JPS5823181B2 - Continuous metal casting equipment - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] The present invention relates to continuous metal casting equipment.

In such casting equipment, the upper and lower surfaces of the movable mold are formed by a pair of spaced apart endless flexible casting belts that move along the upper and lower sides of the mold area.

A pair of spaced apart endless flexible side dams move along between the casting pelts and define two side surfaces of the movable mold.

Each of these side dams is formed by a number of slotted blocks suspended on a flexible metal strip.

In US Pat. No. 2,904,860, the edge dam is described as consisting of a block of metal or refractory material, which block is provided with a slot through which a flexible metal strip passes.

After the block is placed on the strip, it is welded to the continuous strip to form a side dam, as shown in FIG. 2 of that patent specification.

In practice, the bands are difficult to weld blocks onto them, and loosening occurs in the phase, which loosens the blocks.

When gaps occur between the loose blocks adjacent to the casting area, molten metal leaks into the gaps and creates problems with irregular sides or burrs in the cast product.

US Pat. No. 3,036,348 discloses that the end of the metal strip is
They are described as being joined together by screwing them to one of the blocks, as shown in FIG. 16.

Holes are drilled in the ends of the strip and machined screws are placed through these holes into threaded sockets in one block.

Therefore, the side dams were made with less slack in the phase.

However, one block to which the end of the strap is fixed is fixed in place on the strap, while all other blocks are somewhat slippery on the strap.

Non-uniform movement of the moving side dams is caused by the fact that one dam block is fixed while all other dam blocks are free to move relative to the band.

Additionally, stress is concentrated at the end of the strip where the screw hole is placed, tending to damage the strip at that location.

The side dam of the present invention is constructed by providing a metal strip with slotted dam blocks suspended from strap ties that extend along substantially the entire length of the strip.

A small predetermined portion of each end of the strip, for example about 501 m each end, is exposed.

The two exposed ends of the band are welded together to form an endless band loop of precisely predetermined length.

The exposed portion of the welded strip is then covered with a special dam block formed by screwing together two mating interlocking half-blocks.

In this way, each side dam band is configured to precisely the predetermined length and welded into a continuous loop.

All blocks slide freely through the webbing, giving a uniform condition along the entire length of the side dam.

The dam block is preferably made of a bronze alloy that provides better resistance to thermal failure and higher thermal conductivity than previously used nickel chrome steel dam blocks versus cast copper.

This alloy is known as the "Usines a Cuivre et a Cindeux Liège".
1 Bronze Carson, a trademark of Zinc de Liege
) 〃, 1.5 to 2.5% nickel, 0
．． 4 to 0.9% silicon, 0.1 to 0.3%
of iron, 0.1 to 0.5 of chromium, and the balance copper.

In a casting device, two side dams are passed over an arcuate tension roller device so that each of these side dams It is oriented to move along a smoothly curved arc that projects inward of the dam loop.

This protruding arcuate passage curvature located away from the casting area eliminates any slack or space between the blocks.

Thereby, the dam blocks of both side dams are clamped vertically in an end-to-end contact relationship along the casting area to ensure a cast product with uniform smooth sides free of burrs.

Additionally, the arcuate tension roller device serves to take up any slack that increases or accumulates during operation of the device as a result of stretching of the band or wear of the ends of the dam block.

Thereby, the dam blocks remain vertically pressed against each other in the casting area during operation, independent of elongation or wear.

The side dams are cooled to a temperature of approximately 150°C to 200°C by a water spray placed in the area between the output end of the casting apparatus and the arcuate tension roller arrangement.

Due to the use of preferred bronze alloy materials to manufacture the dam block and the cooling of the dam block before re-entering the casting area, the life of the dam block is reduced to 2.
This will be more than double.

Furthermore, the cooling of the dam block and the preferred new dam block material nearly doubles the casting speed for copper rod products while providing a more uniform and symmetrical steel structure than previously obtained.

In the dual belt continuous metal casting apparatus shown partially in FIG. 1, a lower casting belt 10 is rotated about rolls 12 and 14.

The roll is placed at the input end of the device 12 and the roll 14
is placed at the output end.

The movable casting mold includes a lower casting belt 10, a pair of spaced side dams 16 and 18 (fourth
(Figure 1), defined by the upper casting belt 20, which pass through the casting zone C together.

