GB2030490A

GB2030490A - Multi-part ingot mold

Info

Publication number: GB2030490A
Application number: GB7838252A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1978-09-26
Filing date: 1978-09-26
Publication date: 1980-04-10
Also published as: GB2030490B

Abstract

A ingot mold formed of a plurality of side wall sections (e.g. 12'') which when assembled define the side periphery of a mold cavity, with a planar surface 50 on the side wall sections for coaction with surfaces on the adjacent sections for forming the wall sections together into an integral unitary ingot mold. Clips 44 are provided coacting with flanges 42 on the wall sections and automatically compensating for the expansion and retraction of the mold sections during heating and cooling of the mold. The interior surface of each mold section may be sinuous for aiding in stress relief of the formed ingot, and aiding in preventing molten metal leakage from the mold. The clips are preferably of high Ni austentic stainless steel and return to their original form upon cooling after heating. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Sectional ingot mold This invention relates to a sectional ingot mold and more particularly to a reusable sectional ingot mold of improved construction. Connecting means coupling the mold sections together automatically com pensateforthe expansion and retraction of the mold sections during the pouring operation on the mold, and subsequent cooling thereof.

Background of the invention Sectional ingot molds are known in the prior art.

U.S. patent 496,736 issued May 2, 1893 to C.

Hodgson and U.S. patent 1,224,277 issued May 1, 1917 to F. Clarke, are examples of known sectional mold constructions. U.S. patents 354,742 issued December 1886 to J. Sabold, and British patent 13446 of A.D. 1900 in the name of Stephen Appleby, et al and entitled 'Improvements In or Connected With Ingot Molds', disclosed sectional mold arrange ments embodying means for relieving stress on the fastening bolts thereof due to the expansion of the molten metal. However, such prior art sectional molds have not always been satisfactory, due in part to often times leakage of molten material occurring between the mold sections during the pouring of the molten metal into the mold cavity and subsequent solidification of the metal, or due to the complexity and/or costs of such arrangements.

Summary ofthe invention The present invention provides a novel sectional ingot mold construction wherein the mold is com prised of a plurality of separable mold sections defining a mold cavity and having means on the mold sections adapted for coupling the sections together into an integral mold. The interior cavity forming surfaces of the mold sections are preferably sinuous substantially throughout their extent. Con nection means coupling the mold sections together automatically compensate for expansion and retrac tion of the mold assembly during pouring of molten metal into the mold and the resultant heating and subsequent cooling thereof.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a novel sectional ingot mold.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sectional ingot mold which embodies means for permitting expansion of the mold sections relative to one another and aiding in sealing the mold sections to prevent leakage of molten metal from the mold cavity during the pouring and the cooling of the ingot.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a sectional mold in accordance with the above which includes a sinuous configuration on the interior surface of the mold sections, for aiding in relieving 'as cast' stress in the resultant ingot, and aiding in preventing leakage of molten metal from the mold.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a sectional ingot mold which has laterally projecting flanges on the mold sections adapted for receiving fastener means for coupling the mold sectiong together into an integral mold defining an ingot mold cavity, and with said fastener or coupling means automatically compensating for expansion and retraction of the mold assembly during the pouring operation on the mold assembly, and subsequent heating and cooling thereof.

Brief description of the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of sectional ingot mold embodying the invention and wherein the coupling means holding the mold sections together into an integral mold defining cavity are so constructed and arranged to automatically compensate for expansion and retraction of the mold assembly during the pouring operation and subsequent cooling.

Figure 2 is a reduced size top plan view of one of the clips used to couple the mold sections together in the Figure 1 assembly; Figure 3 is an elevational view of the clip of Figure 2 taken generally along the plane of line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; while Figure 4 is a fragmentary, elevational view-of the Figure 1 mold showing separation of the mold sections due to the heating of the mold upon pouring the ingot.

Description ofpreferred embodiment Referring now again to the drawings, there is illustrated an ingot mold 10" embodying the present invention. Such ingot mold, in the embodiment illustrated, comprises mold sections 12", 14", 16" and 18" coupled together. Each of sections 12", 14", 16" and 18" may have smooth exterior wall surfaces 20" and generally wave-like or sinuous interior surfaces 22'. Surfaces 22' are adapted to facilitate stress relief in the ingot as cast, as well as aiding in preventing leakage of molten metal from the mold cavity.

