened to prevent its sagging or buckling between its ends.
These links A are connected up in the manner shown, the axles E passing
through the adjoining ends of each pair of links. On the axles E are the wheels F
loosely mounted thereon and held from outward movement by the linch-pins G.
The wheels F have the inner boss H formed around the bore or eye, said boss
having the annular groove II' formed therein.
the axle by means of the set screw I, said collar having the bood K overhanging
A collar I is secured to one end of
the upper portion thereof, said hood being arc-shaped in form and projecting
over the boss H in the manner clearly shown in Figure 5. It is not necessary to
have the hood completely encircle the boss, as the protection is only needed from
above. By this construction the journals or bearings of the axle are protected
from the molten metal or other material which is liable to be splashed onto said
bearings in the pouring of the molten metal or from a sudden jar or jolt of the mold
in its passage over the frame, and any material which finds its way onto the boss
will be carried off by the annular groove H¹ and drop below without interfering
with the working parts of the apparatus.
The collar I also holds the links in position and prevents them from bearing
gainst the wheel.
At the opposite end of the axle is a similar collar M, this collar, however, being
split collar and formed of metal having the proper amount of elasticity. A
olt N passes through openings in the collar, said bolt having the nut N¹ thereon,
the turning of which the collar is securely clamped to the axle. This collar
as also the protecting hood which projects over the boss on the wheel and in
e manner above described protects the bearings of the axle.
The collar M has the lugs R formed thereon, said lugs when the collar is in
sition on the shaft entering the open space in the outer link, as shown in dotted
es in Figure 2. When the collar is clamped securely to the axle and the lugs R
ter the link in the manner shown, it is impossible for the axle to turn.
It is not found necessary to employ collars like the collar M at both ends of the
le, as the lugs R on one collar will be sufficient to prevent the turning of the
le.
Secured to the links are the molds S which may be of any suitable form for the
ting of pig metal, slag and the like. These molds have the projecting lips S
ich over-lap each other in such a way as to prevent the molten metal from
ing down between the molds. The molds are bolted to the links by means
the bolts T and they can be readily removed and replaced by new ones when
essary.
Plates 7 and 8 represent another form of our invention. The numeral 2 desiœ-

page_text: nates the frame-work which supports the apparatus, said frame-work being of
the same height and substantially horizontal for the greater portion of its length,
but gradually rising at the discharge end to a suitable height.
A tank or reservoir 3 is supported by the frame 2, said tank extending from
one end of the frame to the other, the inclined portion 4 of said tank, however,
simply acting to receive liquid from a spraying pipe arranged above the same and
carry it to the tank proper or horizontal portion. For this reason this portion 4
does not require to be of such great depth as the other.
Within the tank 3, 4, is the track 5, which, as indicated by dotted lines,
Figure 1, is arranged at different levels. This is to provide for the carrying of
the molds in a partly submerged condition for some distance from the pouring
point and completely submerging said molds.
Mounted at each end of the frame are the sprocket wheels 6, 7, said wheels being
polygonal in form to be engaged by the elongated links which make up the endless
carrier. The sprocket wheel 7 at the discharge end of the apparatus is driven by
suitable power, and by it the endless carrier is advanced along the frame.
This sprocket wheel 7 has the removable corner-blocks 8 which may be formed
of chilled iron or other hard metal. These blocks $ have the lugs 9 thereon
adapted to engage with the rear ends of the links in the manner hereinafter fully
set forth.
Bolts 10 secure the blocks 8 to the body of the wheel, the heads of said blocks
fitted in seats in said blocks and the nuts applied through the openings 11 in said
wheel.
On the periphery of the wheel 7 are the guide ribs 12, the guide-rib on one face
of said periphery being at one side thereof and the next one on the opposite side,
and so alternating for the diameter of said wheel.
The endless-chain 13 is composed of the open-links 14 which over-lap each
other and which are connected by the axles 15. Secured to the links 14 are the
molds 16. The wheels 17 are mounted on the axles 15 and said wheels run on
the track 5. These wheels have the pockets or recesses 18 formed therein adapted
to receive suitable absorbent material, such as waste. Orifices 19 lead from the
pockets 18 to the bearings for the axles. As the wheels travel on the track 5
within the tank they are submerged in water, which is absorbed by the waste
within the pockets and acts as a lubricant for the axles. By this construction
oil or other like lubricant is dispensed with, so that no cost is attached to the
lubricating of the axles.
Supported by the frame 2 is the return-track 20 upon which the wheels 17 travel
as they travel back to the charging point. On the return the molds will be in an
inverted position, as shown in Figure 6. This return-track 20 is provided with
a gap 21, the ends of said track adjacent to said gap being bent down as at 22.
The purpose of this gap 21 is to permit the chain to sag and create a tension so
as to keep the chain taut and take up any slack. It is apparent that the gap
might be bridged by depressed rails and give the same result, so that we wish
to include such an obvious modification within the scope of our invention.
The tank is provided with over-flow openings 23, by which the height of the
water is controlled. Boxes 24 with bottoms 25 are secured to the tank, said boxes
communicating with said tank by the openings 23. The boxes 24 are preferably
formed of hinged sections 26, 27, connected by the flexible hinges 28. The sec-
tion 27 of the boxes are supported by the bolts 29. The said section 27 may be
raised or lowered by turning the arm 30 which engages the threaded portion of
said bolt. In Figure 5 the lowered position of the section 27 is illustrated.
From this description it will be apparent that by raising and lowering the sec-
tion 27 of the box the water-line is raised or lowered accordingly. It is apparent
that the box when not made in sections may be hinged directly to the tank.
Above the inclined portion 4 of the tank is arranged the spraying-pipe 31
with the branch pipes 32 extending across the chain and longitudinally of the

