Abstract: An ingot plate (10) of cleaveable thermoelectric material has a layered structure having substantially parallel cleavage planes. Substantially all of the cleavage planes are disposed at a less cleavage angle with respect to the upper and lower faces (11, 12) of the plate. The ingot plate can be successfully cut into bars (20) along cutting planes generally perpendicular to the cleavage planes without causing substantial interlayer fracture. Electrodes (25) are formed on the opposite sides of the bar which are defined by the cutting planes. The bar is in use to be cut into a number of discrete chips (30) with one of the electrodes fixed on a substrate. Since the cutting is made along planes again generally perpendicular to the cleavage planes of the bar, the bar can be successfully cut into the corresponding chips without causing any substantial fracture.

Abstract: A heating machine for heating an ingot of a metal such as a magnesium alloy. The heating machine has a heating chamber equipped with a RF induction coil capable of swinging about a horizontally axis. The coil is placed horizontally, and the metal ingot is fed into the coil from an introduction chamber by a pushrod. Stoppers prevent the ingot from falling from the RF induction coil when it is switched from its horizontal posture to its vertical posture. The coil is wound on a cylindrical member. A rotatable hollow shaft is firmly mounted to the holder in a perpendicular relation to a substantially axially central portion of the cylindrical member. A part of the coil is inserted in the hollow shaft via an insulating material. The rotatable hollow shaft is swung by a swinging mechanism. The induction heating coil is wound on a ceramic holder. A metal ingot is inserted in the holder with a given clearance.

Abstract: A method of extruding a boron carbide-aluminum alloy metal matrix composite includes heating the ingots of the composite to temperatures of about 570.degree. C., holding the ingots at about 570.degree. C. to soften the ingots, placing the ingots in a heated extrusion chamber, and extruding the softened ingots at pressures about 15% to 20% higher than typical pressures used to extrude aluminum alloys. A method of casting a boron carbide-aluminum alloy metal matrix composite includes heating ingots of the composite to about 700.degree. C. to melt the ingots, gently stirring the melt, removing dross from the melt, vigorously stirring the melt with an impeller without creating a vortex, degassing the melt with an argon diffuser wand, and continuously removing froth formed during degassing until the rate of froth formation is reduced and the melt gently bubbles.

Abstract: A tag structure for labeling an article cast from molten material including a portion which submerges in the molten material and a portion which contacts the surface of the molten material, and preferably floats on the surface of the molten material. The submerged portion forms a bond with the material forming the article as the material solidifies. A bath of the molten material is provided and the tag is brought into contact with surface of the molten material in the bath, for example, it is dropped onto the surface of the molten material in the bath. The tag if dropped sinks under its own weight into the molten material forming the bond noted above. The portion of the tag which is not submerged bears information relative to the article to be formed. The completed article has, therefore, a tag firmly attached thereto which is placed on the article during formation of the article and not thereafter.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for casting semi-finished metal products in which a molten-metal-proof plunger is disposed at the top of a cavity in a permanent mold. A thin band of metal is attached to the plunger and extends above its top. Inside the metal band on top of the plunger is insulation and on top of that is a barrier to the molten metal. A reservoir of molten metal is created and maintained in a pouring cup over the plunger, and the plunger is caused to descend in the cavity at a controlled rate so that the molten metal enters and fills the cavity above the plunger. Promptly after the plunger reaches the bottom of its stroke, it is reversed to lift the casting and pouring cup at least slightly out of the mold. The shim band, barrier, and insulation are expendable, but the plunger is used again.

Abstract: A process for casting ingot molds wherein a smooth, rigidized insulative board is used to form the as cast bottom surface of the ingot mold to produce a smooth flat surface which does not require machining and to permit slow cooling and solidification so that a uniform macrostructure and microstructure is effected.

Abstract: Bosses project from the outer surface of the ingot mold and are arranged in a planar zone, each of the bosses contains a channel that has slidably positioned therein an anchor which is projected beyond the outer surface of each boss into each boss. The projecting portions of the anchors are attached to a continuous reinforcement band extending between the projecting portions of the anchors. The continuous reinforcement band is spaced from the ingot mold. Stresses and strains caused by teeming (pouring) hot molten metal into the ingot mold are absorbed by the continuous reinforcement band.