The mold may be open from end to end thereof, and during pouring of an ingot, may be set in a sand area for furnishing the bottom for the mold. The mold sections may be formed of any suitable material, but steel or cast iron is conventionally utilized. It will be seen that in the event of breakage or the wearing out of one mold section, that another section can be readily substituted for the broken or worn out section, so that the entire mold does not have to be replaced. Moreover, the sectional construction provides for expansion and contraction of the mold sections during heating and cooling, and eliminates stresses and strains found in one-piece or unitary molds.

There may be provided lugs or projections 38' at the upper end portion of the respective mold section, with such lugs appearing on at least certain of the mold sections, and adapted for lifting purposes so that once the ingot has solidified, the mold can be raised as for instance by a crane or the like, utilizing a lift chain about the lugs 38', and shaken, to shake the ingot out of the mold. If the mold is of open bottom construction, the ingot will slide out of the bottom of the mold.If it turns out that the solidified ingot cannot be dislodged from the mold, then the mold sections can of course be opened after sufficient cooling, by loosening of fasteners 44, to separate the mold sections and provide for removal of the ingot.The side ends of each separable mold sections 12", 14", 16" and 18" is provided with laterally projecting flanges or lugs 26", 26a". Each of the lugs or flanges 26", 26a" is adapted for abutting engagement as at 40, with confronting flange or lug of the adjacent mold section, to define the ingot mold cavity 28. Flanges or lugs 26", 26a" preferably extend the full height of the respective mold section, as illustrated, and embody spaced sections 42 of reduced sizefora purpose to be hereinafter set forth.

The interior sinuous surface 22' of each mold section preferably extends for the full height of the respective mold section.

Clip or fastener members 44 may be of generally C-shaped configuration in plan (Figure 2) for coaction with the adjacent flange or lug portions 26", 26a" for clamping the mold sections together into an integral mold assembly. Each clip or fastener 44 is formed of metal and comprises a body portion 46, and arm portions 47 projecting laterallyfrom said body portion in generally coverging relation with respect to one another, as can be best seen in Figure 2, with the arm portions being adapted to clasp the adjacent flange or lug of the mold section therebetween in coupling relation.

Body portion 46 is preferably provided with a generally planar abutment surface 50 adapted for surface-to-surface engagement with the generally flat faces 52' of the adjacent flanges of the mold assembly. The clips are inserted into the reduced size sections 42 of the flanges, with the arm portions being readily received in encompassing relation to the reduced size sections 42, and then the clips are moved or driven into tight coacting relation with the wider portions of the flanges, for clamping the mold sections tightly together. As can be seen, the vertical gripping faces 52 of the clips are preferably tapered (Figure 3) for facilitating their movement from the reduced size section 42 of the flanges into tight coacting relation with the wider portions of the coacting flanges.This taper may be in the order of 4" to 5 , but is shown in exaggerated form for illustrative purposes.

The mold sections 12", 14", 16" and 18" may be formed for instance of grey cast iron, while the clips may be formed of stabilized austenitic stainless steel. A suitable type of stainless steel material for use for the clips is that known as 330 stainless, purchasable from the Republic Steel Corporation of Cleveland and described in, for instance, its publication SDB 22774-10M-872.8. Stabilized austenitic stainless is characterized by having a relatively high nickel content, with the stainless steel material possessing elasticity to return back to its original condition after it has been heated up to a relatively high temperature (e.g. 2800"F. to 3200"F). In other words, this material has 'memory' which causes it to return to substantially its original condition after cooling thereof.

