Having Continuously Advancing Shaping Surface Patents (Class 164/479)
  • Patent number: 4842042
    Abstract: A smooth roll skimmer 36 may be used in the casting of strip 34 by the melt drag process to provide gauge control and a smooth upper surface. Liquid melt 32 is cast on the moving chilled substrate 33 where it solidifies to a strip. The skimmer 36 is positioned above the substrate 33 and at a fixed gap therefrom by convenient means, e.g., by a rolling spacer 37 between the casting surface and the roll skimmer. The roll skimmer is not chilled and is not used to solidify the liquid. It meters and smooths the liquid prior to solidification on the substrate. A parting agent may be used on the roll skimmer to prevent sticking and to reduce heat transfer. A carbonaceous soot from a partially combusted hydrocarbon fuel is a useful parting agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Assignee: Battelle Development Corporation
    Inventors: Edwin S. Bartlett, James L. McCall
  • Patent number: 4842186
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for building a workpiece of a desired geometry by deposit welding with a reusable preform. The reusable preform forms, supports, and cools the deposited molten weld material puddle while the weld material is solidifying thereby eliminating the need for a conventional preform. The reusable preform may be mobile or stationary in any shape, e.g., a block, a cylinder, or a belt. It is manufactured from either a combination of or exclusively of, a ceramic material or a material with high thermal conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Assignee: The Babock & Wilcox Company
    Inventors: Thomas E. Doyle, David P. Edmonds, Michael D. McAninch, Patrick M. Ryan
  • Patent number: 4836271
    Abstract: In a process for casting metal strip, in particular steel strip, the liquid metal is discharged from a casting nozzle which has the same width as the strip onto a continuously moving, cooled conveyor belt, and the plane of the nozzle mouth is set for the thickness of the metal strip to be cast, i.e. at an acute angle to the plane of the conveyor belt. To maintain the casting speed at the nozzle mouth on the conveyor belt, i.e. to prevent shearing forces of the flow layers and thus a speed profile with negative components, the invention proposes that with a conveyor belt running at an inclination to the horizontal in the casting direction, the inclination of the conveyor belt in the casting direction is set as a function of the casting speed, which should be equal to the conveyor belt speed, and as a function of the material parameters of the liquid metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Reichelt, Matthias Scheulen, Klaus Schwerdtfeger, Peter Voss-Spilker, Ewald Feuerstacke
  • Patent number: 4828012
    Abstract: Disclosed are process and apparatus for use in the direct casting of metal strip from molten metal deposited on a moving chill surface from a tundish having a floor, opposed upwardly extending sidewalls, an end wall, an open outlet opposite the end wall with the open outlet extending substantially the full width of the tundish between the sidewalls, and an inlet for providing a flow of molten metal into the tundish from a source of molten metal. Flow diverters within the tundish divide the flow of molten metal into a plurality of separate streams and divert one of the streams in the direction of each sidewall and for recombining the diverted streams into a composite stream flowing toward the outlet. Flow diffusers diffuse the molten metal flowing through the tundish to provide molten metal of substantially uniform temperature across the width of the tundish at the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Assignee: National Aluminum Corporation
    Inventors: LeRoy Honeycutt, III, James C. Key
  • Patent number: 4819712
    Abstract: Metal strip may be cast directly from molten metal in an open tundish onto a chill roll. Strip thickness is controlled by contouring the tundish lip with an offset near the casting wheel. This can be used remedially to offset the natural tendency for the strip to be thicker near the edges, which is undesirable for cold rolling, or it may be used creatively to produce contoured strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1989
    Assignee: Battelle Development Corporation
    Inventor: Edwin S. Bartlett
  • Patent number: 4805686
    Abstract: The invention provides an aluminum based alloy consisting essentially of the formula Al.sub.bal Fe.sub.a X.sub.b, wherein X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Zn, Co, Ni, Cr, Mo, V, Zr, Ti, Y and Ce, "a" ranges from about 7-15 wt. %, "b" ranges from about 2-10 wt. % and the balance is aluminum. The alloy has a predominately microeutectic microstructure, and is produced by a method and apparatus for forming rapidly solidified metal within an ambient atmosphere. Generally stated, the apparatus includes a moving casting surface which has a quenching region for solidifying molten metal thereon. A reservoir holds molten metal and has orifice means for depositing a stream of molten metal onto the casting surface quenching region. A heating mechanism heats the molten metal contained within the reservoir, and a gas source provides a non-reactive gas atmosphere at the quenching region to minimize oxidation of the deposited metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Skinner, Paul A. Chipko, Kenji Okazaki
