US2389517A - Method of manufacturing stopper rods - Google Patents

Description

Patented Nov. 20, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF MANUFACTURING STOPPER RODS 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in the method of manufacturing stopper rods for hot metal ladles and the like, and more particularly to a one-piece forged rod therefor.

Heretofore, it has been common practice to manufacture stopper rodsby forming the lower or stopper plug end and the upper or refractory sleeve receiving portion separately, and then Weld the same together. Such practice is expensive and the resulting product contains a region of weakness at the weld which has necessitated too frequent replacement of rods in order to insure safety and continued performance.

My invention contemplates the manufacture of a one-piece stopper rod having a forged stopper plug end formed by a minimum number of steps and at minimum cost, and thereby forming a rod free of the inherent weakness formerly present in the two-piece welded rod.

Additional objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevational View, partly in section, showing a stopper rod assembly employing the stopper rod manufactured in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the forging dies employed in the present method, showing said dies in initial receiving position;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a view like Fig. 2, showing the first forging step;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, partly broken away to show the forging step of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line -VIVI of Fig. 3, showing the dies and blank in position for the second forging operation;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line VII-VII of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a' view like Fig. 6, illustrating the second forging step;

Fig. 9 is a similar view showing the third and final forging step; and

Fig. 10 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the finished stopper rod end.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 illustrates a stopper rod assembly, includin a one-piece stopper rod 2 formed in the manner of my invention, said rod having an upper threaded end 3, employed for suspending and actuating the stopper rod assembly in the usual manner in relation to the pouring nozzle of a hot metal ladle or the like. The lower end of the rod 2 is formed with an upset head 4, an axial recess 5, and diametrically disposed key slots 8. The recess 5 receives a stopper head pin I, which pin is slotted and secured to the stopper rod by means of a through key 8 extending between the key slots 5. A stopper plug 9 is secured to the lower end of the stopper rod 2 by means of said pin I, and following the attachment of said plug, the rod 2 receives a series of refractory sleeves l0 telescoped thereover for protection of the rod and the stopper plug connection from the heat of the molten metal.

My invention has to do with the method of forming the stopper rod 2 from a one-piece blank or rod stock 2, one end of which is threaded as indicated at 3, and-the other end being forged to provide the attaching means for the stopper plug 9. My method includes the following sequential steps in forging the lower end of thestopper rod.

One end of the steel blank 2 is heated to forging temperature and placed within a three-part die, consisting of complemental dies A and B, and a header or upsetting die C. All of said dies have coacting means providing upper and lower forging stations, as hereinafter set forth, said dies being operable in a horizontal plane by a suitable press, the dies A and B moving inwardly toward each other, and the die C inwardly toward dies A and B.

In the upper and initial forging station, the header die C is provided with an upwardly open pocket ll adapted to receive and support the end of the blank 2 whereby said blank may be inserted in a horizontal position between the dies A and B, the latter being provided with complemental rounded forging projections l2 adapted to engage the blank inwardly of its end on opposite sides of the diameter thereof.

Upon initially closing the dies A and B, as determined by their meeting faces IS, the forging projections l2 squeeze and indent the blank 2 in the manner illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, thereby forming depressions or pockets M on opposite sides of said blank.

The blank 2* is then rotated through degrees about its longitudinal axis and is lowered into the second or lower forging station of the dies, in the relation shown in Figs. 6 and '7. At such station, the header die C is provided with an upsetting cavity l5, receiving the end of the blank, and dies A and B are provided with semi-cylindrical pockets l6 embracing the blank upon closing the dies A and B during the second forging operation, the pockets 1 6 extending throughout the dies A and B parallel with the longitudinal axis of the blank 2 for an appreciable distance on either side of the region of the depressions [4 formed therein.

Horizontal key punches I! are provided in each of the dies A and B extending centrally within the pockets l6 and aligned to diametrically enter the blank '4! substantially at right angles to and in the region of the depressions [4.

Hence, upon closing the dies A and B during the second forging operation, the key punches l1 enter the blank 2* in the manner illustrated in Fig. 8, the die pockets [6 embracing that portion of the die being forged, and the displacement of metal by the key punches flowing toward and filling out the depressions M in the blank 2*.

With the blank 2 held in dies A and B in the aforesaid manner, with the key punches I! entered therein, the header or upsetting die is moved toward and into engagement with the adjacent ends of the dies A and B, whereby the recess IS in die 0 upsets the end of the blank 2 to form the head or terminal 4 having a diameter greater than that of the blank 2.

The key punches I 1 enter and slot the blank 2 for a sufficient distance radially inward thereof so that the slots formed thereby are intersected upon drilling the recess 5 in the finished stopper rod 2, the drilled end of said finished rod being illustrated in Fig. 10.

By the method of my invention, the stopper plug end of the stopper rod is formed in a minimmn number of operations, the forging steps thereof being accomplished during the initial heat of the blank, making it unnecessary to repeatedly heat the same for the successive forging operafacilitating the handling and forging of the elongate rods without employing shorter sections thereof as was deemed necessary in prior practice, particularly with respect to the stopper plug end of such rods, as to which it was deemed necessary to provide the same in short lengths to effeet the forging operations thereon.

A comparison of the present method with the said prior practice emphasizes the considerable saving effected, due to the elimination of repeated heating steps and the final Welding operation for securing the separate rod lengths together. Actual production of a lot of similar rods by the present and former methods shows a cost saving of over percent.

Various changes and modifications are contemplated within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. The herein described method of forming a one-piece stopper rod for ladles and the like, including heating one end of an elongate blank to forging temperature, indenting the said heated end of the blank upon opposite sides, then partially slotting said blank inwardly from opposite sides thereof at right angles to and in the region of said indentations, upsetting the extreme end portion of the blank adjacent said region to form a head of enlarged diameter, and longitudinally drilling the said end of the blank to intersect the slots formed therein.

2. The herein described method of forminga one-piec stopper rod for ladles and the like, including heating one end of an elongate blank to forging temperature, indenting the said heated end of the blank upon oppostie sides, partially slotting said blank inwardly from opposite sides Y thereof at right angles to and in the region of said indentations by entering key punches therein, upsetting the extreme end of said blank While retaining the key punches in the blank to form a head of enlarged diameter, and longitudinally drilling the said end of the blank to intersect the slots formed therein.

JACOB T. LABADIE.

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