EP2694235A1 - Mould simulator - Google Patents

Mould simulator

Info

Publication number
EP2694235A1
EP2694235A1 EP12709291.4A EP12709291A EP2694235A1 EP 2694235 A1 EP2694235 A1 EP 2694235A1 EP 12709291 A EP12709291 A EP 12709291A EP 2694235 A1 EP2694235 A1 EP 2694235A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
sample member
cap
mould
sample
separate section
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP12709291.4A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2694235B1 (en
Inventor
Maria Begoña SANTILLANA DE VEERMAN
Marcel Cruijff
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Tata Steel Nederland Technology BV
Original Assignee
Tata Steel Nederland Technology BV
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Tata Steel Nederland Technology BV filed Critical Tata Steel Nederland Technology BV
Priority to EP12709291.4A priority Critical patent/EP2694235B1/en
Publication of EP2694235A1 publication Critical patent/EP2694235A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2694235B1 publication Critical patent/EP2694235B1/en
Not-in-force legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
    • B22D—CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES
    • B22D11/00—Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
    • B22D—CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES
    • B22D2/00—Arrangement of indicating or measuring devices, e.g. for temperature or viscosity of the fused mass

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a mould simulator for simulating casting conditions in a mould for continuous casting.
  • This know mould simulator comprises a water cooled cylinder, a metal cap over the outer end of the cylinder, means to lower and raise the cylinder and cap with respect to a support frame so as to lower cylinder and cap in a bath of molten metal or metal alloy and to lift it from said bath, means to move the cap with respect to the cylinder and means to oscillate the cylinder.
  • metal will be used and shall have the meaning of metal as well as metal alloy, unless specifically indicated otherwise.
  • EP 1596197 a device is disclosed with a cap consisting of two halves, wherein the caps can be moved relative to each other so as to exert a tensile force on the metal adhered to the cap.
  • the device is dipped in a metal melt and lifted from the melt when sufficient metal has adhered to and solidified against the cap halves.
  • mould simulator which allows to experimentally test mould conditions in an easy and reliable manner. According to a first aspect of the invention one or more of the above objectives are realized by providing a mould simulator for simulating casting conditions in a mould for continuous casting, the mould simulator comprising:
  • the sample member is provided with a separate section which is movable in outward direction with respect to the sample member, and
  • the separate section of the sample member is at a distance from the outer end of the sample member.
  • the cap in the maximum overlapping position of the cap with respect to the sample member is positioned over the separate section of the sample member.
  • the part of the sample member with the separate section will be covered when the sample member is lowered in a bath of molten metal and the first metal will solidify against the cap.
  • the cap is moved with respect of the sample member which means that the cap is lowered further into the bath of molten metal, the metal will also start to solidify against the oscillating sample member. With the cap in its end position the solidified metal will also cover the separate section.
  • the immersion depth of the sample member in the bath of molten metal and the dimensions of cap and separate section are taken such that the solidified metal comes against the sample member as well as below as above the separate section.
  • the molten metal will solidify against the cooled sample member while enclosing a slag layer between the solidified metal and the sample member. Because of the oscillating movement of the sample member the solidified metal will show oscillation marks as is typical for continuous casting with an oscillating mould.
  • the sample member has a circular cross-section and wherein the separate section extends over at most half of the circumference of said part of the sample member.
  • the sample member preferably has a shape that allows solidification of the metal in a more or less equal manner around the circumference, that is sharp corners in said shape are to be avoided.
  • the most obvious shape would be a circular cylinder shape like a tube which is also the easiest shape to provide.
  • the sample member is preferably tapered.
  • the smallest diameter of the sample member will be at the end with the cap. This means that a sample member or at least part of it is conical or frusto-conical with a small cone angle cone wherein in most cases a cone angle of less than 5° will suffice.
  • the outward direction of movement of the separate section is transverse to the axis of the part of the sample member with said circular cross-section.
  • a transverse direction is preferred because of easier manufacturing of the sample member and separate section and moreover, it will be easier to calculate tensile strain in the solidified metal and other parameters.
  • the separate section preferably has at least one side parallel and at least one side transverse to the axis of the part of the sample member with circular cross-section.
  • Various shapes of the separate section are possible, wherein the sides parallel to said axis are needed to get the longitudinal cracks and the sides transverse to said axis to get cracks parallel to the oscillation marks.
  • sample member of circular cross-section there is no need to take transverse sides longer than half the circumference.
  • the parallel sides are limited by the size of the cap, more in particular by the overlap of the cap with the outer end of the sample member.
  • a further restriction is the distance the solidified metal should extend over the separate section.
