US1841297A - Apparatus and method of continuous casting of steel - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 12, 1932'.

.J. 'E'. PERRY ET AL 1,841,297

` APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTINUOUS `CASTING 0F STEEL Filed April 2a'. 1928 e sheets-sheet 1 Jan. 12, 1932. J, E, PERRY ET AL v 1,841,297

APPARATUS AND METHOD oF CONTINUOUS CASTING 0F STEEL Filed Aprii 26, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 NVENTORS ge gr and' z .reg'

r BY Jan. 12, 1932. E. 'PERRY ET AL 1,841,297

APPARATUS AND METHOD OF 'CONTINUOUS CASTING OF STEEL Filed April l26,' 1928 6 sheets-sheet s 1 NVENTOR s' forge j? 1J-ey M ATTORNEY 4 Jan. '12, 1.932.

J. PERRY ET AL APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTINUOUS CASTNG 0F -STEEL Filed April 26, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 1 NvENToRs Z761 /l e ATTORNEY Jan. 12, 1932. J, E. PERRY E1- ,M V 1,841,297

APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTINUOUS CASTING OF STEEL Filed Ap-ril 26, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 (z Comfy@ Ra .rg

Mel' A RN EY Y Patented Jan.- 12, 1932 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE JOHN' E PERRY, 0F YY0`IJ'N'GS'.I.OW'.N', OHIO, AND GEGRGE BAISEY, 0E BROUKLYN,

NEW YORK urma'rus im METHOD' or coN'riNuoUs CASTING or STEEL .Application led April 26, 1928. 'Serial No. 272,925.

rllhe present invention relates broadly t0 metallurgy and more especially to the metallurgy pertaining to steel.

Heretofore in the art of .molten steel, in the primary step for fabrication, has been solidltied by casting in ingot molds. In this practice individual quantities of molten steel are separated and permitted to cool and solidlfy into steel ingots. After the solidification of the ingot is complete,.the ingot molds are stripped from the ingots and the ingots are placed in a soaking pit, where a reheatmg takes` lace. The ingots are then placed on a bloomlng mill table and run through the blooming mill, whichy forms the ingot into billets, blooms, slabs, or other intermed1ate shapes desirable for subsequent treatment. From the blooming mill the steel in its intermediate shape goes to the final fabricating mill, where the steel is rolled into sheets, bars, plates, rails, or such other form as the steel manufacturer is reducing. Intermediate the several foregoing steps various shearing and reheating operations occur; for example, it is customary in the art to cut olf or crop parts of the steel after it has passed the blooming mill, then this cropped material goes back as scrap, thereb adding to the ,expense of producing the nal shapes.

The present invention comprises a method and apparatus which obviates all ofthe steps above ennumerated between the ladle and the rolling mill, According to the present4 invention, the steel direct from the ladle is subjected to continuous treatment which results in a continuous longitudinal mass of solid steel of predetermined thickness, width and cross section, ready to immediately go into the rolling mill, whereby the treatment of the steel from theladle to the finished product comprises a series of continuous opera'- tions without intermediate distinct separate' steps.

In the preferred form of the invention the steel is formed into a pool which is continu-` ously replenished from a ladle orladles and f the outlet of the pool is in one direction only, whereby the molten metal is carried along on chill members which `in the initial stage chill the bottom and sides of the pool and in a `with suiiicient initial heat later stage chill the entire surface of the pool. Atthis moment the steel is in the conditionof a wedge shaped molten 'core surrounded by solidified steel and with the base of the molten wedge being the open pool of molten steel. As the travel of the steel progresses the chilling and solidiication continues in- Wardly and pressure on the steel is gradually increased so that the molten core gradu ally freezes solid and when the steel leaves this stage in the process it is completely solidified and com-prises a continuously travelling mass of steel of a predetermined cross section. In the preferred form the cross section comprises a relatively flat continuous slab. This slab however has a sha ed cross section to best suit the final shape to rolled. 'This slab leaves the solidifying apparatus to permit immediate rolling operations, thereby eliminating the soaking pit and the blooming mill for the reason that the shape given to the steel as it leaves the solidifying apparatus is such shape as the steel would have when it leaves the blooming mill. Where continuous operations are beingperformed this continuous slab immediately goeseinto the rolling mill.- Where desired, shears may be interposed between the solidifying apparatus and the mill so that slabs of predetermined lengths may be cut from the solidified steel and the indi,- vidual slabs may be treated, in rolling or forging, as individual units.l

Where it is not necessary or desirable to shape the top of the slab, the method may be carried out by chilling from the bottomand sides only whereby the continuous stream of steel freezes from the bottom'upward.

From the foregoing it will be observed that the present invention completely eliminates the ingot molds and all apparatus and manipulations necessary to casting in the ingot molds; the stripping apparatus, and all manipulations necessary for operating the stripping apparatus; the trackage, locomotive, buggies, and other conveying mechanism used for conveying the ingot mold andthe ingot to and from the castin the stripping mechanism and om the stripping mechanism to the soaking pit. It also platform to eliminates the soaking pit the expense of' ingots in the blooming mill, the trouble, la bor, expense and waste of cropping the ingots l after passing the blooming mill, and other incidental mechanisms and a paratus necessar' to carry out all of the oregointgl interme iate steps between the ladle and e rolling millas heretofore practiced inthe art.

As heretofore practiced in the art, the large masses of steel which are cast in manufacturing. large ingotseffor large shapesrequire several hours to llize, an average'time being about ei ht "ours from the time the ingot is oure -until the time the ingot has passed t rough vthe 'blooming mill and is ready .for rolling. hIn the present invention ractically all o at time is saved and 1n a w minutes the molten steel from the'ladle 1s solidifiedand-ready for immediate rolling. :Other andA further objects of the present invention willinpart be obvious and will in art be ointed out hereinafter in the.. specication ollowing.` v f It is realized that the invention may be embodied in and the methods may be prac,-

.` be understood as illustrative and notixithel ticed by vapparatus other than that herein disclosed, and therefore thefdisclosure 1s to limiting sense.

Fi 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating anevation of the preferred form of a 'solidifying and continuous slab casting mech- Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic Jview illustrating a cross section taken on line 2--2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a detail view illustrating a portion of the continuous mold members.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the mold members.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a portion'of the mold top members.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the individual mold top members.

Fig. 7 is an end view of the mold top member illustrated in Fig. 6. Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate cross sections of caps and molds to'produce special shaped continuous slabs.

Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate cross sections of caps and molds to produce other 'special shapes, and wherein the thickness of the metal in caps and in the molds is arranged to produce predetermined chilling effects on the specially shaped4 continuous slabs.

Fig. 12 illustrates a mold and cap producing a continuous square billett.

Fig. 13 is a` diagrammatic view of .an ap- .paratusin which the permanent dam at the frontof the machine is replaced by inclining 8.' the bottom of the mold trough.

sha

Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic plan view of the ap aratus shown in Fig. 13.

ig. 15 is a detail' view. of the pressure rail -and roller for pressin the side members agains't the bottom of t e mold trough illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14.

While the above method and apparatus and the invention disclosed herein are disclosed more particularly with reference to the steel art, it is to be understod that'the invention -is eqlllally 4ap licable to non-ferrous metals, whic hereto ore have customarily been cast in ingots or billets before being worked in final orms.

The apparatus 'disclosed herein dia rammatically comprises a steel solidifying evice to which molten steel is supplied at one end and a solidiiedcontinuous steel slab is produced at the other end.

Referring now more especially to the draw= ings which diagrammatically illustrate in Figs. 1 to 7 a preferred lform of the apparatus',.a main drive shaft 1 carries a driving and supporting Wheel 2 upon which is mounted a continuous mold trough 3 formed of individual mold members. 4 which are suitably linked to each other so that when the mold members 4 are-pushed through the machine they endsof these molds are tightly pressed together. This continuous' mold trough 3 is supported at its upper run by driven rollers 5. These driven rollers are preferably driven from the main drive shaft 1 by means of a large worm gear which `meshes with a driven worm gear 7 that turns a shaft 8 runnin the entire length of the machine. This 8 carries bevelled gears 9 which mesh with roller bevelled gears 10 (two of these companion'gears being shown in Fig. 1),

