GB1195152A - Method and Apparatus for the Continuous Casting of Metal. - Google Patents

Abstract

1,195,152. Continuous casting machines. SCHLOEMANN A.G. 12 June, 1968 [14 June, 1967], No. 28037/68. Heading B3F. In a continuous casting process a starter bar is connected to the cast ingot by connecting elements such as I-section rails, around which molten metal has solidified. The starter bar head is released from the connecting elements by relative movement transverse to the longitudinal casting axis. Starter bars with integral or separable heads can be used. In the latter case, the starter bar head is preferably separated from the rest of the starter bar before disconnection of the starter bar head and connecting elements. The starter bar head is preferably removed before the "crop end" is cut from the ingot. The cast ingot 1 leaves guide rolls 2 to enter a device 3 which disconnects the starter bar head from the connecting elements by gripping the ingot between rolls 3<SP>11</SP>, while the starter bar head is moved upwards, after having moved into a cage 5 (raised by a winch 6, 7, 8). Alternatively, disconnection may be effected by an hydraulic ram 5<SP>1</SP>. With the starter bar in a raised position, new connecting elements are inserted into the starter bar head. A cutter 45 removes the "crop end" from the ingot. Fig. 3 is a plan of the top of a starter bar head, of which, the face 11 contacts molten metal. The face 11 is sheet metal backed with asbestos and is canted to avoid entrainment of the ingot with the starter bar. A shoe 13 has a recess shaped to engage a connecting element (scrap railway rail). Should the molten metal weld to the shoe, the shoe will break away from the starter bar head during its disconnection from the connecting element as the bolts 17 shear at a prescribed release pressure.