JPWO2020156813A5 - - Google Patents

Claims (14)

A method of casting a vertical casting (90), comprising:
Casting a vertical casting (90) semi-continuously using a direct chill (DC) casting apparatus (10) having a mold (30), said mold (30) having an upper opening (31 ) and a lower (32) opening for at least partially solidifying molten metal entering said mold (30) through said upper opening (31) and through said lower opening (32). casting, configured to output the casting (90);
recording a thermal image of the casting (90) output through the lower opening (32);
determining at least three non-overlapping temperature ranges including a first temperature range, a second temperature range, and a third temperature range;
determining a peak temperature in the thermal image;
comparing the peak temperature to the at least three temperature ranges;
a. ) casting said casting (90) if said peak temperature falls within said first temperature range;
b. ) if the peak temperature falls within the second temperature range, display information indicative of a maintenance requirement for the casting equipment (10), after the casting (90) has been cast and for subsequent casting operations; performing maintenance on the casting apparatus (10) before performing
c. ) if said peak temperature falls within said third temperature range, discontinuing casting of the casting (90) currently being cast and displaying information indicative of an emergency shutdown. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first temperature range includes temperatures below 70<0>C. The method of claim 1, wherein said second temperature range comprises temperatures between 70°C and 90°C. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the third temperature range includes temperatures above 90<0>C but not 90<0>C. The method of claim 1 , wherein discontinuing casting of a currently cast casting (90) comprises stopping pouring molten metal into the mold (30). A method according to claim 1, wherein the molten metal is at least partially solidified by removing heat from the mold cavity (33) into a cooling jacket (34) circulating a cooling medium. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the casting is further consolidated by direct water cooling immediately below the cooling jacket (34) or within the lower opening (32) area of the mold. A casting apparatus (10) for semi-continuous direct chill casting of vertical castings (90), comprising:
A mold (30) having a mold cavity (33) and an upper opening (31) and a lower opening (32) in fluid communication with said mold cavity (33), said mold cavity (33) being supplied with a a mold (30) configured to at least partially solidify the molten metal;
a metal feed system (70) for selectively feeding molten metal from a reservoir through said top opening (31) into said mold cavity (33);
A starter block (50) configured to be vertically movable between a high position closing said lower opening (32) of said mold (30) and a low position, said casting (90) is manufactured by vertically moving said starter block (50) from said high position to said low position while supplying molten metal to said mold cavity (33);
a thermal camera (80) configured to record a thermal image of the casting (90) while the starter block (50) is moving from the high position to the low position;
determining a peak temperature in the thermal image; comparing the determined peak temperature to at least a first temperature range, a second temperature range, and a third temperature range; an electronic control system (100) configured to control feed and control vertical movement of said starter block (50);
an information output system for outputting information;
The electronic control system (100) controls the metal supply system (70) and the starter block (50) to produce the casting (90) when the peak temperature falls within the first temperature range. to control the
The electronic control system (100) controls the metal supply system (70) and the starter block (50) to produce the casting (90) when the peak temperature falls within the second temperature range. and controlling the information output system to output information indicating that maintenance of the casting apparatus (10) is required,
The electronic control system (100) controls flow from the reservoir to the mold cavity (33) to stop casting the casting (90) when the peak temperature falls within the third temperature range. A casting apparatus (10) for controlling said metal supply system (70) to stop supplying molten metal. The casting apparatus (10) of claim 8, wherein the first temperature range includes temperatures below 70°C. The casting apparatus (10) of claim 8, wherein said second temperature range comprises temperatures between 70°C and 90°C. The casting apparatus (10) of claim 8, wherein said third temperature range includes temperatures above 90°C and not including 90°C. The thermal camera is positioned below the lower opening (32) of the mold (30) to capture heat of the casting (90) at least immediately below the lower opening (32) of the mold (30). A casting apparatus (10) according to claim 8 , which records an image. Casting apparatus (10) according to claim 8, wherein the mold (30) comprises a cooling jacket (34) for circulating a cooling medium. Casting apparatus (10) according to claim 8, comprising means for direct water cooling of the casting immediately below the cooling jacket or within the lower opening (32) of the mold.