US3923201A

US3923201A - Dipping ladle with level responsive filling operation

Info

Publication number: US3923201A
Application number: US500059A
Authority: US
Inventors: David A Hersh; Robert L Fye; Kenneth W Whitworth; William E Willis
Original assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Current assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Priority date: 1974-08-23
Filing date: 1974-08-23
Publication date: 1975-12-02
Anticipated expiration: 1992-12-02

Abstract

Ladle apparatus for conveying a measured charge of molten aluminum from a holding vessel to a mold or the like. Apparatus includes horizontally moveable carriage for moving a vertically moveable ladle carrying carriage from the vessel to the mold and a vertical axis linkage mechanism for tilting the ladle from a rearward fill position to a level position and a forward pour position. The operation of the ladle is characterized by its providing a measured charge of molten metal in the fill operation and a pour in which the ladle spout exit end remains in a fixed position.

Description

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,923,201 Hersh et al. Dec. 2, 1975 [54] DIPPING LADLE WITH LEVEL 2.892.225 6/1959 Buhrer ct al 222/166 UX RESPONSIVE FILLING OPERATION 3,5l4 018 5/1970 Petig et al 1 .t 222/358 3,739 954 6/1973 Blagg 1 222/357 Inventors: David Hersh, Saginaw, Mich; 3,774.8!5 11 1973 McCarthy 222 357 Robert L. Fye, Bedford; Kenneth W. $3335?tliliflf iafiiliilifif" 'r W- Y Mich. Assistant ExammerDav1d A. Scherbel Attorney, Agent, or FirmPeter P. Kozak [73] Assignee: General Motors Corporation,

Detroit, Mich. [22] Filed: Aug. 23, 1974 [57] ABSTRACT [211 App]. NOJ 500,059 Ladle apparatus for conveying a measured charge of molten alummum from a holdmg vessel to a mold or v the like. Apparatus includes horizontally moveable 141/1 1 carriage for moving a vertically moveable ladle carry- (31-2 B221) 32213 41/06 ing carriage from the vessel to the mold and a vertical [58] Field Of Search 164/312-316, axis linkage mechanism for tilting the ladle from 3 1 /318, 335, 336; 141/110, 11 rearward fill position to a level position and a forward /3 3 3 0 6 6 pour position. The operation of the ladle is character- 64 ized by its providing a measured charge of molten metal in the fill operation and a pour in which the References Cited ladle spout exit end remains in a fixed position. UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1918 Graham 222 357 6 5 Drawmg figures US. Patent Dec. 2, 1975 Sheet 2 of3 3,923,201

Sheet 3 of 3 3,923,201

US. Patent Dec. 2, 1975 DIPPING LADLE WITH LEVEL RESPONSIVE FILLING OPERATION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to pouring molten metal such as aluminum into a permanent mold or the like and particularly to apparatus operative to mechanically take a measured charge of molten metal from a holding furnance and pour it into a mold.

Heretofore, permanent molds were for the most part, poured manually by a workman dipping a dipper-like ladle into a pot of molten metal, carrying the ladle to a position over the mold, and pouring the metal therein. Apart from the difficult and relatively hazardous nature of this type of work, the manual method has the disadvantage of creating excess offals due to frequent overfilling of the mold. In recent years, various attempts have been made to mechanize this operation with various degrees of success.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a basic object of this invention to provide apparatus for mechanically and automatically pouring permanent molds efficiently and without pouring any excess metal into the mold, thus eliminating such offal. An important feature of the apparatus is a tiltable ladle having linkage support means which is never immersed into the molten metal and which admit fresh molten metal therein without the admission of dross.

In general, this invention involves a permanent mold such as may be used in casting aluminum pistons which is spaced from but relatively close to a stationary upright molten aluminum holding vessel or furnace. The apparatus of this invention comprises basically a ladle, a horizontally disposed conveyor mechanism including a first carriage for carrying a ladle horizontally between the mold and the holding vessel, a vertically moveable second carriage for carrying the ladle vertically (1) between a fill position and a transfer position over the holding vessel and, if necessary (2) between a transfer position and a pour position over the mold, and a linkage mechanism connecting the ladle to the vertical carriage operative to tilt the ladle during the filling thereof in the holding vessel and during the pour of the mold.