  • Patent number: 4799536
    Abstract: A more uniform cooling system for direct strip forming processes on chilled drums wherein the drum 1 is hollow and is partially filled with a coolant pool 6. A central tube 7 provides coolant spray 8 to the portions of the drum interior when not covered with the coolant pool. Patterned cooling for thickness control is practiced by changing the heat conduction through the drum wall at selected locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1989
    Assignee: Battelle Development Corporation
    Inventors: John P. Ingalls, Robert E. Maringer, Ray D. Wood
  • Patent number: 4791979
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for casting rapidly solidified metallic strip includes a nozzle mechanism which has an orifice for directing a stream of molten metal onto a movable quench surface. An upstream constraint mechanism constrains an upstream portion of a melt puddle formed on the quench surface by molten metal from the molten metal stream. A side constraint mechanism constrains two, opposite side portions of the melt puddle, and a downstream constraint mechanism provides a selected gas pressure, constraining force against a downstream, top surface of the melt puddled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1988
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventor: Howard H. Liebermann
  • Patent number: 4789022
    Abstract: A metal sheet or ribbon having a unidirectional crystalline structure is produced by continuous casting by the steps of feeding the molten metal to be cast onto the surface of a solidification support moving continuously in one direction along a given path, while heating the solidification support so that the surface thereof at the position for receiving the molten metal is at a temperature exceeding the solidification temperature of the metal being delivered thereto, and then cooling the delivered metal downstream of said position whereby the formation of crystal nuclei upon contact of the delivered molten metal is inhibited and the solid sheet or ribbon has a unidirectional crystalline structure conducive to ease in cold working without cracking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1988
    Inventor: Atsumi Ohno
  • Patent number: 4784210
    Abstract: In a block type moving mold continuous casting machine of the type wherein a pair of block molds group each consisting of a plurality of block molds interconnected with each other in the form of an endless track are disposed in opposed relationship to define a mold cavity therebetween; and molten metal is supplied from one open end of the mold cavity and a solidified casting is continuously withdrawn out of the other open end of said mold cavity, a method and installation capable of removing a block mold which has been thermally deformed during the casting process from a carrier in a simple manner and quickly replacing with a new or repaired block mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Assignees: Ishikawajima-Harima Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Nippon Kokan Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuzo Takahashi, Yutaka Tsuchida, Shiro Osada, Nobuhisa Hasebe
  • Patent number: 4775000
    Abstract: An apparatus and process for the continuous casting of tubular shapes wherein molten metal from which the tubular shape is formed is centrifugally deposited adjacent to the outlet of a fluid-cooled mold by a nozzle assembly, with the metal being cooled and rapidly solidified by the mold to form a cylindrical shell upon which additional metal is deposited to incrementally build the thickness of the tubular shape. The tubular shape being formed is withdrawn continuously from the mold, and is further cooled by coolant directed thereon. The nozzle assembly may be rotated to discharge the molten metal or, alternatively, the mold may be rotated as the metal is deposited thereon. Single-layer tubular shapes, with or without reinforcing material, may be cast and multiple-layer composite shapes may be produced having layers of different material composition and thicknesses. An inert atmosphere is maintained to prevent oxidation of the molten metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1988
    Inventor: Jack D. Ayers
  • Patent number: 4768458
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an amorphous metal sheet or ribbon which comprises extruding a molten metal from an orifice of a nozzle and directing the extruded molten metal onto a moving chill surface to rapidly cool and solidify the metal thereby forming said sheet or ribbon; said orifice being a rectangular slit defined by side walls and a front lip and a back lip arranged in front and behind the slit in the direction of movement of the chill surface below said nozzle; said chill surface moving a speed of 10 m/sec to 50 m/sec and being spaced from the front lip by a gap length of from 100 .mu.m to 600 .mu.m and the width W.sub.F of the front lip measured in the direction of movement of the chill surface being represented by the relationship W.sub.F .ltoreq.W, wherein W represent the width the slot in the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1988
    Assignee: Hitachi, Metals Inc.
