US1109572A - Casting apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

B. GALLAGHER.

' CASTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION nun KAY 5, 191a.

- PateflfiedSept. 1,1914.

' 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

B. GALLAGHER.

CASTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY5, 191s.

Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

4 SHBETSSHEET 2.

Patented Spt.1,1914.

4 8HEBT8SHEET 3.

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nn huunhlll in IB.GALLAGHER.

CASTING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED Y5, 191s B. GALLAGHER.

CASTING APPARATUS APPLICATION EILBD MAY 5, 191a.

1,109,572. Patented Sept. 1,1914.

4 SHEBTSSHEBT 4.

g zizeasfiea, jizdizzw BERNARD GALLAGHER, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

CASTING APPARATUS.

Specification. of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

Application filed May 5, 1913. Serial No. 765,568.

To all 11?]! am it may concern Be it known-that I, BERNARD GALLAGHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of able others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same;

This invention relates to apparatus for making castings, and more particularly to apparatus for making ingots of metal, such as ig iron and steel.

olten metal as it comes from the furnace contains more or less gas which, if allowed to remain in the metal until it solidifies, forms bubbles or blow-holes. One method of freeing the molten metal from gas is by the application of centrifugal force.

One object of the present invention is to provide new and improved means for expelling gases .from molten metal by this method. In accordance with this object one feature of the invention contemplates the provision of a rotating receptacle to receive the molten metal. Mechanism is provided for automatically stopping the rotation of the receptacle after a sufiicient length of time has elapsed to allow the metal to set.

A further object-of the invention is to provide a receptacle for the molten'metal which will produce ingots of convenient shape and suitable size for the purposes for which they are to be used. To the accomplishment of this object another feature of th invention contemplates a construction of the metal receiving portion of the receptacle in an annular form, provided with radial partitions to divide the metal into arc-like segments of suitable size. This construction forms a channel-shaped groove, for the reception of the metal, open toward the center. The peripheral surface of the receptacle may be formed by removable covers.

A- further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character described having automatic means for determining the quantity of molten metal to be formed into each ingot. Automatic means is also provided to control the movement of the receptacle from the time the molten metal is admitted thereto until the metal has become hard enough to be removed therefrom. To the accomplishment of these obtemplates means for stopping the flow of metal to the-receptacle after a predetermined uantity has-been delivered thereto. The we ght of the metal in the receptacle, when the desired quantity has been delivered, also throws the mechanism for trans ferring the receptacle from the receiving to the delivery station into operation. During the interim, the rotation of the receptacle is automatically stopped.

Other features of the invention relate to certain devices, combinations and arrange ments of parts hereinafter described and claimed, which possess advantages which will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

The drawings illustrate the best form of the apparatus at present known to the inventor, in which Figure 1' is an elevation of my improved apparatus showing the receptacle in its metal-receiving position; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the receptacle carriage and receptacle, the latter having its cover partly receptacle when constructed or casting an- -nu1i, and Flg. 6 is a cross section of the parts of the receptacle shown in Fig. 5.

jects a further feature of the invention 0011- -The receptacle 1, to receive the molten metal, is mounted on the end of a shaft 2 which is adapted to be rotated at a high speed, Any suitable source of power may be employed to. rotate the shaft, such, for

instance, as an electric motor 3, in which case the shaft 2 may be the shaft of the motor. The receptacle comprises a disk 4 fixed to the shaft 2, having secured thereto' partitions 5 which are also secured to a ring 6. The number of partitio-ns'may be varied as desired in order to divide the metal into sections of any required length. Each of the partltions 5 has a cover 7 pivoted thereto at 8 sothat it can be swung into the dotted position in Fig. 3 to permit the ingot to be removed from the compartment beneath it. The cover is locked in its closed spout 12 (Fig. 2) through which the metal is delivered from a, furnace 13.. The receptacle 1 is rotated at a-sufliciently high rate of speed to cause the metal to remain in the channel at its periphery. The centrifugal force also acts to force the gas from the metal toward the center of rotation where it escapes to the atmosphere. After the metal has become solid, the rota- 10, tion of the receptacle is automatically stopped, as will be hereinafter described, and the keys 11 are removed to permit the covers to be opened and the ingots removed.

The motor for rotating the receptacle is mounted upon a carria e 14 provided with suitable wheels 15 whic run on a track 16. Mechanism is rovided to automatically cut off the flow 0 metal and to move the carriage to the delivery station. The mechanism for this purpose is preferably thrown into operation when the quantity of metal in r the rece tacle reaches a predetermined Wei ht. Ihe weight of the metal is measure by providing a movable section 17 (Fig.

35 1) in the track 16. The section 17 is pivoted at 18 to a fixed portion of the track and the other end is normally elevated by springs 19 which connect a tie-rod 20 (Fig.- 2) between the rails and stationary standards 21.