The ladle and tilting linkage are designed so that the spacial location of the exit ends of the pouring spout does not change appreciably as the ladle is tilted during the pour so that no molten metal spillage occurs. Further, the ladle and linkage are designed so that the linkage-ladle connection is not immersed during the filling of the ladle and so that the entry of dross and slag into the ladle is prevented.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Various objects and advantages will appear from the following detailed description of the invention with reference to the drawings in which:

FIG, 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevation view of the linkage between the vertical carriage and the ladle at the mold;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevation view of the linkage between the vertical carriage and the ladle at the mo!- ten metal holding vessel;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the ladle taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the ladle with parts broken away.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIG. 1, this invention involves a ladle apparatus 2 for mechanically and automatically withdrawing a predetermined charge of molten metal 4 from a holding vessel 6 and pouring it into the cavity 8 (FIG. 2) of the permanent mold 10. The ladle may, of course, be used to fill the shot sleeve of a cold chamber die casting machine or the like where the use of a measured charge of aluminum is essential. The ladle apparatus generally includes a horizontal transfer mechanism 12 for moving a horizontally moveable first carriage 14 between the mold l0 and the holding vessel 6, a vertically moveable second carriage 16 mounted on the first carriage 14, a ladle l8 and a vertical axis linkage mechanism 20 tiltably connecting the ladle 18 to the second carriage 16.

The apparatus is operative automatically to dip the ladle 18 into the holding vessel so as to fill it with a substantially slag-free charge of molten metal of predetermined volume sufficient to suitably fill the mold cavity 8, to transfer the ladle 8 to a suitable position over the mold 10 so that the spout 19 of the ladle is positioned over the sprue of the mold and to tilt the ladle while maintaining the position of the pour spout 19 in a substantially fixed position so that the metal is poured into the mold cavity without significant spillage.

The first carriage 14 is mounted for horizontal reciprocating movement between the holding vessel and the mold on a pair of spaced horizontally disposed bars 22 which are attached to suitable supports (not shown). The carriage 14 is connected to a drive belt 24 held taut between a drive pulley 26 driven by the motor means 28 and an idler pulley 30. The motor means 28 is adapted to drive the drive pulley 26 so as to move the carriage alternately between predetermined positions over the holding vessel 6 and the mold 10.

The horizontally reciprocal first carriage 14 supports a vertically reciprocal second carriage 16 slidably mounted on the tie rod 34. The reciprocal movement of the carriage 16 is accomplished by a screw or slider 36 threaded into an opening in the carriage l4 and rotated by the crank and motor means 38.

As shown in the FIGS. 1 and 2, the ladle 18 is mounted on the second carriage 16 by a parallelogram or vertical axis linkage means comprising the

vertical links

40 and 41 and the other

parallel sides

42 and 43. The linkage 40 is preferably integral with the second carriage 16. The other

parallel sides

42 and 43 are pivotally connected to the

vertical links

40 and 41 as shown. The outer vertical link 41 has an L-shaped configuration including the downward extension 44 terminating in a horizontal extension 45 pivotally connected to the forward bracket 46 of the ladle. The lower parallel side 43 has an extended portion 47 pivotally connected to a depending L-shaped link 48 which has the horizontal end thereof connected to the rearward bracket 50 of the ladle. The

ladle brackets

46 and 50 are positioned astride the ladle cavity, so to speak, so that when the ladle is filed with molten metal and the

brackets

46 and 50 are in a horizontal position, the weight of the ladle is distributed substantially evenly between the

links

44 and 48. The

brackets

46 and 50 are located in a spaced relation to permit efficient tilting by the relative vertical movement of the

links

44 and 48.

