GB1387992A - Apparatus for continuous casting - Google Patents

Abstract

1387992 Continuous casting ALCAN RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT Ltd 15 Feb 1972 [16 Feb 1971 3 Feb 1972] 4780/71 and 5187/72 Heading B3F Metal, such as Al or Zn, is cast as a continuous strip between a pair of moving belts 15, Fig. 1, forming a mould space where they each travel in a path (possibly vertical or inclined instead of horizontal as shown) defined by a plurality of spaced supports, e.g. bars 36, Fig. 2, or rotatable elements, coolant being applied to the reverse face of each belt 15 at the mould region, e.g. through jet orifices 38 in a casing 26, Figs. 1, 4, and a fluid pressure difference, independent of the metal, being established on the opposite faces of at least one of the belts 15 for holding the belt against the supports. The spacing between adjacent belt supports, e.g. bars 36, is less than 50 times the thickness (0À020-0À060 inches) of a belt 15, so that the fluid pressure difference constrains the belt against buckling under thermal stress. The pressure difference results because of low pressure created in the casing 26 by a suction pump connected to an outlet conduit 29, Fig. 1, to extract coolant water from an outer plenum chamber 33, Fig. 4. Due to the low pressure, water entering an inner plenum chamber 32 is drawn as jets through the orifices 38 formed in a relatively thick wall 34 of the chamber. From shallow channels 37, between the wall 34, bars 36 and belt 15, the water is drawn into deeper channels 39, extending obliquely of the channels 37, and passes down tubes 40 to the outlet chamber 33. A launder 23, shown retracted in Fig. 1, bears resilient side guides (51) for directing two edge dams 22 carried by one belt 15 (the upper, as shown) and in the form of asbestos-clothcovered white metal or rubber. To determine the taper of the mould space to relate to casting shrinkage, the upper casing 26 (as shown) is pivoted in trunnion bearings 43 at the mould inlet by a lever 44 operable between stops 47, 48. The operating cylinder 45 also provides resilient loading. The inlet belt-spacing is finely controlled by adjustment screws acting on tie bars 41.