  • the solidified metal should preferably overlap the vertical and horizontal sides of the separate section with a sample member in use.
  • the means to move the separate section in outward direction with respect of the sample member comprise a driving member movable inside the sample member and wherein part of the driving member and separate section form a wedge system.
  • the wedge system includes that driving member and separate section are both provided with an inclined surface with respect to the direction of movement of the driving member. By moving the driving member in one direction the inclined surfaces slide over each other therewith moving the separate section in outward direction.
  • the means to move the driving member and therewith drive the separate section in outward direction comprise a pressure cylinder acting on the driving member in the sample member.
  • the pressure cylinder is a sleeve shaped cylinder positioned around the sample member with a first part connected to the sample member and a second moving part connected to the driving member.
  • the means to measure the pressure exerted by the pressure cylinder comprise a load cell connected to the pressure cylinder and the sample member.
  • the load cell is provided between the first part of the ring shaped pressure cylinder and the sample member.
  • the sample member comprises an outer tube and an inner tube wherein the inner tube is connected to a driving body which is in contact with the outer tube over part of the length of the outer tube at the end of the outer tube where the cap is provided.
  • the inner tube and driving body forming the driving member to move the separate section.
  • the driving body is in contact with the outer tube at the location of the separate section. To be able to drive the separate section in outward direction the driving body should be in close contact with the outer tube as to prevent any lateral movement of said driving body.
  • the driving body is in close contact with the outer tube over at least that part of the sample member that will be submerged in a bath of molten metal. Since the inner tube and driving body are needed to drive the separate section in outward direction and since the driving body has to be close against the outer tube, the cooling of the outer tube has to be done through the inner tube and the driving body. To this end a cooling liquid runs along the inside of the inner tube and a connected recess in the driving body therewith cooling the inner tube and the driving body and through the thermal contact between driving body and outer tube, the outer tube will be cooled sufficiently. Between driving body and outer tube a thermally conductive and friction lowering compound may be applied to improve thermal contact between driving body and outer tube and at the same time providing that the driving body and outer tube may be displaced with respect to each other with minimal friction.
  • the means to move the cap with respect to the sample member comprise a rod or tube positioned in the central part of the sample member and connected at one end to the cap and at the other end to drive means to move the rod or tube and therewith the cap with respect to the sample member.
  • the drive means for the cap are attached to the support frame and can drive the cap independent of the sample member. This setup allows to move the cap with a certain speed downward in the bath with molten metal while the sample member itself is oscillating in the molten metal.
  • a further tube is positioned between the rod or tube to move the cap and the inner tube and the connected recess in the driving body in spaced relation thereto, forming respectively between the further tube and the rod or tube to move the cap and between the further tube and the inner tube and the connected recess in the driving body the supply and return channel for liquid cooling means.
  • fig. 2 shows a longitudinal section of the mould simulator
  • fig. 3 shows an upper part of the mould simulator in more detail
  • fig. 4 shows the lower part of the mould simulator in more detail
  • fig. 5 A,B,C,D show various stages in the operation of the mould simulator.
  • mould simulator 1 In fig. l a view of mould simulator 1 is shown, for clarity's sake without support frame and any further equipment.
  • the said further equipment comprises means to lower and lift the mould simulator in and out a bath of molten metal and means to let at least part of the mould simulator oscillate.
  • the mould simulator 1 has a sample member 2 which comprises an outer tube 3 and a cap 4 over the end part of outer tube 3.
  • the outer tube 3 is connected to a base plate 5 by means of coupling nut 6.
  • the means to have at least part of the mould simulator oscillate engage at the base plate 5.
  • a load cell 7 On the base plate a load cell 7, a sleeve shaped actuator cylinder 8 and inlet and outlet means 9 for a cooling fluid for sample member 2 are provided.
  • a rod or tube 10 extends that runs through the mould simulator and connects to cap 4. The rod 10 is connected at its other end to means with which cap 4 can be lowered independently from other parts of the mould simulator 1.
  • mould simulator 1 In the longitudinal section of mould simulator 1 according to fig. 2 the details of various parts of the mould simulator 1 are clearly shown.
  • the cap 4 is in a position against the end of the outer tube 3 with rod 10 in an end position relative to the mould simulator 1.
  • an inner tube 1 1 is provided leaving a free space 12 between outer tube 3 and inner tube 1 1.
  • the inner tube 1 1 connects at its lower end to a cylindrical shaped driving body 13, which driving body is with its outer face in contact with the inside face of the outer tube 3.
  • a cooling liquid such as water is fed through tube 1 1 and a recess in driving body 13 in order to cool driving body 13.
  • the driving body 13 extends over a length that at least corresponds to the immersion depth of the mould simulator in a bath of molten metal and preferably more than said depth.
  • the reason for that is that cooling of the outer tube has to be done by means of a cooling liquid that runs through the recess in driving body 13, so that the cooling of the outer tube 3 has to be done through the thermal contact of driving body 13 with the outer tube 3.
  • the outer tube 3 and driving body 13 are made of copper or a copper alloy to have a good thermal conductivity.
  • a cut-out is made for a separate section 14 which is designed to be pushed out, therewith applying a tensile force and generate cracks in metal solidified against the sample member 2 after immersion in a bath of molten metal.
  • the cut-out and the separate section 14 extend over part of the circumference, but preferably not over more than half of the circumference.
  • the separate section 14 is provided with an inclined surface 15 that rests against an inclined face 16 of a recess 17 for separate section 14 in the body 13.
  • the upper part of the inner tube 1 1 is connected at is end with a ring or sleeve shaped actuator cylinder 8 by means of which the inner tube 11 and driving body 13 can be lifted with respect to the outer tube 3 therewith moving the separate section in outward direction. This of course will not be done before cap 4 has been lowered till at least below separate section 14.
  • the sleeve shaped actuator cylinder 8 has a fixed part 18 connected to load cell 7 and a moving part 19 connected through in- and outlet means 9 to the upper part of the inner tube 1 1.
  • the cylinder 8 is actuated by supplying a pressurized medium to the inlet 20 of cylinder 8.
  • the load cell 7 is fixed to base plate 5 and measures a reaction force exerted through fixed part 18 which gives a measure of the force exerted by the separate section 14 on a metal solidified against the sample member 2.
  • a further tube 21 is provided by means of which the space between rod 10 and inner tube 1 land driving body 13 is divided in a supply channel 22 and a return channel 23 for a cooling liquid.
  • the lower end of tube 21 is at a distance from the end of the inner tube part 13 in that way forming a return connection between supply channel 22 and return channel 23 for the cooling liquid.
  • the inlet and outlet means 9 for the cooling fluid is provided with an inlet 24 and an outlet 25 for the cooling fluid.
  • Fig. 3 and 4 show respectively the sleeve shaped actuator cylinder 8 and load cell 7 and the lower part of the mould simulator with cap 4 and separate section 14 in more detail.
  • FIG. 5A, B, C, D successive stages in the operation of the mould simulator are shown.
  • the sample member 2 of the mould simulator is lowered in a bath with molten metal such that cap 4 is below the liquid level 26.
  • the metal will solidify against cap 4 and when the outer tube 3 comes into contact with the liquid metal the metal will start to solidify against the outer tube 3.
  • cap 4 is first lowered over a distance sufficient to allow the sample member 2 to oscillate freely.
  • the sample member 2 is subjected to an oscillating movement to prevent that solidified metal sticks to the sample member as is also done with a mould for continuous casting.
  • Fig. 5B shows a position with cap 4 further lowered therewith taking the solidified metal also further down.
  • By taking the solidified metal down further liquid metal can solidify against the immerged part of sample member 2.
  • a sleeve of solidified metal is build up around and against the sample member 2 above cap 4, in which the metal sticks against cap 4 but not against the cooled and oscillating sample member 2.
  • the metal solidified against the cooled and oscillating sample member 2 shows oscillation marks in a direction transverse to the oscillation marks, which are similar to those which results from the oscillation of a mould for continuous casting.
  • cap 4 has come to its lower most position wherein only the ultimate end of the oscillating sample member 2 remains covered by cap 4. In this position sample member 2 has solidified metal below and above separate section 14.
  • Fig. 5D shows with the cap in its end position how the separate section 14 is pushed outward by lifting the inner tube 1 1 and therewith driving body 13 by means of sleeve shaped cylinder 8.
  • the force exerted by means of sleeve shaped cylinder 8 is measured by means of load cell 7 between base plate 5 and cylinder 8.
  • the experiment can also be done by first lifting the sample member out of the liquid metal and then force the separate section in outward direction.
  • first lifting the sample member out of the liquid metal the sample member is preferably lifted into an oxygen free environment to prevent direct oxidation of the solidified metal. Oxidation of the metal would influence the experiment in an uncontrollable manner.
  • the experiment is preferably done with the sample member still submerged in the bath of liquid metal since that resembles most the situation where in continuous casting under ferro-static or metallo-staic pressure the transverse and longitudinal cracks in the solidified metal are generated.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Sampling And Sample Adjustment (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to a mould simulator for simulating casting conditions in a mould for continuous casting, the mould simulator comprising a sample member with a cap fitting over the outer end thereof, wherein the cap is movable with respect of the sample member, means to move the sample member and the cap with respect to a support frame, means to move the cap with respect to the sample member, means to oscillate the sample member, cooling means for the sample member wherein the sample member is provided with a separate section which is movable in outward direction with respect to the sample member. This separate section allows to exert a tensile force on the metal solidified against the sample member resulting in cracks transverse and parallel to the direction of the oscillation marks on the solidified metal.

