CA1048734A - Hot top corner wedge - Google Patents

Hot top corner wedge

Info

Publication number
CA1048734A
CA1048734A CA74202870A CA202870A CA1048734A CA 1048734 A CA1048734 A CA 1048734A CA 74202870 A CA74202870 A CA 74202870A CA 202870 A CA202870 A CA 202870A CA 1048734 A CA1048734 A CA 1048734A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
panels
flanges
sheet metal
wedge
engaging
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA74202870A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
George Dowidchuk
James R. Stockham
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Oglebay Norton Co
Original Assignee
Oglebay Norton Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Oglebay Norton Co filed Critical Oglebay Norton Co
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1048734A publication Critical patent/CA1048734A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B22CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
    • B22DCASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES
    • B22D7/00Casting ingots, e.g. from ferrous metals
    • B22D7/06Ingot moulds or their manufacture
    • B22D7/10Hot tops therefor
    • B22D7/106Configuration of hot tops

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Furnace Housings, Linings, Walls, And Ceilings (AREA)
  • Load-Bearing And Curtain Walls (AREA)

Abstract

Abstract of the Disclosure: The tapered corner wedge made of a sheet metal material is utilized to press refractory panels into tight abutting engagement with the walls of an ingot mold or the like. The corner wedge cooperates with the refractory panels and provides a spring action which urges the panels against the walls of the ingot mold. The corner wedge is made of two pieces of sheet metal which are welded together. Each of the pieces has a tapered configuration and when welded together, provides a generally X-shaped cross section. The legs of the X-shaped configuration form flanges which engage corner portions of adjacent refractory panels.

Description

~)4~739~
Backqround of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in hot tops, and particularly relates to an improved corner wedge for retaining refractory panel members in tight abutting engagement with the surfaces of a mold or the like in which the refractory panels are inserted.
Corner wedges for applying a force to press re-fractory panels against the surface of an ingot mold or the like are known. A prior art discloses a corner wedge con-struction for performing this function. In that patent, thecorner wedge is located in a groove which must be formed on the face of the refractory panel to receive the wedge. Also, refractory corner panels have been utilized which have been wedge-shaped to perform a similar function.

Summary of the Invention The present invention provides for a new and improved hot top structure, and particularly a new and improved corner wedge for pressing refractory panels into tight abutting en-gagement with the surface of an ingot mold in which the re-fractory panels are positioned. The present structure does not rely on any grooves or the like being formed in the sur-face of the refractory panels. In addition, the present ~tructure provides a substantial spring force which acts to resiliently press the panels against the surface of the mold.
This spring action enables the proper cooperation to be ob-tained between the wedge members and panels, even though
-2-~04~7;~
broad manufacturing tolerances are utili~ed during fabrication of the wedges, and even though mold installations may vary in dimension.
According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for use in a hot top having a pair of refractory panels which engage angularly disposed side walls of an ingot mold or casing defining a cavity for receiving molten metal and which panels have a front surface facing the interior of the casing, a rear surface engaging a wall thereof and converging side edge surfaces interconnecting the front and rear surfaces, said apparatus comprising wedge means for engaging the front surfaces of the panels and adjacent side edge surface to press the panels into tight abutting engagement with the side walls, said wedge means comprising an elongate corner wedge member made of a pair of sheet metal members each having a web portion extending between said panels whereat the sheet metal members are attached to each other and two flanges projecting angularly from said web portion so that the wedge means is generally x-shaped in cross-section, said two flanges from one of said sheet metal members for engaging the side edge surfaces of the panel and said two flanges from the other of said sheet metal members for engaging the front face of the panels. Thus, the flanges co-operate with the edges of the adjacent panels and act to force the panels laterally and rear-wardly against the surface of the mold. When driven between adjacent panels,the web portions tend to separate and apply the forces to the panels.
Brief Description of the Drawings Further features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from the following ~' detailed description thereof made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a top plan view of a hot top assembly utilizing the corner wedges of the present invention;
Figure 2 is an elevational view taken generally along the line 2-2 of Figure 1, illustrating the configuration of a E~
, 104~il7~4 refractory panel used in the hot top assembly of Fig. l;
Fig. 3 is an elevational view of a corner wedge embodied in the mold of Fig. l;
Fig. 4 is a top plan view taken generally along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view taken generally along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;
Fig. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged view of one portion of the corner wedge of Fig. 3; and Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view showing on an enlarged scale the corner wedge in operative position.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment As noted hereinabove, the present invention provides a new and improved hot top assembly, and particularly a new and improved corner wedge for wedging refractory panels against a mold wal] or casing in which the panels are utilized.
The corner wedge embodying the present invention may be utilized in a variety of different hot top environments, and may be used with panels disposed in an ingot mold or in a metallic casing adapted to be associated with the mold. For purposes of example only, the preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed as applied to a hot top structure which is associated with an ingot mold 10, as shown in Fig. 1.
The ingot mold 10 may be of any conventional con-struction, and at the upper end of the ingot mold a re-1~)4~739 fractory hot top assembly is provided so as to maintain a molten mass of metal in the upper end of the ingot mold to feed the shrinkage cavity in the mold as the molten metal which is poured into the mold cools. The hot top assembly includes a plurality of refractory panels 11, 12, 13 and 14, all having the same general configuration illustrated in Fig. 2.
The refractory panels 11-14 may be made of any con-ventional or known refractory material composition and such will not be described herein in detail. In general, the panels are of refractory material and provide the insulating barrier so as to maintain the molten mass of metal in the upper end of the ingot mold to provide for feeding of molten metal to the shrinkage cavity in the mold as the metal in the mold cools.
The refractory panels 11-14 each include a front major surface 20 which faces into a rectangular metal receiv-ing cavity at the upper end of the mold and a rear major surface 21 which is disposed in a tight abutting engagement with the wall of the mold. The major surfaces 20, 21 are interconnected by minor or side edge surfaces 22, 23. The minor surfaces 22, 23 form equal angles, generally designated A in Fig. 1, with the front surface 20. The angle A is an obtuse angle, although it may be an acute angle or a right angle, insofar as the present invention is concerned.

