US1815605A - Hot metal mixer - Google Patents

Description

July 21, 1931. L, E, ALLEN 1,815,605

HOT METAL MIXER 7 Filed June 16. 19211 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 21, 1931. L. E. ALLEN Y HOT METAL MIXER Filed Jime 16. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 July '21, 1931. E. ALLEN ,605

' no'r METAL MIXER Figled June 16. 1928 5 Sheets-She 5 u u j NVENTOR Patented Jul 21, 1931 i ema ns is?!" me PATENT mam 1 LEE E,.AI' I1EN, OF NEW .GASTLE, :PIENNSXLVANIA, ASSIGNOR IEO .ZPENNSYLVANIAWEN V eINEERrNe'wonKs, m1 -mew CitSTLE,.-PENNSYLXEAHIA,.A .oersenmmon or PENN- This *inventien relates-to the menu'iature of iron m1 steel, and more partieiilerly to a hot =metzil mixer ecl-aptecl 'to' receive and -"re' teinhot metal'inwnioiten'eontlition. The present invention relates'partieularly to emixer of unusuellly largeeapaeity and whiehis designed-especi ailiy for the purpose "of receivinj metal from one orun'oreblest fifiurnaees'fluring the' time whenkthe 'niill its "a vvho'le is *not ao perating but when *the lilest "furnaces are operating, sue'h for instaneefess auling-the Weekend shut down of the mill. Suh e mixer must'fbe capable of receiving an'tl maihtaining m aalnolten =c0niiitien several hundredtons o'f meteLthe'particular instillation lrerindfterdkescrihetl in Hetaili hein'g' designed tohdld esniuc'h fffteenYhuntireil tonsof metziha'tonetime. l According to the present invention there -is provided a "mixer designed to IGCEiY'Q and Tetrain a 'ler'ge amount er -metzil with -"the re- =eeiving 5 and pouring spouts -so mien euas to secure thorough mixing of the metzil en'd prevent tothe greatest possihl'e extent; stagnation at enypoint i'n' the mixer. 1

A further purpose -01 the inventionis"to providee mi-Xer oflarge capaeity Wvlii'h is firmly braced and 'tvhih 'mey he "easily and conveniently-operated. V y

'Aecor cling" to the gpresent invention there is also provided mixer "of large eapaeity wherein the lining for the mixer eanahe conveniently and easily repaired, or wherein "the lining ean be removed we e relatively small amount oflzihor.

These and other Objects and eclventages 'ere'seoured "by irry invention, which may be readily understood by re'ferenee *to the "ae- "eompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment of the invention and :in Whieh Figure 1 is a side elevation :0' 'f e nii-xer, 7

"part of the 'strutiture "being shown in vertiezil section; I V V Figure 2 is a top plan =v1ew'of the mixer;

Figure is a 'sia-ggere'cl "transverse sec- (J tionin the plme of 'line EH- I-H oit' Tig- 'ure"2; v V

Figure4 is-e detail*viewshowing theeover 0'1 one of'the'receiving spouts m d -thespian '"ating 'mehanism 'for the cover;

1928. Serial 'No. 385,836.

Figure is 1 atleteiil view of a portion or the shll of t'lre'mixer zit one en cl theredfg Figure 6 is a more or less sehenmiticwievv showing top elevution of the lubricating system for the ti mixer a n'd Figure 7 ish detail section-e11 view throug'h shell eoritinues to be cylindrical to 1% point Well above the center line 'thereef 'it being cylindrical eleer to thetop theredf vtheretthe eskevv fbacks 58 are located. The enH's 9'of the shell 'areoutwer'dlybowetl'.

order toeouriterac'tthe very heavyiloalis to -vrhih the shellis suhj eetetl, it 'isaof heavy construction; "It "is rein foree l with buttstraps 10 "on ljOtlitllQfSfClGS and fthe ends thereof. The buttstreps on the hylindriezil fportion are staggeredor :iltern-atetl'viith'r f- 'erence to'those on-the 's fiherical enilsyas best shown in Figure 15, anclare extended. arouhti the corners for aitl'ditiondl reinforcement off the 'eonneetion T between the ends and the eylin drieall'porti'omdi' the mixer.

The liriing o fthejmixer is substantially senii irculgrr to the center line of-the mixer. This lining isdesignete'd 12, AbOVQEtllB center'line of the mixer, Which is justrhlowzthe metal line 'AiAin EigL1re3,fthe sides slope outwardly to-e veryslightextent tothe point vsihere the sides intersect Withth? roof. This *des'ign is -of e tlvantage in that -.there is'no overhanging brielki "which may fall intothe mixer in the event that-"the liningis-cutheiek' at the-metalline. This outivartl sloping is also *mere stable whellithemixei' is tilted *for pouring. The liriin is of" suhstantizilly uriiform'thickness exeeptfinihe bottom 'o'f-t'he mixer "tlire'etly -unEler the eharging openings,

are made relatively thicker, as indicated at 13 in Figures 1 and 3 for the purpose of resisting the erosive action of the hot metal where it is poured into the mixer.