Description

MOULD SIMULATOR
The invention relates to a mould simulator for simulating casting conditions in a mould for continuous casting.
Such a mould simulator is disclosed in "Simulator for solidification in
Continuous Casting Mold", Transactions ISIJ, Vol. 25 (1985), p.352. This know mould simulator comprises a water cooled cylinder, a metal cap over the outer end of the cylinder, means to lower and raise the cylinder and cap with respect to a support frame so as to lower cylinder and cap in a bath of molten metal or metal alloy and to lift it from said bath, means to move the cap with respect to the cylinder and means to oscillate the cylinder.
With this known mould simulator the initial stages of solidification of molten metal in a continuous casting mould including the oscillation marks on the solidified metal can be studied and the consumption of casting powder in the process. Moreover a desired oscillation pattern can be tested and different heat extractions could be simulated and measured.
In the description the term "metal" will be used and shall have the meaning of metal as well as metal alloy, unless specifically indicated otherwise.
In EP 1596197 a device is disclosed with a cap consisting of two halves, wherein the caps can be moved relative to each other so as to exert a tensile force on the metal adhered to the cap. The device is dipped in a metal melt and lifted from the melt when sufficient metal has adhered to and solidified against the cap halves.
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a mould simulator that allows to exert a tensile force on the metal adhered to a sample member of the mould simulator while the sample member with the solidified metal is submerged in a bath of molten metal.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a mould simulator in which the imposed tensile force will result in cracks in different directions in the metal adhered to the sample member.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a mould simulator in which the force exerted on the solidified metal is measured.
It is still another objective of the present invention to provide a mould simulator which allows to experimentally test mould conditions in an easy and reliable manner. According to a first aspect of the invention one or more of the above objectives are realized by providing a mould simulator for simulating casting conditions in a mould for continuous casting, the mould simulator comprising:
- a sample member and a cap at an outer end of the sample member, wherein the cap fits over the sample member and is movable with respect of the sample member,
- means to move the sample member and the cap with respect to a support frame,
- means to move the cap with respect to the sample member,
- means to oscillate the sample member,
- cooling means for the sample member,
characterised in that,
- the sample member is provided with a separate section which is movable in outward direction with respect to the sample member, and
- that means are provided to move said separate section in said outward direction. By providing a separate section that is movable in outward direction different tensile forces can be imposed on the metal adhered to the sample member which corresponds to the tensile forces occurring during continuous casting. In continuous casting transverse as well as longitudinal cracks occur in the cast slab wherein the longitudinal cracks predominantly arise in the part of the trajectory between the vertical position of the slab coming out of the mould and the horizontal position of the slab further down.
According to the invention it is provided that the separate section of the sample member is at a distance from the outer end of the sample member. Preferably the cap in the maximum overlapping position of the cap with respect to the sample member is positioned over the separate section of the sample member. In this configuration the part of the sample member with the separate section will be covered when the sample member is lowered in a bath of molten metal and the first metal will solidify against the cap. When the cap is moved with respect of the sample member which means that the cap is lowered further into the bath of molten metal, the metal will also start to solidify against the oscillating sample member. With the cap in its end position the solidified metal will also cover the separate section. The immersion depth of the sample member in the bath of molten metal and the dimensions of cap and separate section are taken such that the solidified metal comes against the sample member as well as below as above the separate section. The molten metal will solidify against the cooled sample member while enclosing a slag layer between the solidified metal and the sample member. Because of the oscillating movement of the sample member the solidified metal will show oscillation marks as is typical for continuous casting with an oscillating mould.
According to a further aspect of the invention it is provided that at least part of the sample member has a circular cross-section and wherein the separate section extends over at most half of the circumference of said part of the sample member. The sample member preferably has a shape that allows solidification of the metal in a more or less equal manner around the circumference, that is sharp corners in said shape are to be avoided. The most obvious shape would be a circular cylinder shape like a tube which is also the easiest shape to provide. However, since it has appeared that with a tube with a circular cylinder shape the sample member and cap may get stuck during oscillation of the sample member and lowering of the cap while the metal adheres thereto, the sample member is preferably tapered. The smallest diameter of the sample member will be at the end with the cap. This means that a sample member or at least part of it is conical or frusto-conical with a small cone angle cone wherein in most cases a cone angle of less than 5° will suffice.
According to still a further aspect of the invention the outward direction of movement of the separate section is transverse to the axis of the part of the sample member with said circular cross-section. Although other angles are possible, a transverse direction is preferred because of easier manufacturing of the sample member and separate section and moreover, it will be easier to calculate tensile strain in the solidified metal and other parameters.
Furthermore, the separate section preferably has at least one side parallel and at least one side transverse to the axis of the part of the sample member with circular cross-section. Various shapes of the separate section are possible, wherein the sides parallel to said axis are needed to get the longitudinal cracks and the sides transverse to said axis to get cracks parallel to the oscillation marks. With sample member of circular cross-section there is no need to take transverse sides longer than half the circumference. The parallel sides are limited by the size of the cap, more in particular by the overlap of the cap with the outer end of the sample member. A further restriction is the distance the solidified metal should extend over the separate section. The solidified metal should preferably overlap the vertical and horizontal sides of the separate section with a sample member in use. Such an overlap also means that the ferro-static or metallo-static pressure will act on the complete surface area of the solidified metal while performing the test in the submerged condition. This is important because this pressure can be of crucial influence on the generation of some type of cracks and mechanical deformation.
In some cases it will be sufficient if the vertical sides are overlapped only partially with the upper horizontal side uncovered, such as with simulating longitudinal cracks (so parallel to the axis of the sample member) in very thin solidified metal.
According to a further aspect of the invention the means to move the separate section in outward direction with respect of the sample member comprise a driving member movable inside the sample member and wherein part of the driving member and separate section form a wedge system. The wedge system includes that driving member and separate section are both provided with an inclined surface with respect to the direction of movement of the driving member. By moving the driving member in one direction the inclined surfaces slide over each other therewith moving the separate section in outward direction.
The means to move the driving member and therewith drive the separate section in outward direction comprise a pressure cylinder acting on the driving member in the sample member. According to a straightforward embodiment the pressure cylinder is a sleeve shaped cylinder positioned around the sample member with a first part connected to the sample member and a second moving part connected to the driving member.
In order to be able to measure the force exerted on the solidified metal on the sample member and separate section means to measure the pressure exerted by the pressure cylinder are provided. According to a further aspect of the invention the means to measure the pressure exerted by the pressure cylinder comprise a load cell connected to the pressure cylinder and the sample member. The load cell is provided between the first part of the ring shaped pressure cylinder and the sample member.
According to a further aspect of the invention the sample member comprises an outer tube and an inner tube wherein the inner tube is connected to a driving body which is in contact with the outer tube over part of the length of the outer tube at the end of the outer tube where the cap is provided. The inner tube and driving body forming the driving member to move the separate section. The driving body is in contact with the outer tube at the location of the separate section. To be able to drive the separate section in outward direction the driving body should be in close contact with the outer tube as to prevent any lateral movement of said driving body.