~)48734 As best shown in Fig. 2, the panels are tapered, that is, the upper edge of the panels which is generally designated 25 is narrower than the lower edge which is generally designated 26. This, of course, means that the side surfaces 22, 23 are tapered relative to the mold.
When initially positioned in the mold 10, it is conventional to support the panels 11, 12, 13 and 14 in posi-tion with a suitable hanger or the like. The particular hanger construction forms no part of the present invention and will not be described herein. However, it should be clear that when the panels 11-14 are originally positioned ~ in the mold, a suitable hanger which is associated with the j refractory panels is utilized to support the panels in proper position in the ingot mold.
After the panels 11-14 are properly supported in position in the ingot mold, it is necessary to hold the panels against the inner side surfaces of the ingot mold so that the rear major surfaces 21 of the panels tightly engate the inner surfaces of the mold to prevent molten metal from creeping up between the panels and the ingot mold. This creepage of the molten metal results in a defective or ineffective heat-insulating barrier and can detrimentally affect the formation of an ingot.

i In accordan~e with the present invention, a plurality of identical corner wedge structures 30 are utilized to press the rear surfaces 21 of the refractory panels 11-14 against the inner side surfaces of the mold 10. In addition to press-lU4~7~34 ing the rear surfaces 21 of the panels 11-14 against the inside surfaces of the mold, the corner wedge ~tructures 30 wedgingly lock the panels 11-14 against movement relative to each other.
To accornplish this, the corner structures 30 are effective to apply force components against the major or front surfaces 21 of the panels and against minor or side surfaces 22, 23 of the panels.
Each of the corner wedge structures 30 shown in Figs. 3-5 comprises a sheet metal assembly which is axially tapered and has a generally X-shaped cross-sectional config-uration. A corner wedge structure 30 is comprised of a pair of generally U-shaped sheet metal members, one of which is designated 31 and the other designated 32. Each of the sheet metal parts 31, 32 has a base or web portion 31a, 32a, (Fig. 6) respectively. The base portions 31a, 32a are welded together at a plurality of locations which are designated 35 in Fig. 3.
The base portions 31a, 32a are axially tapered so that they extend downwardly from a relatively large top edge portion 38 (Figs. 3 and 4) to a relatively small bottom edge portion 39.
This tapering is best seen in Fig. 3 where the lines X and Y
designate the boundaries of the base portions 31a, 32a, and it is clear that the lines X and Y converge as they extend downwardly from the upper edge 38 of the wedge to the lower edge 39 thereof.
Each of the generally U-shaped sheet metal members 31, 32 is provided with flanges which diverge away from each other. The flanges on the member 31 are designated 40 and 41 and are best shown in Fig. 4. Similarly, the flanges on the 1l)4873~
member 32 are designated 42 and 43, respectively. The pair of flanges 40, 42 of the interconnected members 31 and 32 forms an angle B therebetween which is approximately equal to the angle A
as shown in Fig. 1. Of course, manufacturing tolerances could result in their angles unequal. The opposite pair of flanges 41, 43 also define an angle B, as shown.
The corner wedges 30 are utilized effectively to force the adjacent panels 11-14 into a tight abutting engagement with the inner side surfaces of the mold 10 and also to wedgingly interlock the adJacent panels 11-14 to provide a complete hot top structure which is unitarily held together in the mold in a very rigid and secure manner. In order to perform this function, when the panels 11, 12, 13 and 14 have been positioned in the ingot mold, the corner wedges 30 are then driven into position to force each of the panels into proper cooperating relationship with the ingot mold and with the adjacent panels.
As the corner wedges are driven between the panels, the flanges engage the front face and side faces of the panels. As the corner wedges are driven, the web portions 31a, 32a tend to separate, as best shown in Fig. 7, and can separate due to the resilient nature thereof. As a result, the web portions along wlth the cooperating flanges apply a ~orce to the panels, acting to move the panels against the wall of the mold, as well as a force actlng to move the panels or force the panels laterally along the wall, as indlcated by the arrows A and B in Fig. 7. In fact, as shown in exaggerated condition in Fig. 7, the web por-tions 31a, 32a may separate to a condition where the flanges en-gage the panels at a bearing point rather than having full surface contact therewith. It should be clear, however, that the flanges
3 40, 41 are applying a force to the panels, urging the panels against the wall of the mold, which force is designated B, and that the flanges 42, 43 are applying a force against the side ~487~4 edge surfaces of the panels tending to urge the panels laterally along the wall and into engagement with either an ad~acent panel or, as shown in Fig. 1~ the cooperating corner wedge structure.
The result of the action of the corner wedge is that the panels are urged into a tight abutting engagement with the mold wall and thereby prevent molten metal from creeping between the rear surfaces 21 of the panels and the inner surface of the mold.
In addition, the construction is such that there is a minimum tendency for the corner wedges to slip out of cooperative engage-ment with the panels due to the interlocking between the corner wedges and the panels.
Although only the gripping action between the corner wedge structure 30a and the refractory panel 14 has been exten-sively described herein, it should be understood that the other pairs of flanges on the corner wedge structures cooperate with the other refractory panelæ in much the same manner. It should also s be understood that the resilient deflection of the base or web ; portlons of the corner wedge structure provides that the panels , will be firmly interlocked against movement relative to each other and the wal1s ln the mold 10.

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Claims (5)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. An apparatus for use in a hot top having a pair of refractory panels which engage angularly disposed side walls of an ingot mold or casing defining a cavity for receiving molten metal and which panels have a front surface facing the interior of the casing, a rear surface engaging a wall thereof and converging side edge surfaces interconnecting the front and rear surfaces, said apparatus comprising wedge means for engaging the front surfaces of the panels and adjacent side edge surface to press the panels into tight abutting engagement with the side walls, said wedge means com-prising an elongate corner wedge member made of a pair of sheet metal members each having a web portion extending between said panels whereat the sheet metal members are attached to each other and two flanges projecting angularly from said web portion so that the wedge means is generally x-shaped in cross-section, said two flanges from one of said sheet metal members for engaging the side edge surfaces of the panel and said two flanges from the other of said sheet metal members for engaging the front face of the panels.
2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second end portions comprise first and second flanges for engaging the side edge surfaces of the panels and said third and fourth end portions comprise third and fourth flanges for engaging the front side of the panels.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein one of said sheet metal members includes a first resiliently deflectable base portion disposed inter-mediate said first and second flanges, and the other sheet metal member com-prises a second resiliently deflectable base portion disposed intermediate said third and
Claim 3 - cont'd fourth flanges, and connector means for interconnecting said first and second base portions in one area and for enabling said first and second base portions to be resiliently deflected apart under the influence of forces applied to said flanges by the refractory panels.
4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said first and third flanges have angularly disposed inner surfaces which define an angle which is substantially equal to the angle included between the front and side edge surfaces of the refrac-tory panel engaged thereby.
5. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the pair of refractory panels are wedge shaped and said corner wedge member has a tapered configuration.
CA74202870A 1973-06-28 1974-06-19 Hot top corner wedge Expired CA1048734A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US00374365A US3856258A (en) 1973-06-28 1973-06-28 X-shaped hot top corner wedge

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1048734A true CA1048734A (en) 1979-02-20

Family

ID=23476482

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA74202870A Expired CA1048734A (en) 1973-06-28 1974-06-19 Hot top corner wedge

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US3856258A (en)
CA (1) CA1048734A (en)
FR (1) FR2234941B1 (en)
GB (1) GB1480136A (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1497087A (en) * 1975-02-18 1978-01-05 Foseco Int Securing device
US4636107A (en) * 1982-03-30 1987-01-13 Plus Manufacturing Co., Inc. Reformed in place resilient retention springs

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3749350A (en) * 1971-07-29 1973-07-31 Universal Refractories Corp Clip means for holding inserts in molds

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1480136A (en) 1977-07-20
FR2234941B1 (en) 1982-02-12
FR2234941A1 (en) 1975-01-24
US3856258A (en) 1974-12-24

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