Supported over the top of the mixer is a relatively low fiat transversely arched roof 14. This roof is supported along each edge of the cylindrical portion of the mixer on skew blocks The skew blocks 15 set on angle bars 16 secured to the inside of the shell. lVith this arrangement the entire weight of th roof is supported on the angles 16, and not on the lining 12. This is an important feature of the construction because it makes the roof entirely independent of the lining, and even though the lining becomes badly eroded there is no danger of the roof falling into the mixer.

The shell of the mixer is encircled by a plurality of spaced apart curved beams or rails 17 that cage the rollers 6 on the 10Cler frames 5. 1 he tops of the rails 17 are'connected together by arched beams 18 which serve to hold the top of the mixer from spreading. Due to thefact that the arch of the roof is relatively wide. and relatively flat, roof ties 19 are'preferahly stretched transversely across the top of the structur and the e can be put under ten ion by taking up on the eye-bolts 20 at the ends thereof, these eyebolts being secured to castings mounted on the skew backs 8. These roof ties place the arch under a strain, and there is no possibility of the stresses being reversed when the ladle is tilted for pouring.

In the top 14 at one side of the longitudi nal center of the ladle are two charging openings 21. One opening is adjacent each end of the mixer, and the mixer itself is proided with a single pouring spout which is at substantially the center of the mixer. The charging openings are formed of heavy steel castings 23 rigidly tied to the adjacent cross beams 18, the castings serving to connect the cross beams, as clearly shown in Figure 2. Set into each of the castings 23 a cast thiinble or ring 24 having a separate lining 25 therein, as best shown. in Figure 4.

By reason of this arrangement the lining at the top of each hole can be quickly replaced when necessary by merely replacing one ring 24 with another rin having a fresh lining 25.

In addition to being tied togetherby castings 23 the roof securely braced and the various members 18 tied together by structural braces 26 and by straps 27, as best shown in Figure 2. This bracing is comparat-ively open so as to allow for suficieut radiation of heat therefrom to protect the refractories of the roof. Each of the charging holes is provided with a cast cover 28 so mounted, as. hereinafter described. that it can be swung entirely free of the char; ig opening. Each cover has a lining 2.) therein.

upon the link 37 pushes the cover down.

The construction of the cover and the operation thereof may be best understood by reference to Figure 4. The cover 28 has a lug 3O thereon to which the end of a supporting arm 31 is pivotally secured by a pin 32. On the opposite side of the cover is a similar lug 33 having a short slot 34 therein, and a pin 35 on the arm engages in this slot. The arm 31 is pivotally mounted on the casting 23 at 36, and the arm is curved to be clear of the cover 28. When the arm 31 is swung upwardly, to the dotted line position shown in Figure 4, the cover'28 is positioned well back of the charging hole and is entirely clear of the hole. This permits metal to be easily poured into the charging hole without the pouring operation being interfered with by the cover. Covers as heretofore constructed have interfered more or less with the charging of the mixer.

For actuating the cover there is provided a link 37. One end of this link is pivotally connected at 38 with the arm 31 between the lugs 30 and 33. The connection between the link 37 and the arm 31 at 38 is preferably one which permits of a slight lost motion between the link and the cover. The other end of the link 37 has a bifurcated end portion 39 engaging a bearing block 39 on a crank 40 at the end of a crank arm 41. Shims may be provided at each side of the bearing block 39 as shown to permit of a slight adjustment of the link 37 longitudinally relatively to the crank pin 40. The crank arm 41 is keyed to a shaft 42 mounted on the top of the mixer.

The shaft 42 is driven from a reversible mo tor 43 through a reducing gear 44, as shown in Figure 2.

When the mot-or 43 is operated with the parts in the full line position shown in Figure 4, the shaft 42 is rotated through an arc to swing the crank arm 41, as indicated by the broken lines in Figure 4. As the crank arm 41 swings, it pulls the link 37 to the right, as viewed in Figure 4, swinging the cover to the open position shown. Due to the slight lost motion between the link and the cover at 38 the dead center relation of the shaft 42, the crank pin 40 and the connection 38 can be overcome.

For closing the charging hole the motor 43 is driven in the opposite direction where- Due to the fact that the cover 28 has a floating connection on the arm 31 due to the pivot 32 and the pin and slot arrangement 34-35, the cover can adjust itself to any irregularity on the surface of the link 25 without damage to the parts.

It will. be noted that the cover and all of its operating mechanism is mounted directly on the mixer, and the operation for both opening and closing each cover is positive. Door operating mechanisms as heretofore provided have generally required the use of cables atface for radiating heat absorbed from the combustion of fuel to the metal. The mixer is therefore highly eificient in enabling the large body of metal therein to be kept at the desired temperature.