The strength of the springs 19 is such as to hold the movable section 17 of the track in an elevated position until the desired quan tity of metal has been delivered to the receptacle, at which time the springs will be distended so that the movable section of the track drops into place which will automatically cut oif the supply of metal and start 1 the carriage inmotion toward the delivery station. Depression of the movable section of the track acts to cut off the supply of metal by releasing a latch 22 which holds agate 23 in its open position. The latch 22 is in the form of a bell crank having one end connected by a cord 24 with a rod 25 carried by the movable section of the track. When the track is depressed, the latch 22 is moved about its pivot from beneath the gate 23 which allows the gate to drop and out 01f the supply'of metal flowing from thespout 12;

The means for moving the carriage from its receiving station comprises a continuously moving chain 26, (Fig. 1) which may be actuated by any suitable means, and a co-acting plunger 27 mounted on the cars riage. When the carriage is in its elevated position, on the track secfion 17, that is, before the receptacle 1 is fi led, the plunger is in a position above the path of travel of the chain. The depression of the carriage causes the plunger to engage the chain which thereupon moves the carriageto the right, viewing Fig. 1, until the plunger is -.again elevated. The plunger 27 is free to slide vertically in a bracket 28 being held in its position on the bracket by a stop pin 27 When the carriage reaches the delivery statiomthe plunger is automatically withdrawn from the chain by theengagement of a stud 29, projecting from the plunger, with a fixed member 30, at the delivery station having an inclined cam surface 31. The cam 31 acts on the stud 29 when the carriage reaches the delivery station to withdraw the plunger from the chain and arrest the movement of the carriage. After the ingots have been removed from the receptacle, the plunger 27 may be depressedso as to again engage the chain as it is mostconvenient to make the track 16 continuous sothat after the carriage leaves the delivery station it will be automatically returned to the receiving station, opposite the furnace, to receive another charge. On riding up the inclined track section 17 the plunger will again be disengaged from the chain 26.

Power is supplied to the motor 3 to rotate the receptacle from a trolley-wire 32 which is engaged by a roll 33 on a trolley pole 34 carried by the carriage 145' The circuit may be completed through the track.

In order that the rotation of the receptacle may be stopped after the metal has set, a

strip of insulating material 35 is suspended I belowthe trolley wire 32. It will be apparent that as soon as the roll 33 encounters the insulation the circuit will be broken which will stop the motor. The strip of insulating material is placed ata suflicient distance from the furnace to allow the molten metal to set. The insulating material extends over the delivery station and may then be continued so as to keep the circuit broken, to a point near the receiving station where themotor should again be thrown into operation. When the receptacle is halted opposite the furnace the gate 23 may be-opened and the operation repeated.

In Figs. 5 and 6 there is shown a form of receptacle 1 adapted to the production of cast annuli which are useful in the arts, for instance in making ordnance. In this construction the receptacle is not provided with the covers 7 or the partitions 5. .The peripheral wall is solid and the annular space within it is left unobstructed. To the end of the receptacle into which the molten metal is poured, there is secured a cover plate 36 in the form of an annulus. The means for securing the cover to the wall of the receptacle 1 comprises pins 37, threaded into the wall (Fig. 6), which project through suitably spaced openings in the cover plate and which are provided with transverse slots for the reception of cotters 38. By knocking out the cotters the cover 36 can readily be removed after the metal has cooled. In this construction the depth of the receptacle 1 may be varied .to suit the use to which the ingot is to be put, as indicated by Fig. 6.

It will, of course, be understood that all solidifies, substantially as described.

parts of the receptacle 1 with which the molten metal comes in contact will be provided with a refractory lining of suitable material. This lining is indicated in cross From the foregoing description it will be seen that a novel apparatus has been designed which will produce ingots'of a; given Weight, shaping such ingots at substantially the original heat. The apparatus described is effective in reducing disintegration of the fibers ofthe metal as the inner portions of the ingots remain hot for a relatively longer time than the outer portions which, as is Z well knownto those skilled in the art, is of assistance in this particular.

While it is preferred to employ the specific construction and arrangement to the parts shown and described, since this construction and arrangement is the simplest and most eflicient embodiment of the in "ention which has yet been devised, it will be understood that the construction and arrangement is not essential except so far as it is specified in the claims, and may be varied or modified without departing from the broader features of the'invention.

hat is claimed as new, is

1. Apparatus for making castings, having, in combination, a rotatable receptacle for receiving molten metal having an opening near its axis of rotation for the introduction of the molten metal and having an opening near its circumference normally covered by a hinged, peripheral closure for removing the cast metal, and means for r0- tating the receptacle while the metal solidi fies, substantially as described.

