US20030102105A1 - Apparatus for producing ingots of nonferrous metals by continuous casting - Google Patents

Apparatus for producing ingots of nonferrous metals by continuous casting Download PDF

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Publication number
US20030102105A1
US20030102105A1 US10/298,089 US29808902A US2003102105A1 US 20030102105 A1 US20030102105 A1 US 20030102105A1 US 29808902 A US29808902 A US 29808902A US 2003102105 A1 US2003102105 A1 US 2003102105A1
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segments
path
casting
along
substantially straight
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US10/298,089
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English (en)
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Giulio Properzi
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Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of US20030102105A1 publication Critical patent/US20030102105A1/en
Priority to US10/923,686 priority Critical patent/US20050022960A1/en
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
    • B22D—CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES
    • B22D11/00—Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths
    • B22D11/06—Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths into moulds with travelling walls, e.g. with rolls, plates, belts, caterpillars
    • B22D11/0631—Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths into moulds with travelling walls, e.g. with rolls, plates, belts, caterpillars formed by a travelling straight surface, e.g. through-like moulds, a belt
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
    • B22D—CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES
    • B22D11/00—Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths
    • B22D11/06—Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths into moulds with travelling walls, e.g. with rolls, plates, belts, caterpillars
    • B22D11/0608—Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths into moulds with travelling walls, e.g. with rolls, plates, belts, caterpillars formed by caterpillars