Preferably the driving body is in close contact with the outer tube over at least that part of the sample member that will be submerged in a bath of molten metal. Since the inner tube and driving body are needed to drive the separate section in outward direction and since the driving body has to be close against the outer tube, the cooling of the outer tube has to be done through the inner tube and the driving body. To this end a cooling liquid runs along the inside of the inner tube and a connected recess in the driving body therewith cooling the inner tube and the driving body and through the thermal contact between driving body and outer tube, the outer tube will be cooled sufficiently. Between driving body and outer tube a thermally conductive and friction lowering compound may be applied to improve thermal contact between driving body and outer tube and at the same time providing that the driving body and outer tube may be displaced with respect to each other with minimal friction.
According to a further aspect of the invention the means to move the cap with respect to the sample member comprise a rod or tube positioned in the central part of the sample member and connected at one end to the cap and at the other end to drive means to move the rod or tube and therewith the cap with respect to the sample member. The drive means for the cap are attached to the support frame and can drive the cap independent of the sample member. This setup allows to move the cap with a certain speed downward in the bath with molten metal while the sample member itself is oscillating in the molten metal.
For the cooling of the sample member a further tube is positioned between the rod or tube to move the cap and the inner tube and the connected recess in the driving body in spaced relation thereto, forming respectively between the further tube and the rod or tube to move the cap and between the further tube and the inner tube and the connected recess in the driving body the supply and return channel for liquid cooling means. The invention will be further explained on hand of the example shown in the drawing, in which: fig. 1 shows a view of the mould simulator,
fig. 2 shows a longitudinal section of the mould simulator,
fig. 3 shows an upper part of the mould simulator in more detail, and
fig. 4 shows the lower part of the mould simulator in more detail
fig. 5 A,B,C,D show various stages in the operation of the mould simulator.
In fig. l a view of mould simulator 1 is shown, for clarity's sake without support frame and any further equipment. The said further equipment comprises means to lower and lift the mould simulator in and out a bath of molten metal and means to let at least part of the mould simulator oscillate.
The mould simulator 1 has a sample member 2 which comprises an outer tube 3 and a cap 4 over the end part of outer tube 3. The outer tube 3 is connected to a base plate 5 by means of coupling nut 6. The means to have at least part of the mould simulator oscillate engage at the base plate 5.
On the base plate a load cell 7, a sleeve shaped actuator cylinder 8 and inlet and outlet means 9 for a cooling fluid for sample member 2 are provided. At the upper end of the mould simulator a rod or tube 10 extends that runs through the mould simulator and connects to cap 4. The rod 10 is connected at its other end to means with which cap 4 can be lowered independently from other parts of the mould simulator 1.
In the longitudinal section of mould simulator 1 according to fig. 2 the details of various parts of the mould simulator 1 are clearly shown. The cap 4 is in a position against the end of the outer tube 3 with rod 10 in an end position relative to the mould simulator 1.
Inside outer tube 3 an inner tube 1 1 is provided leaving a free space 12 between outer tube 3 and inner tube 1 1. The inner tube 1 1 connects at its lower end to a cylindrical shaped driving body 13, which driving body is with its outer face in contact with the inside face of the outer tube 3. A cooling liquid such as water is fed through tube 1 1 and a recess in driving body 13 in order to cool driving body 13. The driving body 13 extends over a length that at least corresponds to the immersion depth of the mould simulator in a bath of molten metal and preferably more than said depth. The reason for that is that cooling of the outer tube has to be done by means of a cooling liquid that runs through the recess in driving body 13, so that the cooling of the outer tube 3 has to be done through the thermal contact of driving body 13 with the outer tube 3. The outer tube 3 and driving body 13 are made of copper or a copper alloy to have a good thermal conductivity.