, whereby the continuous row of driven rollers 5 are all driven at the same rate. This'series of driven rollers 5 forms a rolling bed on which the continuous mold trough 3 travels. The continuous mold trough 3 after leaving the bed of driven rollers 5 passes over a supporting vWheel 11 which. is located near the output end of the machine. The lower run of the continuous mold trough 3 is supported upon a second set'of driven'rollers 12, which form a continuous under r'oller bed to support the molds on their return movement. These .driven rollers 12 are likewise driven by a shaft 14 extending the full length of the under roller bed. This shaft 14 carries shaft bevelled gears- 15 which mesh with roller bevelled gears 16. The shaft 14 may be driven by a stub shaft 17 which carries on one end a worm gear 18 and on the other end a bevelled gear 19 that meshes with a bevelled gear 2O on the endl of the shaft 14. Near the front end of the machine is provided a dam member 21, which may comprise a relatively lar e block of iron or other suitable device. This dam 21 is intended to actas a chill member and'if desired may be water cooled. The

AS pressure member comprisin a con.1

-tinuous series of caps for themo ds is-ar.-

ranged above the upper runA of the con-l tinuous mold troughs in such manner as to allow a substantially open trough portion .before the` steel comes in Contact with the capping members. The capping arrangement preferably comprises, a continuous series 22 of individual caps 24 which are linked together to form a continuous chain. This continuous series of cap members is supported by a drive wheel 25 at one end of the continuous capping chain and a supporting wheel 26 at the other end thereof. The drive wheel is also driven from the main drive Y shaft '1 by means of a worm gear 27 carried cording to the linear travel, of the continuous mold trough 3 s o that the caps for the molds rollers 32 preferably are driven by means of a shaft 34 which carries a worm wheel 35 in contact with the worm '.r 30 on the drive wheel shaft 25. The sha' 34 carries bevelled gears 36- (which are shown inFi 1) which mesh with bevelled gears' 37 on t e support- .ing driving rollers 32.l An auxiliary set of roller table rollers 38 at the rear end of the machine are provided with bevelled gears 39 which also cooperate with bevelled gears 40 carried on the main drive shaft 8. The pe- -riphery of the roller table rollers 38 is so proportioned to the speed of the moldsthat the speed of the periphery of these rollers is exactly the same as the speed of travel of the mold trough. f

In connection with continuous slabs of lcertain predetermined cross section to be delivered from the apparatus, it may be desirable to roll the edges, and therefore edging I rolls 41 are provided `adjacent the end of the upper run of the continuous mold trough. These edging rolls may be dispensed with under certain conditions. It is to be understood that where'` the rolls 41 are used, there are at lea-st two edging rolls 41 one on each Side of the slab (only one edging roll being shown in Fig. 1 Under certain conditions, surfacing rolls may also be desirable and a pair or more of surfacing rolls 42 and 44 are move with the trough molds. The molds at provided where these rolls arc desirable.

this point comprise substantially a closed travelling tube in which the stream of molten Asteel is frozen into a continuously moving slab. Preferably the abutting ends of these caps 24 arefbevelled at 23 in order to maintain a tight'joint between the caps as they come down on the moltensteel when the caps are passing down around and off the periphery of the driving wheel 25. The lower run of the continuous series of caps is forced downwardly by means of a series of pressure rollers 31 which are so spaced that at all times two rollers are in contact with each cap, whereby the spaces between caps caused by the bevelled ends do not cause an irregular pressure. Preferably, the axes of these pressure rollers are arranged in plane which gradually vapproaches the bottom of the continuous mold trough so that the pressure rollers toward the forward end of the machine push the caps partly down against the molten steel in the traveling molds and by the time that the caps are at therear end of the lower ru'n of the continuous cap chain, the -final pressure rollers 31 havel firmly seated the caps upon the molds. These pressure rollers 31 may actas idler rolls except in very heavy duty machines where preferably they will be driven similarly to the mold supporting rollers 5, as heretofore described. The upper run of the continuous series of caps is also supported on supportingl driving rollers 32 which assist the drive wheel 25 in driving the cap chain. These Both the edging rolls 41 and the surfacing rolls 42 and 44 are power driven at the proper speed relative to the travel of the continuous slab.