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an apparatus for producing ingots of nonferrous metals by continuous casting.
  • the present invention relates to the ingot type, i.e., to the “handy” format suitable for remelting and having a weight comprised for example between 1 and 25 kg.
  • Ingots are required, according to their use, in various dimensions in terms of transverse cross-section and therefore of weight, and must have characteristics that ensure the intended quality of the molten metal.
  • alloyed aluminum ingots from scrap: weight 5-10 kg, length approximately 650-750 mm;
  • brass ingots weight 10-15 kg, length approximately 450-550 mm;
  • ingots of zinc alloys for pressure die-casting weight 1-5 kg, length approximately 400-600 mm.
  • the cross-sections and lengths of the ingots are the ones best suited for subsequent storage and shipping.
  • the ingots are stacked so as to obtain packs that are convenient for transport, generally weighing between 500 and 1000 kg.
  • the packs or piles or stacks are tied and kept together by two or more bindings provided by means of straps made of metal or plastics.
  • method A casting in open shells, to be filled one by one and placed on a moving belt or on a wheel having a vertical axis (such as a Walker wheel);
  • method B continuous casting through shells (cooled collars) which are fixed or oscillate and are vertical and horizontal, so as to obtain billets that have a generally rectangular cross-section with rounded edges, which are then cut to size by means of a cropping head with a rotating blade;
  • method C continuous casting on a machine of the wheel and belt type, for example of the type disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/245,404 in the name of this same Applicant, which produces a continuous bar having a trapezoidal cross-section which is then cut to size by means of in-line shears.
  • the upper surface of the ingot that is exposed to the atmosphere and to the turbulence of the pouring is highly oxidized and contains inclusions of impurities and slag that float on the molten metal during its solidification.
  • the casting system is very complicated both structurally and in terms of its management, since in order to achieve industrially convenient production levels it is necessary to arrange in parallel (side by side) many casting lines that must operate simultaneously.
  • the cooling-solidification shell by being a collar (a semi-oval or rectangular one with rounded edges) that is cooled with water and has a limited length (approximately 200-400 mm), has a very small heat exchange surface, and this causes low solidification rates and therefore low production per hour.
  • the ingot obtained with this method has a very rough surface that can trap moisture and therefore cause explosions when it is returned into the casting furnace.
  • Method C has solved the problems of methods A and B, since with said method the continuous casting of the ingot is free from slag and oxides and high production levels are achieved on a single machine because the shell is long (at least as long as half the circumference of the wheel) and therefore the heat exchange surface is large and it is possible to change the length of the ingot simply by varying the cropping pitch, and it is also possible to vary the cross-section of the ingot by changing only the casting ring.
  • Another drawback is constituted by the fact that the bar that exits from the machine has to be straightened. This requires a rather expensive straightening machine because of the cross-section of the ingots and because the machine must comprise a pinch-roll assembly and a series of straightening rollers that are motorized synchronously with the casting machine.
  • the aim of the present invention is to solve the problems and obviate the drawbacks mentioned above, by providing an apparatus for producing, by continuous casting, ingots of nonferrous metals that has all the advantages of the method of continuous casting on a machine of the wheel and belt type but is simpler as regards both production and installation.
  • an object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that is easy to operate.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that is capable of producing a straight metal bar and therefore does not require the adoption of complicated ingot straightening machines.
  • an apparatus for producing, by continuous casting, ingots of nonferrous metals which comprises a continuous casting machine provided with a moving casting shell, characterized in that said shell is composed of a plurality of segments arranged in succession, each segment having a portion, with bottom and side walls, of said casting shell formed therein and being open on the sides directed toward the contiguous segments; said segments being movable along a closed path that has at least one substantially straight portion at the casting region; said segments, along said at least one portion of path, being substantially aligned and forming a casting shell, with a bottom and side walls, that is continuous, substantially straight and closed, along at least one portion of path downstream of the casting region, by closure means at its side that is arranged opposite with respect to the bottom; downstream of said substantially straight portion said segment path having a change in direction for the gradual exit from said casting shell of the metal bar produced by the solidification of the metal in the casting shell.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevation view of the apparatus according to the invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic side elevation view of the continuous casting machine
  • FIG. 3 is an enlarged-scale sectional view of FIG. 2, taken along the line III-III.
  • the apparatus according to the invention generally designated by the reference numeral 1 , comprises a casting machine 2 provided with a moving casting shell.
  • the shell is composed of a plurality of segments 3 , which are arranged in succession and can move along a path that has at least one straight portion 4 at the casting region 5 .
  • the segments 3 are substantially aligned and form a moving, continuous and rectilinear casting shell that is closed, along a portion arranged downstream of the casting region, by closure means 6 at its side that lies opposite with respect to the bottom 3 a of the various segments 3 .
  • the path of the segments 3 has a change in direction that produces a gradual exit from the casting shell of the bar 7 produced by the solidification of the metal in the casting shell.
  • the portion 4 proximate to the casting region 5 , is preferably inclined downward in the direction in which the segments 3 advance along the corresponding path.
  • the segments 3 are connected to the links 8 of a chain 9 that is closed in a loop and winds around at least two sprockets 10 a and 10 b that have horizontal and mutually parallel axes and are supported by the supporting structure of the casting machine 2 , which is not shown for the sake of simplicity.
  • the segments 3 are preferably made of copper-silver alloy or copper-chromium-zirconium alloy, and the length of each segment 3 is exactly identical to the pitch of the chain 9 .
  • the portion 4 of the path of the segments 3 is formed by the upper portion of the chain 9 that lies between the sprockets 10 a and 10 b .
  • At least one of the sprockets 10 a and 10 b can be actuated with a rotary motion about its own axis in a per se known manner in order to produce the advancement of the chain 9 and therefore of the segments 3 along the path formed by the chain 9 .
  • the links of the chain 9 are mutually articulated by way of pivots 11 , whose axes are parallel to the axes of the sprockets 10 a and 10 b and mesh with the central region of the pivots 11 .
  • two idler wheels 12 a and 12 b are mounted on the pivots 11 , proximate to their axial ends, laterally to the links of the chain and on mutually opposite sides, and two mutually parallel profiles 13 a and 13 b are provided at the portion 4 , and the wheels 12 a and 12 b rest thereon.
  • At least one of the wheels, the wheel 12 a in the illustrated case, has a race 14 that has a V-shaped cross-section and the corresponding profile 13 a with which it engages is shaped correspondingly, so as to prevent the chain 9 from moving laterally at least along the portion 4 .
  • the profiles 13 a and 13 b ensure the perfect alignment of the segments 3 along the portion 4 .
  • the means 6 for closing the side of the casting shell that lies opposite the bottom 3 a comprise a belt element 15 , which is preferably made of steel, is slightly wider than the shell formed by the segments 3 , and can move along a path that faces, with one of its portions, the portion 4 .
  • Engagement means act on the belt element 15 and press said belt element 15 against the edges of the upper side of the casting shell formed by the segments 3 along the portion 4 .
  • the engagement means are constituted by rollers 16 a and 16 b , whose axes are parallel to the axes of the pivots 11 .
  • the rollers 16 a and 16 b are supported, so that they can rotate about their own axes, by a supporting structure 17 , which can move toward or away from the portion 4 and is pushed toward the same portion 4 by means of springs or fluid-actuated cylinders of a known type, not shown for the sake of simplicity, in order to press, by means of the rollers 16 a and 16 b , the belt element 15 against the segments 3 along the portion 4 .
  • the pressing action of the belt element 15 against the upper side of the segments 3 can be obtained by means of sliding blocks instead of by means of rollers.
  • the belt element 15 is closed in a loop and winds, so as to be tensioned conveniently, around two pulleys 18 a and 18 b that have horizontal axes that are parallel to the axes of the sprockets 10 a and 10 b and are supported by the structure 17 . Both of said pulleys are movable in order to tension the belt element 15 and allow to replace it.
  • the belt element 15 is normally moved by friction by contact against the segments 3 , or at least one of the pulleys 18 a and 18 b is actuated with a rotary motion about its own axis in order to produce the advancement of the belt element 15 concordantly with the advancement of the segments 3 along the common portion of path.
  • cooling means comprise a plurality of nozzles 20 for dispensing a cooling fluid (generally water), which face in a downward region and laterally the segments 3 along the portion 4 , so as to affect their lower side and their side walls with the cooling liquid.
  • a cooling fluid generally water
  • the cooling means also comprise a plurality of nozzles 21 for dispensing a cooling fluid, which face in an upper region the portion of the belt element 15 that in each instance engages the segments 3 along the portion 4 so as to strike, with the cooling fluid, the upper face of the belt element 15 that engages the segments 3 .
  • the portion of the casting shell formed in each one of the segments 3 preferably has, in a transverse cross-section with respect to the direction of the advancement of the segments 3 along the path set by the chain 9 , the shape of an isosceles trapezoid that is open at its longer parallel side.
  • the apparatus comprises, downstream of the casting machine 2 along the advancement direction of the bar that exits from the casting machine 2 , a first cooling station 31 , preferably of the tunnel type.
  • a cropping unit 32 Downstream of the first cooling station 31 there is a cropping unit 32 , preferably of the rotary type, for cutting into ingots of preset length the produced metal bar, and downstream of the cropping unit 32 there is conveniently a second cooling station 33 of the tunnel or tank type.
  • a station 34 for the automatic stacking, weighing and binding with straps of the ingots In output from the second cooling station 33 there is a station 34 for the automatic stacking, weighing and binding with straps of the ingots.
  • the apparatus can be completed by a system for the continuous marking of the ingots in order to mark thereon all the intended identification data.
  • the molten metal is fed continuously into the crucible 25 , wherein the level of said metal is controlled and kept constant with means of a known type, for example of the type currently used in continuous casting machines of the wheel and belt type.
  • the metal is poured and fed into the moving shell, which is formed by the segments 3 along the portion 4 , by way of the casting channel 26 in a manner similar to what occurs currently in continuous casting machines of the wheel and belt type.
  • the metal is cooled gradually by way of the jets of cooling fluid emitted by the nozzles 20 and 21 and solidifies, generating the bar 7 , which leaves the shell in the region of the sprocket 10 b.
  • Passage through the first cooling station 31 completes the solidification of the bar 7 and its temperature is brought to the level most suitable for the subsequent cropping operation, i.e., to the optimum temperature for reducing to a minimum the shearing stress to the extent compatible with the solidification and uniformity of the bar 7 .
  • the cooling of the bar 7 can be of the spray type, which by having a direct action has a high efficiency and therefore requires shorter times.
  • the bar segments 7 or ingots are cooled further in the second cooling station 33 at a temperature that is close to the ambient temperature and are then stacked, weighed and bound with straps in the station 34 .
  • the straps would in fact loosen owing to the thermal contraction of the ingots if they were bound at a high temperature.
  • the ingots obtained with the apparatus according to the invention have a rectilinear structure that is not subjected to plastic deformation after solidification, which occurs in a continuous shell formed by a sequence of concatenated segments and closed by a continuous belt element.
  • Metallographic discontinuities are detectable in said ingots in the sections that correspond to the contact surfaces of the various segments that compose the shell.
  • the foundations of the casting machine of the apparatus according to the invention are considerably shallower and therefore far cheaper than the foundations required by continuous casting machines of the wheel and belt type.
  • the apparatus according to the invention moreover, allows to produce a straight continuous bar that does not require the use of complicated ingot straightening machine with a pinch roll and motorized straightening rollers synchronized with the speed of the line.
  • Another advantage of the apparatus according to the invention is that it is possible to vary the cross-section of the produced ingots and the required level of hourly production simply by replacing the segments that form the casting shell and optionally by extending the chain of segments.
  • the materials employed, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Continuous Casting (AREA)
  • Refinement Of Pig-Iron, Manufacture Of Cast Iron, And Steel Manufacture Other Than In Revolving Furnaces (AREA)
  • Treatment Of Steel In Its Molten State (AREA)
US10/298,089 2001-12-04 2002-11-18 Apparatus for producing ingots of nonferrous metals by continuous casting Abandoned US20030102105A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US10/923,686 US20050022960A1 (en) 2001-12-04 2004-08-24 Method for producing ingots of nonferrous metals by continuous casting

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT2001MI002556A ITMI20012556A1 (it) 2001-12-04 2001-12-04 Impianto per la produzione, mediante colata continua, di lingotti di metallo non ferrosi
ITMI2001A002556 2001-12-04

Related Child Applications (1)

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US10/923,686 Division US20050022960A1 (en) 2001-12-04 2004-08-24 Method for producing ingots of nonferrous metals by continuous casting

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US20030102105A1 true US20030102105A1 (en) 2003-06-05

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US10/298,089 Abandoned US20030102105A1 (en) 2001-12-04 2002-11-18 Apparatus for producing ingots of nonferrous metals by continuous casting
US10/923,686 Abandoned US20050022960A1 (en) 2001-12-04 2004-08-24 Method for producing ingots of nonferrous metals by continuous casting

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US10/923,686 Abandoned US20050022960A1 (en) 2001-12-04 2004-08-24 Method for producing ingots of nonferrous metals by continuous casting

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US (2) US20030102105A1 (it)
EP (1) EP1317980B1 (it)
AT (1) ATE380614T1 (it)
DE (1) DE60223996T2 (it)
ES (1) ES2298322T3 (it)
IT (1) ITMI20012556A1 (it)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10350675B2 (en) * 2016-02-08 2019-07-16 Giulio Properzi Machine for manufacturing continuous bars of nonferrous metal by continuous casting
CN113118403A (zh) * 2021-04-19 2021-07-16 燕山大学 一种非晶合金连铸机及其连续铸造方法

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT201800006009A1 (it) * 2018-06-04 2019-12-04 Apparato di colata continua di prodotti
CN110076308A (zh) * 2019-05-30 2019-08-02 燕山大学 一种非晶合金连铸机及其连续铸造方法

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1841297A (en) * 1928-04-26 1932-01-12 John E Perry Apparatus and method of continuous casting of steel
US3529658A (en) * 1967-10-21 1970-09-22 Ilario Properzi Continuous casting wheel with improved cooling arrangement
US4194553A (en) * 1978-06-05 1980-03-25 Hitachi, Ltd. Cooling and guide method and apparatus in a continuous casting machine
US4331195A (en) * 1978-08-08 1982-05-25 Webber C Eugene Continuous casting machine
US5377744A (en) * 1990-06-28 1995-01-03 Holton Machinery Limited Method and device for continuous casting and extrusion
US5756131A (en) * 1992-12-07 1998-05-26 Suh; Kun Hee Continuous building materials moulding device

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3279000A (en) * 1963-12-30 1966-10-18 Southwire Co Apparatus for continuous casting of metal
US3645321A (en) * 1970-03-02 1972-02-29 Northwestern Steel & Wire Co Apparatus for the continuous production of steel
US4057096A (en) * 1976-04-09 1977-11-08 Southwire Company Starting dummy bar positioner for continuous casting of metals
LU83485A1 (fr) * 1981-07-09 1983-02-04 Metallurgie Hoboken Procede et installation pour couler une bande a oreilles en saillie laterale
JPS5820356A (ja) * 1981-07-29 1983-02-05 Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd 水平型連続鋳造装置
CA1299836C (en) * 1986-09-29 1992-05-05 William Lyon Sherwood Continuous lead-float casting of steel
ES2100198T3 (es) * 1990-11-29 1997-06-16 Kawasaki Heavy Ind Ltd Molde ajustable para equipos de colada continua horizontal.
US5645159A (en) * 1994-03-30 1997-07-08 Lauener Engineering, Ltd. Method and apparatus for continuously casting metal

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1841297A (en) * 1928-04-26 1932-01-12 John E Perry Apparatus and method of continuous casting of steel
US3529658A (en) * 1967-10-21 1970-09-22 Ilario Properzi Continuous casting wheel with improved cooling arrangement
US4194553A (en) * 1978-06-05 1980-03-25 Hitachi, Ltd. Cooling and guide method and apparatus in a continuous casting machine
US4331195A (en) * 1978-08-08 1982-05-25 Webber C Eugene Continuous casting machine
US5377744A (en) * 1990-06-28 1995-01-03 Holton Machinery Limited Method and device for continuous casting and extrusion
US5756131A (en) * 1992-12-07 1998-05-26 Suh; Kun Hee Continuous building materials moulding device

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10350675B2 (en) * 2016-02-08 2019-07-16 Giulio Properzi Machine for manufacturing continuous bars of nonferrous metal by continuous casting
CN113118403A (zh) * 2021-04-19 2021-07-16 燕山大学 一种非晶合金连铸机及其连续铸造方法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ITMI20012556A1 (it) 2003-06-04
ATE380614T1 (de) 2007-12-15
DE60223996D1 (de) 2008-01-24
ES2298322T3 (es) 2008-05-16
DE60223996T2 (de) 2008-05-29
US20050022960A1 (en) 2005-02-03
EP1317980A1 (en) 2003-06-11
EP1317980B1 (en) 2007-12-12

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