Improvements in or connected with Means for Receiving and Mould- ing Molten Iron, Slag, Scoria, or other Material from Furnaces or the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Mar., 1899-Accepted, 13th May, 1899
Improvements in or connected with Means for Receiving and Mould-
ing Molten Iron, Slag, Scoria, or other Material from Furnaces or
the like.
I, WILLIAM HAWDON, of Cleveden, Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, in the County
of York, Engineer, 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 said invention relates to improvements upon an invention in respect of which
Letters Patent were granted to me dated the 31st day of October 1887, No. 14803,
in respect of an invention entitled "Improvements in apparatus for removing
molten slag, scoria and other similar materials from furnaces," and has for its
object to improve the details of construction of said apparatus and to provide
special means for efficiently cooling and delivering the iron pigs or the like.
In carrying this invention into effect, an endless chain of moulds is employed
but preferably two of said chains are arranged parallel to each other at a short
distance apart and the molten metal or the like from the furnace or other source
of supply is tapped into a bifurcated trough or spout which delivers the same to
the endless chain of moulds.
The moulds, which are preferably formed of cast iron and of suitable shape
for the material under treatment, are formed with overlapping lips for the purpose
of bridging over the spaces between the same so that the molten iron or the
like may be continuously poured thereinto without loss.
The moulds are cast with lugs at the front and rear thereof through which
pass rods which at their ends pass through and are carried by the links of endless
chains which at each extremity of the belt pass around chain wheels, the chain
wheels at one end receiving rotary motion at a suitable speed from a steam
or other engine whilst if desired a regulating device is employed to, adjust the
tightness of the endless chain.
The endless belt of moulds and the supporting chains are, in order to obtain
the requisite strength, necessarily of very considerable weight, and, in order
to support the same without sagging, the endless chains run upon wheels or
rollers carried by axles at their ends mounted in bearings provided upon a girder-
like structure supported by transverse frames.
In apparatus of this character a difficulty has hitherto been met with in
consequence of the endless chain of moulds radiating considerable heat which
prevented the proper lubrication of the working parts immediately adjoining
the moulds but by the arrangement of parts hereinbefore described it is possible
to place the journals and bearings of the various parts at such a distance from
the moulds as to enable the intervening wall of air which is continuously circu-

page_text: lating to intercept or considerably modify the heat coming from the moulds
so that said bearings can be at all times efficiently lubricated and thus the friction
and consequent wear and tear of the apparatus will be considerably reduced.
The pigs or ingots are discharged from the moulds at the end of the outward
traverse of the endless belt and on the return journey the moulds are coated
with a suitable refractory material by any suitable means in order to prevent
the adherence thereto of the molten material with which they are about to be
refilled.
In the apparatus described in my said former specification, I provided a means
of cooling the moulds and their contents consisting of a trough of water into
which the endless belt of moulds dipped and in conjunction with this trough
a water spray was provided for playing upon the upper surface of the endless
belt, but it is found in practice that when dealing with molten metal such as
pig iron it is desirable to keep the moulds as dry as possible and therefore said
method of water cooling by wetting or immersing the moulds and their contents
may be regarded as a disadvantage which, according to the present invention,
18 overcome in the following manner:-
The endless belt of moulds is formed of sufficient length and traversed at such
a speed as to enable the moulds on their return journey to become sufficiently
cool to receive the required coat of refractory material and the next charge of
molten iron without the necessity for the employment of water for that purpose
and in order to discharge and cool the moulded pigs the following device is
employed:
-
Adjacent to the end of the outward traverse of the belt of moulds is provided
an annular tank filled with water and axially thereof and mounted in suitable
bearings is a vertical shaft which receives rotary motion through suitable gearing
from the engine which drives the endless belts. The vertical shaft at its upper
end carries several horizontal arms which radiate therefrom and at their outer
extremities are fixed to or loosely engage with some of a series of hangers or
frames provided with carrying wheels running upon a circular rail arranged
around the inner edge of the tank.
These hangers or frames of which there are a considerable number depend
into the annular tank and at their lower ends support an annular platform
immersed in the water of the tank and this annular platform receives a continuous
rotary motion through the vertical shaft and radial arms hereinbefore described.
The pigs or ingots as they are discharged from the moulds at the terminal
point of the outward traverse of the endless belt are received on to an inclined
plane consisting of a collection of metal bars terminating in a kind of shoot or
guide which conducts them to the travelling platform and they are then conveyed
around the tank until they meet a curved or angularly disposed deflecting or
guide-plate which discharges them on to a platform immersed in the water
contained in a well or offshoot from the annular tank, said table or platform
being supported by means of a number of iron bars or rails which extend
upwardly parallel to each other at an inclination and are carried by a strong
gider-like frame.
In order to elevate the pigs or the like from the table or platform upon which
they have been deposited and discharge them into the railway trucks or other
conveying means a number of endless chains of studs, projections or elevators
are employed which pass around suitably shaped, drums fixed upon shafts
mounted in bearings one arranged at the lower part of the structure within the 5
well and the other at the upper part of said structure, and the latter chain wheel
or drum receives motion through any suitable intervening gear from the main
engine.
Several endless chains of studs or projections are passed around the same set
of drums and arranged parallel to each other in the same plane and with their 5
studs or projections extending through the rails or bars and thus in the traverse

page_text: of the elevator the studs or projections pick up the pigs or the like from the
table or platform and carry them up to and over the upper or driven drum from
which point the guide bars or rails descend at a suitable inclination to form a
shoot to conduct the pigs into a truck or other conveyance arranged beneath
the same.
In order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying drawings, more
fully to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1, is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 1-1, of
Figure 2, representing a plant constructed according to the present invention.
Figure 2, is a plan thereof.
Figure 3, is an end elevation with parts removed.
Figure 4, is a side elevation partly in section showing the annular tank and
rotary platform or table and the co-acting elevator for receiving and removing
the pigs or ingots.
Figure 5, is a front elevation thereof partly in section.
Figure 6, is a detail of part of Figure 4, taken at right angles thereto.
Figure 7, is a side elevation partly in section representing a portion of the
endless chain of moulds and co-acting parts and their bearing wheels or rollers.
Figure 8, is a plan thereof partly in section.
Figure 9, is a vertical trausverse section taken through the upper part of one
of the endless chains showing the moulds and the bearing rollers in elevation, and,
Figure 10, is a similar view but showing the lower or return part of said endless
chain.
In the several figures in which like parts are indicated by similar letters of
reference, Figures 4, and 5, are drawn to an increased scale with respect to
Figures 1 to 3, whilst Figures 6, to 10, are drawn to a still further increased
scale.
a, represents transverse frames which are erected in a bed of masonry supported
against an inward thrust by means of struts a', and 3, represents longitudinal
girder-like beams which are firmly fixed to the transverse frames at.
At one end of the structure are provided two strong frames a³, on which are
fitted in suitable guides, slides 30, controlled by regulating screws «*** and upon
these slides are mounted in suitable bearings, the shafts or axes 1, of chain
or sprocket wheels b, around which pass the chains, carrying the endless belts
of moulds c, as hereinafter described.
At the opposite end of the structure is provided an extension frame a', in
which is mounted in suitable bearings a shaft b, upon which are fixed chain
wheels, similar to those hereinbefore referred to and upon the ends of the
shaft 7, are provided chain wheels, which by means of chains .b, are coupled
with chain wheels 6, fixed upon a shaft &, which, through toothed gearing,
receives motion from the crank shaft 6, of any suitable engine or prime mover 2.
The endless belts of moulds c, and co-acting parts which are preferably arranged
in duplicate are disposed parallel to each other at short distances apart and the
molten material from the furnace or other source of supply (not shown) is tapped
into a bifurcated trough, spout or runner d, which delivers the same to the
endless belts of moulds c.
The moulds e, which are preferably formed of cast iron and of suitable shape
for the material under treatment, are provided with overlapping lips c¹, for the
purpose of bridging over the spaces between the same so that the molten iron
or the like may be continuously poured thereinto without loss.
The moulds c, are cast with two pairs of apertured lugs (2, located at the
front and rear thereof, said pairs being differentially spaced so that one pair fits
between or overlaps the opposite pair of the next adjacent mould and through
the apertures of overlapping lugs are passed rods, which couple the moulds

page_text: together and these rods c³, at their ends form the connecting pins or shackles of
endless chains c, and these endless chains c', at their extremities pass around
the chain or sprocket wheels b, b, the tightening device a, serving to put the
necessary strain upon the chains c, and compensate for the wear of the parts.
The endless belts of moulds c, and their supporting chains c', are in order to 5
obtain the requisite strength, necessarily of very considerable weight, and, in
order to sustain the same without appreciably sagging, the endless chains c
are supported upon wheels or rollers e, some of which are flanged, carried by
square axles e, which at their ends are formed cylindrical and mounted in
bearings, carried by the girder like beams a³, and placed beyond the ends of
the moulds c.