While the machine isadapted for cont-inuous operation, and the continuous slab may be run directly into a rolling mill, it is sometimes desirable that individual lengths shall be severed from the slab and therefore a pair of flying shears 45 is provided.` The shears have a movement with the slab during -cutting. However, the preferred operation is that the continuous slab shall run directly into a continuous rolling mill 46 comprising a plurality of lroll stands.

It may be desirable to spray-the molds with water and therefore, a water spray 47 may be provided at the rear end of the machine to spray the molds while hot, It is also desirablein some cases tqspray the molds with treatment compounds such as tar, graphite mixtures, etc, and where this is desired, a spraying apparatus 48 is provided adjacent the forward end of the mold chain to apply such treatment mixture.

Referring` now more especially to Figs. 3 and 4 which illustrate in more detail the continuous mold trough, the individual mold members 4 preferably are provided with a pair of link arms 49 on one end of each mold member, and another pair of link arms 50 at the other end of each of the individual mold ward Yends oil'st in order to fit within the link arms 49 of an adjacent `mold member. These link arms preferably are provided with slots through which key bolts 51 are adapted to be passed in order to form' the individual mold A'menlbers-l into a continuous chain and 'to permit expansion and contraction of the at 52 and 54'to provide projecting edges 55 and also 'a downwardly projectin l member 56 which is adapted lto fit into -t e trough mold members 4. The cap members are provided with a pair of link arms 57 on one end and'another pair of link arms 58 on the other end. The link arms 58 are offset to fit within the link arms 57 and these arms are also slotted at59 for the same purpose as in the mold chain.

In carrying out the method of the present invention, the steel is poured from a ladle 59 upon a continuous mold trou h 3 to form a pool. In the initial start o the device, a temporary dam 60 is set in the mold trough to provide a small initial pool between the main dam 21 and the temporary dam 60.

' This temporary dam 60 is illustrated in Fig.

1 as being raised abovethe mold trough and is Aready to be dropped into position when necessary. As soon asa pool has been formed substantially equal to the height of the temporary dam60, the machine is started and thestream of steel ,from the ladle 59 is continued at a sutlicient rate to maintain the height of the metal about level while the trough is moving in the direction of the arrow A (Fig.'1). This causes the pool to elongate and causes the temporary dam -to pass under the moving continuous cap chain. As the cold chill caps touch the cap of the molten pool, these caps form a skin on top of this molten steel; which skin continues to thicken so as to form a substantially tubular condition of chilled steel enclosing a molten core. When the machine is in full operation, this molten core extends partly y under the continuous caps, gradually becoming smaller and thinner until finally the molten core has completely been replaced by solid metal. The molten metal is indicated'in Fig.V 1 as at M and the solid metal is indicated at S. -The speed of the machine is maintained suiiicie'ntly high to enable the caps and the molds to completely chill `the steel so that it leaves the end of thecap continuous chain 4as a solid continuous metal slab. The dam 21 prevents the steel from running out ofthe forward end of the machine and since this dam sits close to the molds, there is no tendency of the metal to llo'w back between the dam andthe molds in view of the fact that the molds are moving forward and the metal is being lchilled between the dam'v and the mold members, thusA this 21 forms an effective head to maintain Athe pool of liquid molten steel, which pool is continuously replenished and continu'-v l ing the time when the steel in the molds is gradually freezing so that the metal preferably may be compressed during freezing and the' continuous slab issues as ay perferctly solid piece of steel. For some conditions, 1t

may bedesirable to force the ca s full down when the caps first touch the 'quid steel. This -may be done -b adjusting the axes of the rollers 31 paralle to the run of the mold trough 4. It will also be observed that the open pool between the dam 21 and the drive lwheel 25 is of sutlicient length to permit the full escape of 'gas from this shallow ool of molten steel so that by the time the co d chill caps come on to the steel, the gasification thereof has practically ceased. Since the pool is of molten steel relatively thin and is continuously moving through the -machine,

it Will-be observed that'segregation of the steelconstituents is substantially prevented so that theslab of steel coming from the appearatus is uniform in character, solid in physical aspects and of exactly the right shape for the rolling'mill. It will also be observed that by changing the face coiitour of the molds and the caps that various cross sectional shapes such as an hourglass or a substantially curved shape, oval in cross section may be produced. This permits the shaping of the continuous slab to suit the requirements of the rolling mill.

