Abstract: Molten metal fed to a rotating casting wheel is controlled by a vertical pouring spout feeding a tundish below it, a trough from the tundish to the wheel, a sensor to detect the level of metal in the trough, a pin controlled by the sensor to adjust flow through the spout, and a foraminous receptacle in the tundish to receive the flow from the spout and passivate the outflow on its way to the sensor.

Abstract: A flow-vectored downspout includes a pouring tube and a flow diffuser arranged on an end thereof. The flow diffuser includes horizontal slots disposed toward the faces of an ingot during a continuous casting process with horizontal and angled slots disposed toward the ingot sides. The flow diffuser also includes at its bottom a domed diverter which facilitates transition of vertical molten metal flow through the pouring tube into a substantially horizontal flow pattern for discharge into a mold cavity through the arrangement of horizontal and angled slots. The particular arrangement of slots provides distribution to all areas of the ingot to be cast with minimal turbulence. The flow-vectored downspout is especially adapted for direct chill or electromagnetic casting without the use of a channel bag or the like. A continuous casting method using the downspout is also provided.

Abstract: Molten metal supply trough extends over station for continuously casting ingots, and has side channels each conducting the metal to a spout supplying an ingot. Simultaneously liftable gates control flow into the respective side channels.