US2477060A - Water-cooled slab mold - Google Patents

Description

July 26, 1949 F. .1. HUDAK 2,477,060

WATER COOLED SLAB MOLD July 26, 1949. F. J. HUDAK WATER COOLED SLAB MOLD 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. lO. 1945 Patented July 26, 1949 WATER-COOLED SLAB MOLD Frank J. Hudak, Torrington, Conn., assignor to The Torrington Manufacturing Company, Torrington, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application September 10, 1945, Serial No. 615,369

This invention relates to water cooled or chill slab molds such as are extensively used for casting slabs of metal, particularly copper-bearing alloys, which are subsequentlyreduced to sheets by rolling. Y

In general water cooled slab molds of this type comprise a stationary mold back or body and a complementary mating mold front or cover hinged to the mold body and capable of being swung horizontally through an arc of 90 or more. When closed the mold body and the mold cover provide a Vmold cavity and clamping devices are provided for forcing the cover into firm contact with the body and for holding it in such contact during casting. The mold cavity is provided with lining plates of a material having good heat conductivity, usually copper. Provision is made for circulating water or other cooling medium through the body and through the cover in contact with the lining plates so that the plates are enabled to rapidly conduct heat away from the metal constitutingvthe slab. Thus the slab is rapidly cooled and can be removed from the mold after a very brief cooling interval.

VIn order that the hinges for the cover may not interfere with the operation of the clamping devices in drawing the cover into firm contact with the body, it has been the usual prior practice to provide a limited amount of looseness in the hinge joints. `The provision of looseness `in the hinge joints, While effective to permit the movement of the cover under 'the influence of the clamping means, is objectionable as the hinges having such loose joints cannot support the cover in level position and in proper alignment or register with the body. The side of the cover opposite the Ihinges sags and the cover does not correctly register with the body when the cover is clamped in closed position. To avoid such sagging it has been the practice, in some instances, to provide means additional to the hinges, such as rollers on the bottom of the cover, to s upport the cover and hold it level and in correct alignment with the body. Such additional means are expensive, cumbersome and incon venient.

To avoid the objections last above stated, it has been heretofore proposed -to provide a hinge wherein the body-connected hinge element carried a round pivot pin in fixed vertical position and wherein the cover-connected hinge element was provided with a pin receiving slot extending in the direction perpendicular to the face of the cover. This construction, while perhaps theoretically advantageous, was subject to 4 claims. (01.22-153) 2 the objection that there was only line contact between the stationary pivot pin and the walls of the slot. The parts were therefore readily subject to wear and proper lubrication could not be maintained.

The principal object of the `present invention is to provide a mold of the class mentioned wherein the pivot member on each body-connected hinge element is rotatable with respect thereto and is provided with horizontally extending guiding surfaces and wherein each cover-connected hinge element has horizontally extending guiding surfaces engaging those of the corresponding pivot member and positioned perpendicularly to the face of the cover. Thus the interengaging guiding surfaces are always perpendicular to the cover face and they permit the cover to be moved horizontally `to effect clamping. The said interengaging guiding surfaces serve in all posi-4 tions of the cover to prevent any movement thereof in directions parallel to its face.

Still .other objects of the invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the following specification and claims.

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a mold embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the mold with a portion broken away and shown in vertical central section.

Fig. 3 is a plan view.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view showing one of the hinges to which the invention more particularly relates.

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4 but with the cover in open position.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary side view taken partly in section along the line 6--6 of Fig. 1.

The mold comprises a normally stationary body I0 which is recessed to form the back wall, the side Walls and the bottom wallof a mold cavity which is open at the top. The body Ill may be provided with a foot or base I2. by means of which it may be supported on and secured to a suitable floor or platform. The mold also comprises a front member or cover I4 which is' hinged to the body for movement about a vertical axis and which when in closed position forms the front wall of th'e mold recess. The cover I4 is connected with the body I0 .by means of two similar hinges I6 and I8, each comprising a hinge element 20 connected to the body, and a hinge element 22 connected to the cover. Each hinge also comprises a vertical pivot member or pin I4. The two 3 Y hinges I6 and I8 will be hereinafter described in greater d`etai1. y

The bodyris preferably provided with a back liner plate 26 formed of copper and with side liner plates 28 and 30 also formed of copper. The cover I4 preferably'carriesa front liner plate 32 similar to the back liner plate 26.

