Abstract: An alloy of aluminum containing magnesium, silicon and optionally copper in amounts in percent by weight falling within one of the following ranges:(1) 0.4.ltoreq.Mg.ltoreq.0.8, 0.2.ltoreq.Si.ltoreq.0.5, 0.3.ltoreq.Cu.ltoreq.3.5;(2) 0.8.ltoreq.Mg.ltoreq.1.4, 0.2.ltoreq.Si.ltoreq.0.5, Cu.ltoreq.2.5; and(3) 0.4.ltoreq.Mg.ltoreq.1.0, 0.2.ltoreq.Si.ltoreq.1.4, Cu.ltoreq.2.0; said alloyhaving been formed into a sheet having properties suitable for automotive applications. The alloy may also contain at least one additional element selected from the group consisting of Fe in an amount of 0.4 percent by weight or less, Mn in an amount of 0.4 percent by weight or less, Zn in an amount of 0.3 percent by weight or less and a small amount of at least one other element, such as Cr, Ti, Zr and V.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for strip casting of metals on at least one endless belt whereby the belt is cooled when it is not in contact with molten metal deposited on its surface.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for strip casting of metals on at least one endless belt whereby the belt is cooled when it is not in contact with molten metal deposited on its surface.

Abstract: A roll for use in a belt caster. The roll has a plurality of axial segments, at least one of which can be adjusted to compensate for transverse distortions in the belt. Generally uniform tension is maintained transversely in the belt so that the belt remains generally planar in the portion that contacts the molten metal that is cast in the belt caster.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of casting solidified aluminum comprising providing a body of molten aluminum; providing means for casting solidified aluminum from said molten aluminum and providing a nozzle comprised of titanium adapted to flow molten aluminum into said means for casting said solidified aluminum. The nozzle is electrically preheated before introducing molten aluminum thereto and casting solified aluminum therefrom.

Abstract: Electrostatic application of a dusting of dry, electrostatically adherable, thermally insulative powder particles over a workface of a continuous metal-casting machine in which the mold surface or surfaces which provide the workface or workfaces revolve in a generally oval course. A dry dusting of protective powdery refractory material is applied to the workface after being entrained in an air stream and electrostatically charged by suitable electrostatic apparatus. The workface to be dusted is electrically grounded for attracting the charged powder particles for adhering them to the workface. The resultant coating formed by the dusting so deposited is remarkably uniform over a substantial area of the workface, a phenomenon explainable by mutual electrostatic repulsion of the dry powder particles being deposited.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuously cooling a moving web while simultaneously removing the cooling fluid from the web in which a stream of quenching fluid is applied transversely across the web to cool it and a fluid containment gas is positioned on either side of the quenching fluid to direct a containment fluid toward the quenching fluid and establish a continuous containment fluid curtain stream to prevent passage of the quenching fluid beyond the point of which the containment fluid is introduced.

Abstract: A lightweight V-grooved pulley obtained from a metal plate and having a cylindrical member with one open end, the cylindrical member having a circumferential surface formed with at least one groove having a substantially V-shaped section is provided in which the material of the metal plate consists of an aluminum alloy containing 2 to 6 wt% of Mg, at least one of 0.005 to 0.2 wt % of Ti, and 0.0005 to 0.02 wt % of B, impurities containing not more than 0.2 wt % of Si, not more than 0.2 wt % of Fe, and not more than 0.5 wt % of Zn, and a balance consisting of Al and an inevitable impurity, and an anodized film is formed on a region including the groove. The material of the metal plate may additionally contain at least one element selected from the group consisting of 0.01 to 2.0 wt % of Cu, 0.02 to 1.0 wt % of Cr, and 0.01 to 0.3 wt % of Zr.

Abstract: Electrostatic application of a dusting of dry, self-adhering, thermally and electrically insulative powder particles over a work face of an endless, thin, flexible, water-cooled, metallic casting belt advantageous for use in a continuous metal-casting machine. A dry dusting of protective powdery refractory substance is applied to the belt after being rendered airborne and electrostatically charged by various embodiments of suitable electrostatic apparatus. The casting belt to be dusted is electrically grounded for attracting the charged powder particles for adhering them to the casting belt. The dusting so deposited is remarkably uniform over a substantial area, a phenomenon explainable by mutual electrostatic repulsion of the dry powder particles being deposited. Continuously re-applied dusting over the work face of an endless casting belt during a cast provides an immediately useful repair of lost dusting powder. The dusting may be removed at will by means of an air knife.

Abstract: An induction heating system is applied to a continuous molten metal casting apparatus having two endless flexible casting belts. The belts are arranged such that front surfaces of each belt faces the other belt and a pair of dam blocks arranged at the edges of one of the belts along with the belts themselves form a casting region. Molten metal is delivered to the casting region to form rectangular sheets of cast metal. Inductive heaters preheat the endless belts prior to the belts entry to the casting region. This preheating allows for continuous smooth casting.

