Ingot mold and method

Abstract

An ingot mold provided with means affording stress relief thereto for the ingot pouring operation, while maintaining the mold in condition to aid in preventing metal leakage therefrom during the ingot pouring operation and subsequent cooling of the ingot, and providing mold wall support for the ingot until its skin has sufficient structural integrity to support the molten interior of the ingot, and a mold which can be recycled for use in a faster manner as compared to heretofore utilized solid or one-piece type ingot molds. In certain embodiments, the mold is formed of a plurality of completely separate and individual side wall sections defining at least the side periphery of a mold cavity, together with coupling means connecting the wall sections together. The coupling means provide for expansion and contraction of the mold sections relative to one another during the pouring of molten metal into the mold, and the resultant heating and subsequent cooling thereof. At least certain of such coupling means comprises adjustable spring means able to be preloaded a predetermined extent prior to the pouring operation, and thus providing for predetermined preloading of the openable and closeable junctures between the mold sections. In other embodiments, the mold may be of a generally one-piece affair, but having said wall sections with junctures openable and closeable, together with the aforementioned coupling means, including preloadable spring means, for automatic compensation for expansion and contraction of the mold during the pouring and ingot producing cycles thereof in a manner to provide stress relief to the mold. A novel method for production of metal ingots is also disclosed.