GB688575A - Improvements in the continuous casting of metal strip or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

688,575. Continuous casting - machines. HAZELETT, C. W. Nov. 14, 1950, No 27772/50. Class 83 (i). In a continuous casting-machine, metal is poured between endless flat metal bands moving in vertically spaced relation and guided so as to form two zones, one forming a bath for molten metal and a second in which the bands are closer together and in which the metal solidifies. Upper and lower interconnected frame portions 10, 11 carry endless bands 17, 18 of flexible metal driven by rollers 25, 40 and tensioned by hydraulically adjustable rollers 19, 36. The lower run of the band 17 and the upper run of the band 18 pass a pair of concave guide rollers 28, 38 and two pairs of plain rollers 30, 39 and 31, 39. Rollers 30 and 31 may be simultaneously adjusted by a hand wheel 35 to vary the distance between the bands. Between the edges of the adjacent runs are water-cooled tubes 51 of rectangular section on to which the edges of the bands are pressed first by the rollers 28, 38, Fig. 4, then by sealing strips 46, 50, Fig. 5, secured to members 44, 49 spaced from the bands and forming therewith water-cooled channels 45, 48 and finally by sealing strips 59, Fig. 2, secured to members 56 forming further cooling channels. The bands are driven in the direction of the arrows D, molten metal from a spout S forms a pool in the convex space formed by the bands between the rollers 28, 38 and 30, 39 and passes into the mould section formed by the opposed runs between the rollers 30, 31 and finally emerges as the strip M. The water-chamber members 44, 56 and 49, 56 are joined by arcuate members 54, 55 surrounding the rollers 30, 39. In order to prevent the pressure of the cooling liquid around the mould portion from deforming the bands, the members 56 may be magnetic so as to pull the bands into contact with spacing members 58, Fig. 2. During the return run each band is dried and heated by gas jets 61, which, while the bands are being driven, are turned against a spring 62 by a solenoid 63 so as to direct the jets on to the band. The side members 51 diverge slightly in the direction of movement of the casting to reduce friction. By turning the shaft 21 of a roller fork 20, the band may be caused to move laterally along the roller 19. This fact is used to keep the bands correctly aligned, the fork being turned hydraulically if the band moves laterally sufficiently to close an electric contact. In modifications intended for use when casting thin sheets, the side tubes 51 are dispensed with and the edges of the bands pressed together by the sealing strips 46, 50, or as shown in Fig. 8, narrow endless ribbons 79, 80 may be positioned between the sealing strips and the bands 17, 18. In another modification, Fig. 9, the bands 17, 18 are spaced apart by one or more endless ribbons 81 positioned around the outside of the band 17 by rollers 82 ... 84. As shown in Fig. 11, the bands are spaced apart by rectangular copper blocks 87 carried by endless chains 85 at each side of the bands so as to overlap at the edges.