US3201837A - Method and apparatus for casting metal articles - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 24, 1965 E. Q. sYLvx-:sTER 3,201,837

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CASTING METAL ARTICLES Filed April 6, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 @fyi I N j? 'kw-W. 50

I N VENTOR.

Aug. 24, 1965 E. Q. SYM/ESTER 3,201,837

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CASTING METAL ARTICLES Filed April 6, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR @t tlzzd j/ l l/ Z/ Aug. 24, 1965 E. Q. sYLvEsTER 3,201,837

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CASTING METAL ARTICLES Filed April 6, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ,fz Jag INVENTOR.

Aug. 24, 1965 E. Q. sYLvEsTER METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CASTING METAL ARTICLES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April e, 1962 I NVEN TOR. 55C/w@ @www United States Patent O 3,201,837 METHOD AND APPARATUS EUR CASG METAL ARTICLES Edmund Quincy Sylvester, Shaker Heights, hio

(% Grin Wheel Co., 445 N. Sacramento Blvd.,

Chicago 12, lll.)

Filed Apr. 6, 1962, Ser. No. 185,652 14 Claims. (Cl. 22--69) This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 708,558, tiled lan. 13, 1958 for Methods and Apparatus for Casting Metal, now Patent No. 3,032,841, issued May 8, 1962.

This invention relates generally to the art of casting of metals and more specifically to a method and apparatus for pressure pouring of metal articles.

Various forms of apparatus have been proposed for the pressure pouring of molten metal. One of these, for example, is the provision of a pressurized ladle structure having a generally vertically extending pouring tube externally of and in communication with the metal-containing chamber of the ladle body. Such ladle structures can be further classified into two general categories; that is, those ladle assemblies which after having their ladle bodies filled with metal at a suitable filling station are transported to a pressure pouring station whereat they are joined to a waiting pouring tube assembly as contrasted to other ladle assemblies which have their respective pouring tube assemblies already joined to the ladle body at the time that the ladle body is lled with molten metal.

All of the above types of ladle assemblies have a common problem of providing effective and yet simple means for preventing the flow of molten metal out of the ladle body prior to the commencement of the actual pressure pouring operation.

Numerous stopper arrangements have been proposed. However, these have not been entirely satisfactory in that the various mechanisms were either complicated and costly, subject to erosion by the molten metal, or prone to fracture due to either mechanically or thermally developed stress forces.

Accordingly a general object of this invention is to provide a method of casting metal articles whereby simple and inexpensive stopper means may be employed for preventing the tiow of molten metal out of the ladle body prior to commencement of the pressure pouring operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide, in a ladle assembly, novel stopper means for at certain times preventing the flow of molten metal out yof a ladle body.

A further object of this invention is to provide novel actuating means for displacing ladle stopper means in order to initiate gravitational iiow of molten metal out of a ladle body.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent when reference is made to the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a ladle assembly constructed in accordance with teachings of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of a portion of the ladle assembly of FIGURE 1 as functionally connected to a suitable mold and gate assembly;

FIGURE 3 is a partial cross-sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line 3-3 of FIGURE l and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view similar to that of FIGURE 1 and illustrating a second embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of a portion of the ladle assembly shown in FIG- URE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to that of FIGURES 1 and 4 and illustrating a third embodiment of the invention; and

FIGURES 7-10 are fragmentary cross-sectional views of further modications of the invention applicable to any of the embodiments disclosed by FIGURES 1, 4 or 6.

Certain details are omitted from one or more figures for purposes of clarity.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings, FIG- URE l illustrates a pressure pouring ladle assembly 10, of the type wherein a pouring tube assembly 14 is securely mounted to the ladle body 12, located in an enveloping chamber or pit 16 defined generally by an upwardly extending Wall member 18.

The ladle body 12 may be comprised of iirebrick 20 lining the inner walls of an outer container 22 so as to define a chamber 24 for the reception of molten metal therein. The pouring tube assembly, comprised of an outer casing 26 containing clay tile 28 surrounded by sand 3) in a manner defining a conduit 32, may be secured by any suitable means to the container 22 as at 34. The lower portion of chamber 24 is provided with a conduit portion 36 which at times completes communication between conduit 33, a lower extension of conduit 32, and chamber 24.