The linkage mechanism further includes an operating link 52 pivotally connected to the vertical link 41 which when pulled upward or lowered by the slider or screw rod 54 and the crank and motor 56, is operative to raise or lower the link 41. It will be noted that as the link 41 is raised and lowered, the link 48 may be caused to assume various positions from a position below the link 44 as shown in the dotted lines in FIG. 2 to a position above link 44 as shown in broken lines. Accordingly, by vertical movement of the link 41, the ladle may be caused to assume a tilt ranging from a rearward tilt, as shown in FIG. 3, used in filling the ladle to an advanced forward tilt used in pouring the metal as'shown in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the ladle is generally in the shape of a scoop having a pair of pouring spouts 19 formed by the raised portion 21 and the sidewall of the ladle. The rearward edge 55 of the ladle is substantially lower than the sidewalls carrying the

attachment brackets

46 and 50 so that the ladle may be filled by immersing it in molten metal in a manner such that the edge 55 is submerged in the molten metal while the

brackets

46 and 50 and the

respective links

44 and 48 are supported in the atmosphere. The ladle has a depending shield 57 attached to the sidewalls of the ladle outwardly spaced from and depending below the rear edge 55. As will be described hereinafter, the shield 57 is operative to skim back the slag or dross from the molten metal surface and hence to prevent entry thereof into the ladle. As shown in FIG. 1, each ladle is supported by a pair of linkage units and each carriage 16 supports preferably two or more ladles.

The operation of the ladle apparatus is sequential and as follows:

The ladles are back tilted to preset angles shown in the broken lines in FIG. 3, by operating the slider 54 downwardly bythe crank and motor 56. The second carriage 16 is then moved downward by the crank and motor 38 and slider rod 36 an amount determined by a pair of probes 58. These probes are operative to close an electrical circuit when they contact the molten metal and to stop the motor 38. In this rearward most immersed position, the skirts-57 of the ladles are operative to strike the metal surface first to hold away the dross on the molten metal surface from the edge 55 as the ladle is immersed therein.

The slider 54 is then moved upward to tilt the ladle forward so that the rearward edge 55 is just submerged as shown in the solid lines in FIG. 3 to fill the mold. This filled setting of the ladle is designed to permit the ladle to be filled with a predetermined molten metal charge sufficient to fill the mold cavity 8 without excess. The charge of molten metal in the ladle may be varied by a variation of the tilt angle of the ladle during this fill position. It is noted that in the immersion and fill positions the

brackets

46 and 50 are not immersed in the molten metal.

The slider 36 is then operated upwardly to raise the second carriage 16 to lift the ladle out of the molten metal. After sufficient time has elapsed to permit residual molten metal to drain from the ladle, the slider 54 is raised further to tilt the ladle to a transfer or level position substantially as shown in the solid lines in FIG. 2. When the mold 10 is ready to pour, the first carriage 14 is moved by operation of the motor 28 and pulley 26 to a pour position over the mold (FIG. 2). The slider 54 is then raised further to cause the ladle to tilt gradually forward at a controlled rate to pour molten metal into the mold. An important feature of the vertical axis linkage mechanism is that the spout 19 is maintained substantially in the same or fixed position during the pour so that the molten metal falls into the sprue of the mold cavity without spillage.

The ladle remains in a fully poured position over the mold for a set period of time. The first carriage is then returned to its ladle fill position over the furnace 6 and the slider 54 is moved downward to tilt the ladle to the immersion position to begin another cycle. Preferably, air jets (not shown) are provided to clean solidified metal from the rearward or filling edge 56 during each cycle after each fill to prevent metal build-up and hence to insure an accurate fill.

It is to be noted that the changes from the immersion through the fill, level, and pour positions are accomplished by an upward movement of the slider 54. The ladle is returned from the final pour position to the initial immersion position in a single downward movement of the slider 54.

The positions of the slider 54 for the immersion, fill, level or transfer, and pour position are determined by means oflimit switches (not shown). These are preferably associated with the slider 54 and the motor 56. The devices are well known in the art and need not be described in detail herein. The cycle is operated automatically by means of electrically and hydraulically operated control apparatus including a timer whereby each of the above-described steps are performed in accordance with a predetermined timed cycle. Apparatus of this type is, likewise, well known in the art and'need not be described in detail herein.

