GB1469850A - Machine for electroslag refining and production of curved ingots - Google Patents

Abstract

1469850 Electroslag refining; moving-mould machines; continuous casting INST ELEKTROSVARKI IM E O PATONA AKAD NAUK UKRAIN SSR 30 Dec 1974 56040/74 Heading B3F An electroslag refining machine for producing curved ingots from curved consumable electrodes comprises a water cooled mould 1, on a frame 2, with curved walls 3, 4 to shape the refined ingot, with the radius of curvature being the same as the curved electrode 15 which is being milled. A drum 6, rotatably mounted on a shaft 5 at the common axis and driven by a drive 9 through a coupling 8, has attached through a bracket 10 an ingot base-plate 11 with dummy bar 12. An electrically insulated electrode holder 14 is mounted on the drum, and electrode 15 is attached by one end to holder 14. The electrode is supported by spring loaded rests 16 on drum 6, the rests being adapted to support the refined ingot 19 after casting. The other face of ingot 19 is supported from below by rollers 21. An electrical supply 20 is connected across holder 14 and base-plate 11. The operation is by rotating drum 6 to place base-plate 11 carrying the dummy bar 12 into engagement with the underside of mould 1, while electrode 15 is placed a short distance from base-plate 11. Slag is ladled into the mould and an electrical voltage applied between electrode 15 and base-plate 11. Due to the heat liberated in the slag, electrode 15 melts and forms a pool around bar 12 to form refined ingot 19. Drum 6 is then rotated at a controlled rate to withdraw the refined ingot 19, which rests on rests 16 and is supported by rollers 21. When the required length of ingot is obtained, the drum is halted and the current switched off. The stubs of electrodes 15 are removed, drum 6 further rotated to clear ingot 19 from mould 1, and the mould moved horizontally away from the drum. Drum 6 is then rotated to place ingot 19 in the " above drum " position, dummy bar 12 removed from base 11 and the ingot removed. Another embodiment (Figs. 3, 4, not shown) utilizes the surface of drum 6 as one of the mould walls, with passages (22) for supplying coolant. A flat (23) is made on drum 6 to permit removal of refined ingots 19, with a movable stop (24) mounted on frame 2 to prevent " twist " of the ingot during removal. A further embodiment replaces rests 16 by electrical insulating gaskets (28) which may be slag which are melted into the bath. A further embodiment (Figs. 5 and 6, not shown) permits the manufacture of ingots with toothed outer surfaces, by replacing mould wall 3 with a wall which extends around the periphery of drum 6 and rotates with it and contains recesses in the form of prefabricated elements (29) in the form of teeth, which fuse with the ingot during casting.