In apparatus of this character, a difficulty has hitherto been met with in
consequence of the endless chain of charged moulds c, radiating considerable heat
which prevented the proper lubrication of the working parts immediately
edjoining the moulds but by the arrangement of parts herein before described
it is possible to place the bearings a*, of the axles e, of the bearing or carrying
rollers o, and if desired the bearings, of the transverse supporting rods, of
the moulds c, at such a distance from the latter as to provide a sufficient inter-
vening wall of air to intercept or considerably modify the heat coming from the
moulds c, so that said bearings can be efficiently lubricated and thus the friction
and consequent wear and tear of the apparatus will be considerably reduced.
The endless belts of moulds receive a contiunous movement in the direction
of the arrow from the engine 6, in the manner hereinhefore described, and the
ingots or the like are discharged from the moulds e, at the end of the traverse
in one direction of the endless helt that is to say as the latter passes around the
chain wheels 6, as is well understood, and on the return journey the moulds c,
whilst in an inverted position are coated with a suitable refractory material by
any suitable means in order to prevent the adherence thereto of the molten
material with which they are again to be filled from the bifurcated spout or
trough d.
In the apparatus described in my said former Specification No. 14803 of 1887
I provided a means of cooling the moulds and their contents consisting of a trough
of water into which the travelling endless belt of moulds r, dipped and in
conjunction with this trough a water spray was provided for playing upon the
upper surface of the endless belt, but it is found in practice that when dealing
with molten metal such as pig iron it is desirable to keep the moulds as dry as
possible, inasmuch as damp moulds would cause the molten metal to splutter and
the steam generated would more or less honeycomb the metal and therefore said
method of water cooling by wetting or immersing the moulds and their contents
may be regarded as a disadvantage which according to the present invention
is overcome in the following manner:-
The endless belt of moulds c, is formed of sufficient length and traversed at
such a speed as to enable the moulds on their return journey to become sufficiently
cool to receive the required coat of refractory material and the next charge of
molten iron or the like without the necessity for the employment of water for
this purpose, and in order to discharge and cool the moulded pigs or the like
the following device is employed.
Adjacent to the terminal point of the outward traverse of the belt of moulds c.
is provided an annular tank g, filled with water to a suitable level and axially
thereof is arranged a vertical shaft h, which at its lower end is mounted in a
footstep bearing, carried by a base plate 4º, supported upon a bed of masonry,
and near to its upper end is mounted in a bearing 2, carried by brackets ³,
from the base plate h
Upon the shaft h, is fixed a bevelled toothed wheel 4, which gears with a
bevelled pinion 5, fixed upon one end of a horizontal shaft 6, mounted in suitable
bearings, and which shaft at its other end has fixed therewith the bevelled
depot b
T

page_text: pinion h, which gears with a corresponding pinion 650, fixed upon the shaft 6°,
and thus the shaft h, receives rotary motion from the engine b³, which drives
the endless belts of moulds c.
The vertical shaft h, at its upper end carries a wheel or circular frame 1º,
which has fixed therewith four, or there might be more or less than four horizontal
arms h, which are radially arranged, and steadied by means of stays 10, extending
from the periphery of the wheel or frame ho, to near the outer ends of the arms hs,
and at their outer extremities said arms 8, engage or they might be fixed to
some of a series of hangers or frames i, provided with carring wheels, fixed
upon shafts or axles mounted in bearings 3, carried by the frames i, the
whole of the said frames being connected or coupled by means of annular stays iº,
of angle or T-iron.
The carrying wheels, of the hangers or frames i, run upon a circular track g¹,
provided upon the inner wall of the annular tank g, so that the bearings of the
axles, are elevated above the water and may thus be efficiently lubricated,
and the hangers or frames i, of which there are a considerable number depend
into the annular tank g, and at their lower ends are cranked and support an
annular platform or conveyor, immersed in the water of the tank g, and
disposed at a slight angle to the horizon and this annular platform, receives
a continuous rotary motion from the engine 69, through the intermediate gearing,
vertical shaft h, radial arms hª, and hangers or frames i.