Figs. 8 to 11 of the drawings illustrate a few of the many cross sectional shapes which may be formed by shaping the bottom of the mold and the under fac@ of` the cap so that a predetermined cross section will be 'ven to the continuous slab. The shape 61 s iown in section in Fig. 8 is best adapted to the making of plates and flat bars. The shape62 in Fig. 9 is well adapted for rails and such like forms. Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate cross sections through the caps and the molds wherein th-e metal in the molds and in the caps are distributed in such manner as to lcause uniform chilling of the cross section of the slab `of steel. The molds 4a and 4b and also the caps 24a and 24?; illustrated in these Figs. 10V and 11 have the heat absorbing capacity o the metal chill arranged opposite to the largest mass of molten steel in the continuous slab cross section. The shape 64 illustrated in Fig. 1 0 is adapted for certain types of I- beams and the shape 65 illustrated in Fig. 11 is adapted for certain oval structures or round bars, rods, etc.

Referring now more especially to Figs. 1'3, 14 and 15, there are certain types'of molten steel where it lmay not be necessary or desir- IOL fue

able to cap the top surface of the continuous slab, especially where it is not necessary or desirable to shape the top of this slab for subsequent fabrication. Inthis form the method may be carried out in an apparatus comprising a substantially continuous open trough mold. Such a structure is diagrammatically illustrated Figs. 13 andV 14 wherein "a continuous mold y bottom 66 is mounted upon a drive wheel 67 at one 'end and an idler wheel 68 at the other end. Supporting rolls, driving devices, and other mechanisms are omitted in order to simplify the disclosure. The upper run of the bottom of the mold makes an incline as at 69 and this incline extends above the height of the molti en metal pool which will be formed in the apparatus. In this form of apparatus, the sides of the mold preferably comprise side chain members 70 and 71 which are identical in form and are arranged on each side of the upper run of the mold bottom chain 66. These side members preferably are provided with anti-friction rollers or wheels 72 mounted on theshaft 7 4 (Fig. 15) between the connecting link arms 75 and 76 which are suitably riveted or otherwise secured to the side members 70 .and 71. These rollers 72 are adapted to run against a rail 77 which is providedv with screw supports 78 constructed to force the rail against the inner runof the chain sides and thereby force these`side members'70and 71 against the edges of the upper run of the mold bottoms 66 to make a tight contact and form a long travelling trough.

. In this form of apparatus as illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14, the caps have been omitted and the trough is of sufficient length to permit 4the solidiication of the steel without necessity for capping'. In other Words, the bottom and sides of the mold trough are of sufficient weight and size to cause the metal to freeze from the bottom upwardly, so that the slab as it leaves the machine is completely;

frozen. The side members and the botto members are driven at exactly the same linear speed andare driven from the .forward end of the machine, like a locomotive' pushin a i train of cars, thereby 'pressing the joints e'- tween the individual sections tightlyvtogether to prevnt steelvins forming in the joint-s., In connection with .the operation 0f,` the device, it will be observed that the main drive shaftl is located at the forward end of the vmachine and that the driving .of the mold membersis progressive from the forward end, so that the moldmembers are tightly blttedtogether-in the upper run of the .mold chain, the same' manner as a locomotive pushing .la .train of cars. This ,causes the `joints between the mold ,j members to be ltightly pressed together 'and since the moldsare cold, there is no'tendency of molten steel escaping from these joints. The same driving v condition `occurs in connectin with the" the pointwheretlie finalfabricating opera- 130 r continuous caps which close the tops of the molds to form a substantially tubular mold zone so that there is no tendency of the liquid steel rising in the joints between the caps.