Preferably, the apparatus is used to pour a second mold located along the axis of the transfer mechanism 12 and the mechanism is extended so that the ladle apparatus is moved sequentially from the furnace to the first mold, then back to the furnace and then to the second mold and back to the furnace in an obvious manner. The control apparatus and cycle are adapted as above indicated so that the ladle filled with molten metal will not tilt and pour until the mold has been closed, indicating it is ready to receive molten metal. If such mold is not poured in a fixed period of time, the ladle is caused to return to the holding vessel and to pour the metal back. The cycle is interrupted thereby so that the cycle is then restarted when the mold problem has been corrected.

As shown in FIG. 1, the second carriage 16 carries two separate ladles on two separate linkages. These separate linkages permit simultaneous pouring of two molds with different pouring rates. Each ladle is fitted with two spouts to permit pouring of two cavities with the same pouring rate and the same volume.

Although the invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other embodiments are apparent within the scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. Ladle apparatus for transferring a measured quantity of molten metal from a holding vessel into the cavity of a mold comprising:

a first carriage mounted for reciprocating horizontal movement between a first carriage fill position over said vessel and a first carriage pour position over said mold;

a second carriage mounted on said first carriage for vertical reciprocating movement between an upper ladle transfer position and a lower ladle fill position, said second carriage having probe means associated therewith;

a ladle having a pouring spout on one side thereof and a fill edge on the opposite side thereof;

linkage means pivotally connecting said ladle to said second carriage and tiltably supporting said ladle and being operative to tilt said ladle to a rearward fill position to a level transfer position and through a plurality of forward pour positions; and

power means operative to sequentially move said first carriage to said first carriage fill position over said vessel, to tilt said ladle to a fill position, to lower said second carriage from said upper position to said fill position so'as to immerse the said rearward edge of said ladle, to raise said second carriage to ,said second carriage transfer position, to tilt said ladle to said ladle transfer position, to move said first carriage to said first carriage pour position and to tilt said ladle through said pour positions, said 7 probe means being associated with said power means and operative to limit the descent of said second carriage in relation to the molten metal level so as to immerse the ladle a predetermined distance to avoid immersion of said linkage.

2. Ladle apparatus for transferring a measured quantityofmolten metal from a holding vessel into the cavity of a mold comprising:

a second carriage mounted on, said first carriage for vertical reciprocating movement between an upper ladle transfer position and a lower ladle fill posi- ,-tion, said second carriage means having probe means associated therewith;

vertical axis linkage means pivotally connecting said ladle to said second carriage and tiltably supporting said ladle and being operative to tilt said ladle to a rearward fill position to a level transfer position and through a plurality of forward pour positions, said vertical axis linkage being operative to maintain the tip of the spout of said ladle in a fixed loca tion during said pour positions; and

power means operative to sequentially move said first carriage to said first carriage fill position over said vessel to tilt said ladle to a ladle fill position, to lower said second carriage from said upper position to said fill position so as to immerse the said rearward edge of said ladle, to raise said second carriage to said second carriage transfer position, to tilt said ladle to said ladle transfer position, to move said first carriage to said first carriage pour position and to tilt said ladle through said pour positions, said probe means being associated with said power means and operable to limit the descent of said second carriage in relation to the molten metal level so as to immerse the ladle a predetermined distance to avoid immersion of said linkage.

3. Ladle apparatus for transferring a measured quantity of molten metal from a holding vessel into the cavity of a mold comprising:

a second carriage mounted on said first carriage for vertical reciprocating movement between an upper ladle transfer position and a lower ladle fill position, said second carriage having a pair of electrically conductive probe means depending therefrom;

a ladle having a pouring spout on one side thereof and a fill edge on theopposite side thereof;

power means operative to sequentially move said first carriage to said first carriage fill position over said vessel, to tilt said ladle to a fill position, to lower said second carriage from said upper position to said fill position so as to immerse the said rearward edge of said ladle, to raise said second carriage to said second carriage transfer position, to tilt said ladle to said ladle transfer position, to move said first carriage to said first carriage pour position and to tilt said ladle through said pour positions, said probes being associated with said power means and operative to limit the descent of said second carriage in relation to the molten metal level so as to immerse the ladle a predetermined distance to avoid immersion of said linkage.