    Inventors: Shunsuke Arakawa, Yoshizo Sawada
  • Patent number: 4763718
    Abstract: Net shape or near net shape metal rod or wire 3 is rapidly solidified. Molten metal 7 is delivered to a semi-cylindrical casting channel 2 in a chill block 1 from a tundish 4 through a critically-designed metering system comprising a drain 6, an orifice formed of the casting channel 2 and a complementary volume control channel 5, and a barrier 8 which directs molten metal to the volume-control orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1988
    Assignee: Battelle Development Corporation
    Inventor: Robert E. Maringer
  • Patent number: 4756788
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for taking up and winding a strip of material which is advancing at a selected velocity from a moving casting surface. Generally stated, the apparatus includes a take-up web supply mechanism for supplying a flexible, take-up web, and a winding mechanism, which has a reel for taking up and concentrically winding the strip and take-up web thereon in a laminated configuration. A connection mechanism connects the take-up web to the reel, and a reel drive mechanism rotates the reel to provide a peripheral velocity at a winding surface on the reel that substantially matches the velocity of the advancing strip. A directing mechanism directs the advancing strip onto the take-up web for transport to a winder nip region between the take-up web and the winding surface of the reel means to initiate winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1988
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Bedell, Naim S. Hemmat, Paul Jeges
  • Patent number: 4749024
    Abstract: Metal strip 3 may be cast directly from molten metal in an open tundish 2 onto a chill roll 1. Strip thickness is controlled by contouring the tundish lip 14 with an offset 10 near the casting wheel. This can be used remedially to offset the natural tendency for the strip to be thicker near the edges, which is undesirable for cold rolling, or it may be used creatively to produce contoured strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1988
    Assignee: Battelle Development Corporation
    Inventors: Edwin S. Bartlett, Richard A. Wood
  • Patent number: 4738300
    Abstract: In an endless track type continuous casting installation of the type in which a mold cavity having variable thickness for a casting is defined by the combination of block molds each of which is of an L-shaped cross section and which are connected with each other in the form of a loop, thereby providing each of a pair of endless tracks, safety is ensured with the block molds of the pair of endless tracks are combined to define a mold cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1988
    Assignees: Ishikawajima-Harima Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Nippon Kokan Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Dazai, Yutaka Tsuchida, Shuzo Takahashi, Nobuhisa Hasebe, Katsuyuki Sako
  • Patent number: 4732207
    Abstract: An apparatus for continuously sizing, preforming or forming metal objects includes a plurality of molds arranged in a substantially vertical column and which collectively define a mold cavity. Each mold is separable into at least two mold sections. A retaining mechanism retains the molds in the vertical column. A first and second screw arm assembly separates the bottom mold into sections and removes the mold sections from the bottom of the mold with a horizontally operable screw arm mechanism. The arm assemblies then move the mold sections from a bottom position to an uppermost position with a vertically movable screw arm mechanism. The horizontally movable screw arm mechanism then moves the mold sections to an uppermost position on the vertical mold column to form a top mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1988
    Inventor: Oscar Trendov
  • Patent number: 4721154
    Abstract: During the melt spinning process for producing metal foils having an amorphous structure, molten metal is cast through a slot-like nozzle onto a surface or wall which is rapidly moved past the nozzle. A particularly rapid quenching and cooling rate of the solidifying melt is achieved by providing cooling support elements which are supplied with a cooling pressure medium, on one side of the moved surface or wall and which aide is located opposite to or remote from the nozzle. Advantageously, the surface or wall is constructed as a thin-walled cylindrical shell or tube which is elastically deformable to some extent. In its shell interior, there are provided a number of rows of cooling support elements which may be controlled by thickness sensors and temperature profile sensors. There is thus rendered possible, the continuous production of amorphous metal foils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1988
    Assignee: Sulzer-Escher Wyss AG
    Inventors: Alfred Christ, Rolf Lehmann, Hans-Wlater Schlaepfer
  • Patent number: 4719963
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process and apparatus for the casting of metal strands, more particularly in the form of strips. The molten metal emerging from a slotted die 2 is applied to the cooling surface of a cooling member 1 which is moved past the slotted die 2. Allowing for the law of solidification, at the start of casting the strip outlet side die lip is gradually increased from a minimum distance from the cooling surface to the required final distance in such a way that the free gap between the wedge-shaped developing solidification front of the cast strip 7 and the die lip 5 remains small enough to prevent the molten metal from flowing out through the gap in an uncontrolled manner. The end face edge of the slotted die 2 can be borne via one or more gas cushions on the cooling surface and the free surface of the cast strand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1988
    Assignee: Sundwiger Eisenhutte Maschinenfabrik Grah & Co.
    Inventors: Horst Schenk, Peter Dziura
  • Patent number: 4715905
    Abstract: Fe alloy containing Si more than 4.0 wt % is produced by a thin plate casting process. The producing condition depends upon rapid solidification of Fe alloy from a molten condition at cooling rate of more than 1.degree. C./sen to less than 10.sup.5 .degree. C./sec.The obtained thin cast plates are subjected to a hot rolling of more than 30% at the temperature range of 600.degree. to 800.degree. C., and to the cold rolling to a determined thickness, followed pickling. By the above mentioned conditions, operations of the industrial scale may be practiced without cracks on the surface in the cold rolling excellent magnetic characteristics may be provided by passing the annealing after the cold rolling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1987
    Assignee: Nippon Kokan Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhide Nakaoka, Yoshikazu Takada, Junichi Inagaki, Akira Hiura
  • Patent number: 4708194
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an improved rapid solidification casting system which employs one or more metal conditioning brushes. The casting surface is cleaned by the brushes and the pressure on the brushes is adjusted so as to deposit a layer of the brush metal onto the casting surface, the casting surface so conditioned increases the quality of the resulting cast material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1987
    Assignee: Allied Corporation
    Inventor: Walter R. Mohn
  • Patent number: 4705095
    Abstract: An improved heat extracting chill block roll and method for use in the continuous casting of ribbon-like metal sheet directly from the melt by means of rapid solidification techniques. The resulting product is considerably thicker and more uniform than previously possible by such techniques. A textured chill surface is formed on the roll by multi-sided protrusions having intermediate valleys between the protrusions. This provides a plurality of discontinuous surfaces on the sides of the protrusions. The preferred surface texture is that formed by a conventional knurling tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1987
    Assignee: Ribbon Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas A. Gaspar
  • Patent number: 4697631
    Abstract: In a process and apparatus for forming an ingot having a length at least twice as great as its characteristic sectional dimension, droplets of molten metal are sprayed onto a catching surface of a dummy bar which is rotated about its axis and moved in a removal direction along its axis. Layers of spray built up on the catching surface form an ingot. Boundary surfaces may be provided for shaping one of the surfaces of the formed ingot. In the case of a hollow ingot, the boundary surfaces are in the form of a partially cylindrical mandrel extending axially into a hollow dummy bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1987
    Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Herbert Bungeroth, Otto Wessel
  • Patent number: 4688621
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for casting rapidly solidified metal ingots wherein molten metal is centrifugally formed into molten droplets that are rapidly solidified under controlled conditions into metal particles which are cast against a rotating mold cavity within which the metal particles are consolidated into an ingot to be subsequently worked to a billet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1987
    Inventor: Falih Darmara
  • Patent number: 4670096
    Abstract: In the production of a semi-conductor foil by solidification of a liquid semi-conductor on a horizontal support, the improvement which comprises positioning a molding body on the horizontal support, supplying the liquid semi-conductor to the molding body, and effecting relative movement between the molding body and support in a direction parallel to the support. Thereby fault-free silicon foils can readily be produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1987
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ingo Schwirtlich, Peter Woditsch
  • Patent number: 4664176
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for casting metal strip include a moving chill body that has a quench surface. A nozzle mechanism deposits a stream of molten metal on a quenching region of the quench surface to form the strip. The nozzle mechanism has an exit portion with a nozzle orifice. A depletion mechanism heats a gas to lower the density thereof and to produce a low-density atmosphere. The gas is supplied to a depletion region located adjacent to and upstream of the quenching region to provide the low density atmosphere within the depletion region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1987
    Assignee: Allied Corporation
    Inventor: Howard H. Liebermann
  • Patent number: 4662428