A cover assembly 3S, having a ange 40 secured to a downwardly depending cylindrical portion 42, is secured in sealing engagement to the wall member 1S as by means of a seal member 44. Any suitable clamping devices may, of course, be employed for retaining the cover assembly in such engagement. Additionally, a seal member 46 is provided between the cover assembly and radially extending liange 48 formed on pouring tube 14 in order to completely seal the chamber or pit 16 from the ambient atmosphere. After the cover assembly 3S is secured, a suitable mold and gate assembly as schematically illustrated at 52 may be brought into functional engage- `ment with the pouring tube for subsequent pouring operations.

Superatmospheric pressure for the pouring of molten metal, supplied by a source 56, may be communicated to the general chamber or pit 16 by any suitable conduitry SES. A pressure regulating mechanism 60 may be provided serially With conduit 58.

Conduit 36 has its upper end formed to provide a valving seat 62 which cooperates with a generally conical valve member 64 for at times preventing tlow through conduit 36. Valve or stopper 64, composed of a refractory material buoyant in molten metal, when inally displaced from the position shown will float to the top of the molten metal 66 thereby allowing the molten metal to seek its own level by liowing through conduits 33 and 36 and into conduit 32.

It is of course apparent that after stopper 64 has been displaced subsequent admission of superatmospheric iluid pressure to the chamber or pit 16 will cause surface 68 of the molten metal to be lowered resulting in a correlative rise of metal in conduit 32. Accordingly, continued application of such pressure will result in the complete filling of the mold cavity.

By way of example, FIGURE 2 illustrates in greater detail the mold and gate assembly 52, schematically illustrated in FIGURE 1, and its connection with thel pouring tube assembly 14. Assembly 52 is comprised of a mold assembly 70, containing a cavity 72, securely mounted to the top of a gate assembly 74. The lower portion of gate assembly 74 is formed to provide a seating surface 76 adapted to closely receive end 78 of the pouring tube assembly 14. A heat resistant gasket 80 may also be provided, if desired.

.86 which controls the degree ofcommunication'through conduit 88. A pressure responsive' piston and cylinder assembly 90 supported by a bracket 92 mounted on the housing 82 serves to actuateslide 'S6 tothe position illustrated, thereby terminating ow of molten metal from conduit 32 to mold cavity 72.

After ladle assembly Vis sealed within pit 16 and Vthe moldand gate assembly secured to the upper-end 78 of pouring tube 14, slide 86 is moved to the left until a slot or passageway 94, formed in slide 86 completes communication between conduits S8 and 96.' ConduitV` 96, which communicates at its other end with a suitable source of relatively high pneumatic pressure 169, may

also have serially connected therein Va shut-off valveA 93.

When passageway 94 assumes the above position, valve 9S is opened allowing relatively high pressure fluid to v,flow fromA source 100,' through conduit 96, passageway V94, conduits 8S, 32, 33 and 36V causing valve member 64 to be forced upwardly away from coacting seat 62. When valve 64v is so moved upwardly, the pressure differential which previously existedthereacross, due to the pressure head of the molten metal '66 within chamber 24, ceases to exist allowing the natural buoyancy of stopper 64 to carry the stopper upwardly to at least nearly the top surface 68 of the metal. Accordingly, the molten metal 66 will gravitationally flow out of chamber 24 and through conduit 36 until a balance in levels is obtained vbetween chamber 24 and conduit 32.

Valve 93 may then be shut and slide 86 moved to the right until orifice 102 is in'alignment with conduit 88 at which time relatively high pneumatic pressure maybe directed to chamber 16 by means of conduit 5S and valve 60 communicating with a suitable source of pressure 56. Molten metal 66 is thusly forced upwardly through conduits 32 and 88, orifice 102 andV into mold cavity 72'. When the mold cavity 72 is filled, cylinder assembly 90 is actuatedl causing piston rod 104 to move slide 86 to the cut-off position illustrated in FIGURE V2 thereby terminating all further flow through conduit 8S.