Referring now to Figure 4, there is diagrammatically illustrated a fragment of an adjacent pair of flanges of the mold assembly of Figure 1 wherein the mold has been heated by pouring a charge of molten metal thereinto which of course results in a substantial raising of the temperature of the mold. The molten metal poured into the mold may be at a temperature of for instance 28000F. to 3000"F. The resultant relatively rapid heating of the mold sections causes the sections to expand. This expansion is aided and abetted by the hydraulic pressure of the molten metal in the mold.The material of the clips 44 has a lower coefficient of thermal expansion as compared to the material of the mold sections, and they too expand due to the heating up of the mold including the flange portions 26", 26a". As shown in Figure 4, the mold sections visibly expand as the ingot commences to solidify actually causing the flanges to separate and with actual visible spaces 55 of 1/8 to 1/4 inch opening up between the adjacent flanges 26", 26a" of the mold assembly. The molten metal does not flow out of these spaces 55 because the metal has formed a skin as the mold flanges separate, preventing the molten metal in the interior of the mold cavity from fiowing out.However, gases that may exist in the molten metal can escape during this expansion of the mold sections relative to one another due to the thermal elevation. The clips, because they expand at a lesser rate as compared to the material of the mold sections resist the expansion of the mold sections sufficiently so that the mold assembly maintains its assembed relationship, and the molten metal within the mold cavity slowly solidifies into an ingot As the mold cools the ingot cools and shrinks along with the shrinking of the mold sections, and a substantially abutting relationship between the confronting surfaces of the mold section flanges as at 40 once again returns, with the clips tightly holding the mold sections together.Thus, it will be seen that the stainless steel clips while they permit expansion of the mold sections relative to one another, resist such expansion and once the mold cools down to a predetermined temperature, the clips contract back to their original shape in clasping relation to the mold sections. Removal of the ingot from the mold can be accomplished either by lifting it with the lifting lugs 38' on a crane and shaking the ingot out, or by, if need by, removal of the clips thereby permitting separation of the mold sections and removal of the ingot. The action of the clips permits reuse of the mold upon removal of the ingot.

From the foregoing description and accompanying drawings, it will be seen that the invention provides a novel sectional ingot mold comprising a plurality of mold sections having means thereon for coupling the mold sections together into an integral mold defining a mold cavity, for pouring an ingot, and wherein the interior mold cavity forming surfaces of the mold sections may be of sinuous configuration. Fastener or connecting means hold the mold sections together as an integral mold assembly and automatically compensate for expansion and retraction of the mold components, and permit separation of the mold sections relative to one another during the thermal elevation thereof.

The terms and expressions which have been used are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of any of the features shown or described, or portions thereof, and it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

Claims

1. A sectional ingot mold comprising a plurality of separable metal side wall sections which when assembled define at least in part a mold cavity, means coacting on each of said sections for coupling the mold sections together, said means comprising fastener means coacting between the adjacent mold sections for detachably coupling the latter together along generally vertically extending juncture surfaces, said fastener means being capable of holding said mold sections together in relative position to each other and preventing leakage of molten metal from between mold sections, said fastener means being comprised of a material possessing memory and providing automatic compensation for expansion and retraction of said mold sections relative to one another upon pouring of molten metal into the mold and the resultant heating and subsequent cooling thereof, said fastener means resisting but not preventing separation of said juncture surfaces of each mold section during said heating by expanding at a lesser rate as compared to the material of said mold sections and returning to substantially their original preheated size condition after the cooling thereof to cause said juncture surfaces to return to generally abutting relation.

2. A sectional ingot mold comprising a plurality of separable metal side wall sections which when assembled define at least in part a mold cavity, means coacting on each of said sections for coupling the mold sections together, said means comprising fastener means coacting between adjacent mold sections for detachably coupling the latter together along generally vertically extending juncture surfaces, said fastener means being capable of holding said mold sections together in relative position to each other and preventingnleakage of molten metal from between the mold sections, said fastener means comprising clips formed of a material possessing memory and providing automatic compensation for expansion and retraction of said mold sections relative to one another upon pouring of molten metal into the mold and the resultant heating and subsequent cooling thereof, said fastener means resisting but not preventing separation of said juncture surfaces of each mold section during said heating and returning to substantially their original preheated size condition after the cooling thereof to cause said juncture surfaces to return to generally abutting relation.

3. A mold in accordance with Claim 1 wherein the first mentioned means includes flanges on the respective mold section projecting laterally outwardly therefrom, said fastener means coacting between adjacent flanges for detachably holding adjacent mold sections together in relative position to each other, and wherein said flanges are so formed and configured for coaction with metal linkage parts comprising said fastener means, for forcing opposing mold sections together in leakage preventing relation.