The pigs of metal or the like as they are discharged from the moulds c, at
the terminal point or delivery end of the outward traverse of the endless belt c,
are received on to inclined planes f, consisting of a collection or grid of metal
bars each plane terminating in a kind of shoot or guide f, which conducts the
moulded pigs or the like to the annular travelling platform or conveyor it, and
they are received thereon lengthwise and thereby conveyed in the direction of
the arrow round the tank g, beneath the water until they meet a curved cr
angularly disposed deflecting plate or guide ², fixed by means of brackets *¹,
with the side of a well or offshoot g*, of the tank g, in a suitable position above
the platform, and which deflecting plate g³, aided by the inclined position of
the platform, guides or discharges the pigs through an opening ³, formed
in the outer wall of the annular tank g, on to an inclined platform or shelf j,
located slightly below the level of the annular platform i, and immersed in the
water contained in the well or offshoot g* of the annular tank g.
The table or platform j, is formed by the cranked lower ends of a number
of bars j', and which bars extend upwardly parallel to each other at an inclination
and are at their lower ends supported upon a girder g, carried by the side walls
of the well go, whilst at their upper ends they are supported by a bar, carried
by a strong girder like frame k, one branch of which is inclined and at its lower
end rests upon the bottom of the well go, whilst its upper end is supported by the
other part of the frame or erection k, and at about midway of its length it is
steadied by a strut k¹, from said frame or erection k.
In order to elevate the pigs or the like from the table or platform j, upen
which they have been deposited and discharge them into a railway truck m.
running upon a track mo, or it might be into other conveying means, a number
of endless chains 7, provided with studs or projections, from the outer faces
thereof are employed which pass round suitably shaped drums or chain wheels 12,
fixed upon shafts 13, mounted in bearings 1°, carried by the frame k, one of said
drums being arranged at the lower part of the structure k, within the well g*,
and the other at the upper part of the said structure the shaft, of the upper
chain wheel or drum, having fixed therewith a chain wheel 30, which by a
chain (not shown) receives motion through any suitable intervening gear from the
main engine 6º.
The several sets of endless chains of studs or projections 11, are passed
around the same set of drums 13, and arranged parallel to each other in the same

page_text: plane and with their studs or projections ", projecting through the rails or bars j',
and thus in the traverse of the elevator the studs or projections, pick up the
pigs or the like from the table or platform j, and carry them up to and over the
upper or driven one of the drums, grooved anti-friction wheels or rollers,
carried by beams . heing employed to support the endless chain /, upon the
load carrying side of the elevator.
Or, instead of employing a number of separate chain 7, each carrying a number
of studs l¹, two or more such chains may be provided one at each side of the
clevator and the studs or projections may be carried by transverse bars at
their ends fixed with the chains I, as will be readily understood.
The guide bars j', are curved in the form of an are over the upper or driven
drum, and when the pigs are carried beyond a vertical line they at once descend
by gravity clear of the studs 7, and beyond the are said bars or rails descend
at a suitable inclination and form a shoot or inclined plane j, to conduct the
pigs into the truck m, or other conveyance arranged beneath the same, and in
order to direct the descending pig more or less to one side or other of the truck m,
the shoot, is formed with an extension 1, at one end hinged thereto, and
at the other end controlled by means of chains passing around a drum or
pulley, upon the shaft of which is fixed a toothed wheel, which gears with
a pinion, the shaft of which is fitted with a crank handle, by which means
the leaf or extension of the shoot may he raised or lowered to any
desired angle necessary to guide the pigs into the truck in the manner desired,
whilst by raising said leaf or extension to a suitable angle it will serve as a
stop to the end of the shoot and arrest the supply of pigs without the necessity
for stopping the machinery whilst removing a filled truck and replacing it by
an empty one.
723
When dealing with slag or the like, the cooling device consisting of the annular
trough and also the elevator may be dispensed with and the moulded blocks
discharged directly into trucks or other conveyors but in this case a tank water
spray or other means must be employed to cool the contents of the moulds during
their transit from the filling trough.
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. Means for casting or moulding molten iron or other material, comprising
a long girder-like structure at each end furnished with chain wheels, a pair of
parallel endless chains mounted on said chain wheels, a series of moulds having
overlapping lips and each formed with a pair of apertured lugs at the front and
a similar pair at the rear, said pairs being differentially spaced so that one pair
fits between or overlaps the opposite pair of the next adjacent mould, an axle
passing through said overlapping Jugs and prolonged considerably beyond the
moulds and formed with journals which constitute the pins or shackles connecting
the links of the chains, two pairs of parallel horizontal beams forming part of the
gider-like structure and located at a distance from the moulds each pair being
arranged in a different horizontal plane; fixed bearings carried by the parallel
beams at short intervals, journalled axles mounted in said bearings, wheels or
rollers fixed upon each axle in the paths of the chains in such manner as to
form a rolling support for the same and prevent sagging, and means for imparting
continuous rotary motion to one set of chain wheels, substantially as herein
shown and described and for the purpose stated.
