Apparatus for casting a plurality of ingots in a consumable electrode furnace

Claim 1

Apparatus for simultaneously casting a plurality of metal ingots in a consumable electrode electroslag furnace in which an electrode is fused under slag to form molten metal to be cast into ingots, comprising: a first mold section for containing molten metal and slag, a plurality of ingot molds in direct communication with said first mold section, said first mold section having a larger cross-sectional area than the total cross-sectional area of the ingot molds in communication therewith, cooling means operatively associated with each of said plurality of ingot molds for cooling said ingot molds and solidifying ingots therein, said first mold section being adapted to retain therein a pool of molten metal in intimate contact with each of the ingot molds throughout the full cross-section thereof and including for that purpose heat insulating means to prevent the pool of molten metal from solidifying in said first mold section at the interface between said first mold section and said ingot molds, said first mold section also being adapted to retain therein a pool of molten slag overlying said pool of molten metal, said heat insulating means being securely mounted on the top of said ingot molds and on the bottom of said first mold section and disposed entirely beneath the top level of said pool of molten metal, said first mold section also including a liquid cooled metal jacket extending above the heat insulating means, said jacket being adapted to contain the molten metal and molten slag overlying said molten metal.