US 4,721,278 A · Lightweight reusable hot top

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.

Claims46

Dependent claims

A reusable hot top, comprising:

(a) a shell having an aperture therethrough providing an inner wall and said shell having an upper end portion and a lower end portion for seating on a mold;
(b) liner means positioned in said aperture spaced from said inner wall and being axially movable relative to said upper and lower end portions;
(c) liner retainer means associated with said shell and being engaged with and retaining said liner means in said aperture when said shell is lifted from the mold and being disengaged from said liner means when said shell is seated on the mold;
and,
(d) thermal seal means positioned around a bottom portion of said liner means for engagement with the mold when said liner means is seated thereon for thereby preventing contact of said liner means with the mold so that heat conductance between said liner means and the mold is prevented.

2 more elements

A combination of a reusable hot top and a metal receiving mold having an upper seating portion, the hot top comprising:

(a) a metal shell having an aperture therethrough providing an inner wall and said shell having an upper end portion and a lower end portion for seating on said seating portion;
(b) liner means having a thickness not exceeding 0.3 inches positioned in said aperture spaced from said inner wall and being axially movable relative to said upper and lower end portions;
(c) liner retainer means associated with said shell and being engaged with and retaining said liner means in said aperture when said shell is lifted from the mold and being disengaged from said liner means when said shell is seated on the mold;
(d) first thermal seal means positioned around a bottom portion of said liner means for engagement with said seating portion and thereby preventing contact of said liner means with said mold so that heat conductance between said liner means and said mold is prevented;
(e) liner positioning means associated with said upper end portion;
and,
(f) second thermal seal means positioned around an upper portion of said liner means for engagement with said liner positioning means and thereby preventing contact of said liner means with said liner positioning means so that heat conductance therebetween is prevented and being disengaged from said liner means when said shell is lifted from said mold.

4 more elements

A combination of a reusable hot top and a metal receiving mold having an upper seating portion, the hot top comprising:

(a) a metal shell having an aperture therethrough providing an inner wall and said shell having an upper end portion and a lower end portion for seating on said seating portion;
(b) liner means having a thickness not exceeding 0.3 inches and comprised of a material selected from the group comprising graphite and metallic materials capable of withstanding contact with a molten metal poured into the mold without being melted or fused thereto and said liner means positioned in said aperture spaced from said inner wall and being axially movable relative to said upper and lower end portions;
(c) liner retainer means associated with said shell and being engaged with and retaining said liner means in said aperture when said shell is lifted frcm the mold and being disengaged from said liner means when said shell is seated on the mold;
(d) first thermal seal means positioned around a bottom portion of said liner means for engagement with said seating portion and thereby preventing contact between said liner means and said mold so that heat conductance between said liner means and said mold is prevented;
and,
(e) liner positioning means associated with said upper end portion.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Lightweight reusable hot top

Life of this patent

Lightweight reusable hot top

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims46