Abstract: Twin roll casting of metal strip by introducing molten metal between chilled casting rolls (16) to form casting pool supported on the rolls and confined by refractory end closures (56), and rotating the rolls (16) so as to cast a solidified strip delivered downwardly from the nip between the rolls (16). Prior to casting refractory end closures (56) are preheated by positioning adjacent their inner faces a pair of metal plates (130) and exposing those plates to electromagnetic fields to cause them to rise in temperature and so heat the closures (56). Plates (130) have hooked top flanges (131) for location on the refractory end closures (56).

Abstract: To suppress generation of scales on surfaces of a strip and to reduce the amount of non-oxidizing gas consumed in the casting of strip in a twin roll caster there is provided downstream apparatus comprising pinch rolls 17a and 17b for pinching a strip 4 continuously cast by a pair of casting rolls 1a and 1b, a coiler 8 for coiling the strip 4 delivered from the pinch rolls 17a and 17b, an upstream chamber 19 for enclosing a travelling path of the strip 4 from the casting rolls 1a and 1b to the pinch rolls 17a and 17b,a downstream chamber 24 for enclosing a travelling path of the strip 4 from the pinch rolls 17a and 17b to a position before the coiler, a shutter on an end of the downstream chamber closer to the coiler and a gas supply source for supplying non-oxidizing and reducing gases to the upstream and downstream chambers 19 and 24 and quenching means within the downstream chamber to cool the strip so that it leaves the chamber at a temperature of 300.degree. C. or below.

Abstract: To suppress wear of side surfaces of end closures due to rotation of cooling rolls in a twin roll strip caster, a pair of housings 11 are provided, each arranged to face on end faces of one or the other ends of cooling rolls 1a and 1b, which are arranged substantially horizontally and in parallel with each other, so that it may be displaced toward and away from the end faces, rolling members 12 rotatably supported by each of said housings 11 so that they may contact the corresponding end faces of the rolls 1a and 1b, a thruster body 21 supported on each of the housings 11 so that it may be displaced toward and away from the corresponding end faces of the rolls 1a and 1b, and an end closure 3 loaded on each of the thruster bodies 21 so that it may closely contact upper portions of the end faces of the rolls 1a and 1b. When the end closure 3 is worn to a predetermined extent, then the rolling members 12 contact the end faces of the rolls 1a and 1b to thereby suppress wear of the end closure 3.

Abstract: To suppress generation of scales on surfaces of a strip and to reduce the amount of non-oxidising gas consumed in the casting of strip in a twin roll caster there is provided downstream apparatus comprising pinch rolls 17a and 17b for pinching a strip 4 continuously cast by a pair of casting rolls 1a and 1b, a coiler 8 for coiling the strip 4 delivered from the pinch rolls 17a and 17b, an upstream chamber 19 for enclosing a travelling path of the strip 4 from the casting rolls 1a and 1b to the pinch rolls 17a and 17b, a downstream chamber 24 for enclosing a travelling path of the strip 4 from the pinch rolls 17a and 17b to a position before the coiler, a shutter on an end of the downstream chamber closer to the coiler and a gas supply source for supplying non-oxidising and reducing gases to the upstream and downstream chambers 19 and 24 and quenching means within the downstream chamber to cool the strip so that it leaves the chamber at a temperature of 300.degree. C. or below.

Abstract: Molten metal is introduced between a pair of parallel casting rolls (16) of a twin roll caster by metal delivery apparatus comprising a distributor vessel (18) and delivery nozzle (19) to form a casting pool (10) above the nip (30) between the rolls (16). The rolls (16) are rotated so as to cast a solidified strip (20) delivered downwardly from the nip (30). Casting of the strip is terminated by stopping the flow of metal to the delivery apparatus (18, 19) and allowing the quantity of molten metal in the delivery apparatus to run down to a reduced quantity at which there is still molten metal in the casting pool and then moving one or both casting rolls laterally to increase the gap between the rolls whereby to interrupt formation of the strip and allow downward discharge of the remaining metal through the increased gap between the rolls.

Abstract: A casting roll (11) on which to cast molten metal comprises central shaft (12), an outer circumferential wall (14) fitted over cylindrical mandrel (15) and roll end walls (16). Longitudinal wall (14) is cooled by water passed through longitudinal passages (22) in that wall. The cooling water is passed to and from passages (22) through passages (23) in the central shaft, radial passages (24) in the end walls (16) and transition passages (25) interconnecting the radial passages with the longitudinal passages. In order to promote cooling of the end corners (31) of the roll, transition passages (25) extend in smoothly curved bends into regions of the roll disposed both radially and longitudinally outwardly from the intersection directions of the longitudinal passages (22) and radial passages (24) so as to provide for water flow close to the roll comers (31) without formation of stagnation pockets.