The body `0 .preferably provided with verti-n Vcally extending channels 34 having horizontal ribs 36 therein, and provision is made for circulating water or other vcooling liquid through"V these channels to conduct heat awayjgfrom the back linei` plate 26. As shown, the Ycooling liquid is supplied'throughv` tvv@Tjaipes'-15h35;V 3 3 and withdrawn through a pip'effl Vertical channels for cooling liquid may 'also beprovided adjacent the side liner plates 23and'30.. How;-

4 there is provided a spout 62 toperrmit the overflow olf mol-ten ymetal when the said metal reaches the level of the spout. Anrov'erilow box 64 is provided, this being shown as hinged toV the `cover I4. The overflow of'meta-l from Vthe spout` into the said box serves as anV indication that the mold has Ibeen vcompletely lled.

In-poiiringhiolten metialhteth-efmold use ls upon the top edges of the liner plates 2B and'32. This runner boxV has one-ormore apertures inY the bottomthereof, and these control and direct the flow of the I nolten metal into the vinterior ofthe molde Thelrliiner'box is removed before ever, such channels constitute no part 'of` the present invention and the said channels;y to

gether with the piping therefor, are omitted fromY the 7'tlviig's. i

The .eover l 4 Aire'feratly provided withverth cally extending channels I2 having horizonta-l ribs Til/therein and pre'visionlis made'for cire culating water or other cooling lidudthreu'ghthese -thannels to eonduitv .heat` awayfiernthe front liner 'plate 3127.-v siio'wn, the cooling liquid is supplied through two pipes 46., 46 and with# drafwn 'through' av pipe 48; Inasmuch 4`las theV @vergis-movable about the axis `o'f vthe hinges LIB' Y outer race y ef the' bearing Gris` heldin plateeY 3in1 the hinge element 'zilfby meansef'a ring fwla'nd and la the liquid 'issnpplied to the several 'pipes Y 43, 418 and 48 through movable connectionswhich Y permit 'cover movement and preferably through swivel -nenne-e'tions having their axes in alignment with the llingle axis. VAs shown, the pipes/45, 46-

alre feenne'cted with a pipe 5o which receives liquid through a swivel ro'int ST2; the axis ei ith-isswiveljoint being alignment withthe hinge axis. `The charges' liquid through a swivel jfeintjli, the axis of this swivel vj'orlt being also in alignmentwlith Y the hifi-ige airis. 'It will be seen that fthe Idescribed pipe connections permit v'"tll'e'izover toV be swung abo-ut 'the hinge f'axis "Without disturbing or inter` rupting theflow of liquid through the eo'oling enaghnel's'fandtheicover. Y

Suitalble means are provided :for cover in its closed position, as shown Figs. v1,

2 andre' andai-'so in Fig. '4. This elamping means? may be widely varied Without departing the invention, but as shown, the' rsai'd means comprises two 'vertical series :ofbolts 58 'at oppesite'sides ef the meld. Each bolt' erftered'l in a slot 59 in a ilange on the body and is provided with a vertically extending cylindrical head engaging the flange above and below the yslot. 'The bolt "is held in place by clips B-which-'embrace the cylindrical head of ibolt.' l't 'will 'be 'seen 'thatthe clips Ihold the bolt in place but nevertheless?v it te befswiing laterally about a vertical axis. 'Each bolt at its front 'end i's adapted' t'o enter a eorrespending slot Gl' in a a-nge en the @ver andr is provided -with a nut adapted to engageA the said cover nar-ige. It .will seen 'that by turning 'the Imiftson theseve'ial' bolts 5:8, 5t; theeo'ver M be drawn rearwardinto f'i'riny engagement with `l-,h'e body and can be 'se hield duri-ng casting- Upon 'the complet-'ion of v1'casting and aftercooling, the belts'fca-n be loosened tor permit'the4 cover 'to be opened to the 'position showin by dot--andedash llines `in Figi, completed slab 'can then be removed.

clamping- 't'he 3, and the i "The side liner plate 3U Yprefiera-blylterm'inaite's Y below the top Yof the `mold and Ain the space' medlately above the tee-er the saidliner plate thecover "is opened.

'ference will KY"ovv be had particularly to Figs. 4 to 6 whichshow;:in-greater detail the beforementioned hinges of the mold( The before-Imentroned'pivot member 24is carried by therbodyconnected lhinge element 20Vand is rotatable rela-V tively thr'etouabeut Aje; vertical. airis.l The pivot member 2li -hrnt'allly extending "guiding surfaees--- VPreferaicllifl, 'the :pivot `-n'ieiriber 121 is a 'pi -xlindllgfftpwa frm the hir-igev Element,- being supported andrlguided therein by-an alittleV friction bearing such-'as a-Iifoll-eribearinfgi'is. The

the inner race or Vthe bearingliais 'held-'iin place on the pin24 by ota'vdise 12. When-'ther pivotmemberia is a 'pin described.; 'the 'azere- Y said horizontally' extending' gul ngj surfaces are opposite parallel lilas-'vertaal feeesflfl,4 l'wnnne'clA thereon.