Abstract: A quick change guide ring for a bottom pour ingot mould system to effect positioning of a plurality of moulds relative to outlets in a sprue plate.

Abstract: In the ingot casting of killed-steel steels, insulative walled reservoirs known as hot-tops are employed at the top of the mold to maintain a source of molten steel which can feed the shrinkage cavity that forms during solidification of the ingot. Presently, these hot-tops are set to a predetermined height prior to the filling of the mold cavity. As a result of such controlled height pourings, variations in the volume of the mold cavity lead to significant losses in the ingot-to-product yield. To overcome such losses, the invention employs a floating hot-top. Rather than teeming to a prescribed height, the ingot is teemed to a prescribed weight and the floating hot-top is placed on the surface of the steel so teemed. Further pouring is delayed, at least until the hot top is welded to the surface by the freezing of the molten steel in contact therewith. Thereafter, the hollow center of hot-top is filled to provide a sufficient reservoir of molten metal for the resultant shrinkage cavity.

Abstract: A plug for closing the opening in the bottom of a top pouring ingot mold is comprised of a preformed plug body having top and bottom ends and an outer peripheral surface providing a contour generally corresponding with that of the mold opening to be plugged. The lower portion of the outer peripheral surface is provided with a coating of a thermally curable sealing composition having a heavy paste-like consistency, and the plug body and coating are enclosed in a heat shrinkable plastic film. In use, the plug is pushed into a plug opening in the bottom of an ingot mold which generally is hot from a previous casting operation, the plastic film disintegrates, the sealing material is squeezed so as to spread and fill the space between the mold opening and plug body, and the heat of the mold cures the sealing material to secure the plug in place and seal the peripheral space between the plug body and mold opening.

Abstract: In the manufacture of hollow metal ingots, particularly for producing seamless tubes, the liquid melt is poured rapidly into an upright or slightly inclined chill mould, the chill mould is closed and is tilted into a substantially horizontal position in which it is slowly rotated about its longitudinal axis. The hole is produced in the hollow ingots by pouring into the chill mould a quantity of melt which corresponds to the total volume of the chill mould plus the shrinkage volume and less the volume of the desired hole. The method is particularly advantageous when manufacturing hollow ingots of great length, although the method can also be used when manufacturing short hollow ingots. It is particularly advantageous to blow in an accurately dimensioned quantity of inert gas, corresponding to the hole in the hollow ingot, during and after the actual pouring operation.

Abstract: A bottom pour ingot mould system and more particularly a sprue plate having a plurality of horizontally extending runners therein and a plurality of upstanding guide pads spaced from the horizontal runners to effect positioning of each mould relative to an outlet in a horizontal runner. Molten steel is poured down a vertical runner, after which it moves horizontally then upwardly into the ingot mould.

Abstract: An improved ingot shape which when rolled to sheet or plate does not form laminated edges which must be trimmed. The narrow faces of the generally rectangularly shaped ingot have recesses along the length of the upper and lower portions thereof. The land area between the two recesses on each narrow face extends outwardly beyond the top and bottom edges of the ingot.

Abstract: A sectional ingot mold formed of a plurality of side wall sections which when assembled define at least the side periphery of a mold cavity, with means coacting on the side wall sections for coupling the wall sections together into an integral unitary ingot mold; said means, providing for automatic compensation for expansion and retraction of the mold assembly sections when molten metal is poured into the ingot mold by providing for expeditious expansion of the mold assembly sections with respect to one another while aiding in sealing the mold sections from leakage of molten metal during the pouring and cooling of the ingot in the mold. In certain embodiments, yieldable gasket material is disposed between the wall sections at their junctions for aiding in preventing leakage of molten metal from the ingot mold assembly during pouring and solidification of an ingot in the mold.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for reinforcing and repairing cast iron molds by surrounding the mold with a closely fitted steel plate or plates, connecting the ends of the steel plate or plates to form a continuous band, attaching the continuous band to the cast iron mold and locating spacers between the cast iron mold and the continuous band to elevate the band from the cast iron mold wall surface. This invention further relates to a method for reducing shear stress on the means by which the continuous band is attached to the mold by locating the means of attachment around a corner from the source of stress at an obtuse angle to the mold wall being reinforced.