In the outside tube 3 a cut-out is made for a separate section 14 which is designed to be pushed out, therewith applying a tensile force and generate cracks in metal solidified against the sample member 2 after immersion in a bath of molten metal. The cut-out and the separate section 14 extend over part of the circumference, but preferably not over more than half of the circumference. At the inner side the separate section 14 is provided with an inclined surface 15 that rests against an inclined face 16 of a recess 17 for separate section 14 in the body 13.
The upper part of the inner tube 1 1 is connected at is end with a ring or sleeve shaped actuator cylinder 8 by means of which the inner tube 11 and driving body 13 can be lifted with respect to the outer tube 3 therewith moving the separate section in outward direction. This of course will not be done before cap 4 has been lowered till at least below separate section 14.
The sleeve shaped actuator cylinder 8 has a fixed part 18 connected to load cell 7 and a moving part 19 connected through in- and outlet means 9 to the upper part of the inner tube 1 1. The cylinder 8 is actuated by supplying a pressurized medium to the inlet 20 of cylinder 8.
The load cell 7 is fixed to base plate 5 and measures a reaction force exerted through fixed part 18 which gives a measure of the force exerted by the separate section 14 on a metal solidified against the sample member 2.
Between the actuator rod 10 for cap 4 and inner tube 1 land the recess in driving body 13 a further tube 21 is provided by means of which the space between rod 10 and inner tube 1 land driving body 13 is divided in a supply channel 22 and a return channel 23 for a cooling liquid. The lower end of tube 21 is at a distance from the end of the inner tube part 13 in that way forming a return connection between supply channel 22 and return channel 23 for the cooling liquid. The inlet and outlet means 9 for the cooling fluid is provided with an inlet 24 and an outlet 25 for the cooling fluid. Fig. 3 and 4 show respectively the sleeve shaped actuator cylinder 8 and load cell 7 and the lower part of the mould simulator with cap 4 and separate section 14 in more detail.
In fig. 5A, B, C, D successive stages in the operation of the mould simulator are shown. In fig. 5A the sample member 2 of the mould simulator is lowered in a bath with molten metal such that cap 4 is below the liquid level 26. The metal will solidify against cap 4 and when the outer tube 3 comes into contact with the liquid metal the metal will start to solidify against the outer tube 3. Before sample member 2 is put into oscillation cap 4 is first lowered over a distance sufficient to allow the sample member 2 to oscillate freely. The sample member 2 is subjected to an oscillating movement to prevent that solidified metal sticks to the sample member as is also done with a mould for continuous casting.
Fig. 5B shows a position with cap 4 further lowered therewith taking the solidified metal also further down. By taking the solidified metal down further liquid metal can solidify against the immerged part of sample member 2. In this manner a sleeve of solidified metal is build up around and against the sample member 2 above cap 4, in which the metal sticks against cap 4 but not against the cooled and oscillating sample member 2. The metal solidified against the cooled and oscillating sample member 2 shows oscillation marks in a direction transverse to the oscillation marks, which are similar to those which results from the oscillation of a mould for continuous casting.
In fig. 5C cap 4 has come to its lower most position wherein only the ultimate end of the oscillating sample member 2 remains covered by cap 4. In this position sample member 2 has solidified metal below and above separate section 14.
Fig. 5D shows with the cap in its end position how the separate section 14 is pushed outward by lifting the inner tube 1 1 and therewith driving body 13 by means of sleeve shaped cylinder 8. The force exerted by means of sleeve shaped cylinder 8 is measured by means of load cell 7 between base plate 5 and cylinder 8. By forcing separate section 14 outward the solidified metal will crack longitudinal and transverse to the direction of the oscillation marks on the solidified metal.
Instead of moving separate section 14 outward when the sample member 2 is still submerged the experiment can also be done by first lifting the sample member out of the liquid metal and then force the separate section in outward direction. When first lifting the sample member out of the liquid metal the sample member is preferably lifted into an oxygen free environment to prevent direct oxidation of the solidified metal. Oxidation of the metal would influence the experiment in an uncontrollable manner.
The experiment is preferably done with the sample member still submerged in the bath of liquid metal since that resembles most the situation where in continuous casting under ferro-static or metallo-staic pressure the transverse and longitudinal cracks in the solidified metal are generated.

