GB965333A - Casting plant for metals - Google Patents

Abstract

965,333. Casting-machines. F. MOELLER, and K. NEUMANN, [trading as MOELLER & NEUMANN o.H.G.]. April 5, 1962 [April 7, 1961], No. 13135/62. Heading B3F. In casting apparatus, particularly for zinc pigs, the metal is cast into stationary, open-topped moulds which rest on a conveyer for further transport after solidification, and a radiant hood or hoods is or are arranged to move over the moulds at the casting point to heat the upper surfaces of the castings during the solidification period. Pairs of mould 1,2; 3,4 and 5, 6 are filled in turn from a ladle 9, and associated radiant hoods 10, 11, 12 are moved into position over the moulds to heat the top of the castings while the ribbed bottoms of the moulds are simultaneously cooled by spraying. The hoods may be used to preheat the moulds before pouring. Pouring commences with the moulds tilted at an angle of about 30 degrees and ends with the moulds horizontal to prevent immediate hardening of the metal spreading out over the bottom of the mould. The moulds are then moved along the conveyer 7 and each, in turn is transferred by a pusher 18 to a device 19 which inverts the mould to allow the casting to fall out on to a conveyer 16 which carries it to rolling or heating &c. stations, the empty mould travelling in the opposite direction on a conveyer 17 to be returned, after cooling by sprays, to the casting station. The inverting device comprises two opposed roller platforms 29, 30. The entering mould is clamped to the platform 29 by means 36, 38, 43 and the roller platform 30 lowered by means 31 to engage the top of the casting. The device is inverted and the roller platform 30 lowered away from the mould carrying the ingot with it. The device is tilted slightly so that the ingots is gravity fed from the roller platform 30 to the conveyer 16, and then returned so that the mould may be unclamped and gravity fed to the conveyer 17. In a modification, the moulds are attached to an endless chain, the hood being arranged to travel in the direction of movement of the chain and to cover half the moulds on the upper chain run. Alternatively, the moulds may be mounted on a rotary table with a hood arranged to be turned about the centre of the table and a casting furnace travelling around the table.