page_text: 5
water of the tank 3 and assists in cooling the metal before it reaches the point
is sprayed from these pipes on the molds after they rise from th
discharge. The water as it drips from the molds is carried by the inclined tank
to the main tank 3.
When our improved casting apparatus is in operation, the metal is poured int
the molds from the pouring ladle 33 at the charging end of the apparatus. The
molds thus filled are carried by the chain through the tank containing the cooling
liquid. As the sprocket wheel 7 feeds the endless chain forward the links of sai
chain engage the flat faces of the periphery, as shown in Figures 6" and 7", the
0 ribs 12 acting to keep said links from slipping from the wheel, while the lugs 9
engage the rear ends of the links and carry the chain forward.
By the use of the above-described carrier and the manner of securing the molds
thereto we obtain a strong and durable travelling carrier which will be better
able to stand the severe wear and tear to which such casting apparatus is
5 subjected.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. In casting apparatus, a suitable structure, an endless travelling carrier sup-
ported thereby, said travelling carrier consisting of open-links, axles passing
through the adjoining ends of said links, removable filler-blocks inserted within
said links between the axles at each end thereof, and molds secured to said blocks,
substantially as set forth.
2. In casting apparatus, a suitable structure, an endless travelling carrier sup
ported thereby, said travelling carrier consisting of open-links having rounded
seats at the ends thereof, axles fitting in the seats of the adjoining ends of said
links, removable filler-blocks having seats at the ends thereof fitting within said
links and engaging said axles, and molds secured to said blocks, substantially
as set forth.
3. In casting apparatus, a suitable structure, an endless travelling mold carrier
supported thereby, molds, axles engaging said carrier, wheel bearings, said axles
being bent to bring the wheel bearings above the main body of the axles, tracks,
and a tank through which said mold-carrier passes, substantially as set forth.
4. In casting apparatus, a suitable structure, an endless travelling carrier
upported thereby, axles engaging said carrier, wheel bearings, said axles being
ent to bring the wheel bearings above the main body of the axles, tracks, molds
onnected to said carrier, said molds having bifurcated portions engaging the
ertical portions of said axles caused by said bend, substantially as set forth.
5. In casting apparatus, a suitable structure, an endless travelling mold-carrier,
olds, axles engaging said carrier, wheel bearings, said axles being bent to bring
e wheel bearings above the main body of the axles, a tank, through which said
old carrier passes, a track secured to the exterior walls of said tank, substantially
set forth.
6. In casting aparatus, a suitable structure, an endless travelling mold carrier
mposed of links, molds, axles engaging the mold carrier, and U-shaped clamps
ured to said axles to prevent lateral movement of the links composing said
Id carrier, substantially as set forth.
7. An endless carrier comprising open links, axles engaging the links, loosely
unted wheels on said axles, collars on said axles, said collars having lugs there-
adapted to enter the links to prevent the turning of the axles, substantially
set forth.
An endless carrier composed of open links, axles engaging the links, loosely
inted wheels on said axles, split collars on said axles, said collars having lugs
een adapted to enter the links to prevent the turning of the axles, substantially
et forth.
In metal casting apparatus, the combination with a suitable frame of

page_text: endless chain, molds mounted thereon, wheels on said chain, tracks on said frame
for said wheels, the return-track having a gap therein, substantially as set forth.
10. In metal casting apparatus, the combination with a suitable frame, of an
endless chain composed of over-lapping links, molds on said chain, sprocket-drive
wheels, and lugs on said drive-wheels adapted to engage the rear ends of said
links, substantially as set forth.
11. In metal casting apparatus, the combination with a suitable frame, of an
endless-chain composed of over-lapping links, molds on said chain, polygonal
sprocket drive-wheels, and lugs at the angles of said wheels adapted to engage
the rear ends of said links, substantially as set forth.
12. In metal casting apparatus, the combination with a suitable frame, of an
endless-chain composed of overlapping links, molds on said chain, polygonal
sprocket drive-wheels, and lugs at the angles of said wheels, the lug at one angle
being at the opposite side of the periphery from that of the succeeding one, sub-
stantially as set forth.
13. In metal-casting apparatus, the combination with suitable frame, of an
endless-chain, molds on said chain, a tank, wheels on said chain adapted to travel
on tracks in said tank, said wheels having pockets therein, and absorbent material
in said pockets, said pockets having orifices leading to the bearings of said wheels,
substantially as set forth.
14. In metal casting, apparatus, the combination with a suitable frame, of an
endless-chain, molds on said chain, a tank having an inclined portion at the
discharge end of said frame, and a spraying pipe above said inclined portion,
substantially as set forth.
15. In metal-casting apparatus, the combination with a suitable frame, of an
endless-chain, molds on said chain, a tank having overflow openings, swinging
boxes secured to said tank having openings corresponding to said overflow open-
ings, and means for adjusting said boxes at different positions, substantially as
set forth.
16. In metal-casting apparatus, the combination with a suitable frame, of an
endless-chain, molds on said chain, a tank having over-flow openings, boxes
secured to said tank having openings corresponding to said overflow openings,
said boxes being formed of hinged sections, and one of said sections being vertically
adjustable, substantially as set forth.
17. In metal casting apparatus, the combination with a suitable frame, of an
endless-chain, molds on said chain, a tank having overflow openings, boxes secured
to said tank havings openings corresponding to said overflow openings, said boxes
being formed in sections, flexible material connecting said sections, and means
for raising and lowering one of said sections, substantially as set forth.
Facu
ALBY AN
Jaket UHIS <DTI THAY AT IBV L
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Patent Agents.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Patent Agents.