Mold top insulating assembly and method of use

Abstract

An ingot mold top comprising a base having a pair of side walls, each side wall having a first end and a second end, each of the first ends terminating in an angled portion and the second ends connected by a first end wall, a wedge having an end wall and a pair of side walls, the pair of side walls extending generally perpendicularly away from the end wall, and wherein the wedge pair of side walls each terminate in an angled portion and the base and wedge completely encompass an interior periphery of a mold.

1 . An ingot mold top comprising:
 a base having a pair of side walls, each side wall having a first end and a second end, each of the first ends terminating in an angled portion and the second ends connected by a first end wall;   a wedge having an end wall and a pair of side walls, the pair of side walls extending generally perpendicularly away from the end wall; and,   wherein the wedge pair of side walls each terminate in an angled portion and the base and wedge completely encompass an interior periphery of a mold.   
   
   
       2 . The ingot mold top of  claim 1  wherein the base side walls and first end wall are a single component and the wedge pair of side walls and end wall are a single component. 
   
   
       3 . The ingot mold top of  claim 1  wherein the base angled portions are complimentary shaped to the wedge side walls angled portions. 
   
   
       4 . The ingot mold top of  claim 1  wherein the base angled portions and the wedge angled portions each have an angle in a range between 5 degrees and 45 degrees. 
   
   
       5 . The ingot mold top of  claim 1  wherein the wedge end wall locates the base within the mold. 
   
   
       6 . The ingot mold top of  claim 1  wherein the base side walls and first end wall define a ledge integral to the interior periphery. 
   
   
       7 . The ingot mold top of  claim 1  wherein the base side walls and first end wall define a shoulder integral to the exterior periphery. 
   
   
       8 . The ingot mold top of  claim 1  wherein the base is taller than the wedge. 
   
   
       9 . The ingot mold top of  claim 1  further comprising a lid complimentary shaped with the base. 
   
   
       10 . The ingot mold top of  claim 6  wherein a lid slides along the ledge during installation. 
   
   
       11 . The ingot mold top of  claim 1  wherein the first end wall opposes the wedge end wall. 
   
   
       12 . A method of installing an ingot mold top comprising the steps of:
 inserting a mold top base having a pair of side walls with angled terminating portions within a mold;   locating a mold top wedge at least partially between the base and the mold; and,   forcing the wedge downwards to provide axial movement in a direction along the angled terminating portions.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of aligning the base angled terminating portions with the wedge. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of locating an installation device proximate the wedge before the step of forcing the wedge downwards to provide axial movement in a direction along the angled termination portions. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of forcing the base axially in a direction opposite the wedge by providing the downward force on the wedge. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of positioning a lid at least partially on a shoulder of the mold top base. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising the step of sliding the lid along the shoulder to completely cover the molten material. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of positioning the base along substantially three walls of an interior periphery of the mold before the step of locating a mold top end wall at least partially between the base and the mold. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of locating the mold top wedge without standing over the mold. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of forcing the mold top wedge downwards to provide axial movement in a direction along the angled terminating portions without standing over the mold.