Abstract: A molten metal casting pool is confined between a pair of casting rolls (12) by side closure plates (18) applied to the ends of the rolls (12) by thrusters (21). Side closure plates (18) are mounted in holders (25) which are pivotally connected to thrusters (21) by pivot pins (26) so that the side plates (18) can tilt about the pivot connections. Pivot pins (26) are located at such height above the nip between rolls (12) that effect of outward pressure on plates (18) by molten metal of the casting pool is such as to rotationally bias the plates (18) about the pivots in such directions that their bottom ends are biased inwardly to produce increased scaling pressure at bottom of casting pool.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for continuously casting metal strip (20) of the kind in which a casting pool of molten metal (30) is formed in contact with a moving casting surface. By making the casting surface (16A) very smooth and inducing relative vibratory movement between the molten metal and the casting surface at selected frequency and amplitude, the heat transfer from the solidifying metal is dramatically improved. The casting surface has an Arithmetical Mean Roughness Value (Ra) of less than 5 microus and the induced vibratory movement preferably has a frequency of no more than 20 kHz. This enables improved casting productivity and also produced a marked refinement of the surface structure of the cast metal.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for casting metal strip in which molten metal is introduced between a pair of parallel casting rollers (16) via a tundish (18) and metal delivery nozzle (19b). Casting rollers (16) are cooled so that shells solidify on the moving roller surfaces and are brought together at the nip between them to produce a solidified strip product (20) at the roller outlet. A casting pool is established by pouring a first batch of molten metal at a relatively high temperature above the liquidus temperature of molten metal through the delivery nozzle (19b) and is thereafter maintained by pouring through the delivery nozzle (19b) a second batch of molten metal at a relatively lower temperature. The bottom of the tundish (18) is formed with a well (26) to hold the first batch of molten metal and there is heating means (8) to heat the metal in the well (26).

Abstract: Method and apparatus for casting metal strip in which molten metal is introduced between a pair of parallel casting rollers via a tundish and a metal delivery nozzle. Casting rollers are cooled so that shells solidify on the moving roller surfaces and are brought together at the nip between them to produce a solidified strip product at the roller outlet. The delivery nozzle comprises an elongate trough to receive molten metal and an outlet slot extending longitudinally along the bottom of the trough. The floor of the delivery nozzle is formed with an upwardly facing channel extending longitudinally of the trough in side by side relationship with the outlet slot. The channel merges smoothly at one of its sides with a side wall of the trough and rises at the other side above the root of the channel to the outlet slot.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for casting metal strip in which molten metal is introduced between a pair of parallel casting rollers (16) via a tundish (18) and metal delivery nozzle (19). Casting rollers (16) are cooled so that shells solidify on the moving roller surfaces and are brought together at the nip between them to produce a solidified strip product (20) at the roller outlet. A clean head end of the strip (20) is formed by adjusting the nip of the casting rollers to form a transverse bulge (103) across the width of the strip. The two separate solidified metal shells (105) and defines a line of weakness across the width of the strip. The strip separates at the line of weakness to form a clean head end for the following strip.

Abstract: Apparatus for casting metal strip in which molten metal is introduced between a pair of parallel casting rollers (16) via a tundish (18) and metal delivery nozzle (19). Casting rollers (16) are cooled so that shells solidify on the moving roller surfaces and are brought together at the nip between them to produce a solidified strip product (20) at the roller outlet. The tundish (18), delivery nozzle (19) and a pair of side closure plates (56) to confine the pool of metal on the casting rollers are separately preheated to working temperature and then rapidly brought into an operative assembly and casting is started before detrimental uneven or localized cooling of the preheated components can develop. To this end the casting rollers are mounted on a carriage (13) movable between a first station (14) at which the preheated components are fitted and a second station (15) at which casting is carried out.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for casting metal strip in which molten metal is introduced between a pair of parallel casting rollers (16) via a tundish (18) and delivery nozzle (19). Casting rollers (16) are cooled so that shells solidify on the moving roller surfaces and are brought together at the nip between them to produce a solidified strip product (20) at the roller outlet. The tundish (18), delivery nozzle (19) and a pair of side closure plates (56) to confine the pool of metal on the casting rollers are separately preheated to working temperature and then rapidly brought into an operative assembly and casting is started before detrimental uneven or localized cooling of the preheated components can develop. To avoid material deterioration and metal flow irregularities due to oxidation on preheating, the delivery nozzle (19) and side closure plates (56) are provided with oxidation retarding coatings, for example in the form of ceramic glazing, or are preheated in an inert atmosphere.

Abstract: With reference to FIG. 4 , a metal delivery nozzle (19) for delivering molten metal to a nip between a pair of strip casting rollers comprises an upwardly opening inlet trough (61) to receive a series of free falling vertical stream (65) of molten metal and a metal flow passage (62) extending downwardly from the bottom of the inlet trough (61) to a metal flow outlet slot (69). Trough (61) has a side wall surface (64) which slopes downwardly and across the trough to the upper end of the metal flow passage (62). The free falling streams (65) impinge on side wall surface (64) at an acute angle of impingement such that the molten metal tends to adhere to that wall surface and to spread into the form of a sheet (70) flowing down the side wall surface.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for casting metal strip in which molten metal is introduced between a pair of parallel casting rollers (16) via a tundish (18) and metal delivery nozzle (19). Casting rollers (16) are cooled so that shells solidify on the moving roller surfaces and are brought together at the nip between them to produce a solidified strip product (20) at the roller outlet. The tundish (18), delivery nozzle (19) and a pair of side closure plates (56) to confine the pool of metal on the casting rollers are separately preheated to working temperature and then rapidly brought into an operative assembly and casting is started before detrimental uneven or localized cooling of the preheated components can develop. To this end the casting rollers are mounted on a carriage (13) movable between a first station (14) at which the preheated components are fitted and a second station (15) at which casting is carried out.