4. A mold in accordance with Claim 1 wherein the first mentioned means includes flanges on the respective mold section projecting laterally outwardly therefrom, said fastener means coacting between adjacent flanges for detachably holding adjacent mold sections together in relative position to each other and wherein the mold cavity extends completelythrough the mold and wherein the assembled mold is adapted to be oriented in upright position on a base which forms the bottom of the mold cavity during the pouring operation of an ingot, said fastener means clamping said adjacent flanges together and being comprised of metallic material having a lower coefficient of thermal expansion as compared to that of the material of said mold sections.

5. A mold in accordance with Claim 1 wherein the first mentioned means includes flanges on the respective mold section projecting laterally outwardly therefrom said fastener means coacting between adjacent flanges for detachably coupling adjacent mold sections together along said generally vertically extending juncture surfaces, and including means on a least certain of the mold sections providing projections adapted for facilitating lifting of the mold after pouring of the ingot and solidification thereof, said fastener means clamping said adjacent flanges together and being comprised of metallic material having a lower coefficient of thermal expansion as compared to the material of said mold sections.

6. A mold in accordance with Claim 1 wherein the first mentioned means includes flanges on the respective mold section projecting laterally outwardly therefrom, said fastener means coacting between adjacent flanges for detachably coupling adjacent mold sections together along said generally vertically extending juncture surfaces and wherein said sections are formed of cast iron, said flanges extending continuously vertically for substantially the full height of the respective mold section, each of said flanges embodying portions spaced vertically therealong of reduced size as compared with the remainder of the flange, said reduced size portions on adjacent flanges being generally horizontally aligned in the assembled condition of said mold, said fastener means comprising clips clamping said adjacent flanges together and being comprised of metallic material having a lower coefficient of thermal expansion as compared to that of the material of said mold sections, said clips including tapered gripping faces thereon, and being adapted to be inserted into coaction with said reduced size portions of said flanges and then forced into tight coacting relation with the wider portions of the adjacent flanges, with said tapered gripping faces tightly clasping said adjacent flanges.

7. A mold in accordance with Claim 1 wherein the first mentioned means includes flanges on the respective mold section projecting laterally outward lytherefrom and extending continuously vertically for substantially the full height of the respective mold section, said fastener means coacting between adjacent flanges for detachably coupling adjacent mold sections together along said generally vertically extending juncture surfaces, each of said sections on the interior surfaces thereof comprising means aiding in preventing leakage of molten metal from between the mold sections during pouring and solidification ofthe ingot in the mold, the last mentioned means including a sinuous configuration on the interior surface of each of said mold sections, said sinuous configuration covering substantially the entire extent of the mold cavity defining interior surface of each mold section, with said configuration extending lengthwise generally parallel to the direction of extension of said vertically extending juncture surfaces between said mold sections for the full height of the respective mold section, said fastener means clamping said adjacent mold flanges together.

8. A mold in accordance with Claim 1 wherein the first mentioned means includes flanges on the respective mold section projecting laterally outwardly therefrom and extending continuously vertically for substantially the full height of the respective mold section, said fastener means coacting between adjacent flanges for detachably coupling adjacent mold sections together along said generally vertically extending juncture surfaces, each of said sections on the interior surface thereof comprising means aiding in preventing leakage of molten metal from between the mold sections during pouring and solidification of the ingot in the mold, the last mentioned means including a sinuous configuration on the interior surface of each of said mold sections, said sinuous configuration covering substantially the entire extent of the mold cavity defining interior surface of each mold section, with said configuration extending lengthwise generally parallel to the direction of extension of said vertically extending juncture surfaces between said mold sections for the full height of the respective mold section, said fastener means clamping said adjacent flanges together and comprising metal clips coacting with said adjacent flanges for forcing the latter together and thus holding the associated mold sections together, said clips having a lower coefficient of thermal expansion as compared to said mold sections, and wherein each of said mold sections has generally flat mitered end faces comprising said vertically extending juncture surfaces and defining in part the respective flange, each of said flanges embodying portions spaced vertically along the respective flange of reduced size compared with the remainder of the flange, said reduced size portions on adjacent flanges being generally horizontally aligned in the assembled condition of said mold, each of said clips comprising a body portion and arm portions projecting laterally from said body portion in converging relation with respect to one another, said body portion having a generally flat surface thereon intermediate said arm portions, said arm portions being adapted to clasp said adjacent flanges therebetween, and including vertically tapered gripping faces thereon, said clips being adapted to be inserted into said reduced size portions with said arm portions encompassing said reduced size portions of said flanges and then said clips are forced into tight coacting relation with the wider portions of the adjacent flanges, with said tapered gripping faces tightly clasping said adjacent flanges and said body portion surface engaging the confronting surfaces of the respective wider portion of said adjacent flanges.