Abstract: A combustible stencil held by holders is disposed at a position some distance apart from the end face of a hot material; immediately thereafter, a coating composition is sprayed onto the hot material through perforations in the stencil from behind to carry out the marking; the stencil is used only once and burned by the potential heat of the hot material upon marking; and a new stencil is used each time for marking. The combustion starting time is controlled by previously moistening the stencil as necessary.

Abstract: A seal between an ingot mould and a base plate or between a head-box and an ingot mould is formed from a pack of flat, flexible strips, for example, of cardboard or aluminium interlinked at spaced intervals along the strips. The joints between any one strip and an adjacent strip next to one face thereof are staggered in relation to the joints between the one strip and the adjacent strip next to the other face thereof. The pack is expanded lengthwise to separate the strips where they are unjoined and form generally hexagon shaped cells and is then placed on the base plate with the longitudinal edges of the strips of the pack on the base plate. The expanded pack is arranged lengthwise into a closed figure corresponding to the shape of the ingot mould. The ingot mould is then placed on top of the expanded pack which is crushed between the ingot mould and the base plate to form the required seal. A head-box seal is similarly made between the top face of the ingot mould and the head-box.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of fixing a shaped body of a refractory material to an interior face (e.g. of a wall) of an ingot mould in which an adhesive composition is applied to either the body or the face or both and the body and the face are urged together, the thus fixed body serving to identify an ingot when cast in the mould. In the method of the invention the adhesive composition is a mixture consisting essentially of aqueous alkali metal silicate such as sodium silicate and a particulate refractory material such as china clay, silica or zircon, the mixture having a viscosity of at least 2000 poises measured on a Brookfield Viscometer model RVT at 20.degree. C.

Abstract: An ingot mold of the bottle-top type and method for its use wherein the primary pipe or shrinkage cavity at the top of the ingot is decreased in length and a solid bridge is formed between the primary and secondary pipe cavities, sealing off the secondary cavity. The cast ingot is cropped in the area of the solid bridge between the primary and secondary pipe cavities, leaving the secondary cavity sealed such that it can be welded without oxidation during hot rolling to increase the ingot yield.

Abstract: Large steel ingots are produced without pipe and blow holes and with minimum segregation, by teeming the steel into an ingot mold having a hot top that tapers upwardly and whose open upper end is largely filled by an electrode that is spaced from the steel by an electrically conductive slag. During a first stage, current is passed from the electrode through the slag to the steel at a rate to keep the slag and the steel in the upper end of the mold molten. During a second stage, the current is increased and the electrode consumed to restore the liquid level that has fallen due to contraction upon solidification, the electrode having a lower content in segregating elements than the steel. During a third stage, the current and the metal addition are reduced until the ingot is completely solidified.

Abstract: The disclosed crystallizer positioning and displacing apparatus includes a movable carriage with grippers adapted to engage the suspension shaft of the crystallizer, the carriage also having at least two wedge-shaped abutments adapted to abut against wedge-shaped lugs mounted on the crystallizer in alignment with these abutments, the wedge-shaped abutments and the wedge-shaped lugs being situated below the suspension shaft of the crystallizer.

Abstract: Apparatus for electroslag remelting of at least one consumable electrode in a cooled mold assembly with a cooled bottom plate having mechanism accomplishing relative movement between at least a part of the mold assembly and the ingot being formed during forming of the ingot. Movement of selective parts of the mold assembly relative to the ingot and/or the electrode is provided with or without movement of the electrode itself. Structure for bottom pouring of molten slag is provided. A specific mold assembly has, as an element, a cooled core device enabling making hollow ingots, in which case the hollow core device can be moved axially, reciprocated axially and reciprocally rotated during forming of the ingot. Electrical power for the electroslag remelting can be connected between the consumable electrode and any or all elements of the mold assembly.