'The fcej'vere'cenneeted hinge elementi' 212 is; adapted 'to 'engage the 'pivot ineinberzi 'It' ls provided vvithf horizontally extending gu-idling" Y Y surfaces Ywhieh engage the Yguiding surfaces en' the pivetiinember and which-are jpindienlar to the vinner tace the eover. fBy-reason' of the y Y y votlmember Y is rotativ'ely movedlvvhenthepe erf-is swiiii-fginterenfg'aginggniding sur-raises th tower-'der desearles/leien. Inasmuehas the guiding surfaeesare alwaysperpendieular te the `liever "faee. the #covert-earl n'e'ved in' the directie/neef the said guiilnfg'rsurfaees and per# pendioularlvto inner aeei, ibut' it eannotbe' reetien parallel te' its inner ieee. 'Y When the pivot member-illus apih'; as is fer-red, -thejeevereconneeted hinge element' zlh'a's an aperture i6! into whiehithe' .pi-n extends: likev moved 'in diameter ertlre aperture issemewhatllarger than the diameterffdf 'thepivotpin and eihterior e f the aperture-'lis provided with* tweinesite faces H6, `1$fwhich `'engage 'the natia/ces gli on the The hat faces" "1%, ls--eens-'ttu'te the before-meantime 'guiding fscrfaeesen the hinge element l'Prereiafnly,the dat faces-in the semif-l tare 61 arena separates-:Shoes le apertureand heldin plaee fbiy limearl's c'fscfrews atleast sneer the hinges ift and 1387,*preierai`iiy Y the lower hinge |18, is provided with a bali bearing zwhich serves tolearry'rtlie weiehtef the iw r while 'pernfrl'Y "'ttin'g ittoswinfg freely vvllen its thus permitting the upper race 8.4' and thehinge element 22 to freely move bodily' `with respect to lower race 86 andthe hinge .element 28.

Upon the completion of lthe casting of the slab and upon sufficient cooling thereof, the runner box 66 is removed and the bolts 58, 58 are loosened, and the cover is swung forward to the position shown by dot and dash lines in Fig. 3 and shown by full lines in Fig. 5. The completed slab is then removed and the cover is closed preparatory to the casting of the next slab. In order that the cover may properly engage the body, it is necessary that vit be held by the hinges in level position and in proper alignment with the body without any sagging of thel side thereof remote from the hinges, in this case the right side. If the cover were to sag, this would tend to prevent the entry of the front liner plate 32 into its recess in the body; and it would tend to prevent the proper alignment and engagement of the bolts 58 or other clamping means. Furthermore, any misalignment of the cover with the body would leave the top edges of the plates 26 and 32 out of register, with the result that the runner box 66 could not be properly supported.

While it is necessary for the cover to be held in proper aligned position for the reasons stated, it is also necessary fori-it to be freely movable rearward, without restriction by the hinges, under the influence of the bolts 58, 58 or other clamping means. The construction Iwhich has been shown and described fully attains these results. With the cover in or near its closed position, and before the clamping means are applied, it is freely movable forward and backward within the limits determined by the difference between the diameter of the pivot pin 24 and the diameter of the aperture 61. The described pipe connections are sufficiently flexible to permit such forward and backward movement of the cover. The support of the cover on the ball bearing 82 facilitates such forward or backward movement. However, while the cover is free to move forward or backward, it is positively held against lateral movement and against sagging, by reason of the engagement of the flat faces 16, 16 of the shoes 18, 18 with the flat faces 14, 14 of the pivot pin 24. The engagement between the shoes 18, 18 and the flat faces of the pivot pin does not in any way interfere with the swinging movement of the cover, as the pivot pin 24 is freely movable about its vertical axis, being supported for such movement by means of the bearing B8.

Inasmuch as the pivot members 24, 24 are rotatable, the bearings 68 in which they are supported carry the weight of the cover 32 during swinging thereof and all rotary movement at the hinges is between the elements of the said bearings. There is no rotary movement of the cover connected hinge element 22 relatively to the pivot member 24, and the former moves relatively to the latter only to a very limited extent horizontally. The guiding surfaces on the pivot members 24 and on the hinge element 22 are ample in. area and there is little or no tendency for them to wear.

It will be observed that the hinges serve to hold the cover level in all positions thereof. It is not only held level when parallel with the body or in closed position as already described, but inasmuch as the hinge elements are rotatable with the cover the said cover is also held level in all other positions thereof. This makes it unnecessary to provide any track or other support for the cover additional to the hinges.