Once the mold cavity 72 is filled, the assembly 52Y may be removed to an area where the cast metall may at least partially solidify. Successive mold and gate assemblies may then be brought into communication with pouring conduit 32 and pressure applied to chamber or pit 16-as previously described. It should be mentioned that such successive mold and gate assemblies need not contain a valving arrangement as provided by conduit 95 and pas-` ditional means for maintaining the. stopper 64 in a closed position during such periods as when molten metal is being poured into chamber` 24.V FIGURE 3 illustrates, by way of example, one such larrangement wherein the ladle body 12 is provided with a bracket 1116, suitably secured to the outer'container 22, adapted'to receive end 1% of retaining rodlltl. The rod 110 may be formed to provide a downwardly depending segment 112 at the lower end of which is formed a laterally extending abutment portion V.114. The placement of rod 11G as illustrated, prevents the molten metal 116, as it is being poured into chamber 24 from a supply ladle 113, from possiblyr dislodging stopper 64. As the level of molten metal increases Within chamber 24, the necessity of employingy a retaining -rod ceases to exist because of the pressure head of Vmetal forcing stopper 64 onto its cooperatingv seat 62. Accordingly, rodV is preferably constructed of a metal having'substantially the same cornposition as that which is to iill chamber 24. Therefore, as the level of metal rises within chamber 24, the major portion of rod 116i will melt and become part of the overall charge thereby allowing stopper 64 to be actuated as previously described;

FIGURE 4 illustrates generally a type of ladle assembly 120 which, after having its ladleY body122 lilled with moltenmetal 124 -at a suitable lling station, has its ladle body transported to Y a pressure -pouring station whereat the ladle body is joined `to a waiting pouring tube assembly 126.

In FIGURE 4, a refractory lined ladle body 122 is `shown having a dished bottom 12S and a bottom opening centrally disposed therein'to facilitate exhausting the ladle of molten metal. The metal casing or container 132 of the ladle body may be provided With an upper hollow rim 134 which provides a substantial nonporous seating surface for a sealing gasket 136 and also y Vforms an annular chamber 138 throughV Whichia cooling hooks or, the like which may be required for removing and replacing the cover. A refractory stopper 144 which may be seated in conduit portion 1,30may be provided with a downwardly depending stem 145 which may be Y used for retaining the stopper 144 in place.r

After the ladle body I122 has been charged with molten V,metal and closed by the cover 142, the ladle body may be lowered by acrane into engagement with a refractory Y y*lined steel pouring tube structure 126, as illustrated. In

stopper to initiate discharge of metal from the ladle body.V

and'into the pouring tube assembly. t Y

In Vsome instances it maybe desirable to provide ad-Y ditional valving means, such as 9,` serially connected in conduit 96 at a pointfgenerally between valve 98 and conduit 32. The purpose of valve 97 would beto vent conduits 32 and 96 tothe atmosphere, after valve. 98 has been shut but beforeY slide 86 is moved to the right, thereby relieving any superatmospheric pressure remaining therein as supplied by source 100." In other cases such relieving of pressure may be effectively accomplished, for example, by the various riser arrangements contained within the mold structure itself Vonce orifice 102 is brought into alignment with conduit 8,8.

`Other valving arrangements may, of course, be "emv p10yed instead of that disclosed by FIGURE 2. That is,

this case, the lower end ofthe pouring tube-structure terminates in an upturned ,open mouth structure 143 shaped to seat in sealing engagement with a recess formed in the bottom of the ladle body. A suitable mold and gate assembly 150, similar to assembly 52, may be functionally connected tothe upper end of pouring tube assernblyvr 126 so as to be in controlled communication with conduit152 and stopper 144 may Ythen be pneumaticallyV raised olf its lseat and relatively high pressure pneumatic fluid admitted to the ladle body chamber by means of conduit 53 kinthe manner previously'described in connection with FIGURES l and 2.

VFIGURE 5 villustrates asimple arrangement for holding the stopper 144 securely in place during lilling of the ladle body 122.5l The stem 146 is provided with a key-receiving opening 154. A washer 15d is seated against the bottom ofthe ladle and the stem 146 of the stopper is passed therethrough. A key 15S, having a cable 160 attached thereto, isl passed through the keyway 154 in the stem146 tov hold the stopper 144 and washer 156 in place until the ladle `body is lilled. With the stopper then held in place by the pressure of the molten metal in the ladle body, the key 158 may be safelyrwithdrawn by Vcable 160 permitting washer V156 to fall olf and leave the stopper freeto be subsequently displaced by air pressure as previously described.V v