Claims

Mould simulator for simulating casting conditions in a mould for continuous casting, the mould simulator comprising:
a sample member and a cap at an outer end of the sample member, wherein the cap fits over the sample member and is movable with respect of the sample member,
means to move the sample member and the cap with respect to a support frame,
means to move the cap with respect to the sample member,
means to oscillate the sample member,
cooling means for the sample member,
characterised in that,
the sample member is provided with a separate section which is movable in outward direction with respect to the sample member, and
that means are provided to move said separate section in said outward direction.
Mould simulator according to claim 1, wherein the separate section of the sample member is at a distance from the outer end of the sample member.
Mould simulator according to claim 2, wherein at least part of the sample member has a circular cross-section and wherein the separate section extends over at most half of the circumference of said part of the sample member.
Mould simulator according to claim 3, wherein the outward direction of movement of the separate section is transverse to the axis of the part of the sample member with said circular cross-section.
Mould simulator according to one or more of claims 2-4, wherein the separate section has at least one side parallel and at least one side transverse to the axis of the part of the sample member with circular cross-section. Mould simulator according to one or more of claims 1-5, wherein the cap in the maximum overlapping position of the cap with respect to the sample member is positioned over the separate section of the sample member.
Mould simulator according to one or more of claims 1-6, wherein the means to move the separate section in outward direction with respect of the sample member comprise a driving member movable inside the sample member and wherein part of the driving member and separate section form a wedge system.
Mould simulator according to claim 7, wherein driving member and separate section are both provided with an inclined surface with respect to the direction of movement of the driving member. 9. Mould simulator according to claim 8, wherein a pressure cylinder is provided acting on the driving member in the sample member.
10. Mould simulator according to claim 9, wherein the pressure cylinder is a sleeve shaped cylinder.
1 1. Mould simulator according to claim 9 or 10, wherein means to measure the pressure exerted by the pressure cylinder are provided.
12. Mould simulator according to claim 1 1 , wherein the means to measure the pressure exerted by the pressure cylinder comprise a load cell connected to the pressure cylinder and the sample member.
13. Mould simulator according to one or more of claims 1-12, wherein the sample member comprises an outer tube, an inner tube and connected to the inner tube a driving member wherein the driving member is in contact with the outer tube over part of the length of the outer tube at the end of the outer tube where the cap is provided, the inner tube and the driving body forming the driving member to move the separate section.
14. Mould simulator according to claim 13, wherein the means to move the cap with respect to the sample member comprise a rod or tube positioned in the central part of the sample member and connected at one end to the cap and at the other end to drive means to move the rod or tube with respect to the sample member.
15. Mould simulator according to claim 13 or 14, wherein between the rod or tube to move the cap and the inner tube a further tube is positioned in spaced relation thereto forming respectively at the inner and outer side thereof the supply and return channel for liquid cooling means.
EP12709291.4A 2011-04-08 2012-03-16 Mould simulator Not-in-force EP2694235B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP12709291.4A EP2694235B1 (en) 2011-04-08 2012-03-16 Mould simulator

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP11002966 2011-04-08
PCT/EP2012/001185 WO2012136308A1 (en) 2011-04-08 2012-03-16 Mould simulator
EP12709291.4A EP2694235B1 (en) 2011-04-08 2012-03-16 Mould simulator

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2694235A1 true EP2694235A1 (en) 2014-02-12
EP2694235B1 EP2694235B1 (en) 2015-10-14

Family

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP12709291.4A Not-in-force EP2694235B1 (en) 2011-04-08 2012-03-16 Mould simulator

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EP (1) EP2694235B1 (en)
WO (1) WO2012136308A1 (en)

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3134651C1 (en) * 1981-08-28 1983-01-13 Mannesmann AG, 4000 Düsseldorf Method for determining the behaviour of casting slags used in continuous casting
DE3428657A1 (en) * 1984-08-03 1985-06-20 Fried. Krupp Gmbh, 4300 Essen Method for preparing a metal sample for a subsequent tensile, creep or relaxation test, and apparatus for applying the method
AT413243B (en) 2004-05-14 2005-12-15 Voest Alpine Ind Anlagen METHOD FOR DETERMINING MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS AND DEVICE THEREFOR

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO2012136308A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2012136308A1 (en) 2012-10-11
EP2694235B1 (en) 2015-10-14

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