Abstract: Twin roll caster for casting metal strip comprises pair of horizontal casting rolls (1) on which to support a casting pool of molten metal. A pair of side plates (18) engage end surfaces of rolls (1) to form side confining closures for the casting pool. A pair of side plate holders (25) hold plates (18) and thrusters (21) apply opposing inward closure forces to side plates (18). Thrusters (21) are connected to side plate holders (25) by pivot connections defined by horizontal pivot pins (26) and vertical pivot pins (28) which permit side plates (18) to self-align with the roll ends by rocking movements both longitudinally and laterally of the rolls but to constrain the plates against rotation in the general planes of the plates.

Abstract: Twin-roll caster for continuously casting metal strip comprises a pair of parallel casting rolls (1) each provided with longitudinal cooling water passages (26) adjacent other casting surfaces 25 of the rolls. Passages (26) are interconnected in groups of three to form three pass zig-zag water flow channels for flow of water back and forth between the roll ends. The roll ends are notched to form outwardly facing shoulders (44) for engagement with casting pool confining plates (10). Cooling water flows to and from the passages (26) through radial passages (35, 36) in roll end walls (27, 28) in the vicinity of the shoulders (44).

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-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: 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: Apparatus for casting metal strip comprises casting rolls (12), metal delivery means (13, 14, 15, 16) into the nip (17) between the casting rolls (12) whereby to produce a cast metal strip (19). Roll cleaning brush devices (21) comprise brush head mounting structure (22) which carry linear arrays of rotary brush heads (20) applied to the outer sides of the casting rolls (12). The brush heads (20) of each device (21) are driven simultaneously through a gear train by a respective drive motor (35).

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: 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: This invention concerns a sintered article for a sheath in an apparatus for continuous casting of a thin sheet and a sheath using the sintered article. The sintered article comprises boron nitride, zirconium oxide, and at least one member selected from the group consisting of aluminum nitride and aluminum borate and combines resistance to thermal shock, lubricity, and strength. The sheath is formed of the sintered article and, therefore, enjoys the prominent properties of the sintered article.

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.

Abstract: Axially extending liquid-tight tapered spaces are defined in the barrel of a roll body. Tapered pistons are fitted in the spaces for engagement and disengagement with a bore inner surface defining the tapered spaces. A liquid under pressure is supplied through liquid passages to some of liquid pressure chambers at opposite ends of the tapered pistons so that the barrel of the roll body is increased or decreased in diameter. When the rolling forces are removed from the roll body, the roll body returns to its initial straight state.

Abstract: Longitudinal axial positions in a roll longitudinal axis of ring pistons fitted into a profile-variable rolling roll are detected with a higher degree of accuracy. In response to outputs representative of the detected longitudinal axial positions of the ring pistons, the positions of the ring pistons can be controlled with a high degree of accuracy, whereby controllability of shape of the rolling roll is enhanced.

Abstract: In a roll of the type in which a sleeve is fitted over a roll core, the sleeve is expanded radially outwardly so that the roll profile is varied optimumly depending upon a complex profile or cross section of a strip to be rolled.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rolling mill in which an intermediate roll is interposed between a work roll and a backup roll and is offset by a suitable distance in the direction of the rolling line. A horizontal bending force is exerted to the intermediate roll so that the flatness of the rolled product can be controlled with a higher degree of accuracy.