Abstract: A mold for creating metal ingots, a hottop sideboard and a system and method of manufacturing metal ingots utilizing the same. A hottop sideboard utilizes a layer of a rigid refractory material integrally connected to a layer a flexible refractory material that is compressed between the rigid layer and the sidewalls of the mold during use. The mold for creating metal ingots comprises: a main body having a floor and sidewalls that form a cavity for receiving a molten metal; a plurality of sideboards connected to the sidewalls and forming a perimeter about the cavity in a spaced relation from the floor, the sideboards comprising a first layer of a rigid refractory material and a second layer of a flexible refractory material, the first layer and the second layer being connected to one another; and the sideboards are secured to the sidewalls so that the second layer is compressed between the first layer and the sidewall.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for processing a packet to transmit on a network in a host system including a plurality of network adaptors. A first network receives adaptor a packet, wherein the first network adaptor has a plurality of ports. The first network adaptor performs first load balancing operations to select one network adaptor to transmit the received packet. If the selected network adaptor is a second network adaptor, then forwarding the received packet to the second network adaptor. If the selected network adaptor is the first network adaptor, then performing second load balancing operations with respect to the multiple ports to select one port on which to transmit the packet.

Abstract: A reusable hot top includes a shell having an aperture therethrough providing an inner wall. The shell has an upper end portion and a lower end portion which seats on a mold. A liner comprised of an insulating material is positioned in the aperture and is movable relative to the upper and lower end portions. Insulation is sandwiched between the liner and the inner wall and prevents heat conductance between the liner and the shell. Pins extend from the inner wall and are engaged with and support lugs extending from the liner and thereby maintain the liner in the aperture when the shell is lifted from the mold and the pins are disengaged from the lugs when the shell is seated on the mold. A thermal seal is disposed around the bottom of the liner and contacts the mold. The seal prevents the liner from contacting the mold and thereby prevents heat conductance between the liner and the mold.

Abstract: A disposable hot top board includes a compressible seal positioned along the outer surface of the board to form a seal between the bottom of the board and the mold wall. In a preferred form, the disposable hot top board comprises an insulating or exothermic material having a reticulated metal mesh embedded therein. A metal plate extends along at least a portion of the outer surface and a ceramic fiber strip extends along a bottom portion of the board. A perforated metal retention strip with a first end interwoven with the mesh and a second end extending outward from the board, is used with a big end up mold having a pair of slots. In addition to the standard internal wedge system, the board is forcibly retained against the ingot mold to compress the fiber strip into a seal by a rod which engages the metal retention strip in a wedging type relationship with the mold exterior.

Abstract: A hot top for the casting of ingots, especially large size rectangular steel ingots having a thickness of at least 28 inches and a width greater than the thickness but no greater than 36 inches. The hot top has an octagonal refractory lined cavity with the lengths of the four corner sides being substantially equal to each other and greater in length than any of the other four sides, but not greater than 1.2 times the length of the longest of the other four sides.

Abstract: Ingot head surface finish is improved by providing a coating of mould flux on the molten metal-contacting surface of hot top lining slabs.