Simple Solutions That Work! Issue 17

Continued on next page 7 BACK TO BASICS Understanding Teapot Spout Ladles W hen it comes to casting ladles there are three basic types of foundry ladles, usually named for their method of pouring: lip-pour, teapot spout and bottom pour ladles. Each type has their benefits and drawbacks. The choice will vary depending on the metal being poured, the type of casting being produced, and the foundry preference. However, with respect to all types of ladles, the total usage of the ladle needs to be taken into consideration when weighing the benefits and cost. The purchase price is only one consideration; understanding how it is to be used when in service, the amount of maintenance time required for relining, gear box or trunnion replacement are all additional important considerations. TEAPOT SPOUT LADLES At the risk of stating the obvious, teapot spout ladles take the molten metal from the base of the ladle – the metal is clean, with any slag rising to the surface of the metal and being held back by the teapot divider. In some respects, it follows a similar principle to the bottom pouring ladle but is often used for a wider range of metals whereas as the bottom pouring ladle is primarily used in steel foundries. When compared to a bottom pouring ladle, the teapot spout is often considered to be simpler STEVEN HARKER Technical Director Acetarc Engineering Co. Ltd ARTICLE TAKEAWAYS: • Open-back vs closed-back teapot spout ladles • Pre-cast liner advantages to use and maintain, as you don’t have to deal with either the stopper rod or have a ladle that has a hole in the base. Which can be a difficult concept to get your head around if you are not familiar with bottom pour ladles. The spout can be extended to give a much more controlled pouring arc when compared to a lip-pour ladle. In fact, the spout can often be curved and extended to meet very exacting pouring requirements. This can be both a major benefit and a drawback when it comes to relining the ladle. I suspect that the spout lining wasn’t so much of a problem back when ladles used a tubular lining with shaped bricks; however, it can become a problem with a castable refractory linings. I’ve spoken to both several refractory companies and foundries regarding the problems associated with relining teapot spot ladles. Following these discussions, we have started to promote the ‘open-back teapot spout design’ as the lining can be cast as one piece.