US1413034A

US1413034A - Copper-coating furnace

Info

Publication number: US1413034A
Application number: US351655A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ora A Kirkman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1920-01-15
Filing date: 1920-01-15
Publication date: 1922-04-18
Anticipated expiration: 1939-04-18

Description

0. A. KIRKMAN.

COPPER COMING FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED .|AN.15|192. Y 1,41 3,@34., Patented Apr. 18, 1922.

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INVENTOR WITNESSES #y www 0. A. KIRKIVIAN.

COPPER COATING FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. I5, 1920.

Patented Apr. 18, 1922.

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WITNESSES 0. A. KIRKIVIAN.

COPPER COMING FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. I5, 1920. .,413,@34 Patented Apr. 18, 1922 4 SHhES-SHEET 3. 1.2 FIE. l// g FI.5.7/70 /002 02 75 f g 76 a Mo- 75 ly; 6% 73 74 74 WITNESSES 0. A. KIRKIVIAN.

COPPER comme FURNACE. APPLICATION FILED IAN. I5, 1920.

Patented Apr. 18, 1922.

INVENTOR UNITED STATES ORA A. KIRKMAN, 0F KNOXVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

COPPER-COATING F'URINACE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr.. 18, 1922.

. Application ledanuary 15, 1920. Serial No. 351,655.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ORA A. K1RKMAN, .a iesident of Knoxville, inthe county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Copper-Coating Furnaces, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to furnaces, moulds, and methods used in the practice of coppercoating iron and steel billets.

Among the objects of the invention arel the providing of special furnaces for heating steel billets to a high temperature with the least possible exposure to oxidizing gases during the heating; means for removingsingle billets from such a furnace without exposing other billets therein to oxidation; means for removing the heated billets from the furnace directly to a casting mould; means for centering both ends of the billets in the casting mould and for accurately spacing and holding them in centered position during the casting process; and various improvements in the apparatus for carrying out the above mentioned and other objects whichA will more fully appear throughout the following specification.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. lis an elevation and vpartial vertical section of a furnace constructed for carrying out this invention, with means for vertically removing billets therefrom; Fig. 2 is an enlarged view ot' the same furnace, showing the methodof removing billets from the top thereof, and moulds .i p \sition to receive billets upon removal; Fig. 3 is an enlarged section showing a modification, in that apparatus is provided for-removing the billet from the under side of the furnace; Fig. 4 shows one of the moulds with a billet centered therein ready for casting; Fig. 5 is a central vertical section showing a different form of mould with centering devices in position; Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively plan and under side views of a removable centering device adapted to cooperate with the mould in holding the billets in proper position; Fig. 8 is a horizontal section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 3; Fig. 9 is a horizontal section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 3; Fig. 10 shows the-hoisting means partially illustrated in F ig. 3; and Figs. 11 and 12 are vertical cross sections of a modified furnace adapted to receive and discharge its billets laterally.

In coating a steel or iron billet'with cop-'- per, a billetof suitable size isfirst formed,

then treated chemically to remove the scale and oxides from its surface, then'it is lheated to a welding temperature in a muilie furnace filled with a non-oxidizing gas, practically out of contact with air, to prevent reoxidization, and thereafter molten copper is` poured around it in a mould of suitable size to providea space surrounding the billet of the thickness desired for the copper coating thereon. After the metal has solidified, and the copper has thus been welded directly to the billet, it is removed from the mould and rolled down to any desired size and shape. The ferrous billets. are ordinarily' four to seven inches in diameter and several inches in length, and usually round. But the shapes and sizes vary.

In the past, it has been the practice to position the steel or iron -billets after their chemical treatment in graphite moulds, in which the billets are then heated in an open furnace to a suitable temperature, the mould is then removed from the furnace, with the billet therein, and molten copper poured into it to surround and cover the billet-. Such graphite moulds are expensive and fragile.

Their life is comparatively short, and the mere provision of these moulds has amounted to a very heavy item of cost in the production of copper-clad billets. It is partly to avoid the necessity of using such special moulds and to permit the use of moulds of steel, cast iron, and such durable materials that the present invention has as an object,

although that is not the only benefit thatwill be apparent to those skilled in theart.

Referrin to Fig;v 1 theheating furnace for practicing this Ainvention is preferably supported on a frame work comprising vertical beams 1, seated upon a concrete floor 2 and carrying cross girders 3 upon which lare mountedcast iron plates 4 and vertical frame member 5 which in turn carry horizontal frame members 6, all connected together in such form as to enclose the brick work or walls 7 of a furnaceB. Above the furnace are cast iron plates 9.` This fur-v nace may be heated in any of the well known ways. Extending throu' h it ,are one or more compartments or tu les 10. These are made of highly refractoryl material and 4are openat their tops, or bottoms, or both. Their tops are normally closed by plugs 1.1, having eye bolts 12 set therein to facilitate their removal by any suitable form of hoist.