In the preferred operation `of the present device, a ladle is used which is of such capacity as to take the entire output of one furnace cast and the temporary dam is placed in the molds and the casting operation is continued until the `en tire contents of the ladle have run through the machine and when the ladle has finished pouring, another temporary dam G0,is dropped into the mold trough adjacent permanent dam 21. This temporary dam 60 now comprises a travelling head which holds the pool of molten steel from thinning out into a thin layer and permits the machine to run clean for the end of the ladle pour, thereby greatly reducing waste and utilizing substantially all of the metal from the ladle. After one furnace cast has been completed, the operation is repeated Y with the next furn'ace cast starting with the temporary dam 60 as previously explained.

If it should be desired to have continuousv operations a new ladlemay be poured into one side by gradually and continuously moving the pool supporting members in one direction and freezing the steel in the pool supporting members as they move away from thev pool. This frozen steel is carried away at substantially the same rate as molteny steel is supplied to the pool so that the operation is in eifect a continuous moving body of steel of a predetermined volume, which bod is molten at one endand solidified at the ot er, wherebyv a continuous stream of steel issues through the machine with the lstream bein molten at one end 'and solidified and shape at the other end of the machine.

Theterm contnuous casting as used herein and in the? claims means casting continuouslyfor a relatively long period of time either from`a' single ladle or a plurality of ladles or in any other manner; and this term also implies casting from single ladles with a complete stoppage of casting-operations between each ladle full of metal.

VThe termcontinuous shapes is used to. mean shapes which' heretofore in theV artY have been made by working ingots down to tions begin such as rolling'or forging or wire drawing or other fabricating `operations. In

other words,- the present method' and appa'.- ratus is adapted for the production of metal masses directly from Ymoltenlsteel or other metals and so shaped as to be immediately -ready for the final fabricating operations.

It is also to be understood, however, that where desired the present method and apparatus may produce such shapes as may undergo an intermediate step or steps of operations prior to the final fabricating step.

The term steel used herein is intended.

' vice may be used, as is common inthe art,

to heat the metal after it has been initially solidified and during the subsequent treatment. `1 l Having described our invention, what we claim is: Y A

l. The method of preparing a mass of metal for rolling operations which comprises V.forming a pool of molten metal, Vprogressive- 30 ly lengthening themass of metal by adding molten metal to one end thereof, cooling the metal progressively from the metal initially pl'aced in the pool Vto the metal progres- ;sively added'to form a frozen elongated mass, and applying lateral pressure tothe metal during the 'freezing thereof.

. V2.7Tl1e meth 'd of preparing a mass of I metalfor fabrication which comprises and allowing it to solidify; and appl forming an elongated mass of metal frozen at one end and molten at the other end by progressively moving the metal and by con- 'tinuously pouring molten metal into the molten end of the mass and Vsimultaneously withdrawingheat from and applyingA ressure'V to the metal between the ends o the mass before the freezing action is completed. 3. The method of preparing metal' for rolling operations which comprises forming an elongated slab of metal solid at one end and molten at the other by contiruously pouring molten metal at the molten end, continuously moving. the poured metalaway,

1n pressure laterally of the slab while the nietagl is still soft. A

4. The method of preparing metal forfabricating operations which com rises 'forming an elongated slab of metal so 'd at one end and molten Aat the other by continuo'uslgr pouring molten metal at the molten end, continuously moving the poured'metal away, and allowing it to solidify; and pressing the slab into a desiredcross sectional shape while the metal is stillsoft. 5.' The method of preparing metal for roll- 'trough-shapedmold from one end o gas furnaces or any other type of heating deing operations which comprises progressively pouring molten steel into an elon ated t e trough to the other, allowing the metal to progressively cool inthe trough to form a at the other, with an envelope of frozen metal between said ends enclosing a wedge-shaped mass of molten metal, applying lateral pressure to the slab adjacent the small end of the wedge-shaped mass, and progressively removing the solidified metal from the mold.

v slab of metal solid at one end and molten ing operations which comprises progressively pouring molten metal into an elongated trough-shaped mold, permitting the metal to progressively solidify to form' anelongated slab of metal solid at one end and molten at the other, progressively applying lateral pressure to a portion of the slab which is still softoin the mold, and progressively removing the solidiied -metal .from the mold after lateral thereto.