The top of the mixer and the parts supported thereon are entirely independent of the body of the mixer so that when it is necezsary to relinethe mixer the entire top can be lifted with cranes without breaking the refractories in the top of the mixer. Due to the outward slope of the refractory walls above the line AA, the refractories can be broken into large pieces and removed with comparative ease after the top of the mixer has been removed, which is not the case with the usual mixer, of the fully cylindrical mixer.

The spherical shape of the ends throws the refractories in the ends in compression in every direction so that the ends of the mixer are strong and well able to resist the pressure to which they are subjected.

The removable rings in the charging holes enable the refractories around the charging holes to be kept in a good state of repair notwithstanding the fact that they are frequently subjected to the erosive action of hot metal poured directly thereon and notwithstanding the fact that metal will freeze thereon.

The arrangement of the doors whereby they may adjust themselves to irregularities at the surface of the charging holes, and the novel arrangement of the doors and the operating mechanism therefor is of considerable advantage as hereinbefore pointed out.

Certain features of the ladle construction are claimed in my respective copending applications Serial Nos. 384,389 and 384,390, filed August 8, 1929, each of which is a division of this application.

lVhile I have illustrated and described a particular embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that this is merely by way of illustration and that various changes and modifications may be made in the construction shown within the contemplation of my invention and under the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a hot metal mixer, a ladle supported for tipping, having a body portion comprised of a metal shell. and a refractory lining, the body portion of the ladle being substantially semi-circular in transverse cross section throughout the entire length of the mixer be low the longitudinal axis thereof, and an arched top supported on the top of the shell independently of the lining, said shell having supporting means on the inside thereof on which the top is supported, said supporting means being set back suliiciently to enable the lining to be lifted clear thereof.

2. In a hot metal mixer, a ladle supported for tipping having an elongated body portion comprised of a metal shell and a refractory lining, the body portion being substantially semi-circular in transverse cross section throughout the length of the mixer below the longitudinal axis thereof, the shell and the lining extending below the plane of the longitudinal axis of the mixer, the inner face of the lining above the plane of the longitudinal axis being substantially straight, and a cover supported on the shell along each longitudinal edge thereof, said shell having supporting means on the inside thereof on which the top is supported, said supporting means being set back sufficiently to enable the lining to be lifted clear thereof.

3. In a hot metal mixer, a ladle supported for tipping having an elongated body portion comprised of a shell and a lining, said body portion being substantially semi-circular in transverse cross section below the longitudinal axis thereof, the sides of the ladle extending a relatively short distance above the plane of the longitudinal axis, these portions of the sides being sufliciently straight, cover supporting means on the inside of the shell adjacent the upper longitudinal edges thereof and set back suliiciently to be clear of the lining, and an arched top supported substantially entirely on said cover supporting means.

4. In a hot metal mixer, a ladle supported for tipping comprised of a shell and a lining, the body of the ladle being elongated with the portion thereof below the longitudinal axis thereof substantially semi-circular, a cover over the top of the body, rails encircling the shell at intervals along the body, beams over the cover connecting the ends of the rails, rockers engaging the rails, the cover being arched and being supported on the upper edges of the shell, and roof ties extending across the top for placing the cover under strain.

5. In a hot metal mixer, a ladle supported for tipping comprised of a shell and a lining, said ladle having an elongated body portion which is substantially semi-circular in cross section below the longitudinal axis thereof, ails encircling the body at intervals along the length thereof, rockers engaging the rails, an arched cover for the ladle, beams extending across the top of the cover connecting opposite ends of the rails, said cover having charging holes therein, and casting surrounding each charging hole rigidly connecting two of said beams.

6. In a hot metal mixer, a ladle supported for tipping comprised of a shell and a lining, said ladle having an elongated body portion which is substantially semi-circular in cross section below the longitudinal axis thereof, rails encircling the body at intervals along the length thereof, rockers engaging the rails. an arched cover for the ladle, beams extending across the top of the cover connecting opposite ends of the rails,'saidcover having charging holes therein, a casting surrounding each charging hole rigidly connecting two of said beams, and structural bracing members between the beams rigidly connecting them together.

7. In a hot meta-l mixer, for tipping comprised of a shell and a lining, said ladle having an elongated body portion which is substantially semi-circular in cross section below the longitudinal axis thereof, rails encircling the body at intervals along the length thereof, rockers engaging the rails, an arched cover for the ladle, beams extending across the top of the cover connecting opposite ends of the rails, said cover having charging holes therein, a casting surrounding each charging hole rigidly connecting two of said beams, and roof ties extending across the top of the ladle and secured to each side of the shell thereof for putting the arched cover under strain.

8. In a hot metal mixer for the mixing and storing of at least several hundred tons of molten metal, a foundation, rockers carried on the foundation, an elongated ladle carried on the rockers the lower portion of which is substantially cylindrical in transverse cross-section, said ladle having a covered top, said ladle having a charging opening in the top thereof at each side of the transverse center of the receptacle, and a single pouring spout at one side of the receptacle approximately midway between the two charging openings whereby metal may be charged into opposite ends of the mixer and flow from each end toward the center.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

LEE E. ALLEN.

a ladle supported

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