Thesefplugs have shoulders 13, adapted to seat upon the upper edge of the tubes 10,

to properly position the plug, and to sealthe tops thereof when the plugs are in position. The tubes are built through the top and bottom of the furnace so that there is no leakage therearound. Inside the furnace they are exposed on all sides to the heated gas therein.

Asbestos membersv 14 are positioned immediately below the bottom of the refractory tubes. Through these members are openings 15 adapted to permit free passage of vertlcal lifting plungers 16. The asbestos washers 14 are supported by castings 17, attached to the plates 4. These castings have passages to permit free travel of plunger rods 16 therethrough. Carried on the upper end of the plungers are cast iron heads 18 which in turn carry refractory blocks 19, adapted to support billets 2() while they are being heated in the exposed portions of the refractory tubes 10. It will be observed that the tops of the refractory blocks 19 are cut away to form a supporting neck 21, slightly smaller than the base of the billet seated thereon.

Beneath the furnace are tracks 22 upon which are mounted a truck 23 carrying rigid upright beams 24 near the tops of which are pulley wheels 25. A shaft 26 extends across the truck and carries at each end a' windlass 27 adapted to wind upon itself a cable 28 which passes over the pulley and has its other end vattached to the bottom of a lifting member 29 adapted to move vertically upward between the supports 24 as its guide. The shaft 26 carries a gear wheel 30 which is connected by a suitable worm to the shaft 31 of an electric motor 32, mounted on the carriage 23 and having a suitable control 33. A connection is also provided whereby the wheels 34 of the truck may be driven from this, or another motor, governed by a control 35, whereby the truck may be driven along the tracks 22. ,f This lifting device is adapted to raise the plungers 16.

Referring to Fig. 2, moulds 36 are shown in position above the refractory tubes. These are placed to receive the heated billets upon vertical upward removal from the furnace. These moulds are made of cast iron, steel, or other suitable material, and may be either integral or split, as may be preferred.

This form of mould has one end, as shown in Fig. 2, entirely open, and its other end has a restricted opening 37 formed by an inclined shoulder 38, partially closing the opening through the mould just at the bottom thereof. The interior of the shoulder' 38 forms a tapered seat 39. Projections 40 are provided on the outsides of the moulds to facilitate their handling. At the mouths of the moulds, that is the lower portions as shown on Fig. 2, trip dogs 41 yare provided. These are pivotally mounted in projections 42 on the sides of the moulds and have a weighted upper portion, and hooked ends 43 extending through openings 44 in the sides of the moulds. The under sides of the inner ends of the hooks 43 are beveled, as shown. The weighted portion of these hooks above their mounting will always tend to keep the hooks in closed position, as shown in Fig. 2, but they may be readily moved apart as described later.

Referring to Fig. 3, a somewhat different construction from that already described is shown, in that the refractory tubes are so made that billets may be withdrawn therefrom by removal from the bottom of the tube instead of or as Well as from the top. In this construction a casting 46 is mounted just beneath the ybottom of the refractory tube 10a. Two

slide gates

47 and 48 are mounted in this casting. These gates when in their closed position, as shown in Fig. 8 restrict the passage through the casting 46 to a small central opening 49 large enough to permit passage therethrough of the plunger' 16, the refractory billet support 19, Just beneath these gates is another slide gate 50, adapted to entirely close the opening through the casting. The lower end of the casting is formed into a flared bell-shaped depending skirt 5l. This skirt or bell is adapted to center and hold the top of a mould 36, used to receive a billet drawn from the under side of the furnace. This mould differs from the mould 36 in that it does not have the inclined shoulder 38 partially closing onev end, though by slight changes in the apparatus shown that could be used here also.

In Fig. 10 is shown the mould and billet lifting and lowering apparatus for the furnace of Fig. 3. This comprises `a cylinder 53, which may be mounted on the truck 23, or any other suitable movable support. Fluid pressure is supplied this cylinder by pipe 54 from any desired source, and is controlled to raise and lower the piston 55, upon which is mounted a supplementary cylinder 56, also connected to the source of iuid pressure by pipe 57, whereby to operate piston 58, on which is mounted the billet handling rod 16a. In removing a billet, a mould is placed on the support 59, the carriage 23 moved until the lifting apparatus is centered under the skirt 51, pressure is admitted to cylinder 53 to raise the piston 55 until the mould is held firmly in position as shown in Fig. Then gate 50 is withdrawn, pressure is admitted to cylinder 56 until the rod 162L supports the block 19a and the billet thereon. Then

gates

47 and 48 are withdrawn, pressure is released to lower piston In that position they form a seat for 58, until the billet is supported in mould 136 side.

clined restricted outlet at one end, after having received a billet it is reversed .and seated upon a supporting stool 60 (Fig. 5) which has an inclined receiving face 61 upon which the tapered end 62 of the mould 36a seats. The billet slides down into this conical receiving member and centers itself therein asshown in Fig. 5. The edges of the soft billet form a seal about its lower end, in th1s case, as also in that of the inclined mould 36.

In connection with all the forms of mouldsV used a gravity centering device 70 is provided. This member is formed with .a central open chamber 71, having a bottom 72, through which are holes 73. 'On the underside of the bottom 72 are beveled projections 74, lying next to the outer wall of the member, and having their beveled faces on the 1n- The upper part ber forms a shoulder 75, which is adapted to seat upon the edge of the moulds while the main body portion 76 of this centering member is adapted to iit accurately but easily in the interior of the mould. The length of thecylindrical portion 76 is such that the beveled lugs 74 will lnormally engage and centerthe upper end of a billet before the shoulder 7 5 seats upon the top of the mould.

The operation of the apparatus above described is as follows: l

Referring to the forms shown in Figs. 1 and 2 commencing the description with the beginning of the process, plungers 16 are raised to the position shown at the left of Fig. 2, the moulds 36 not being in position,

` billets 20 are positioned on the refractory blocks 19, and the plungers are then lowered to the position shown at the right of Fig. 2, the sealing plugs 11 are put into position to close the tops of the `tubes as shown in Fig. 1. After thebillets have been heated to vthe proper temperature by heat which passes from the furnace through the walls of the refractory tubes 10, thevplugs 11 are removed, moulds 36 placed lin lposition as .shownin Fig. '2 and the plungers raised Aas shown in-the left of the figure, thus carrying the heated billet upward out of the furnace and into the mould, as shown at the leftof Fig 2. A temporary seal as of paper is preferably used over opening 37, and themould is filled .with non-oxidizing gas beforebeing put into billet-receiving position. The upper end of the billet will pass between the dogs 41 on account of their beveled ends, but as soon as the bottom of it has -passed above the dogs they will prevent its return, as shown at the left' of the centering memof Fig. 2. Thereupon the mould with its billet therein is removed, quickly reversed, and centering member is dropped into the open` top of the mould. When the mould is reversed the bottom of the billet will assume a central" position -on the inclined shoulder 39, and the edges of the hot billet will tend to flatten slightly and thus seal the opening 37. The member 70 is preferably a heavy casting and when dropped into the top of the mould the beveled lugs 74 passing on three sides of the top of the circular billet will center that end of it, and hold it uniformly `spaced from the 'sides of the mould. Thus the billet is accurately centered andspaced at both its top and bottom. Then molten copper is poured into the hollow receptacle 71 formed bythe member 70 and passing through the openings 7 3 lls the space between the billet and the mould walls.

As soon as the copper has solidified the billet is stripped out of the mould and may be immediately passed to the rolling mill. Referring to Fig. 3 where the billet is removed from the bottom of the furnace, the plug 11 is kept in position or the top of the, tube may be permanently closed. A billet is positioned upon the refractory block 19a supported by rod 16a below the furnace. The

gates

47, 48 and 50 are pulled out and the billet is raised to position in the fur- Inace as shown in Fig. 3, by means of by the circular support 80 as shown in Fig,

3. Then gate 50 is withdrawn, plunger 16a is raised through the opening 49 until it supports the refractory block 19a and the billet. Then the

gates

47 and 48 are withdrawn permitting the billet to be lowered until the bottom thereof rests upon supporting dogs 41a. Then the mould is removed and turned upside down upon the centering and supporting stool member 60 (Fig. 5), the billet rests on the inclined bottom 61 of this member, and is accu rately positioned and held centrally spaced therein, while the top of the billet is af:- curately spaced and held in position by the member 70, as already described. Or, the centering stool 60 may be positioned on and fastened to the end of the mould before it is inverted. This is preferable, as it prevents entry of air to the mould while it is being moved and inverted. Molten copper is poured in as before stated and after this solidifies the billet is ready for removal and rolling.