8. The method of continuously casting pressure has been applied shapes for-immediate rolling operations,

which comprises discharging a stream of moll .ten steellinto a substantially horizontal mold,

producing relative movement between the `stream andthe mold, said movement being longitudinal of the mold, progressively chilling the stream to form an envelope of frozen steel enclosing a wedge-shaped mass of molten steel adjacent the head of the stream, and applying pressure to said wedge-shaped mass and supporting the envelope to prevent rupture. 9. The method of casting continuous slabs of steel comprising, maintaining a moving stream of molten steel, supporting and moving the stream upon lchill molds, applying lateral pressure to the stream to maintain the stream in contact with said chill molds during the movement of the stream until the foot end` of ,the stream is completely frozen, and

adding molten steel to the head of the stream to maintain the stream substantially constant. e

10. The method of continuously casting molten steel shapes Vfor subsequent fabrication comprising, maintaining a stream of steel, chilling the stream of steel progressively from the foot of the stream to thehead thereof so that the foot of' the stream is frozen solid while the head of the stream is substantially liquid, progressively applying lateral pressure before the freezing action is com leted, and supplying molten steel` at the hea of the stream to maintain the stream substantially uniform.

11. The method of continuouscasting of metal shapes ready Yfor subsequent fabricatlon, which method comprises withdrawing the heat from a stream of molten steel at such rate that the foot of said stream comprises completely solidified metal while the head of said stream is substantially molten metal with a frozen envelope enclosing a mass of partially frozen steel, ,applying pressure to sald partially frozen steel, and completely supporting said envelope to prevent rupture, causmg said streamwto move from themolten head toward the solid foot, and supplying molten metal to the hea-d of sald str eam to maintain the same at substantially uniform depth during casting operations.

12. The method 'of .continuously castingk shapes from molten metal which shapes are ready for subsequent fabrication comprising a moving stream o f molten metal, withdrawing h'eat from the entire circumference' of said stream as it moves so that the foot of said stream is solid frozen kmetal applying pressure to a portion of said stream. during "the moving thereof to compact a portion of' the metal of s aid stream into a solid mass of predetermined cross section. n

13. The method of continuously casting steel shapes of predetermined cross section from molten steel comprising moving a stream of molten steel by moving chill molds which support said stream at the rate at which the stream moves, chilling the surface of a portion of said stream whereby the head of said stream lis an open pool of molten steel and the foot of saidA stream is solid steel of' a predetermined cross section and an intermediate portion of the stream is in the form of a frozen steel envelope surrounding a molten steel core which gradually increases in size from the solid portion of the steel toward the open molten' pool, and supporting said envelope against rupture while' applying'lateral pressure'to the envelope.

14. The method of casting continous steel shapes of predetermined cross section comprising maintaining a moving stream-of steel having at one end an open pool of molten -steel and at the other end a solid frozen steel mass of predetermined cross section and compressing the intermediate soft partially frozen steel prior to fabricating operations'.-

15. The, method of. -casting continuous shapes from molten steel comprising moving a stream of steel by moving a continuous chill bed for said stream at the rate of movement of said stream, maintaining an open pool at the head of the stream, chilling all sides of the stream. between said open pooland the foot ofthe stream to form a frozen envelope enclosing molten steel, and supporting -slaid of said trough to maintain an open space in which an ope'n pool of molten steel may form, said covering means being adapted to travel at the saine rate as said mold member and to chill the upper portion of steel in said mold member.

17. In an apparatus for casting continuous shapes of predetermined cross section from v y molten steel comprising traveling means adapted to support and chill the under portion of the sides and a stream of steel, and capping members adapted to enter into said means to shape, to compress, and to chill the upper portion of the steel in said means.

18. An apparatus for continuous casting of steel shapes of predetermined crossl section for immediate rolling comprising a continuous chain of open tended horizontal chill molds, means to 'drivexsaid chain, cappin means for a portion of said chain and adapted molds, and pressuremeans to force a portion of said capping means into said molds. 19. An apparatus for casting predetermined sha `es from molten steel, said' apparatus comprising a continuous traveling chill mold member of suflicient heat absorbing capacity and of suflicient length to substantially chill molten steel poured into said mem ber,'means to drive said. member at such rate as to permit the freezing of said steel in said member before the steel leaves said member, means-Ito apply lateralpressur'e to the steel while stilll soft and before the steel leaves said member, and a continuous rolling mill to fabricate said frozen steel in final form.