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for continuously sizing, preforming or forming metal objects include a plurality of molds arranged in a substantially vertical column and which collectively define a mold cavity. Each mold is separable into at least two mold sections. A retaining mechanism retains the molds in the vertical column. A mechanism separates the bottom mold into sections and removes the mold sections and positions the sections on a top mold of the column to form a new top mold. Preferably, the mechanism includes first and second arms which are rotatable between the bottom and the top mold positions and which grasp and move the mold sections from the bottom of the column to the top of the column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1987
    Inventor: Asparough O. Trendov
  • Patent number: 4662430
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for continuously sizing, preforming or forming metal objects include a plurality of molds arranged in a substantially vertical column and which collectively define a mold cavity. Each mold is separable into at least two mold sections. A retaining mechanism retains the molds in the vertical column. A first and second hydraulic arm assembly separates the bottom mold into sections and removes with a first hydraulic arm the mold sections from the bottom of the mold column and places the sections at the bottom of an adjacent vertical column of mold sections. A second hydraulic arm then pushes the adjacent column of sections upwardly and a third hydraulic arm positions a top mold section from each adjacent column of sections to form a top mold on the vertical mold columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1987
    Inventor: Asparough O. Trandov
  • Patent number: 4660622
    Abstract: Apparatus and process for the manufacturing of microcrystalline metallic materials in band form, wherein the chemical compositing for the cooling roller given in ranges within which the upper surface roughness is reduced, the geometry is improved, the presence of microcracks is eliminated or reduced and the ductibility of the band is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1987
    Assignee: VEB Rohrkombinat, Stahl und Walzwerk, Riesa
    Inventors: Harald Reutler, Wolfgang Loser, Heinz Muhlbach, Gerhard Richter, Gunter Stephani
  • Patent number: 4649984
    Abstract: An apparatus for casting metal strip includes a nozzle having an orifice for depositing a stream of molten metal onto a casting region of a moving chill surface. A conditioning shoe is located generally upstream from the nozzle in a direction opposite to the direction of chill surface movement to delimit a conditioning chamber. The conditioning chamber communicates directly with the nozzle orifice and borders at least three sidelines of the chill surface casting portion. A shield for minimizing an intrusion of ambient atmosphere into the conditioning chamber and for deflecting an entrained gas boundary layer carried along by the chill surface is cooperatively connected to the conditioning shoe. Gas control provides a selected, low density atmosphere, such as a partial vacuum, within the conditioning chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1987
    Assignee: Allied Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Bedell, Naim S. Hemmat, Paul Jeges
  • Patent number: 4650618
    Abstract: Juxtaposed nozzle openings apply the same or different melts to the surface of a moving cooler surface for producing thin metal strips or foils with a considerable width. The nozzle openings can be staggered in the direction of movement of the cooler surface and apply different materials to produce a metal strip with juxtaposed and sharply defined regions with different characteristics. Amorphous or mixed amorphous/-crystalline, or solely crystalline material structures can also be produced. Alternatively, different cooling capacities on different cooler surface areas and different structuring of different cooler surface areas permit the melt to solidify on the cooler surface such that the strips or foils obtained have adjacent regions with different metallic and/or geometrical structures. By geometrical configuration of the cooler surface, foils with a structured surface or with shape-limited individual regions can be used for mass production of small parts from sheet or strip material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1987
    Assignee: Concast Standard AG
    Inventors: Wilfried Heinemann, Thomas Gabriel, Peter Reimann, Hans-Ulrich Kunzi, Hans-Joachim Guntherodt
  • Patent number: 4646812
    Abstract: A process for casting metallic strips thicker than from melt-drag processes but thinner than the inherent normal thickness of a cast melt is disclosed. The disclosed process casts molten metal, without decanting or accelerating the molten stream, onto a channel-shaped chill surface. After casting, the molten strip acquires a high thermal gradient. Following thermal shrinkage of the underside the molten top layer is squeegeed using a chill roll to uniformly distribute and crystallize the top surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1987
    Assignee: Battelle Development Corporation
    Inventor: Robert E. Maringer
  • Patent number: 4644999