The upper casting belt 20 rotates about rolls 22 and 24, partially shown in FIG.

When the casting belts 10 and 20 are rotated, the two side dams 16 and 18 rotate with the belts and the casting area C
and then from its output end back to its input end along a track away from the casting area, as shown in FIG.

Although the casting area is shown horizontally in FIG. 1, for convenience of explanation, the output end is positioned below the input end in the operation of casting the product.

; molten metal, for example copper, is introduced into the input end;
Solidified to form a cast product P.

The product is conveyed from the output end of the device.

Cooling molten metal in the casting zone is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,036,348 and U.S. Pat.
This is accomplished by applying high velocity liquid coolant to the casting belts 10 and 20, as described in the '686 patent.

In addition, highly efficient cooling action is provided by side dams 16 and 18, each of which has a multi-slotted bronze alloy dam block 26 (FIG. 4) threaded through a flexible endless metal strip 28. ).

As the side dams 16 and 18 return from the output end of the casting section, they are passed through a water spray cooling device 30 located intermediate the output end and the tension roller device 32.

This roller device 32 will be described in more detail below.

The side dam cooling device 30 includes a cooling chamber 34 surrounded by a metal box 35, which has an inlet opening 37 and an outlet opening 38 for the passage of the two side dams through this chamber.

Within this chamber 34 are a plurality of spray manifolds 39 having orifices for injecting a number of liquid sprays 40 onto the individual dam blocks 26 .

Pipeline 43 is preferably water under pressure,
cold.

Cooling liquid is supplied to manifold 39 and drain pipe 45 drains liquid from chamber 34.

Exhaust duct 46 removes vapors generated when spray 40 hits the hot side dam.

The spray cooling device 30 is damped before re-entering the input end of the device.

Cool the side dam to a temperature high enough to dry the water from the water, i.e., above the boiling point of the water, but not so high as to damage the coating applied to the dam block. work.

The dam block is cooled to a temperature above the boiling point of water and below 280°C.

Its preferred range is approximately 150°C to 200°C.

The above-mentioned, preferably “Bronze Corson”
ze Corson) “The bronze alloy dam block 26, which is an alloy, has high thermal conductivity.

As shown in FIG. 4, the dam block quickly conducts heat away from the two side surfaces 41 of the molded product P.

The cooling of the dam block and the alloying material by the device 30
Almost doubles the casting speed of that previously obtained for similar dimensions of molded copper products.

Furthermore, by cooling the dam block before re-entering the casting area and by using alloy materials, the life of the dam block is more than doubled in cast copper products.

The rate of heat transfer along the generally indicated heat transfer path H from the casting side surfaces 41 through the dam blocks 26 to the casting belts 10 and 20 is such that the heat transfer rate from the top and bottom surfaces 42 of the casting product P directly to the casting belts is is equivalent to the speed at which it is transmitted.

Four surfaces 4L41, 42.42 of rectangular cast product P
Since the rates of heat conduction away from and away from each other are identical to each other, a more homogeneous and symmetrical mold structure is obtained than previously obtained when casting rectangular bar copper sections of the same size.

Lines of crystal growth extend inwardly from the four corners of the cross section at approximately 45° angles from surfaces 41 and 42, indicating a symmetrical cast structure.

Generally, the fabricated crystalline structures are equiaxed due to the quenching effect obtained by good cooling behavior.
ial).

Side dams 16 and 18 are slotted dam blocks 26
by sliding it on the band 28.

A predetermined small portion X1 at each end of the strip, for example about 50 at each end
mm1J3 is exposed.

The ends of the two exposed bands are welded together at a joint point smoothed by sanding to form a loop of endless band of precisely defined length.

For example, the uncovered portion of the obi loop 28 having a length of approximately 100 mm is
Two locking half blocks 46- with machined screws
A plurality of special dam blocks 26A and 28A formed by fixing dam blocks 1 and 46-2 (FIG. 6)
covered by.

The block 26 has, for example, a length and a width of 40 mm.

The height of the dam block is equal to the height of the cast product, as shown in FIG.

For joints where it is desired that thicker or thinner cast products be produced, other side dams with other sized dam blocks are used.

The two special blocks 26A have the same cross section as the block 26 and have a length of approximately 30 rILm, for example.

