GB2159742A

GB2159742A - Ingot mould

Info

Publication number: GB2159742A
Application number: GB08513193A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Achim Kubon
Original assignee: Mannesmann AG
Current assignee: Vodafone GmbH
Priority date: 1984-06-05
Filing date: 1985-05-24
Publication date: 1985-12-11
Also published as: IT8521023A0; FR2565137B3; GB8513193D0; IT1184566B; FR2565137A1; DE3420845A1; DE3420845C2

Abstract

An ingot mould for the discontinuous casting of molten metal is generally trough-shaped. In order to make the repair of the ingot mould more economical, and in order to reduce corrosion and thermal cycling, the ingot mould is constituted by an outer permanent mould body (1) and an inner replaceable mould member (3). The mould member (3) is detachably connected to the permanent mould body (1) in spaced relationship thereto, thereby defining cooling ducts (4) therebetween. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Ingot mould This invention relates to an ingot mould for the discontinuous casting of molten metal, in particular of non-ferrous molten metal.

Generally trough-shaped ingot moulds are used, for example, in pig casting machines, rotary casting machines, casting wheels and casting elevators for the production of ingots, bars, plates and similar castings weighing from a few hundred kilogrammes to 1000 kg (for, for example, lead ingots) and more.

Known ingot moulds are made of welded sheet steel components, and are subject to ageing due to corrosion and thermal cycling.

Such ingot moulds have to be repaired frequently, and are difficult to cool from the exterior owing to their thick walls. If a repair is likely to be unsuccessful, an ingot mould is scrapped prematurely. Consequently, ingot moulds of this type are uneconomical.

The aim of the invention is to provide an improved ingot mould.

The present invention provides a substantially trough-shaped ingot mould for the discontinuous casting of molten metal, the ingot mould being constituted by an outer permanent mould and at least one inner replaceable wear mould, the or each wear mould being detachably connected to the permanent mould in spaced relationship thereto, thereby defining cooling ducts therebetween.

This ingot mould has improved properties with respect to thermal stresses of the inserted wear mould(s). Other advantages are a saving of material in view of the ease of repairing the inserted wear mould(s), because the basic body (permanent mould) is retained; and an improved cooling action is obtained.

Overall, therefore, the economic viability of the ingot mould park increases considerably.

Moreover, the wear mould(s) can also be composed in part of a combination of different materials, or wall thicknesses, depending on the cooling requirements. The cooling process can, therefore, be controlled, and this is to be constrasted with known ingot moulds.

The inner surface of the or each mould charged with the molten metal can be covered by a protective layer. Very intensive discharge of heat is achieved, however, if the or each wear mould has a metallic surface.

Advantageously, the permanent mould is provided with ribs which extend towards the wear mould(s), the ribs constituting means for supporting the wear mould(s) in spaced relationship to the permanent mould. Preferably.

each pair of adjacent ribs defines a respective cooling duct. After removing the wear mould(s), the permanent mould can be cleaned to optimise cooling, and to improve its durability. A suitable surface treatment permits the use of inferior coolants.

Uniform support for the wear mould(s), as well as controlled coolant guidance, can be achieved if the ribs are spaced apart by short intervals and in rows.

Advantageously, the permanent mould can be cleaned to optimise cooling, and to improve its durability. A suitable surface treatment permits the use of inferior coolants.

Advantageously, the permanent mould is provided with at least one connector for coolant supply and with at least one connector for coolant discharge. Preferably, a coolant supply connector is provided in the lower region of the permanent mould, and a coolant discharge connector is provided in the upper region of the permanent mould. This is advantageous for intensive cooling, as the hot region of the ingot mould is charged first of all with the cooler coolant.

A more intensive cooling action is also achieved if the base region and/or the wall regions between the permanent mould and the wear mould(s) each form separately chargeable coolant circuits.

An advantageous support, and a seal for the cooling ducts, is also formed if respective resilient seals are arranged between the ribs and the wear mould(s). The or each wear mould withstands thermal stresses better because it is mounted substantially in floating manner on the seals.