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for taking up and winding a strip of material which is advancing at a selected velocity from a moving casting surface. Generally stated, the apparatus includes a take-up web supply mechanism for supplying a flexible, take-up web, and a winding mechanism, which has a reel for taking up and concentrically winding the strip and take-up web thereon in a laminated configuration. A connection mechanism connects the take-up web to the reel, and a reel drive mechanism rotates the reel to provide a peripheral velocity at a winding surface on the reel that substantially matches the velocity of the advancing strip. A directing mechanism directs the advancing strip onto the take-up web for transport to a winder nip region between the take-up web and the winding surface of the reel means to initiate winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1987
    Assignee: Allied Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Bedell, Naim S. Hemmat, Paul Jeges
  • Patent number: 4617980
    Abstract: A machine for continuously casting metal features a caterpillar type mold with a mold link which bears a plate forming the actual mold workface. At least one of the long edges of this plate is chamfered towards the mold workface. As a result thermal expansion occurring during operation of the machine is taken into account so that the work face of the mold is not deformed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1986
    Assignee: Swiss Aluminium Ltd.
    Inventor: Urs Banninger
  • Patent number: 4617982
    Abstract: Material is supplied from a pressure hopper made to have an inert gas atmosphere to each of a plurality of melting furnaces one after another in a predetermined amount each time. The interior atmosphere of each melting furnace is replaced by an inert gas, and the material is melted in the melting furnace by heating. The resulting molten metal is supplied from one of the melting furnaces after another to a discharge container having a discharge nozzle and made to have an inert gas atmosphere, and is continuously discharged from the discharge nozzle against a rapid quenching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1986
    Assignee: Unitika Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Tanimura, Hisayasu Tsubata, Shoji Tamamura
  • Patent number: 4614220
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for continuously casting a castable material to a thickness of 10 to 40 mils. A molten material is first spread onto a spreading roller to a uniform thickness and then transferred to a quenching roller whereon the material is cooled until dimensionally stable. The apparatus may be employed to continuously cast thin sheet, platelets, wire, etc. The materials castable by this process and apparatus include metals, alloys, glasses, thermoplastic materials and metalloids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: Steven J. Savage
  • Patent number: 4614222
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for continuous casting of amorphous or polycrystalline metal strip from a melt. The molten metal is delivered from a reservoir (2) to a moving chill surface, preferably a cylindrical roll (1) through an orifice (3) in the reservoir (2). The gap between the reservoir (2) and the chill surface (1) is not fixed as in prior methods but is variable due to a resilient bias on the reservoir toward the chill surface. A pivot (10) and counterweight (11) are convenient apparatus for resiliently biasing the reservoir. The small portion of the reservoir (2) therefore rides lightly upon the molten metal film delivered to the chill surface or upon the solidified metal strip. The variable gap allows better control over the process and better quality surfaces on the metal strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1986
    Assignee: Battelle Development Corporation
    Inventor: Robert E. Maringer
  • Patent number: 4605055
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuously casting small shapes of ferroalloys, slags and like remelt metals in multi-cavity iron or steel moulds wherein the mass of the mould is about 6 to 25 times greater than the mass of the castings. The molten metal or metallic slag is poured into the moving train of moulds which have been previously spray coated with a refractory slurry. The moving train of moulds is subjected to water sprays shortly after pouring to quench the castings and to stabilize the mould temperature below 500.degree. C. High production yields and improved mould life are obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1986
    Assignee: Economy Industrial Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas R. Allen, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4600048
    Abstract: A thin metal strip excellent in both shape and quality is produced by a continuous casting process which comprises the steps of jetting a molten metal through a nozzle onto the surface of a moving chill body maintained at a pertinent temperature range by irradiating a high density energy at a place positioned at the rear of the nozzle, and subjecting the molten metal to quenching so as to effect solidification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1986
    Assignee: Nippon Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Sato, Tsutomu Ozawa, Katsuhiro Minamida