1. In a mold for casting brass and the like, the I combination of a mold body open at one side, aV

vertical cover having an inner face adapted t0. engage the open side of the body to close it, means for clamping the cover in its body closing position, two vertically spaced hinge elements connected with the body, two pivot members mounted on the respective body-connected hinge ele- -ments for relative rotative movement about a fixed vertical axis and each having two parallel flat vertical faces, and two vertically spaced coverconnected hinge elements adjacent the respective body-connected hinge elements and each having two parallel flat vertical faces which are perpendicular to the inner face of the cover and which engage the flat faces of the corresponding pivot member to cause rotative movement thereof in unison with the cover when the latter is swung horizontally toward or from its body closing position, the said cover-connected hinge elements permitting movement of the cover in the direction of the said interengaging flat faces and perpendicularly to the inner face of the cover and also serving to narrowly limit such movement and the said cover-connected hinge elements in all positions of Vthe cover serving by reason of the said interengaging flat faces to prevent movement of the cover parallelly with the inner face thereof.

2. In a mold for casting brass and the like, the combination of a mold body open at one side, a vertical cover having an inner'face adapted to 4engage the open side of the body to close it, means for clamping the cover in its body closing position, two vertically spaced hinge elements connected with the body, two pivot pins mounted on the respective body-connected hinge elements for relative rotative movement about a fixed vertical axis and each having two parallel flat vertical faces, and two vertically spaced cover-connected hinge elements adjacent the respective body-connected hinge elements and each having o. pin receiving aperture provided with two parallel flat vertical faces which are perpendicular to the inner face of the cover and which engage the flat faces of the corresponding pivot pin to cause rotative movement thereof in unison with the cover when the latter is swung horizontally toward or from its body closing position, the dimensions of the apertures in the direction of the interengaging flat faces being slightly greater than the corresponding dimensions of the pins so as to permit narrowly limited movement of the cover perpendicularly to the inner face of the cover and the said interengaging flat faces in al1 positions of the cover serving to prevent movement of the cover parallelly with the inner face thereof.

3. In a mold for casting brass and the like, the combination of a mold body open at one side, a vertical cover having an inner face adapted to engage the open side of the body to close it, means for clamping the cover in its body closing position, two vertically spaced hinge elements connected with the body, two pivot pins mounted on the respective body-connected hinge elements for relative rotative movement about a fixed vertical axis and each having two parallel flat vertical faces, two vertically spaced cover-connected hinge elements adjacent the respective bodyconnected hinge elements and each having a, pin receiving aperture with a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the corresponding pin, and two oppositely disposed shoes in each aperture having parallel nat vertical faces which areperpendicular to. the inner face ofthe cover and which engage the flat faces of the corresponding pivot pin to 'cause'rotative movemernJ thereof in unison with' the cover when the latter is 'swung horizontally toward or from' its body closing position, the said interengagingflat faces on the pins and on the shoes serving in all positions of the cover toprevent movement of the cover parallellywith the inner face thereof.

4; In. a mold for casting brass andthe like, the combination ofy a mold body open at one side a vertical cover "having, an inner face adapted to engage the open side of the body to close it, means for clamping the cover in its body closing position, two vertically spaced hinge elements connected with the body, two pivot pins mounted on the respective body-connected hinge elements lfor relative rotative movement about a fixed vertical axis and eachhaving Vtwo parallelhorizontally toward or from its body closing posi-l tion, the ldimensions -of the apertures in the direction of the interengaging fiat faces being slightly greater thany the correspondingdimensions;of the pinsA so-as to ,permit narrowly limited movement ofthe cover perpendicularlyto thefinner VfaceV of thecover and the said interengaging-flat faeesz: in all positions of the cover serving to preventl movement of the cover parallelly with Vtheinner face' thereof, and a ball thrustjbearing interposed between one cover-connected hinge element and the corresponding.body-connectedy hinge element,

the said bearing havingvflat ball engaging races which permit the cover-connected hinge element Y to move both rotatively and horizontally. i

FRANK J. HUDAK.

y REFERENCES CITED TheL following referenfces are file of thispatent:

` VUNITED' STA'I'ESNPA'I'ENTS NumberVV Name f DateY 382,633 Bel1f e May 8,1888l 486,237 Schenck ,Nov. 15, 1892l 1,392,884 Washburn Oct. 4,V 1921 1,981,516 Peremi 1 Jan. 8, rv1935 2,238,530 Licktegf Apr'. 15, 1941 V2,283,450

of record inthe u?, FJ/r/ r/ Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,477,060 July 26, 1949 FRANK J. HUDAK It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 2, line 55, for pin 14 read pin 24; column 3, line 26, for the Word conduit read conduct; line 35, and column 4, line 71, for hingle read hinge; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofice.

Signed and sealed this 20th day of December, A. D. 1949.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assz'stmt Oommssoner of Patents.

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