US333591A - And william e - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 1.

FJBILLINGS & W. R. HINSDALE. PROCESS OF GOMPRESSING FLUID METAL.

No. 333,591. Patented Jan. 5, 1886.

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(No Model.) 2 SheetsSl1eet 2.

P. BILLINGS & W. RJHINSDALE. 4

PROGESS 0F GOMPRESSING FLUID METAL.

N0. 333,591.- I Patented Jan. 5, 1886.

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UNITED STATES PAT NT OFFICE.

FRANK BILLIN GS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, AND \VILLIAM'B. HINSDALE, OF

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO THE COMPRESSED STEEL COM- PANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

PROCESS OF COMPRE SSI NG FLUID METAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 333,591, dated January 5, 1886.

Application filed November 8, 1884. Serial No. 147,426. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, FRANK BILLINGS, of

Cleveland, Cuyah oga county, Ohio, and WILL- solid casting in an ingot-mold by such a methi od of pressing the same that the confined gases are effectually expelled from the metal before I the latter is consolidated.

Our present improvement consists in the method herein described for removing the gases from fluid metal in an ingot-mold provided with a small aperture for the escape of 2Q the gas from its upper end, the method consisting, first, in gently pressing the fluid metal while the gases accumulate in the head of the ingot; secondly, in applying an increased pressure, rupturing the surface metal of the ingot, and discharging a portion of the same from its upper end to liberate the confined gases; and, thirdly, in subjecting the ingot to a greatly-increased pressure after the discharge of the gases to consolidate the metal.

To secure the best results we maintain the temperature of the fluid metal at the mouth of the mold for a certain period after pouring, and before applying any pressure thereto, so as to secure the removal of the greater part of 3 5 such gases before any pressureis applied, and

to avoid obstructing the gases in their natural passage from the metal.

'Heretofore it has often been common toapply pressure to the surface of the metal as 40 soon as possible after pouring, to avoid that chilling of the metal which would render the pressing operation more or less difficult and abortive, and such haste has always resulted in the imprisonment of more or less gas with- 5 in the head of the ingot in the form of bubbles,which have been prevented from escaping by the covering of the metal s surface by the pressing apparatus.

Our process is based upon the assumption that the application of great pressure to the fluid metal when first poured unavoidably confines the gases at some point within the ingot, and we therefore employ very little pressure when the metal is first confined in the mold, and prefer to let it stand in the mold 5 5 unconfined for a short time, with its surface heat maintained by artificial means, so as to disengage a considerable part of the gases beforethe mold is closed to receive the desired pressure.

iIn subjecting the metal to pressure our process requires a mold provided with a small central aperture at the top for the escape of the confined gases at a certain stage of the process; but such aperture performs a differ- 6 5 ent function from the mere vents often used in molds, as it is employed partly to cut a section from the chilled surface of the metal over the point where the gases accumulate, and thus effects their release, as has been fully set forth in a prior patent application of W. R. Hinsdale, N 0. 142,617, filed September 10, 1884.

We find that a mixture of charcoal, rosin, and benzine burning upon the surface of the metal is effectual in maintaining a fluid or semi-fluid state of the metal for a sufficient length of time to eliminate a large proportion of the gases, and the mold may then be closed, as shown herein, and the pressure applied, as described.

A modification of the means claimed by the said Hinsdale is shown in the annexed drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a plan of a pressing apparatus operated by hydraulic pressure. Fig. 2 is an elevation in section on the central line, :0 w, in Fig. l,excepting the standard K and one edge of the table. Fig. 3 is a side view, and Fig. 4. abottom view,of the cap d, and Fig. 5 is a top 0 viewof the plate 12.

A is the frame or bed of the machine, made in box form. B is a column mounted thereon to sustain a turn-table, C, and E is an adjusting-screw mounted in an arch, E, at one edge 5 of the table, in such position that a series of ingot-molds, F, may be sustained in notches C in the edges of the table, and successively moved under the arch E.

p is a movable plug inserted in the bottom 10o of the mold to transmit the pressure to the contents from below.

G is a hydraulic cylinder, located upon the bed A, beneath the center of the arch. H is its ram, and D is a slide or transmitter fitted in a guide in the edge of the frame to direct the movement of the ram upon the plug p,and to press the same inward upon the contents of the mold.

J is a standard formed upon the top of the table 0, and a are notches in the top of the standard to fit a lever, I, pivoted to the center of the table for turning the same around.

K is a segment, with stop K to govern the movement of the lever to bring the molds in succession beneath the screw E to receive the pressure. The metal would be poured, when the mold was located, in the notch O, adjoining that under the arch, and after having its surface heated and the gases discharged in the manner described above would be moved beneath the arch by turning the table, the lever being lifted in removing and applying it to the notches a to turn the table as desired.