  • Patent number: 4592410
    Abstract: A process for continuously casting thin slabs, which comprises the steps of pouring a molten metal from a large-sized tundish through a sliding nozzle into a small-sized tundish, over-flowing the molten metal from the small-sized tundish to pour the molten metal into a continuous casting machine of the twin-belt type is disclosed. According to the process, a pouring rate into the small-sized tundish is calculated prior to overflow on the basis of a change in weight of the small-sized tundish and the degree of opening of the sliding nozzle is adjusted so as to make the calculated pouring rate come close to the target pouring rate into the small-sized tundish or into the casting machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1986
    Assignee: Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Takamoto, Yasutake Ohhashi, Hisao Nishimura, Yutaka Hirata, Takashi Okazaki, Masahiro Yoshihara
  • Patent number: 4592411
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuously casting a filament within a region of preselected vacuum and passing the filament to ambient region of higher pressure include a rotating casting wheel which has an annular peripheral quench surface. A guide housing encloses the casting wheel to separate the wheel from the ambient region and to delimit a guide region which is adapted to pass the filament therethrough to an exit region communicating into the ambient region. An extrusion housing delimits an extrusion chamber which communicates with the guide housing and has a portion of the quench surface disposed therein. An extrusion mechanism located in the extrusion chamber extrudes molten metal onto the quench surface to form the filament, and an extrusion vacuum mechanism provides a preselected vacuum in the extrusion chamber. A fluid jet mechanism disposed in the guide housing reduces the pressure in the extrusion chamber and directs the filament through the guide region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1986
    Assignee: Allied Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Bedell, Howard H. Liebermann
  • Patent number: 4590988
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing amorphous metal ribbons by ejecting molten metal through a nozzle attached to a tundish onto a rapidly moving cooling body, the molten metal is suppled to the tundish by first pouring the molten metal from a ladle into an intermediate vessel and then by supplying the molten metal from the intermediate vessel to the tundish through a gas-lift pump. An apparatus for supplying molten metal to a tundish comprises an intermediate vessel adjacent to the tundish and a gas-lift pump to supply the molten metal from the intermediate vessel to the tundish. The molten metal is poured from a ladle into the intermediate vessel. The gas-lift pump has a pump proper that is placed over the intermediate vessel and tundish so that its inlet and outlet open in the intermediate vessel and tundish, respectively. Bubbles are suppled into the pump proper through its inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1986
    Assignee: Nippon Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Hiromi Fukuoka, Keisuke Asano, Hideo Ide
  • Patent number: 4589470
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus and related method for a continuous casting apparatus includes a series of spray nozzles for spraying a coolant against one surface of a moving chill substrate. The invention apparatus includes an enclosure having vacuum applied thereto for preventing migration of the sprayed coolant from the surface against which it is sprayed to the surface contacting the molten solidifying material. Any coolant having a tendency to escape along sealed edges of the enclosure is forced back into the enclosure by the pressure gradient. The edges are sealed by elongated plastic rods. Additionally, scrapers are provided for removing remanent coolant from the sprayed surface. The coolant is sprayed at a high velocity to increase its heat transferring efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1986
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Bedell, Paul G. Friedmann, Julian H. Kushnick, Eli Rosenthal, James R. Hubbard, Christian J. Zingler
  • Patent number: 4582116
    Abstract: A tiltable cooled crucible for containing the molten alloy has a spout for extracting the molten alloy. The alloy is cast on an advanceable chilled surface. The cooled crucible is protected from the molten alloy by a solidified layer of the alloy which is solidified and prevents reaction between the molten alloy and the cooled crucible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1986
    Assignee: Allied Corporation
    Inventors: Ranjan Ray, Lee E. Tanner
  • Patent number: 4582117
    Abstract: A casting assembly has a casting nozzle for dispensing a melt puddle upon a casting surface of a continuously moving chilled substrate. A vibratory support contacts the chilled substrate opposite the casting nozzle and includes an ultrasonic transducer for exciting the substrate. The support applies ultrasonic vibrations through the substrate to the melt puddle prior to the critical period of solidification for enhancing wetting of the substrate and improving heat transfer between the melt puddle and the chilled substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1986