4. Ladle apparatus for transferring a measured quantity of molten metal from a holding vessel into the cavity of a mold comprising:

a second carriage mounted on said first carriage for vertical reciprocating movement between an upper ladle transfer position and a lower ladle fill position, said second carriage having a pair of electrically conductive probes depending therefrom;

a ladle having a pouring spout on one side thereof and a fill edge on the opposite side thereof, said ladle having a skirt extending outwardly of and below said fill edge to form a passage between said edge and said skirt;

power means operative to sequentially move said first carriage to said first carriage fill position over said vessel, to tilt said ladle to an immersion position, to lower said second carriage from said upper position to said fill position so as to immerse the said rearward edge of said ladle to raise said second carriage to said second carriage transfer position, to tilt said ladle to said ladle transfer position, to move said first carriage to said first carriage pour position and to tilt said ladle through said pour positions, said probes being associated with said power means and operative to establish second carriage fill position so as to immerse the ladle a predetermined distance below the surface of the molten metal, said skirt being operative in said ladle immersion position to skim the dross from the ladle and prevent entry of said dross over said edges.

5. Ladle apparatus for transferring a measured quantity of molten metal from a holding vessel into the cavity of a mold comprising:

a first carriage mounted for reciprocating horizontal movement between a first carriage fill position over said vessel and a first carriage pour position over said mold, said second carriage having a pair of electrically conductive probe means depending therefrom;

a second carriage mounted on said first carriage for vertical reciprocating movement between an upper ladle transfer position and a lower ladle fill position;

vertical axis linkage means pivotally connecting said ladle to said second carriage and tiltably supporting said ladle and being operative to tilt said ladle to a rearward fill position to a level transfer position and through a plurality of forward pour positions, said vertical axis linkage being operative to maintain the tip of the spout of said ladle in a fixed location during said pour positions; and

power means operative to sequentially move said first carriage to said first carriage fill position over said vessel, to tilt said ladle to an immersion position, to lower said second carriage from said upper position to said fill position so as to immerse the said rearward edge of said ladle to raise said second carriage to said second carriage transfer position, to tilt said ladle to said ladle transfer position, to move said first carriage to said first carriage pour position and to tilt said ladle through said pour positions, said probes being associated with said power means and operative to limit the descent of said second carriage in relation to the molten metal level so as to immerse the ladle a predetermined distance to -avoid immersion of said linkage, said skirt being operative in said ladle immersion position to skim the dross from the ladle and to prevent entry of said dross over said edge.

6. Ladle apparatus for transferring a measured quantity of molten metal from a holding vessel into the cavity of a mold comprising:

vertical axis linkage means pivotally connecting said ladle to said second carriage and tiltably supporting said ladle and being operative to tilt said ladle sequentially to a rearward fill position to a level transfer position and through a plurality of forward pour positions;

crank and slider meansassociated with said second carriage and connected to a vertical link of said linkage means operative to tilt said ladle from said fill position through said pour position by an upward movement of said slider by means of said crank and operative to tilt said ladle from the final pour position to said immersion position by a downward movement of said slider; and

power means operative to sequentially movesaid first carriage to said first carriage fill position over said vessel, to tilt said ladle to a fill position, to lower said second carriage from said upper position to said fill position so as to immerse the said rearward edge of said ladle, to raise said second carriage to said second carriage transfer position, to tilt said ladle to said ladle transfer position, to move said first carriage to said first carriage pour position and to tilt said ladle through said pour positions, said probe means being associated with said power means and operative to limit the descent of said second carriage in relation to the molten metal level so as to immerse the ladle a predetermined distance to avoid immersion of said linkage.