9. A mold in accordance with Claim 1 wherein the first mentioned means includes flanges on the respective mold section projecting laterally outwardly therefrom and defining at least in part said generally vertically extending juncture surface, said flanges extending continuously vertically for sub stantiallythefull height of the respective mold section, said fastener means coacting between adjacent flanges for detachably coupling adjacent mold sections together, said fastener means clamping said juncture surface of said adjacent flanges together and comprising a plurality of vertically spaced metal clips coacting in generally encompassing relation with said adjacent flanges and clamping the latter together.

10. A mold in accordance with Claim 1 wherein each of said sections on the interior surface thereof comprises means aiding in preventing leakage of molten metal from between the mold sections during pouring and solidification of an ingot in the mold, the last mentioned means including a sinuous configuration on the interior surface of each of said mold sections covering substantially the entire extent of said interior surface and extending lengthwise generally parallel to said vertically extending juncture surfaces for the full height of the respective mold section, whereby the exterior of the formed ingot will have a corresponding wave formation thereon.

11. A mold in accordance with Claim 1 wherein the first mentioned means includes flanges on the respective mold section projecting laterally outwardly therefrom and extending continuously vertically for substantially the full height of the respective mold section, said fastener means coacting between adjacent flanges for detachably coupling adjacent mold sections together along said generally vertically extending juncture surfaces, said fastener means comprising metal clips coacting with said adjacent flanges for forcing the latter together and thus holding the associated mold sections together, and wherein each of said mold sections has generally flat mitered end faces comprising said vertically extending juncture surfaces and defining in part the respective flange, each of said flanges embodying portions spaced vertically along the respective flange of reduced size compared with the remainder of the flange, said reduced size portions on adjacent flanges being generally horizontally aligned in the assembled condition of said mold, each of said clips comprising a body portion and arm portions projection laterally from said body portion in converging relation with respect to one another, said body portion having a generallyflat surface thereon intermediate said arm portions, said arm portions being adapted to clasp said adjacent flanges therebetween, and including vertically tapered gripping faces thereon, said clips being adapted to be inserted into said reduced size portions with said arm portions encompassing said reduced size portions of said flanges and then said clips are forced into tight coacting relation with the wider portions of the adjacent flanges, with said tapered gripping faces tightly clasping said adjacent flanges and said body portion surface engaging the confronting surfaces of the respective wider portion of said adjacent flanges.

12. A mold in accordance with Claim 2 wherein said mold sections are formed from grey iron, and said clips are formed of stabilized austenitic stainless steel.

13. A mold in accordance with Claim 3 wherein the thickness of the side wall of each of said mold sections is substantially uniform throughout the width thereof, each of said mold sections having flat mitered end faces comprising said vertically extending juncture surfaces and defining in part a respective flange, said mold being formed of four of said mold sections of the same general size and structure, each of said flanges embodying portions spaced verticallytherealong of reduced size as compared with the remainder of the flange, said reduced size portions on adjacent flanges being generally horizontally aligned in the assembled condition of said mold, said fastener means comprising generally U-shaped clips clamping said adjacent flanges together and comprised of metallic material having a lower coefficient of thermal expansion as compared to that of the material of said mold sections, each said clips including tapered gripping faces and being adapted to be inserted into coaction with said reduced size portions and then forced into tight coacting relation with the wider portions of the adjacent flanges, with said tapered gripping faces tightly clasping said adjacent flanges for clamping said adjacent flanges together.

14. A mold in accordance with Claim 4 wherein said fastener means comprise metal clips coacting with said adjacent flanges for forcing the latter together and thus holding the associated mold sections together.