US1552251A - Method and apparatus for making steel ingots - Google Patents

Description

Sept 1, 1925. v 1,552,251

E. C. WASHBURN IBTHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING STEEL INGOTS Filed Nay 13. 1922 Patented Sept. 1 1 925,

UNITED stares P TENT QFFICE.

EDWIN G. WASHBURN, 033 ENGLEWQOD, NEW JERSEY.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING STEEL INGOTS.

Application filed. May 13, 1922. swarm. 560,741. I

and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which is appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates-to a method and apparatus for producing iron or steel ingots. It is well known to those skilled in theart that it is now the common practice to cast such ingots in elongated vertical molds. This results in a collection or segregation of impurities in the metal at the upper portion of the ingot and also in what is known as piping. This latter comprises a formation of a tapering cavity extending down ward into the ingot from the top surface substantially at the vertical axis thereof and there is alwaysa collection of impurities adjacent to and extending downward from this pipe. This necessitates the cutting off of the end of the ingot and the discarding of the same before the ingot is rolled into the desired shapes. In spite of the fact that such a large portion of the ingot it cut away and discarded, the segregation of the impurities and the extension of the piping often remains in the part of the ingot used and is rolled out or striated to a narrow dimension during the rolling process, thus forming a faulty section in the material which isoften not discovered until the metal fails in use. It is an object of this invention, therefore, to so cast and produce an ingot that this objectionable piping and segregation of impurities is avoided.

It is a further object of the invention to cast the ingot in an elongated mold which is disposed on its side during the casting operation and which has a gate at the top extending longitudinally thereof so that a projection of metal'is formed extending into the gate. The impurities segregate in this projection and the projection is removed after the ingot has solidified to a certain extent. r I

It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus for casting the ingot comprisingan-elongated mold having means for supporting the same on its side, said mold having an opening at its top portion extending longitudinally thereof, above wltich projects a trough forming a pouring gae.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a trough of rectangular cross section having one of its diagonals extending substantiallyvertical and also to have such a mold formed of sections divided about a vertical central plane of the mold.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings whichillustrate one form of the apparatus for carrying out the method disclosed hereinand in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views, and in which,

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of the apparatus, a small portion thereof being shown in section; v

Fig. 2 is a view in end elevation of the apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a view in vertical section taken on the line 33 of F 1g. 1, as lndicated by the arrows; 1

Fig. 4 is a partial view in'plan of the apparatus; i r Fig. 5 is a view of another part of th apparatus used in carrying out the method; I

Fig. 6 is a view in vertical section taken on the line 6-6' of Fig. 5, as indicated by the arrows; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view showing a modified form of the apparatus shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

Referring to the drawings,. a mold is shown comprising a rectangular box of elongated shape formed of sections 1 and 2 divided along the central vertical plane of the mold, which mold is disposed with one of its diagonals extending substantially vertically. The mold is .closed, save for an opening extending longitudinally along its top, above which opening a trough 3 of flaring formation extends, which trough forms a pouring ate. The sections land 2 are each provide with a groove 4: extending longitudinally along the lower contacting riveted to the channel members i? i edges, which grooves co-operate to form a channel adapted to receive a sealing substance in the bottom of the mold. The sec tions 1 and 2 are also each provided with a transverse groove 5 disposed in a projection 6 at the ends thereof, which groove are adapted to receive a sealing member, such as a common brick which will thus extend across the trough 3 and close the ends thereof. vided at their ends with projecting trunnions or pintles 7 adapted to be engaged by grappling hoolrs 8 extending from members 9 secured transversely of a longitudinally extending member 10, which latter member carries an eye bolt 11 adapted to be engaged by the hook or a crane. Sections 1 and 2 also have at their ends a lug 12 and receiving channels 13, respectively, adapted to move into engagement ant. guide the sections 1 and 2 into proper allnement when the said sections are brought together. The sections are also provided at their ends with a locking pin 14 and a locking dog 15,

respectively. Said dog having a hool: one end adapted to engage over the pin 14: to hold the sections in assembled position and having a projection 16 at its other end adapted to be pressed upon or struck to disengage the said hool; from the pin 14. The appa'atus also includes a supportiig member for the mold sections 1 and 2 which member coinprises'spaced transversely extending channel members 1! and spaced vertically inclined diverging channel members 18, the channel members 1? and 18 being connected by vertical plates 19 and 20 and by longitudinally extending plates 21 hav-n ing their ends bent'around and riveted to the plates 19, the plates 19 and 20 being id 18. The supporting member thus has the members 18 extending so as to contact and support the lower sides of the mold sectiz is l and 2 when the mold is in position the access to the gate trough 3 and ample opportunity to rise thereto; Such impurities therefore will collect at the top corner of the ingot and in the trough S; It will be no'tedthat the deptho't the ingot, from the gate being compz-arativelysmall, the in purities will have practically no obstruction The sections 1 and 2 are -further proin rising to the surface of the ingot. The upwardly converging top sides of the mold will not interfere seriously with this move ment. The metal will be poured so as to practically fill the gate 3 and there will thus be ample opportunity for the segregation above mentioned.

The metal will be allowed to solidify in the mold and after the same has hardened, but before the ingot is cold, the mold will be liftedirom the supporting member and moved to a machine comprising a cutter suc as shown in Figs. 5 to 2 which cutter will l are blades 22 thereon and will be re volved about its axis 23. The mold will be suitably supported with its top uppermost so that the gate portion will be progressed directly under the cutter blades This cutter will act substantially the same as a milling cutter and will cut or remove a portion of the metal at the top corner of the mold and that portion projecting into the gate 3. If desired, the cutter may be formed with acentral notch 24- in the blades, as shown in Fig. 7, so that a corner will be formed on the top edge of the ingot. The metal projecting into the gate at the top edge 01"" the mold removed and substantially all gated impurities which tend objectionable piping in the removed therefrom. The ingot thus produced will be of uniformconstituency and formationthroughout and When rolled into shapes for use the metal will have a uniform condition of purity.

