Apparatus for forming hot top liners

Claim 1

APPARATUS FOR FORMING HEAT-INSULATING LINERS IN REUSABLE HOT TOP CASING FOR USE ON BIG-END-UP INGOT MOLDS, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING THE COMBINATION OF A FIXED LINING STATION, MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING A PLURALITY OF THE HOT TOP CASINGS IN SERIATIM TO SAID FIXED LINING STATION, A HOLLOW PERFORATED FORMING TOOL MOUNTED AT THE FIXED LINING STATION AND COMPLETMENTALLY FORMED WITH RESPECT TO THE INTERIOR OF THE HOT TOP CASINGS TO BE LINED, MEANS AT SAID LINING STATION FOR RECEIVING THE CASINGS ONE AT A TIME AND RELATIVELY MOVING EACH CASING AND SAID FORMING TOOL INTO TELESCOPED RELATIONSHIPS WITH EACH OTHER SO AS TO FORM AN ANNULAR CAVITY BETWEEN THE INNER SURFACE OF THE CASING AND THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE FORMING TOOL, MEANS FOR FEEDING A SLURRY COMPRISING A FINELY DIVIDED REFRACTORY MATERIAL, A FIBROUS MATERIAL, AND A LIQUID CARRIER INTO SAID ANNUAL CAVITY AND MEANS FOR WITHDRAWING THE LIQUID CARRIER THROUGH THE INTERIOR OF THE HOLLOW PERFORATED FORMING TOOL SO AS TO BUILD UP A COMPOSITE LAYER OF THE FIBROUS AND REFRACTORY MATERIAL ON THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID TOOL, MEANS FOR RELATIVELY MOVING THE CASING AND THE FORMING TOOL OUT OF RELATIVELY MOVING THE CASING AND THE FORMING SAID COMPOSITE LAYER ACCOMPANYING THE CASING, A DRYING STATION FOR DRYING THE LINER WITHIN THE CASING SUFFICIENTLY TO PERMIT THE CASTING OF MOLTEN METAL IN THE LINED CASING, AND MEANS FOR CONTINUALLY TRANSFERRING EACH LINED CASING FROM SAID LINING STATION TO SAID DRYING STATION.