In Fig. 11 is shown a modified form of furnace in that the refractory compartments or tubes 10b adapted to hold the billet in the furnace are horizontal. The tubes are supported on their under side by a series of walls 90 raised from the bottom of the furnace. Their ends are completely open, and in order to prevent the billet from coming into contact with the'air, or other oxidizing gases, during its heating and reinoval the ends of the tubes are enclosed in shells 91, mounted on the side walls of the furnace. Openings 92 in these shells are controlled by slides 93. Refractory doors 94, mounted on swinging arms 95 are provided inside tlie shells for closing the ends of the tube 10b, after the billet is placed in position therein, during the heating process. Normally the

chambers

96 and 97, formed by the two shells 23, are filled with lnon-oxidizing gases, such as flue-gas, so

that when a heated billet is removed from the furnace it will not come in contact with oxidizing gases in thesechambers.

A billet is inserted into this form of furnace, as for example by opening slide 93 and door 94 as shown at the left of Fig. 12, and sliding the billet through chamber 96 and into the tube or compartment 10b by means of a plunger rod 98, which may be either mechanically o'r manually operated.

After the billet has been sufficiently heated, a mould 36b is inserted in the chamber 97, with its open end registering with the end of the tube 10b and the billet is pushed out from the furnace into the mould. The mould 361 is then pulled out and turned with its restricted end down, as shown in Fig. 4. The centering device is dropped into position and the casting operation is performed as already described.

1t will be understood that external means such as a crank arm is provided for operand diameter, this invention is not limitedv to any particular form, and the so-called tubes or heating compartments may be varied as to size and shape to accommodate special billets. Likewise, although the moulds illustrated are cylindrical it is to be understood that they may be of other shape in cross section corresponding to the shape of the billet used. Likewise the inclined seat of the stool member 60, and the inclined shoulder 38 of the mould are not necessarily conical, but maybe formed with fiat inclined faces corresponding to theI sides of a square, or other shaped billet and mould. The terms, tapered, conical, inclined, etc. in this specification and'in. the claims are to be so interpreted. 1t will also be understood that Where a square billet, for example, is used the centering member 70 would likewise be square and instead of having three beveled lugs to engage the top of the billet, would have four lugs, adapted to engage the middle portion of each side of the billet, and likewise for other polygonal shapes.

The compartments 100 and 100i of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are kept filled with some non-oxidizing gases, such as flue-gas, and openings 102 are provided through the tubes, in order to permit this non-oxidizing gas to constantly pass into-the interior of the heating tubes, and so to prevent contact of the billet being heated with air, or other oxidizing gases. It is preferable to fill the moulds before placing them in position with a similar non-oxidizing gas, so that the billet is exposed to the least'possible air before the molten copper is cast therearound. F or this purpose temporary seals, as of paper, may be placed over the ends of the moulds after they have been filled with gas and before they have been placed in position, such seals being destroyed by passages therethrough of the lifting plungers, or the billet itself, as will be obvious.

Although this description is directed particularly to copper coating of iron and steel billets, the apparatus and methods may be applied to other metals, Where similar treatment is required.

I claim:

1. The combination with a furnace comprising a main furnace chamber and a vertical refractory tube therethrough adapted to contain a billet being heated, of a mould adapted to seat upon the end of the refracv tory tube. and to receive a billet removed vertically therefrom, and power driven means supporting said biillet adapted to move the billet directly from the refractory tube into the mould.

2. A mould for receiving billets from a furnace, said mould comprising a body portion of uniform cross-section having an inclined interior shoulder at one end adapted to support and center the end of a billet restinof thereon.

3. centering device for holding billets in a mould in a position uniformly spaced from'the'walls of said mould comprising a shell adapted to fit into the mouth of the mould, andbeveled lugs on the bottom of the shell adapted to engage the edges lof the top of the billet. e y

4. A centering device for holding billets in a mould in a position uniformly spaced from the walls of said mould comprising a shell adapted to fit into the mouth .of the mould, an outer shoulder on the shell adapted to contact with the end of the mould and prevent' further travel of the shell thereon, and beveled lugs on the bottom of: the shell adapted toengage the edges of the top of the billet.

5. A centering device for positioningand holding the upper ends of billets in a mould, said device comprising a hollow member adapted to fit into the mouth of the mould,.

the lower end of the member carrying bev- @led lugs adapted to engage the edges of the top of a billet carried in the mould.

6. Thecombination of a mould open at one end and restricted at the other end by an inclined shoulder adapted to form the `ryng ed to-engage the edges of the top of the billet.

7. The combination of a mould open at one end and restricted at the other end, by

an inclined shoulder adapted to form the e support of a billet held in the mould, and a centering device comprising a shell adapted to it in the open end of the'mould, and carrying on its' lower ends beveled lugs adapted to engage the edges of the top of the billet and an opening through the shell to permit passage of molten metal into the mould.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

onA A. KIRKMAN.

Witnesses HOWARD L. SNIVELY, Amon, A. TRILL.