After the ingot has had the top thereof removed, the mold can be again engaged by the crane and carried to the desired dis charging point. it will only be necessary to strike the projection 16 of the dog 15 to release the sections when the same will swing apart owing to converging hook sup ports 8. The ingot will thus be dropped out of the lower sides of the sections and can be placed as desired. The sections 1 and 2 will be carried back to the supporting device comprising the channel members 18 and as the sections are lowered into the support they will be guided into proper as" sembled relation by the members 18 and further by the engaging lugs 12 and 13 on the ends of the sections. j Y

From the above description it is seen that applicant has provided a novel and efficient method and apparatus for producing an ingot. The method has been used in actual practice and the ingot produced has given most successful results. The segregated inipuriti'es are substantially eliminated and the objectionable piping of the ingot avoided. It is thus not necessary to cut away a large section of the ingot containing much good metal 'in order to eliminate a. section ot""pipin'g. The saving orm'etal will. thus be of the segreto cause the ingot will be j trough 3 and and labor by the use of the present method and apparatus will be very large and the improved ingot can at the sametime be made with great ease and rapidity.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details and arrangement of the apparatus and in the steps of the method, without departing from the scope of applicants inven tion, which, generally stated, consists in the matter shown and described and set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The process of producing a steel ingot of rectangular cross section, consisting in casting the same in substantially horizontal position with one corner thereof upward.

2. The process of producing a metal ingot of rectangular cross section consisting in casting the same in substantially horizontal position with one corner upward and with a gate member extending longitudinally at the top thereof forming a projection, permitting the ingot to solidify and then removing said projection.

3'. The method of producing a metal ingot which consists in casting the same of elongated shape of uniform cross section with its longitudinal side upward and from a gate extending longitudinally of its top side whereby a projection is formed along its top side, allowing the ingot to solidify and before the same has cooled, removing the projection at itstop side.

4. An apparatus for producing a metal ingot comprising a mold consisting of an elongated divided rectangular box having one corner disposed upwardly and a gate trough extending along and projecting above an opening formed at the top of said box.

5. An apparatus for producing a metal ingot comprising an elongated rectangular mold of uniform cross section, said mold being disposed with one corner upward and divided into sections along a central vertical plane, said mold being closed save for an openingextending longitudinally at its top, and a gate trough projecting above said opening at said corner and extending longitudinally of the mold.

6. The structure set forth in claim 5, said sections having co-operating grooves along the lower meeting edges adapted to receive a sealing substance.

7. The structure set forth in claim 5, said trough having transverse grooves adjacent the ends thereof adapted to receive a sealing member for closingthe ends of said trough.

8. An apparatus for molding a steel ingot, comprising, an elongated mold of rectangular cross section disposed with one diagonal thereof extending substantially vertical, said mold being divided into sections along a central vertical plane, a sup port for said mold having upwardlydiverg ing diagonal members adapted to contact with and support the lower surface of said sections and to hold the same in assembled relation. i

9. The structure set forth in claim 5, said sections having projections at their ends disposed adjacent their outer sides for en gagment by a lifting device, whereby said sections will swing apart when lifted.

10. The method of producing a metal ingot of rectangular cross section consisting in casting the'same with one corner upward and pouring. the same throughout the longitudinal extent thereof to 'form a projecting portion along the top thereof, permitting the ingot to solidify, and then removing said projection before the ingot is cooled with a tool having a recesstherein, thesides of which are at right angles to each other whereby a true corner is left on theupper side of the ingot.

11. A mold arranged for longitudinal pouring disposed with one corner upwardly and having a gate or feeder portion extending longitudinally thereof at said corner and throughout substantially the entire length of said mold. i

12. A mold arranged for longitudinalopen contracted portion serving as a communication between the mold and said riser portion said portions extending upwardly from said corner.

13. A mold comprising relatively movable sections, trunnions thereon,. at each side of the longitudinal center line of said sections, links connected to these trunnions, a bar connected to said links and adapted to be raised to swing said sections apart.

14. A mold comprising relatively movable sections each having inclinedouter sides, and a supporting frame therefor having inclined inner sides adapted to receive said sections and move said sections into alinement when the same are lowered thereinto.

15. A mold for a steel ingot comprising, a mold of rectangular cross section disposed with one corner upward and a pouring gate the ends and adjacent the outer sides of said sections whereby said sections will swing apart when lifted by said means.

17, A mold of rectangular cross section disposed with one corner upwardly, and

means disposed at said corner and extending thereabove throughout the length of said mold for pouring metal into said mold. 18. A mold comprising separable sections, each section having a recess therein extendly and having a riser head portion and an ing from its inner side, said recess in the' respective sections being alined and adapted to receive a sealing member.

19. A mold comprising a plurality of sections, means secured to each section and extending upwardly and outwardly therefrom a member to which the upper ends of said means are connect-ed whereby when said member is lifted the sections will swing apart.

- 20. An apparatus for producing a metal ingot comprising an elongated rectangular mold of uniform cross section, said mold being divided into sections along a central vertical plane, said mold being closed save for an opening extending longitudinally at its top and a gate troughprojecting above said opening and extending longitudinally of said mold, said trough having transverse grooves adjacent the ends thereof adapted to receive a' sealing member for closing the ends or said trough.

21. An apparatus for molding a steel ingot comprising an elongated mold of substantially uniform cross section, said mold being divided into sections along a central ends disposed adjacent their outer sides for engagement by a lifting device whereby said sections will swing apart when lifted.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

I EDWIN o. wAsHBURN.

Images