GB1138072A - Improvements in or relating to method and apparatus for continuous casting of metal tubes - Google Patents

Abstract

1,138,072. Continuous casting-machines. PHELPS DODGE COPPER PRODUCTS CORP. 23 June, 1966 [1 July, 1965; 1 March, 1966], No. 28241/66. Heading B3F. In the continuous casting of metal tubes the centrally disposed mandrel 23 is initially raised out of the mould 22 so that a solid rod is cast, the mandrel being gradually lowered into the mould so that a tube 54 is eventually cast. The mandrel may be vibrated either together with or separately from the mould 22. Alternatively, the mandrel may be rotated (Fig. 5, not shown), either continuously in one direction to counteract the swirling effect of the molten metal as it flows from an induction coil 17 heated crucible 12, or oscillated rotatingly in each direction. The mould 22 includes a watercooling jacket 50, the water passing through the jacket to impinge on the tube 54 and run down into a quench chamber (55), (Fig. 2, not shown) through which the tube 54 is pulled by pinch rolls (61). The mandrel 23 is guided in the mould 22 by a guide bearing 20 and adjustment of the mandrel, angularly and laterally, can be achieved whilst casting is in process by adjusting bolts 38, 39 acting on another guide bearing 32 that guides a guide post 31 that is connected to the mandrel 23. The mandrel 23 may be water-cooled by internal tubes (92), (95), (Fig. 4, not shown), and a strain-measuring device 28 below the mandrel hoist 26 measures the drag on the mandrel by the withdrawing of the cast tube.