P is a plate or plunger applied to the face of I the metal, and having a small hole, e, formed- A recess, 6, is provided above in its center. the hole to afford an unrestricted discharge for the matter through such hole when under pressure. Such recess is formed in a hollow cap, d, inverted over the plate P, and adapted to press the same into the mouth of the mold. Holes 0 are provided in the sides of the cap to discharge the gases projected into the same from the hole 0, and the screw E is adjusted so as to nearly touch the top of the cap when the mold is moved under the arch to receive the pressure. The hydraulic ram is then actuated, as by operating the pump N, (shown at the side of the cylinder,) and the plug 10 is pressed against the metal in the lower end of the mold. The pressure is regulated or limited in such manner as not at first to cause any discharge from the top of the mold, the movement of the plug being regulated to merely compensate for the shrinkage of the metal while the remainder of the gases are accumulating at or passing off from the top of the ingot, such upward movement of the gases being greatly promoted by the upward compressing movement of the metal in the lower part of the mold. The pressure is gradually increased at such a rate as to prevent the hardening of the fluid metal in contact with the sides of the mold, and after an interval'of from one to six minutes, according to the size of the ingot, is applied with considerably-increased force to compress the entire contents of the mold and to forcibly expel the accumulated gases from itstop. The hole 6 affords an escape for the matter in the center of the mold, and we find in practice that such pressure ruptures the crust formed by the cooling of the surface metal over the gases collected in the head of the ingot, and thus affordsa vent for the gases from their confined situation. As soon as a little of the surface metal is ejected from above such gases the remainder of the gas is entirely discharged from the ingot, and the latter is ready for the utmost consolidation which can be effected. After the gases are thus fully expelled, the pressure is therefore again materially increased and the ingot compressed to the highest degree attainable with the apparatus employed, and held under such pressure as long as may be desired during the cooling of the ingot, or untilthe latter is hardened so as to bear the removal of the mold. By applying the pressure in such separate stages the resulting product is sound and free from piping, Without theloss of any metal, except the trifling portion lying directly over the gas-bubble, and which would otherwise have locked the gases permanently in the head of the ingot.

The construction shown herein for the plate I) differs from that of the plunger described in W. R. Hinsdales application, in having the inclosed recess e provided above the outlet e, to afford an unrestricted discharge for the gas or fluid metal therefrom, and in ventilating the said recess by the side holes, a, so that the gas might find a free vent, while the fluid metal would strike the top of the cap, and thus be prevented from blowingsidewise,to the detriment of surrounding objects.

We do not, however, make any claim to the particular apparatus herein, but limit ourselves to a particular method of using the same, as the complete discharge of the gas and the formation of a solid ingot without much loss of metal depends very largely upon the degree of pressure applied to the ingot at the beginning, middle, and close of the pressing operation. For instance, when the metal is first compressed, considerable gas may be forced out of the metal, if a vent be allowed therefor, as described in the patent application' of W. R. Hinsdale, referred to above; but if the maximum pressure required to properly consolidate the ingot were applied at such time a great quantity of the fluid metal would be ejected with the gas.

We are aware that in French Patent No. 111,807, of 1876, a process has been described for exerting a gaseous pressure upon the fluid metal in a closed kettle during the disengagement of the gases, and before the discharge of the metal from such kettle into the ingotmold,where the metal is subjected to a greater pressure by an increase of the gaseous pressure in the kettle and the runner connecting the same with the mold. In such process no plunger is applied to the top of the metal to exert a pressure, and no channel in connection with the atmosphere is provided to liberate the gases while the metal is subjected to the initial pressure, but the metal is confined during such pressure in an air-tight kettle.

Our invention therefore differs from such process in first pouring the metal into the mold before the application of pressure; secondly,in

the application of a cap to the surface of the metal; and, thirdly, in maintaining a connection through an aperture in said cap between the external atmosphere and the metal under pressure, so that the gases discharged from the metal may find a free vent and not be re tained in contact with the metal.

We therefore disclaim the said patent and any process different from that we have described, and we do not claim the apparatus herein shown and described, as W. R. Hinsdale has made the same the subject of a copending patent application, No. 142.617. We therefore disclaim said apparatus, limiting ourselves to the process herein described, and claim our own invention in the following manner:

lhe method herein described for removing the gases from fluid metal in an ingot-mold 20 provided with a gas-outlet in its upper end,

FRANK BILLINGS. WILLIAM R. HINSDALE.

WVitnesses:

Tnos. S. CRANE, HENRY J. THEBERATH.

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