An ingot mould constructed in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a vertical section through the ingot mould; Figure 2 is a plan view of the ingot mould; Figure 3 is a side elevation of the ingot mould; and Figure 4 shows, on an enlarged scale, a detail "X" of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, an ingot mould forms a trough which is open at the top, the ingot mould being constituted by a permanent mould 1 and a replaceable inserted wear mould 3. Cooling ducts 4 are formed between the permanent mould 1 and the wear mould 3. The wear mould 3 is provided with a metallic surface 3a for intensive discharge of heat, and for protection. The wear mould 3 and the permanent mould 1 are rigidly connected to one another by fixing elements 5.

Ribs 2 are fixed to the permanent mould 1 by means of weld seams 10 (see Fig. 4), the ribs extending inwardly towards the outer wall of the wear mould 3. The ribs 2 thus supporrthe wear mould 3 within the permanent mould 1.

Each pair of adjacent ribs 2a, 2b define a cooling duct 4. The ribs 2 are spaced apart by short intervals 2c (see Fig. 1) and in rows 2d.

The cooling ducts 4 formed by the ribs 2 are supplied with coolant (such as water), for which purpose connectors 6 and 7 are provided for coolant supply and discharge. The connector 6 is provided on the permanent mould 1 in the lower region (see Figs. 2 and 3), and the connector 7 is provided in the upper region. The base region 8a of the mould, and one or more wall regions 1 2a, 1 2b, can also be connected to separately chargeable coolant circuits 8 and 9.

Resilient seals 11 are provided between the flanges of the permanent mould 1 and the wear mould 3, and also between the free ends of the ribs 2 and the wear mould (see Fig. 4).

The permanent mould 1 generally preserves its length and form (as its thermal expansion is zero or approximately zero), with conventional coolant throughput, while the wear mould 3 is subject to a limited degree of thermal expansion. This thermal expansion is accommodated by the wear mould 3 sliding relative to the permanent mould 1. An advantageous sliding action of this type is possible because the wear mould 3 merely rests on the ribs 2. The fixing elements 5 secure the permanent mould 1 to the wear mould 3 only horizontally, so that the system allows degrees of freedom of movement in two directions inside the trough of the wear mould.

In use, molten metal (such as lead) is cast into the ingot mould, so as to form a lead bar after solidifying.

It will be apparent that the ingot mould described above could be modified in a number of ways. For example, the permanent mould 1 could support two or more wear moulds 3.

Claims

1. A substantially trough-shaped ingot mould for the discontinuous casting of molten metal, the ingot mould being constituted by an outer permanent mould and at least one inner replaceable wear mould, the or each wear ould being detachably connected to the permanent mould in spaced relationship thereto, thereby defining cooling ducts therebetween.

2. An ingot mould as claimed in claim 1, wherein the or each wear mould has a metallic surface.

3. An ingot mould as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the permanent mould is provided with ribs which extend towards the wear mould(s), the ribs constituting means for supporting the wear mould(s) in spaced relationship to the permanent mould.

4. An ingot mould as claimed in claim 3, wherein each pair of adjacent ribs defines a respective cooling duct.

5. An ingot mould as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the ribs are spaced apart by short intervals and in rows.

6. An ingot mould as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the permanent mould is provided with at least one connector for coolant supply and with at least one connector for coolant discharge.

7. An ingot mould as claimed in claim 7, wherein a coolant supply connector is provided in the lower region of the permanent mould, and a coolant discharge connector is provided in the upper region of the permanent mould.

8. An ingot mould as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the base region and/or the wall regions between the permanent mould and the wear mould(s) each form separately chargeable coolant circuits.

9. An ingot mould as claimed in claim 3, or in any one of claims 4 to 8 when appendant to claim 3, wherein respective resilient seals are arranged between the ribs and the wear mould(s).

10. An ingot mould substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated by, the accompanying drawings.