A plurality of narrower special blocks 26B are inserted as required to completely fill the space above the loops 28 of the endless band.

The locking "half" blocks 46-1 and 46-2 are
They are joined along a vertical joining part 50 extending perpendicularly to the plane of FIG.

The joint 50 is offset from the center of the composite block in order to be placed as far as possible from the hot surface, ie the surface facing the casting zone C.

A channel or key groove 52 extends longitudinally of the mating surface of one block 46-1 between the slot for band 28 and the top surface of the block and the other block 46-2.
The upper longitudinal sieve or key 53 fits into this key groove.

The screw 48 passes horizontally through the key 53 and is screwed into the socket of one half block, while its head 54 is inserted into a recess 55 placed on the side of the other block away from the molded product, i.e. away from the hot surface. sit down.

A curved tension roller device 32 is provided to force the dam blocks 26 of the two side dams 16 and 18 into clamping together in end-to-end contacting relationship along the casting zone C. There is.

This device 32 is arranged between the cooling device 30 and the input end of the casting section and has a smoothly curved passage section S (FIG. 3).
Acts as a deflection means to deflect the side dam moving along.

The passage section S projects in the direction towards the interior of the loop displaced by the side dams.

This passage section S protrudes 4 sufficiently above the tensioning device 32 to create a wedge-shaped space between adjacent dam blocks along the protruding curve.

An endless strip loop 28 allows all the dam blocks to slide over it.

Therefore, any available slack between all dam blocks is accumulated by the space 56 along the curve S.

The bands 28 are also positioned toward the interior of the side dam loops with respect to the longitudinal centerline of each block.

Therefore, the band loop is near the widest part of the wedge-shaped space 56, and the relatively short inward protruding curve S cumulatively absorbs the slack space along the remaining loops of all side dam loops; Tighten the blocks together along the casting area.

The product P with a rectangular frame is therefore cast without a border.

The resulting product then has advantages for use in rolling forming high quality copper rods.

Side dam tensioning device 32 includes a plurality of rollers 58 that engage each of side dams 16 and 18, along with means for individually guiding the dams.

For example, this guiding means is a flange 59 on a roller.

A plurality of rollers 58 are mounted at spaced apart positions along an upwardly projecting curve 61 on a member 60 having a support 62, which is free to slide up and down in a hole 65 in the base.

A spring 66 surrounding the support platform 62 forces the mounting member 60 upwardly.

Base 64 is adjustably secured to the device framework by set screws 70.

Raising the base 64 applies a greater upward spring force to the rollers 58 to push the dam block further vertically along the casting zone C.

Keying means are provided to prevent the support platform 62 from rotating in the hole 65, which allows the support platform to slide up and down freely.

Instead of spring actuation of the tension roller device, counterweight actuation or fluid cylinder actuation may be incorporated into the provision of the tension roller device.

The leading and trailing ends of curve 61 are curved along a shorter radius than the central portion of the curve, as shown in FIG. I'll put it in.

A space T4 therefore often exists between the moving side dams and the leading and trailing rollers.

Tensioning device 32 to ensure that the loops of the side dams pass through a smooth arcuate path between the tensioning device and the input end.
It is usually advantageous to locate the device closer to the output end than the input end of the device.

The resulting suspended lateral Yuhiro loop pulls the dam block onto the tensioner and during return from the output end to the input end.
Maintain a constant path of travel for the side dams.

As an example of the advantages of using the present invention, rectangular copper rod products P
but the cross-sectional area is 8.6 square inches and 31.2 lb/
Thickness of cross section equal to the weight of the foot 50 mm and 110 mm
mm (approximately 2 inches by 4.3 inches).

A casting speed of approximately 36 feet/minute is provided to produce 30 metric tons/hour of molded product.

The relatively low temperature dam block not only acts to conduct heat into the casting belt, as described above, but also acts as a heat sink to aid in the rapid cooling of the molded product.

In order to control the temperature of these side dams, temperature sensing means 76 are provided, which are connected by leads 78 to a temperature controller 80.

Temperature sensing means 76 are radiation-responsive and are spaced apart from each side dam 16 and 18.

Temperature sensing means are present for each side dam to control the temperature of side dams 16 and 18 individually.

A cylindrical protector and shield 77 protects the infrared responsive sensor 76 which is directed upwardly towards the loop of each side dam moving towards the device input.