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2. Means for casting or moulding molten iron or other material, comprising
a pair of parallel endless chains mounted upon chain wheels and traversing
a roller support consisting of wheels or rollers carried by a suitable structure, a
series of moulds mounted upon axles carried by the chains, the bearings for
the axles of the supporting rollers and the bearings for the axles of the moulds 5

page_text: being located at the sides of and at a distance from the moulds so as to place the
same beyond the influence of the extreme heat and admit of the proper lubrication
thereof, means for conducting the molten material to the moulds and means
for imparting continuous rotary motion to one set of chain wheels, substantially
as herein shown and described and for the purpose stated.
3. Means for casting or moulding molten iron, comprising a series of coupled
moulds carried by axles, means for supporting and traversing said moulds the
bearings of the axles and supporting and traversing means being located at
the sides of and at a considerable distance from the moulds so as to place the
same beyond the influence of the extreme heat and admit of the proper lubrication
thereof, substantially as herein shown and described.
4. Means for casting or moulding molten iron or other material, comprising an
endless belt of moulds, means for supporting and traversing said moulds, means
located at the filling end of the apparatus for conducting the molten material
to the moulds, a water tank located at the delivery end of said apparatus, a
rotary platform or conveyor within said tank receiving motion in any suitable
manner, an inclined plane, shoot or grid for receiving the pigs of iron or the
like from the belt of moulds and delivering the same on to the rotary platform,
a well or lateral offshoot from the tank, a table mounted in the well, means
for sweeping the pigs off the rotary platform or conveyor on to the table and
an elevator for raising the pigs from the table of the well and depositing them
in a truck or other conveyance, substantially as herein shown and described and
for the purpose stated.
5. Means for casting or moulding molten iron or other material, comprising
an endless belt of moulds, means for supporting and traversing said moulds,
means located at the filling end of the apparatus for conducting the molten
material to the moulds, an annular water tank located at the delivery end of said
apparatus, an annular platform within said tank supported upon wheeled
hangers running upon a rail traversing the inner wall of the tank, means for
giving motion to the hangers, means for conducting the pigs from the endless
belt of moulds to the annular platform and for removing the pigs from the
rotary platform and delivering them to a truck or the like, substantially as
herein shown and described and for the purpose stated.
6. Means for casting molten iron or other material, comprising an endless helt
of moulds, means for supporting and traversing said moulds, means located at
the filling end of the apparatus for conducting the molten material to the moulds,
an annular water tank located at the delivery end of said apparatus, an annular
platform or conveyor within said tank supported upon wheeled hangers running
upon a rail traversing the inner wall of the tank, a vertical shaft located axially
of the annular tank, means for driving said shaft, radial arms carried by the upper
end of the shaft for engaging and giving motion to the hangers, a well or lateral
offshoot from the tank, a table mounted in the well an angularly disposed guide
or deflecting plate for sweeping the pigs off the annular platform or conveyor
on to the table and an elevator for raising the pigs from the table and depositing
them in a truck or other conveyance, substantially as herein shown and described
and for the purpose stated.
7. Means for casting or moulding molten iron or other material, comprising
an endless belt of moulds, means for supporting and traversing said moulds,
means located at the filling end of the apparatus for conducting the molten
material to the moulds, a water tank located at the delivery end of said apparatus,
a rotary platform or conveyor within said tank receiving motion in any suitable
manner, means for receiving the pigs from the chain of moulds and delivering
the same on to the rotary platform, a well or lateral offshoot from the tank, a
table mounted in the well, means for, sweeping the pigs off the rotary platform
or conveyor on to the table and an elevator for raising the pigs froni the table
and depositing them in a truck or other conveyance, said elevator consisting
of an inclined plane of bars between which project studs carried by endless chains

page_text: passing around drums one of which is driven, the bars at the upper part of the
device being carried over the upper drum in the shape of an are and continued
in the form of an inclined plane or shoot adapted to deliver the pigs into a truck
or other conveyance, substantially as herein shown and described and for the
purpose stated.
Dated this 23rd day of March 1899
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