2-. Apparatus for making castings, having, in combination, a rotatable receptacle for receiving molten metal of a substantially cylindrical outline divided into a plurality of compartments and having openings into the compartments near the axis of the receptacle for the introduction of the molten metal and having openings near the periphery of the receptacle normally covered with closuresfor the removal of the castings from the compartments, and means.

for rotating the receptacle While the metal 3. Apparatus fonmaking castings, having, in combination, 'a-rotatable receptacle for receiving molten metal of a substantially cylindrical outline, aplurality of :partitions extending inwardly from the peeriphery of the receptacle and terminating at a distance from the axis of the receptacle 1 so as to divide the interior of the receptacle into a number of inwardly opening compartments, said receptacle having one-of its 'ends open near the axis for the introduction of the molten metal into the interior ,of the receptacle and into the open compartments, closures on the periphery of the ;receptacle to give access to the compartments to remove thecast ingots, and means for rapidly rotating the receptacle while the metal solidifies, substantially as described.

4. Apparatus for making castings, havfor receiving molten metal, means for rapidly rotating the receptacle until the metal ;so1idifies, a carriage upon which the receptacle is mounted, and means acting autolmatically to start the carriage when the reiceptacle is filled, substantially as described.

5. Apparatus for making castings, havging, in combination, a rotatable receptacle for receiving molten metal, means for rapidly rotating the receptacle while the metal solidifies, means for supplying molten metal 'to the receptacle, and means acting automatically to cut. ofi the supply of molten 'metal when the receptacle is filled, substantially as described. A

ing, in combination, a rotatable receptacle for receiving molten metal, means for rapidly rotating the receptacle while the metal solidifies, a car'riage 'upon which the recepreceptacle with molten metal, and means acting automatically when the receptacle is start, the carriage, substantially as described. I

7. Apparatus for making castings, having, in combination, a rotatable receptacle for receiving molten metal, means for rapidly rotating the receptacle while the metal solidifies,'a carriage upon which the receptacle is'm'ounted, a track for the carriage having a vertically movable section upon which the carriage stands while the receptacle is .being filled, and means connected to said section of track and controlled by the weight of metal in the receptacle acting automatically to cut off the supply of metal when the receptacle is filled, substantially as described.

8. Apparatus for making castings, having, in'combination, a rotatable receptacle for receiving molten metal, means for rapidly rotating the receptacle while the metal solidifies, a marriage for. the receptacle, means acting automatically to start the-carriage when the receptacle is filled and move it to its delivery point, and means acting Zing, in combination, a rotatable receptacle 6. Apparatus for making castings, havtacle'is mounted, means for supplying the 105 filled tocut oil the supply of metal and metal solidifies, a carriage for the receptacle,

a track for the carriage, a circuit for supplying electricity to the motor, and means for breaking the circuit when the carriage has traveled a predetermined distance on the track, substantiall as described.

11. Apparatus or making castings, having, in combination, a rotatable receptacle for receiving molten metal, means for rapidly rotating the receptacle while the metal solidifies, a carriage for the receptacle, a

track for the carriage, means for moving the carriage along-the track at a predetermined speed, and means acting automatically to stop the rotation of the receptacle when the carriage has traveled a predetermined distance onthe track, substantially as described.

12.- Apparatus for making castings, having, in combination, a rotatable drum-like receptacle for receiving molten metal, having an opening in one end for the introduc tion of the molten metal, a plurality of partitions extending inward from the periphery of the receptacle and terminating at a distance from the axis of the receptacle for forming compartments opening toward the axis of the drum, removable closures on the periphery of the drum to permit the removal of the cast ingots from the compart- }.ments, and means for rapidly rotating the receptacle while the metal in the compart- 'g ments solidifies, substantially as described.-

13. Apparatus for making castings, having, in combination, a rotatable receptacle for receiving molten metal, means for rapidly rotating the receptacle while thevmetal solidifies, a carriage for the receptacle, a

track for the carriage having a section which is depressed when, a predetermined amount of metal is run into the receptacle,

and means acting automatically when the track section is depressed to start the carriage along the track, substantially as described..

14. Apparatus for making castings, having, in combination, a rotatable receptacle for receiving molten metal, means for rapidly rotating the receptacle while the metal solidifies, a carriage for the receptacle, a track for the carnage, means for moving the carriage along the track, and means acting automatically to stop the carriage when it reaches the point at which the receptacle is to receive the metal, substantially as described 15. Apparatus for making castings, having, in combination, a rotatable receptacle for receiving molten metal, means for rapidly rotating the receptacle while the metal solidifies, a carriage for the receptacle, a trackfor the carriage having a depressible section at the point where the receptacle is tacle at the point where the receptacle is to receive the metal when the movable track section is elevated and to cooperate with the moving means to start the carriage when the movable track section is depressed by the weight of the metal run into the receptacle, substantially as described.

BERNARD GALLAGHER. Witnesses:

KATHRYN GALLAGHER, GEo. E. STEBBINB.

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