The tubular shield 77 is tilted away from vertical as shown to prevent dirt particles from falling directly onto the sensor 76.

If dirt enters the tubular shield 77, it is swept away through the open lower 9.

Controller 80 includes a gauge 81 that indicates dam block temperature.

This temperature is maintained above 100°C and below 280°C.

The preferred range is 150 for the dimensions of the molded copper product mentioned above.
℃ to 200℃.

Circuit means 82 connects controller 80 to actuator 84 to control valve 86 which regulates the amount of cooling spray applied to each side dam 16 and 18.

The side dams are thus cooled to the desired temperature as they approach the input end of the device.

There may be separate pipes 43 and manifolds 39 for cooling each side dam.

Separate actuators 84 and valves 86 individually control the temperature of each side dam 16 and 18.

If desired, valve 86 may be manually controlled.
A manual actuator 88 is provided.

The casting belts 10 and 20 are coated with a carbonaceous material coating, and the inner side of the dam block, ie the surface facing the casting area C, is liquid spray coated with an insulating material by means of a spray nozzle 90.

Liquid thermal insulating material is conveyed through pipe tube 91 to nozzle 90 to provide a spray pattern 92 directed against the inner surface of the dam block in both side dams 16 and 18.

Liquid spray coating 92 used in this example
is finely divided carbon, such as lamp black or soot, suspended in a fast drying liquid vehicle such as trichloroethane.

This liquid spray coating 92 includes a small amount of silicone resin.

The dam blocks, when they exit the cooling chamber 34,
Higher than 100°C but lower than 280°C.

Thus, the liquid coolants, such as water, are dried before they reach the position for the spray coating 92.

Additionally, the liquid spray coating 92 is dried by rapidly drying the dam block at a controlled temperature;
Side dam 1 before it re-enters the input end of the casting area.
Form a dry carbon containing coating on the inside surfaces of 6 and 18.

The sum of the cross-sectional areas of the copper alloy dam blocks in the two side dams in this embodiment of the invention is approximately equal to the cross-sectional area of the copper product to be cast.

Therefore, highly efficient quenching operation is provided.

In this example, the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the two dam blocks is 50 square crrL (approximately 7.8 square inches);
The cross-sectional area of the product is 55 square cIrL (approximately 8.6 square inches).

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of one of the casting zones, lower casting belts, and side dams of a dual belt metal casting apparatus embodying the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along plane 2--2 of FIG. 1, showing the tension roller system that maintains the dam blocks vertically compressed one over the other in the casting apparatus. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 1 showing the arcuate tension roller arrangement that clamps the dam blocks together in the casting zone. FIG. 4 shows how pre-cooling of the dam block with fresh dam block material and water spray provides a more uniform and symmetrical cast structure in the product to be cast.
2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view along plane 4-4 in the casting zone of FIG. 1; FIG. FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view of a portion of a side dam block showing a special dam block in which the ends of the bands are welded together and then secured together. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along plane 6--6 of FIG. 5 showing the construction of two mating interlocking half-blocks of the strap. 10... Lower casting belt, 12, 14...
...Roll, 16, 18...Side dam, 20.
... Upper casting belt, C ... Casting area,
22, 24...Roll, P...Mold product, 26...Dam block, 28...
Band, 32... Tension roller device, 30...
... Side dam cooling device, 34... Chamber, 35...
...Box, 37°38...Opening, 39...
...Manifold, 40...Spray, 43.
...Pipe pipe, 45...Exhaust pipe.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a continuous metal casting apparatus having twelve rotary casting belts, two spaced apart side dams run along both sides of the casting zone from the input end to the output end between the rotary casting belts to form a movable mold. and the rotating side dams return from the output end of the casting section to the input end along a return path spaced apart from the casting section, each of the side dams having a flexible metal strip loop. A plurality of dam blocks are mounted, and the casting apparatus has a deflection device that extends along said return path to each side dam 16.1.
8 to deflect the side dams along smoothly curved passage sections S projecting inwardly of the band loops of the respective side dams, said projecting passage sections clamping the dam blocks. A wedge-shaped space 5 between adjacent ends of the dam block on the protruding passage section so that
6, and all of the dam blocks are slidably mounted on the band loops in end-to-end contact along opposite ends of the casting zone C. Continuous metal casting equipment characterized by: