US3523572A

US3523572A - Apparatus for continuous casting and cooling system for same

Info

Publication number: US3523572A
Application number: US738979A
Authority: US
Inventors: Serge Peyraud; Jean Freiche
Original assignee: Cegedur GP
Current assignee: Cegedur GP
Priority date: 1967-06-29
Filing date: 1968-06-21
Publication date: 1970-08-11
Anticipated expiration: 1987-08-11
Also published as: DE1758573A1; DE1758573B2; GB1239425A; ES355558A1; DE1758573C3; BE717309A; FR1538397A; AT283616B

Description

United States Patent Inventors Serge Peyraud APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUS CASTING AND COOLING SYSTEM FOR SAME 9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl..' 164/283 Int. Cl B22d 11/12 Field of Search 164/283;

895, 283 Foreign, 273All References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,059,295 l0/l962 Vosskuehler l64/283 7/l947 Spooner 164/283 FOREIGN PATENTS 3/1964 Sweden OTHER REFERENCES Primary Examiner-J. Spencer Overholser Assistant Examiner- V. Rising Attorneys- McDougall, Hersh, Scott and Ladd ABSTRACT: An apparatus for continuous vertical casting of metals and alloys which includes one or more molds and a casting frame surrounding the molds in horizontally spaced relation therebetween with passages through the casting frame for the flow of liquid therethrough to the mold, means extending crosswise between the casting frame and the mold including a horizontally disposed frame member connected at one end to the casting frame, a mold support connected at one end to the other end of the frame and at the other end to the mold to support the mold on the casting frame, a deflector and overspill suspended from the frame with a spaced relationship therebetween to define a channel through which the cooling liquid flows from the openings in the casting frame to the mold and which includes a draft edge on the edge of the overspill adjacent the mold to form the liquid into a sheet for application onto the mold.

Patented Aug. 11, 1970 I 3,523,572

Sheet 2 1's L 31 1 32 401 l 402 201 L FIG. 2

Patented Aug. 11, 1970 Sheet FIG. 3

APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUS CASTING AND COOLING SYSTEM FOR SAME This invention relates to an apparatus for continuous vertical casting.

It is known that slabs or billets can be made by vertically casting a molten material, such as metal or alloy, into a mold with vertical generatrices having an internal cavity corresponding to the section of the product to be cast.

The mold is cooled to enable the material to harden. Generally, cooling is obtained by allowing a liquid, such as water, to trickle or flow over the outer wall of the mold. For this purpose, the mold is surrounded at its upper end by a chamber, known as the casting frame, provided with openings through which the cooling liquid flows. The mold is usually supported by the upper part of the casting or frame via a flange machined in the mold in a manner to insure that the mold remains properly centered. The distance between the inner wall of the casting frame and the mold wall is governed by the pressure of the cooling liquid so as to obtain effective cooling. V

Unfortunately, a disadvantage of this arrangement is that the dimensions of the mold can be varied only within narrow limits if it is desired to maintain a proper sprinkling action. In addition, it is difficult to make use of molds having a horizontal section other than round.

It is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus for continuous vertical casting by means of which it is possible to cast a range of different products and even a number of products at one and the same time while insuring that the mold is effectively cooled.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter appear, and for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings in which FIG. I is a sectional elevational view of an upper corner portion of the mold and frame of a casting apparatus embodying the features of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevational view similar to that of FIG. 1 showing a modification for use with a mold of a different section or dimension; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an apparatus adapted for use with three molds.

The apparatus embodying the features of this invention comprises at least one vertical mold and a casting frame surrounding the mold or molds and in crosswise spaced relationship therewith. Between these two components, a frame is provided which is attached at one end to the frame and at its other end to the mold itself and a deflector in the form of a horizontally disposed plate spaced below the frame and to which an overspill is screwed and g which, in addition, is suspended from the frame in a manner to form a channel between the casting frame and mold through which the cooling liquid is circulated from the opening in the casting frame for transfer onto the mold walls.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the apparatus also embodies one of the following features, namely:

The frame rests on the casting frame through a flange which insures that the frame remains properly centered;

The mold support comprises a flange on the periphery of the mold which rests in a retaining means with which the frame is provided at one end;

The mold rests by way of a flange on the other end in a retaining means with which the mold support is provided;

The deflector is fixed to the frame by screws and through at least one stud for enabling adjustment of the spaced relationship between the frame and the distributor plate to determine the height of the channel through which the cold liquid circulates;

The overspill is supported by a retaining means with which the deflector is provided; and

At its end adjacent the mold, the overspill is provided with a draft edge adapted to form the cooling liquid into a sheet or stream for deflection onto the mold wall.

Conventional apparatus for continuous vertical casting comprises a casting frame 1 provided with horizontally disposed openings 12 through which the cooling liquid flows, and a mold 2 with a vertical axis 22. The mold has a peripheral horizontally disposed flange 21 which is adapted to rest directly on the upper part of the casting frame. The liquid which flows through the openings 12 is deflected onto the outer wall 25 of the mold to cause the material cast within the mold to solidify at 24.

The distance between the inner wall 11 of the casting frame and the outer wall 23 of the mold is governed by the pressure of the liquid inside the casting frame in a manner to obtain proper sprinkling or wetting of the mold wall 23. Accordingly, it is obvious that variation in the section of the mold is subject to serious limitations if it is desired to obtain proper cooling. In addition, it is difficult to provide the mold internally at 24 with a section other than round.

We obviate these disadvantages by providing between the casting frame 1 and the mold 2 intermediate elements which, under any circumstances, insure that one or both molds of any section are correctly positioned and properly centered and that the cooling liquid is correctly distributed and properly applied to the mold walls. These intermediate elements comprise on the one hand, a frame 3 in the form of a horizontally disposed plate connected to the casting frame 1, and a mold support 4 in the form of a horizontally disposed plate attached both to the frame and to the mold, and a deflector 5 beneath the aforementioned frame and mold support and which carries an overspill 6.

Accordingly, a channel through which the cooling liquid circulates and trickles down the outer wall 23 of the mold 2 (arrow 10) is formed between the frame 3 and support 4 on the one hand, and the deflector 5 and overspill 6 on the other hand.

FIG. 2 shows how it is possible with the same casting frame 1, the same frame 3 and the same deflector 5, to make use either of a mold 2 of large section, as shown in FIG. I, or a mold 20 of smaller section, as shown in FIG. 2. It is sufficient, for this purpose, to replace the support 4 and the overspill 6 shown in FIG. 1 by

corresponding elements

40 and 60 of smaller internal section or dimension corresponding to the differences in diameter between the mold 2 and mold 20 shown in FIG. 2.

It is also possible to assemble a variable number of molds in one and the same casting frame. In such instance, it is also necessary to change the frame 3 and the deflector 5. This change can be made without difficulty since they are far from cumbersome, easy to store and inex ensive.

The elements may be joined together by any conventional means and it is preferred to make use of an attaching means comprising flanges and retaining means which enables the elements to be assembled quickly without the need for special tools. On its surface adjacent the casting frame I, the frame 3 is provided with a horizontally disposed edge flange 31 that rests on the upper part of the casting frame 1. On its opposite surface, the frame 3 is provided with a retaining means in the form of a horizontally disposed recess 32. Similarly, the mold support 4, 40 is provided adjacent the frame with an edge flange 41, 401 adapted to be received in the retaining means 32 and, adjacent the mold, with a retaining means in the form of a horizontally disposed

recess

42, 402 in which the horizontally disposed

peripheral edge flange

21, 201 of the

mold

2, 20 is able to rest.

The deflector 5 is located beneath the frame 3 and it is secured thereto by screws 51 with studs 53 in between. On the surface adjacent the mold, the deflector 5 is provided with a retaining means 52 capable of receiving the

overspill

6, 60.

It is of advantage to provide the inner bore of the

overspill

6, 60, at its upper end, with a

draft edge

61, 601 in order to form the cooling liquid into a sheet or stream of liquid for displacement onto the outer walls of the mold for cooling the mold.

It is possible by virtue of this apparatus markedly to reduce the number of casting frames required to cast a complete set of billets of different formats, thereby more effectively to use the casting frame and concomitantly to reduce the amount of space otherwise required to store the large number of heavy and cumbersome casting frames. It also leaves time for changing formats and for studies with a view to creating new formats.

The additional elements of this invention are light in weight, compact, easy to store and handle and easy to position in the desired location for use. It is also possible by using different overspills and mold supports to cast products varying in section with the use ofthe same frame and the same deflector.

It will be understood that changes may be made in the details of construction, arrangement and operation without departing from the spirit of the invention, especially as defined in the following claims.

We claim:

1. An apparatus for continuous vertical casting which includes one or more vertical molds and a casting frame surrounding the mold or molds with a horizontally spaced relation therebetween and having openings therein through which cooling liquid flows to the molds, the improvement which comprises a horizontally disposed extender frame removably connected at one end to the casting frame, a horizontally extending mold support removably connected at one end to the other end of the extender frame and at the other end to the mold to support the mold, and a deflector and overspill members suspended from the extender frame with a spaced relationship between the extender frame and the deflector and overspill members to define a channel therebetween in communication with the openings in the casting frame and through which cooling liquid flows from the casting frame crosswise to the mold.

2. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 which includes a horizontally disposed edge flange in the portion of the extender frame adjacent the casting frame for resting on the casting frame and properly to center the mold.

3. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 which includes a horizontally disposed edge flange on the edge of the mold support adjacent the extender frame and a receiving means on the edge of the extender frame adjacent the mold support for receiving said edge flange.

4. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 which includes an outwardly extending, horizontally disposed peripheral flange on the mold and a retaining means on the end of the mold support adjacent the mold for receiving the mold flange.

5. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 which includes vertically adjustable means securing the deflector to the extender frame member and for adjustment of the distance between the frame member and deflector to determine the height of the channel defined therebetween.

6. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 5 in which the securing means comprises a screw and stud arrangement.

7. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 which includes a retaining means on the end of the deflector adjacent the overspill and in which the edge of the overspill is received.

8. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 which includes a draft edge on the edge of the overspill adjacent the mold to form the cooling liquid into a sheet for application onto the mold.

9. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 in which the cooling liquid is water.