FIGURE 6 illustrates a stillfurther variation of a ladle assembly 162 wherein a refractory lined ladle body 164, .containing molten metal 166 therein, is received in an overall enveloping bell-like pressure containing housing `168. A stopper 170, provided with a downwardly depending stem 172, serves to at times prevent flow of molten metal through conduit 174 formed in the lower portion of the ladle body. Stem 172 may be considered a modification of stem 146. That is, stem 172 is somewhat elongated so as to add to the total weight of stopper 170 in order to inhibit displacement of stopper 170 during filling of the ladle 164. In this instance a multiple pour* ing tube assembly 176, having a centrally disposed and upwardly directed mouth 184, is provided for engagement with the ladle body 164.

Superimposed over the radiating horizontal legs 178 of the pouring tube assembly is a relatively heavy, rigid plate 180 of generally annular configuration, which may be partly or largely supported at opposite sides of the radiating legs by any suitable structure (not shown) so as to carry the weight of a filled ladle and its cover structure without damaging the radiating pouring tube legs 178. The inner periphery of the plate 180 is sealed at 182 about the mouth 184 so as to be capable of withstanding the gas pressure to be applied in and about the ladle body 164.

A circular array of any desired number of hydraulic rams 186 may be mounted on the plate 180 for initially supporting the ladle 164 spaced upwardly out of engagement with the mouth 184 of the pouring tube assembly, and with the lower end of the stopper stem 172 spaced upwardly out of engagement with the bottom of conduit 188 of pouring tube assembly 176. The outer periphery of plate 180 projects radially outwardly beyond ladle body 164 in order to provide a seat for the rigid bell 168 enclosing ladle body 164.

The lower end of the bell=16`8 may be flanged and recessed to hold an .annular sealing gasket 190 adapted to provi-de .a gas pressure seal between 4the bell and plate 1'80. The top lof the bell may have a gas pressure conduit 192., similar to conduit 58 of FIGURES 1 and 4, connected thereto for intermittently supplying gas pressure into the Ibell and relieving the pressure again as occurring during the pressure pouring cycle previously discussed.

Eyes 194 may, of course, be provided on the be'll 168 for lifting and lowering it with a crane. Also, hydraulic rams i196 mounted on any suitable superstructure 19S may be provided to hold the bel-l tirmly seated on the plate .180 .as pressure within the =bell increases.

When ladle body i164 has been filled with molten metal 66, Ithe ladle is lowered onto the hydraulic rams 186 in their raised condition. The bell 168 is then lowered into place and the hydraulic rams 196 are actuated to apply a downward force on the bell. Thereupon the hydraulic rams 186 are retracted to lower the ladle body 164 into .communication with mouth 184 of the pouring tube assembly 1716. Once stopper 170 is pneumatically displaced as previously disclosed, superatmospherie pneumatic pressure maybe directed from a suitable source through conduit 19:2 and into bell 194 causing the molten metal to ttlow upwardly through conduit 188 and into suitable cooperating mold .and gate assemblies connected to the ends of the pouring tube assembly 176.

Other congurations of Stoppers may be employed in place of the generally conical stopper members 64, 144 and .170. lFor example, FIGURE 7 discloses a spherical refractory stopper 200 coacting with a conical seat 202 at times prevent llouI of mo'lten metal out of the conduit 204 formed in the lower portion of the ladle body 206 while FIGURE 8 illustrates a stopper 208 formed of a spherical segment. Both Stoppers 200 and 208 are similar in the sense that each establishes substantially line contact with its cooperating seat. Accordingly, in some 'instances it may be possible to reduce the required air pressure tor unseating stopper 200 or 208 as compared to .a generally conical stopper as 64.

FIGURE 9 illustrates a disc-like stopper member 210 cooperating with a recessed seating .surface 212, formed in the lower portion of ladle body 206, for at times preventing ilow through conduit 204. The outer diameter y2114 of the .recess is preferably slightly larger than stopper 216 so as to allow the stopper to be closely received therein. Each of the Stoppers 200, 208 Vand 210 may of course be provided with stems such as 146 or 172, as the case may be. However, it should be pointed out that a stopper closely received Within the ladle body, as is illustrated by stopper 210, does not require the extra assurance of additional mechanical means for being held onto its cooperating seat during iilling of the ladle because the clearances surrounding the 4stopper are preferably designed to be -insullicient l`to cause the stopper to float off the seat when molten metal flows into the clearances. Addition-ally, if the top surface 216 of the stopper is shielded as, for example, by the bottom of the ladle body chamber, splashing of molten metal caused during lling will not dislodge the stopper.

The stopper 218 of lFIGURE 10 is furthe-r modhied by the addition of a metal band 220 `aflixed thereto and having downwardly depending spring-like - arms 222 and 224 partially extended in a generally radial direction. When the stopper 218 is urged into place prior to ladle tilling, arms 222 and y224 are Ito a degree urged inwardly toward each other thereby frictionaflly engaging the wall surface of conduit 204. In instances where additional mechanical holding means are desired, means such as rod 1110 or friction wiper arms as l2212 and 224 may be employed.

From .the foregoing description, it will be understood that Athe invention is susceptible to many detailed moditfcations according to the specific objects sought to be attained. Uses for all of these variants of the invention and others which will occur to those skilled in the art are contemplated and intended to be embraced by one or more of the appended claims. Those familiar with the art of metal casting, 4and particularly the art of casting relatively high melting point metals, such as iron and steel, will readily appreciate from the foregoing disclosure how the various objects and advantages of the invention may be `achieve-d.

I claim:

1. A method of casting metal from a reservoir of molten metal contained in an enclosed ladle having a bottom pouring opening closed fby a stopper member, comprising placing said opening in communication with the lower end of a separable, .upwardly extending, refractory pouring conduit disposed externally of said reservoir for delivery Iof metal from the ladle to a mold, placing the opposite end of the pouring conduit in communication with the bottom of a separate mold, creating a first superatmospheric pressure within -said pouring conduit Sullicient to dislodge said stopper member from said pouring opening, reducing said lirst superatmospheric pressure to a value substantially equal to ambient atmospheric pressure, creating a second superatmospheric pressure on the molten metal within said ladle in order to cause continued tlow of molten metal from the ladle through the pouring -conduit and into the mold until the mold is full, relieving said second superatmospheric pressure, `and separating the lil-led mold `from the pouring conduit.

2. A method of producing flow of molten metal from a ladle chamber having a bottom pouring opening with a refractory stopper member therein and communicating with an upwardly directed pouring conduit, comprising the steps of creating a superatmospheric pressure within said pouring conduit suicient to dislodge said stopper, relieving said superatmospheric pressure, and applying superatmospheric pressure to the ladle chamber and continuing such application to such an extent as to raise the level of the molten metal in the pouring tube above that in the ladle chamber.

3. A method of pressure pouring cast metal articles with a ladle having an open top and an external vertically eiitending pouringtube' in communication with an orifice formed in the lower `portion of said ladle comprising the steps of providing stopper means for closing said orifice, filling the ladle with molten metal, transporting 'said filled ladle to a pit and lowering said ladle intorsaid pit to a position in which a lower end of said pouring tube is in Communication with said orifice and the uppermost end thereof projects a substantial distance above said ladle, sealing said pit from the ambient atmosphere in a manner enclosing said ladle, placing a Suitabley mold structure into functional engagement with said uppermost end of said pouring tube, creating a irst superatmospheric pressure within said pouring tube sufficient to unseat said stopper means thereby allowing molten metal to flow by gravity from said ladle through said orifice and into said pouring tube, Vrelieving said firstsuperatmospheric pressure, andapplying a second superatmospheric pressure tov said sealed pit to cause said molten metal within said ladle to iiow upwardly through said vertically extending pouring tube and into said mold structure.

'received within'an enveloping outer container, and having af pouring tube communicating at its lower inlet end with an outlet orifice formed in said ladle and-having its outt let end projecting upwardly throughtsaid outer container,

stopper means for preventing flow of molten metal through said outlet orifice, additional means for applying a superatmospheric pressure against said stopper means on the pouring tube side thereof so as todislodge said stopvper in order to permit gravitational flow of molten metal out of said ladle outlet orifice, and means for applying superatmospheric pressure in said outer container and therebyon the molten metal in said ladle.

8. In a pressure pouring apparatus characterized by a Y ladle containing molten metal, vreceived within an envelop- VY4. A method of pressure pouring lcast metal articles v Vwith a ladle having an open toprand an external-vertically extending pouring tube in communication with an orifice formed in the lower portion of said ladle comprising the steps of closing said ori'lice by manually locking coacting stopper means in a closed position with a vertically eX- tending metallic rod member located within said ladle, filling the ladle with molten metalplacing said filled ladle into a pit in a position in which a lower end of said pouring tube is in communication with said orifice and the uppermost end thereof projects a substantial distance above said ladle, sealing said pit from the ambient atmosphere in a'manner enclosing said ladle, allowing said metallic rod to be melted by said molten metal, placing a suitable mold structure into functional engagement with said uppermost end of said pouring tube, pressurizing said pouring tube so as to dislodge said stopper so as to allow molten metal to flow by gravity from said ladleA through said orifice and into said pouring tube, and applying superatmospheric pressure to said sealed pit Vto cause said molten metal within said ladle to fiow upwardly through said vertically extending pouring tube and into said mold structurer.

5. Apparatus for casting metal, comprising tory-lined ladle containing molten metal and having an outlet opening formed. in the lower portion thereof, a

separate generally upright spout structure defining a refractory-lined. pouring conduit having an upper Voutlet Vend and a lower inlet end in communication with said superatmospheric pressure to said pouring conduitV sufii-V cient to unseat said stopper member against the static pressure head of said molten metal in order to allow said molten metalto gravitationally flow into said pouring conduit, and additional means for subsequently admitting Ya second superatmospheric pressure against said lmolten metal within said ladle in order to cause said molten metal to flow out of said ladle, through said pouring con-s Y duit .andrinto said mold assembly. Y

6. In ak pressure pouring apparatus characterizedV by .a ladle containing molten metal, received within an envelop-V ing outer container, and having a pouring tube communicating at its lower inlet end with an outlet orifice formed 'in said ladle and having its outlet end projecting upward-` ly through said outer container, said outlettorifice comprising a conduit portion having a conical seat formed at one end thereof, stopper means comprising a generally conical refractory stopper member adapted to at times engage said conical seat for preventing 'Viiow of `molten metal through said outlet orifice, andV additional means for applyingv a superatmospheric pressure againstV said Y a refracing outer container, andV having a pouring tube Vcommuni- Vcating at its lower inlet end with an outlet orifice formed in said ladle and having its outlet end projecting upwardly through said outer container, said outlet orifice comprising a conduitportion having Va conical seat formed at one end thereof, stopper means for preventing ow of molten metal through said outlet orifice,` saidY stopper means comprising a generally conical refractorystopper lmember adapted to at times engage said conical seat, a

downwardly depending portion formed on said stopper member adapted to be freely received within said conduit portion, friction means secured to said dependingportion for frictionally engaging said conduit portion in order to maintain said stopper member in seated position during filling of`said ladle with molten metal, and additional means for applying a superatmospheric pressure against said stopper means on the pouring tube side thereof so as to dislodge said stopper in order to permit gravitational ow of molten metal out of said ladle outlet orifice.

9. In an arrangement for pressureV pouring molten metal into a mold assembly, ladle meansY for containing a supply of molten lmetal therein, outlet means formed inra lower portion of said ladle means for at times discharging said molten metal therethrough, conduit means communicating between said outlet means and said mold assembly for at times conveying said molten metal from said outlet means to saidr mold assembly, stopper means presented in said outlet means for preventing flow of moltenmetal therethrough, and additionalY means for creating a superatmospheric ,pressure against said ystopper means sufficient to dislodge said stopper means so as to Venablerflow of molten n, metal through said outlet means.

A10. In an ,arrangement for pressure pouring molten metal into a mold assembly, ladle means for containing a supply of molten metal therein, outlet means formed in a lower portion of said ladle means for Vat times discharging vsaid molten metal therethrough, conduit means communicating between said outlet means and said mold assembly for at times conveying said molten metal from said outlet means to said mold assembly, stopper means presented in .said outlet ymeans for preventing flow of molten metal therethrough, and additional imeans for creating aV super- V,assembly for at times conveying said molten metal from said outlet means to Vsaid mold assembly, stopper means f presented in said outlet means for' preventing flow of molten metal therethrough, and additional means vfor creating a superatmospheric pressure within said conduit means sufficient to dislodge said stopper means so as to enable flow of molten metal through said outlet means said additional means comprising a source of superatmospheric pneumatic pressure, valve means serially connected between said rst conduit means and said mold assembly, and additional conduit means communicating between said source and said valve means, said valve means being arranged so as to terminate communication between said rst conduit means and said mold assembly when completing Comunication between said source and said lirst conduit means and terminating communication between said source and said rst conduit means when completing communication between said rst conduit means and said mold assembly.

