US3178109A

US3178109A - Temperature responsive counting device

Info

Publication number: US3178109A
Application number: US212330A
Authority: US
Inventors: John W Farrell; James W Heniades
Original assignee: United States Steel Corp
Current assignee: United States Steel Corp
Priority date: 1962-07-25
Filing date: 1962-07-25
Publication date: 1965-04-13
Anticipated expiration: 1982-04-13

Description

April 1965 J. w. FARRELL ETAL 3,178,109

TEMPERATURE RESPONSIVE COUNTING DEVICE Filed July 25, 1962 JOHN M. FARRELL and JAMES W. HEN/A058 WX W Attorney United States Patent 3,178,109 TEMPERATURE RESPONSIVE COUNTING DEVICE John W. Farrell, North Tonawauda, N.Y., and James W. Heniades, Chicago, Ill., assignor to United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey Filed July 25, 1962, Ser. No. 212,330 1 Claim. (Cl. 23591) This invention relates generally to temperature responsive counting devices and has particular significance in counting devices adapted to register the number of times ingot molds or the like are used.

In studying the effect of various operating conditions upon ingot mold life it is necessary to select a certain num ber of ingot molds and maintain records pertaining to the use of these molds. In the past, these records have been maintained by around-the-clock observers who observe and register each use of the selected ingot mold. Because of the necessity of human observation and recording a cert-ain amount of error is inherent in this method. Further, it is expensive to maintain personnel around the clock for performing these duties and if additional duties are assigned the possibility of error of observation and recording is increased.

It is therefore a principal object of this invention to provide a device which will automatically register each use of an ingot mold.

A more particular object of this invention is the provision of a registering device which can be easily secured to an ingot mold to continuously register each use of the ingot mold.

Still another more particular object of this invention is the provision of a temperature responsive registering device which will register the use of an ingot mold by sensing the increased temperature of the wall of the mold each time it is used.

Yet a further more specialized object of this invention is the provision of a device for counting the number of times an ingot mold is used which device employs a bimetal strip to actuate a counter each time the ingot mold is heated by steel poured therein.

Yet another more general object of this invention is the provision of a temperature responsive device adapted to record the number of uses of vessels for containing material at non-ambient temperatures.

A further more general object of this invention is the provision of a device for registering the number of uses of an object which uses are characterized by temperature change.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent'from the following description and accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view showing the device of this invention mounted on an ingot mold;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view partially in section of the device of this invention mounted on an ingot mold sidewall; and

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view partially in section of the device of this invention mounted on an ingot mold.

Referring now to the drawing, the counting mechanism of this invention, designated generally as 10, includes a counter 12 bolted to a steel bracket 14. The bracket 14 is welded to a steel face plate 16 which in turn is bolted to a steel back-up plate 18 by bolts 19. A laminated insulating structure for protecting the counter 12 from heat is provided between the face plate 16 and the back-up plate 18. The insulating structure includes a block of Transite (a trademark of Johns Manville Company) asbestos cement 20 sandwiched between a front sheet of asbestos cloth 22 and a back sheet of asbestos cloth 24. A bi-metal strip 26 is provided one end of which is secured to the face plate 16. The other end of the bi-metal strip 26 has an operating arm 28 extending therefrom toward the counter 12 and engageable with an operator arm 30 of the counter. As shown in FIGURE 1, the base plate 18 is welded to the outside wall of an ingot mold designated generally as M. In order to protect the counter 12 from damage by material falling from the top of the ingot mold a roof 32 is provided which is secured to the base plate 18 and extends therefrom over the counter 12. The back sheet of asbestos cloth 24 extends around onto the underside of the roof as shown in FIGURE 2 for heat insulation.

As can be seen in FIGURE 2 the face plate, back-up plate and insulation therebetween have a cut out portion 34 adjacent the bi-metal strip so that the bi-metal strip is exposed directly to the side of the ingot mold and thus receives heat radiations directly therefrom. The bi-metal strip 26 is arranged so that at ambient temperature the operating arm 28 just rests against the operator arm 30 of the counter, and upon heating, the bi-metal strip will flex or bend away from the side of the ingot mold. When the ingot mold is filled with molten steel the sidewall becomes hot and the heat radiated by the sidewalls is sensed by the bi-metal strip thus causing the bi-rnetal strip to bend outwardly. The metals for the strip are selected so that when the temperature raises a selected amount above ambient the bi-metal strip will flex sufficiently to trip the operating arm 30 thus actuating the counter one unit. When the mold has been stripped from the ingot and the mold cools, the bi-metal strip returns to its normal position and the counter cocks readying it for the next registering of the use of the ingot mold.

Although the use of the counting device has been described in conjunction with an ingot mold it is readily apparent that its application is not so limited. This counting device can be used for recording the number of uses of any vessel when the use is characterized by heating of the walls of the vessel. Also, by simply reversing the position of the bi-metal strip, the counting device can be used to register the number of uses of a vessel in which cold material such as liquid gases are stored. In this instance, the bi-metal strip would be arranged so that when the walls of the vessel become cooled the bi-metal strip would move away from the walls of the vessel to actuate the counter. In even broader aspects the device of this invention is adapted to measure the number of uses of an object when the uses are characterized by a temperature change.

While one embodiment of our invention has been shown and described it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claim.

We claim:

The combination of an ingot mold and the like with temperature responsive means for cumulatively registering each time the mold is heated by molten steel and the like poured therein comprising:

(a) a counter with an operating arm, said counter being adapted to register one unit upon actuation by tripping means and to cock, readying it for the next registry, upon return of said tripping means to its normal position;

while exposing said temperature responsive means to direct mold radiation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Burdette Oct. 2, 1923 Sleeper May 3, 1927 Klopsteg et al May 24, 1927 Lamb May 27, 1952 Nevers Feb. 12, 1963