20. In an apparatus of the class described,

.a series of trough-shaped mold sections fasing lengthwise of itself, cap members adapted .to lit into said horizontal molds and to come -in contact with steel within said horizontal to moveinto said mold sections, means to discharge a stream of moltensteel'into said trough-shape mold while the same is in motion, and-means to apply pressure to said cap members to-compress the steel within said mold.

21. In an apparatus of the'class` described, means forming an elongated trough-shape mold,. driving means to move said mold lengthwise of itself -to carry forward molten 'in said mold.

moving continuouslj,7 lengt Wise of itself,

roller means to' support said trough-shaped mold, means to discharge a stream ofmolten metal into 'said trough-shaped mold to form a slab of metal therein, and movable means to apply lateral pressure to said slab of 4metal 23.` In an apparatusof the class described, a series of trough-shaped mold sections connected together -to form an elongated troughshaped mold, means to move said mold lengthwise of itself, means to discharge a stream of molten metal into said mold while the mold is in motion to form a` slab of metal in said mold, and means moving with the mold teapply pressure to the upper surface of said slab of metal and chill the same.

24. In an apparatus of the class described;

va. series of horizontal open ended chill mold members; means to secure a plurality of said` chill mold members together end to end, said means permitting ex ansion and contraction of the chill mold vmem ers; and means to move f said series of chill mold members by causin one mold member to push the 'one in front o it to -maintain molten-steel tight joints between said chill mold members;v 25. In a device of the class described, the combination of aflon trough horizontal chill mold, means to disc arge a stream ofsteel into said mold, means to cause alrelative loigitudinal movement between said stream an said mold during pouring operations,

lmeans to circumferentiall chill said stream, and means'to support an apply `pressure-to a portion of saidV stream. during chilling thereof.

26. A machine of the class described adapted to cast continuous. steel'l billets, comprising 'a plurality of mold sections -in the o rm of a travelling chain, means to drive said chain, means to guide certain 'of said mold sections in substantially a" straight-line wheresaid sections are .adaptedto support said steel billet, and means to remove said mold sectionsfrom said steelbillet without .any portion of said removed sections exerting steel shapes comprising lforininga mvvsections away from said straight run in such manner that the mold sections are taken away with all portions thereof below the line of straight run.

128. A continuous billet castin -machine comprising a plurality of ,open en ed trough-- chill molds arranged end to end to comprise jv an elongated mold member, means to pour molten steel into one end ofsaid mold 'meniber, the sides of said molds bein of such height as to be at all times above t e highest partbf the molten steel in' said mold, chill cover'members movable into said mold meinber and resting on` molten steel therein and being-adapted to chill the molten steel in said mold member, and means to push said molds and said cover members endwise;

y29. The method of continuously fabricatons billet of steel, applying pressure to the ing steel shapes comprising casting a continubillet during casting, moving the steel billet to a rolling mill, and rolling one end of the continuous billet while the other end of the, .billet is being cast.

30. The method comprising casting a continuous steel bi et with one end thereof being molten metal and the other end beingfrozen metal, applying lateral pressure to theblletl adjacent the --molten en dzand rolling .the frozen metal to thesame. v The method ofcontinuously fabricating stream ofste'el, adding molten. metal to progressivel chilling a portion of echillinv thereof the metal :from the 'chill JOHN E. PERRY.'

' GEORGE ing pressure against said billet when the sec-l tions are being removed from the billet.

27. In a device of the class described, the

combination of-a plurality of mold members comprising sections of a continuous. travel'- A --lin'g chain, means to drive said chain, means to guide said mold sections whereb a portion of said 'chain' comprises '-a, su tantially Y 6,5 straight run, and means to guide said mold of fabi-imag Misha s 9b ene end of said stream tomaint'ain the crossv 1 00 1 section o f said stream substantially constant f 3 31 stream, app ying lateral ressure to a portion of the stream during` t

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