Claims

1. Ladle apparatus for transferring a measured quantity of molten metal from a holding vessel into the cavity of a mold comprising: a first carriage mounted for reciptocating horizontal movement between a first carriage fill position over said vessel and a first carriage pour position over said mold; a second carriage mounted on said first carriage for vertical reciprocating movement between an upper ladle transfer position and a lower ladle fill position, said second carriage having probe means associated therewith; a ladle having a pouring spout on one side thereof and a fill edge on the opposite side thereof; linkage means pivotally connecting said ladle to said second carriage and tiltably supporting said ladle and being operative to tilt said ladle to a rearward fill position to a level transfer position and through a plurality of forward pour positions; and power means operative to sequentially move said first carriage to said first carriage fill position over said vessel, to tilt said ladle to a fill position, to lower said second carriage from said upper position to said fill position so as to immerse the said rearward edge of said ladle, to raise said second carriage to said second carriage transfer position, to tilt said ladle to said ladle transfer position, to move said first carriage to said first carriage pour position and to tilt said ladle through said pour positions, said probe means being associated with said power means and operative to limit the dEscent of said second carriage in relation to the molten metal level so as to immerse the ladle a predetermined distance to avoid immersion of said linkage.

2. Ladle apparatus for transferring a measured quantity of molten metal from a holding vessel into the cavity of a mold comprising: a first carriage mounted for reciprocating horizontal movement between a first carriage fill position over said vessel and a first carriage pour position over said mold; a second carriage mounted on said first carriage for vertical reciprocating movement between an upper ladle transfer position and a lower ladle fill position, said second carriage means having probe means associated therewith; a ladle having a pouring spout on one side thereof and a fill edge on the opposite side thereof; vertical axis linkage means pivotally connecting said ladle to said second carriage and tiltably supporting said ladle and being operative to tilt said ladle to a rearward fill position to a level transfer position and through a plurality of forward pour positions, said vertical axis linkage being operative to maintain the tip of the spout of said ladle in a fixed location during said pour positions; and power means operative to sequentially move said first carriage to said first carriage fill position over said vessel to tilt said ladle to a ladle fill position, to lower said second carriage from said upper position to said fill position so as to immerse the said rearward edge of said ladle, to raise said second carriage to said second carriage transfer position, to tilt said ladle to said ladle transfer position, to move said first carriage to said first carriage pour position and to tilt said ladle through said pour positions, said probe means being associated with said power means and operable to limit the descent of said second carriage in relation to the molten metal level so as to immerse the ladle a predetermined distance to avoid immersion of said linkage.

3. Ladle apparatus for transferring a measured quantity of molten metal from a holding vessel into the cavity of a mold comprising: a first carriage mounted for reciprocating horizontal movement between a first carriage fill position over said vessel and a first carriage pour position over said mold; a second carriage mounted on said first carriage for vertical reciprocating movement between an upper ladle transfer position and a lower ladle fill position, said second carriage having a pair of electrically conductive probe means depending therefrom; a ladle having a pouring spout on one side thereof and a fill edge on the opposite side thereof; linkage means pivotally connecting said ladle to said second carriage and tiltably supporting said ladle and being operative to tilt said ladle to a rearward fill position to a level transfer position and through a plurality of forward pour positions; and power means operative to sequentially move said first carriage to said first carriage fill position over said vessel, to tilt said ladle to a fill position, to lower said second carriage from said upper position to said fill position so as to immerse the said rearward edge of said ladle, to raise said second carriage to said second carriage transfer position, to tilt said ladle to said ladle transfer position, to move said first carriage to said first carriage pour position and to tilt said ladle through said pour positions, said probes being associated with said power means and operative to limit the descent of said second carriage in relation to the molten metal level so as to immerse the ladle a predetermined distance to avoid immersion of said linkage.