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute
    Inventor: Julian H. Kushnick
  • Patent number: 4570695
    Abstract: This invention provides a method for manufacturing a burr-free thin metal band by jetting molten magnetic metal from a nozzle onto a rotating cooling roll or a running cooling belt to permit it to be solidified. During the manufacture of such burr-free metal band, the width of a metal band to be obtained is also varied by swinging the nozzle within a predetermined angle range with respect to the direction of the width of the rotating cooling roll or the running cooling belt, or by varying the nozzle's opening length with respect to the direction of the width of the cooling roll or the cooling belt. According to this method it is possible to obtain a thin metal band having a central section with a uniform width, and first and second sections having a gradually narrowing width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1986
    Assignee: Tokyo Shibaura Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Ishii, Shinichi Murata, Shiro Kusagawa, Miyoshi Wakasaki
  • Patent number: 4562877
    Abstract: A method of rapidly solidifying thin metallic strips, comprising projecting a jet of molten metal or alloy under reduced atmospheric pressure onto a cold substrate moving at high speed, thereby forming the strip in contact with the substrate, and then bringing the strip rapidly into higher atmospheric pressure. Forming the strip on the substrate under reduced atmospheric pressure improves the quality of the edges and surface of the strip, while bringing the strip rapidly into higher atmospheric pressure improves the adherence of the strip to the substrate. If the strip is brought into higher atmospheric pressure before its temperature falls to the temperature of vitrification, the properties of the vitreous metal formed, including its ductility, are also improved, because of the more rapid passage through the temperature range above the vitrification temperature than if the metal were cooled under reduced pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1986
    Assignee: Pont-a-Mousson S.A.
    Inventors: Pascal Fournier, Jean-Claude Peraud
  • Patent number: 4561488
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for continuously casting a metal strip are disclosed. In the invention, a molten metal is supplied, by a forcible circulation, into a casting cavity defined between an outer peripheral surface of rotating cooled casting roll and an inner peripheral surface having a substantially U-shaped cross-section of a refractory inner vessel disposed to oppose to said outer peripheral surface with a predetermined gap left therebetween. The molten metal is supplied in such a manner that it flows in the same direction as the direction of rotation of said cooled casting roll so that the molten metal contacts only with the outer peripheral surface of the cooled casting roll over a predetermined circumferential length. As a result, the molten metal is solidified on the outer peripheral surface of the cooled casting roll to form a metal strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1985
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Eisuke Niyama, Tatsushi Aizawa
  • Patent number: 4546815
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for permitting long-term continuous casting provides a plurality of orifices. By temporarily casting simultaneously from two adjacent orifices, it becomes possible to replace orifices without interrupting the casting process. Thus, the duration of continuous casting is not limited by the useful lifetime of a single casting orifice. Among the applications of the invention is the long-term continuous casting of metallic ribbon, such as amorphous metal ribbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1985
    Assignee: Allied Corporation
    Inventors: Howard H. Liebermann, James Riesenfeld
  • Patent number: 4545422
    Abstract: A machine for casting battery grids continuously includes a rotary, cylindrical drum in the outer peripheral surface of which the battery grid cavity is machined in the form of a plurality of intersecting axially and circumferentially extending grooves. A shoe is arranged in close fitting, mating engagement with an arcuate segment of the peripheral surface of the drum. The shoe has a molten lead passageway therein which communicates with the peripheral surface of the drum by means of an orifice slot extending lengthwise of the shoe and across the drum. Molten lead under superatmospheric pressure is directed into a tube extending lengthwise within the lead passageway in the shoe and provided with a plurality of openings spaced lengthwise of the tube. The lead is discharged through these openings into the lead passageway, through the orifice slot and against the surface of the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1985
    Assignee: Wirtz Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack E. McLane, Raymond L. Schenk