Abstract: An improvement in and pertaining to cranes for stripping and/or handling cast metal ingots. The improvement is disclosed in the illustrative environment of a crane capable of performing both functions and operations with big-end-down ingots and molds. The improvement is embodied in a horizontally disposed component of a vertical, crane-suspended, ingot working mechanism. Said component serves as a shock absorber and dampener during a stripping operation, and serves as a resilient energy reservoir in aid of an ingot handling operation. Said component takes a horizontal drum-shaped form with centrally apertured, resilient, spring tempered steel discs disposed like the heads of a drum normal to said mechanism wherein, however, the inner peripheries of said apertures engage parts of the mechanism between which there is relative vertical motion in one direction incident to stripping the ingot from the mold, and in the opposite direction when gripping the ingot to handle it.

Abstract: An apparatus for stripping a metal ingot from its casting mold is provided in which mechanical stripping motion is provided by a stripping screw rotatable within a vertically extending column housing which is in turn rotatable within a column frame and in which the stripping screw provides control of the ingot and mold gripping tongs and a bull nose for ejecting ingots from a mold.

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.