4. Ladle apparatus for transferring a measured quantity of molten metal from a holding vessel into the cavity of a mold comprising: a first carriage mounted for reciprocating horizontal movement between a first carriage fill position over said vessel and a first carriage pour position over said mold; a second carriage mounted on said fIrst carriage for vertical reciprocating movement between an upper ladle transfer position and a lower ladle fill position, said second carriage having a pair of electrically conductive probes depending therefrom; a ladle having a pouring spout on one side thereof and a fill edge on the opposite side thereof, said ladle having a skirt extending outwardly of and below said fill edge to form a passage between said edge and said skirt; linkage means pivotally connecting said ladle to said second carriage and tiltably supporting said ladle and being operative to tilt said ladle to a rearward fill position to a level transfer position and through a plurality of forward pour positions; and power means operative to sequentially move said first carriage to said first carriage fill position over said vessel, to tilt said ladle to an immersion position, to lower said second carriage from said upper position to said fill position so as to immerse the said rearward edge of said ladle to raise said second carriage to said second carriage transfer position, to tilt said ladle to said ladle transfer position, to move said first carriage to said first carriage pour position and to tilt said ladle through said pour positions, said probes being associated with said power means and operative to establish second carriage fill position so as to immerse the ladle a predetermined distance below the surface of the molten metal, said skirt being operative in said ladle immersion position to skim the dross from the ladle and prevent entry of said dross over said edges.

5. Ladle apparatus for transferring a measured quantity of molten metal from a holding vessel into the cavity of a mold comprising: a first carriage mounted for reciprocating horizontal movement between a first carriage fill position over said vessel and a first carriage pour position over said mold, said second carriage having a pair of electrically conductive probe means depending therefrom; a second carriage mounted on said first carriage for vertical reciprocating movement between an upper ladle transfer position and a lower ladle fill position; a ladle having a pouring spout on one side thereof and a fill edge on the opposite side thereof, said ladle having a skirt extending outwardly of and below said fill edge to form a passage between said edge and said skirt; vertical axis linkage means pivotally connecting said ladle to said second carriage and tiltably supporting said ladle and being operative to tilt said ladle to a rearward fill position to a level transfer position and through a plurality of forward pour positions, said vertical axis linkage being operative to maintain the tip of the spout of said ladle in a fixed location during said pour positions; and power means operative to sequentially move said first carriage to said first carriage fill position over said vessel, to tilt said ladle to an immersion position, to lower said second carriage from said upper position to said fill position so as to immerse the said rearward edge of said ladle to raise said second carriage to said second carriage transfer position, to tilt said ladle to said ladle transfer position, to move said first carriage to said first carriage pour position and to tilt said ladle through said pour positions, said probes being associated with said power means and operative to limit the descent of said second carriage in relation to the molten metal level so as to immerse the ladle a predetermined distance to avoid immersion of said linkage, said skirt being operative in said ladle immersion position to skim the dross from the ladle and to prevent entry of said dross over said edge.

6. Ladle apparatus for transferring a measured quantity of molten metal from a holding vessel into the cavity of a mold comprising: a first carriage mounted for reciprocating horizontal movement between a first carriage fill position over said vessel and a first carriage pour position over said mold; a second caRriage mounted on said first carriage for vertical reciprocating movement between an upper ladle transfer position and a lower ladle fill position, said second carriage having probe means associated therewith; a ladle having a pouring spout on one side thereof and a fill edge on the opposite side thereof; vertical axis linkage means pivotally connecting said ladle to said second carriage and tiltably supporting said ladle and being operative to tilt said ladle sequentially to a rearward fill position to a level transfer position and through a plurality of forward pour positions; crank and slider means associated with said second carriage and connected to a vertical link of said linkage means operative to tilt said ladle from said fill position through said pour position by an upward movement of said slider by means of said crank and operative to tilt said ladle from the final pour position to said immersion position by a downward movement of said slider; and power means operative to sequentially move said first carriage to said first carriage fill position over said vessel, to tilt said ladle to a fill position, to lower said second carriage from said upper position to said fill position so as to immerse the said rearward edge of said ladle, to raise said second carriage to said second carriage transfer position, to tilt said ladle to said ladle transfer position, to move said first carriage to said first carriage pour position and to tilt said ladle through said pour positions, said probe means being associated with said power means and operative to limit the descent of said second carriage in relation to the molten metal level so as to immerse the ladle a predetermined distance to avoid immersion of said linkage.