12. A method of producing ilow of molten metal from a ladle chamber having a pouring opening formed in a lower portion thereof with a refractory stopper member therein, buoyant in the molten metal, and communicating with an upwardly directed pouring conduit, comprising the step of creating a superatmospheric pressure within said pouring conduit sutlicient to dislodge said stopper, relieving said superatmospheric pressure, and applying superatmospheric pressure to the ladle chamber and continuing such application to such an extent as to raise the level of the molten metal in the pouring tube above that in the ladle chamber.

13. Apparatus for casting metal, comprising a refractory-lined ladle for the containment therein of molten metal and having an outlet opening formed in the lower portion thereof, a separate generally upright spout structure dening a refractory=lined pouring conduit having an upper outlet end and a lower inlet end in communication with said outlet opening, a refractory stopper member seated in said outlet opening and disposed generally within said ladle, a metallic retaining rod member attached to said ladle and having one end depending downwardly into said ladle, said one end of said rod being so positioned as to be in abutting relationship to said stopper member thereby maintaining said stopper member in seated position against said outlet opening, means for sealing said ladle from the ambient atmosphere, means for admitting a rst superatmospheric pneumatic pressure to said pouring conduit suicient to unseat said stopper member once said rod member is melted by said molten metal in order to allow said molten metal to flow into said pouring conduit, a mold assembly suitably connected to said upper outlet end of said pouring conduit, and additional means for subsequently admitting a second superatmospheric pneumatic pressure against said molten metal within said ladle in order to cause said molten metal to flow out of said ladle through said pouring conduit and into said mold assembly.

14. In an arrangement for pressure pouring of molten metal into a mold assembly, ladle means for containing a supply of molten metal therein, outlet means formed in a lower portion of said ladle means for at times discharging said molten metal therethrough, said outlet means corn prising a conduit portion having an inlet end and an outlet end, a substantially concentric counterbore to said conduit portion formed at said inlet end thereof, conduit means communicating between said outlet end and said mold assembly for at times conveying said molt-en metal from said outlet means to said mold assembly, stopper means adapted to be closely received within said counterbore for preventing the ilow of molten metal through said outlet means, and additional means for creating a superatmospheric pneumatic Ipressure, against said stopper means sulcient to displace said stopper means from said counterbore so as to enable ilow of molten metal through said outlet means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,025,092 4/12 Hunter et al. 428 1,305,145 5/19 Meyer 4-28 2,310,766 2/ 43 Dornauf 22-69 XR 2,448,903 9/48 Miller 22-69 2,847,739 8/58 Sylvester 22-69 2,863,189 12/58 Beck 22-85 2,865,068 12/58 Dunn 22--69 2,997,756 8/61 Strom 22-69 3,014,255 12/61 Bussard et al. 22--20-9 3,040,400 6/62 Coady 22-85 3,044,132 7/62 Murton 22--85 3,054,155 9/ 62 Zickefoose 22-209 MARCUS U. LYONS, Primary Examiner.

MICHAEL V. BRINDISI, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. 2. A METHOD OF PRODUCTING FLOW OF MOLTEN METAL FROM A LADLE CHAMBER HAVING A BOTTOM POURING OPENING WITH A REFRACTORY STOPPER MEMBER THEREIN AND COMMUNICATING WITH AN UPWARDLY DIRECTED POURING CONDUIT, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF CREATING A SUPERATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE WITHIN SAID POURING CONDUIT SUFFICIENT TO DISLODGE SAID STOPPER, RELIEVING SAID SUPERATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE, AND APPLYING SUPERATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE TO THE LADLE CHAMBER AND CONTINUING SUCH APPLICATION TO SUCH AN EXTENT AS TO RAISE THE LEVEL OF THE MOLTEN METAL INI THE POURING TUBE ABOVE THAT IN THE LADLE CHAMBER.

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