Abstract: A side wall construction for a continuous belt caster includes a metallic side wall body and a refractory layer attached on the central portion of the side wall body. The metallic side wall body has side edge portion extending substantially in flush with the the surface of the refractory layer. The refractory layer is formed with a center projection of essentially triangular cross-section. The height of the peak of the projection is gradually decreased toward downstream of transfer direction of the liquidus and solidus metal. On the other hand, it may be possible to formulate the refractory layer as double layer construction of a heat insulating refractory layer and a wear-resistantive refractory layer.

Abstract: Continuous casting of discrete solid shapes from a molten material using modified continuous casting machines and processes are disclosed. In a conventional twin belt continuous caster, for example, forming means such as dividers are employed on the upper belt to define a mold cavity in the casting region of the machine. Different size and shape forming means may be used to provide a variety of cast products.

Abstract: The flatness of a casting belt in a continuous metal casting machine is continuously monitored and thereby also the condition of its thermal protective coating. One or more non-contacting eddy-current sensing probes are placed in proximity to the reverse or coolant side of a belt for sensing and measuring the distance of the belt from the probe to reveal irregularities in the flatness of the belt while it travels past the probe. A deficiency of insulative belt coating can cause variations in belt flatness during casting. By monitoring such variations an operator of the continuous casting machine is alerted that the coating needs to be retouched or replaced without interrupting the casting process. Or such monitoring can alert the operator that the belt has become inherently not flat. A similar proximity sensing probe is utilized for the purpose of supplying an instant report of the initial entrance of molten metal into the casting cavity adjacent to a casting belt at the start of a cast.

Abstract: Continuous casting is improved by providing a continuous casting mold of copper alloy, said copper alloy including from 1.6 to 2.4% nickel, from 0.5 to 0.8% silicon, from 0.01 to 0.2% zirconium possibly including up to 0.4% chromium and/or up to 0.2% iron, the remainder copper as well as inevitable manufacturing impurities and usual working additives preferably the zirconium amount is smaller than the upper stated limit and the alloy includes in addition up to 0.1% of at least one of the following cerium, hafnium, niobium, titanium and vanadium.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the feeding of molten metals through nozzles having gas-permeable walls, cooperating with twin-belt continuous metal-casing machines. The closed-channeled, multi-passaged nozzles have gas-permeable refractory walls, allowing the escape of gases that may be dissolved in the molten metal and become expelled or liberated from it while the molten metal is flowing through the passageways in the nozzle. Gaseous voids in the continuously cast product are thereby avoided, notably in aluminum casting as shown by experimental results to date. The nozzles are made from gas-permeable refractory material having interconnected porosity--that is, interconnected void interstices--extending through the nozzle walls. The interconnected void interstices are of sufficient size for allowing the passage of hydrogen gas through the walls, while being sufficiently small for preventing the leakage of molten metal. The gas-permeable refractory material is relatively non-wettable by the molten metal.

Abstract: Casting process and device for the continuous casting of strip and thin slabs or rods whereby at least one wall of a casting mold is formed by a flexible open-end casting belt which travels from a coil through the mold is coiled up again after passing through the mold. The belt is submitted to a tensile force acting in the direction of its path of motion and so intensely that the belt, when it is heated up in the mold, is stressed beyond its elastic limit as to cause the belt to be strained to the extent that the growth of its cross-sectional area resulting from thermal expansion is sufficiently compensated for by the reduction of its cross-section due to the strain in the belt. Thereby an inadmissable deformation of the belt due to its thermal expansion is prevented.

Abstract: Metallic pieces of predetermined shape, e.g., anodes, are continuously manufactured from molten metal, e.g., impure molten copper, by continuously casting the molten metal in an inclined mold cavity (13) formed by two endless moving belts (14( and (15) and by two moving side dams (20) and (21) so as to produce a hot metallic strip (4), and by cutting the hot strip, when it has left the mold cavity, with at least one plasma torch (10) along a profile (27) such that anodes (11) with a low waste coefficient are obtained. In this way, flat copper anodes with a thickness of between 40 and 50 mm can be produced.

Abstract: A method and system is used for achieving increased precision of steering of the flexible, metallic endless belts of continuous metal-casting machines. Such belts usually have the imperfections inherent in the parent strip metal from which the belt is made. For example, in low-carbon steel, there is generally a "camber," a curvature of the edges in the plane of the strip material. Belts, revolving in the machine, are normally steered through sensing the lateral position of one edge. If the edge is not true, due to camber, the servo steering system of the prior art will continually "hunt" caused by variations in lateral position of the cambered edge. The present invention provides a steering method and system responsive to a single signal source, fixed on a belt edge. This single signal source is achieved by notching or otherwise cuing a belt at one place along an edge so that the steering sensor senses this cue notch as the belt revolves.

Abstract: For closing gaps between blocks of a moving edge dam prior to its travelling downstream into the entrance of a moving mold defined between upper and lower revolving casting belts moving downstream from the mold entrance to its exit, the moving edge dam is initially elevated into a crest, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 14. This crest is above a plane generally defined by the lower casting belt travelling downstream. Then, a guide roller positioned above thrusts downwardly upon the moving edge dam bending it convex downwardly as shown at "B" in FIG. 14 for causing its dam blocks to press against each other for sliding them along their high strength endless flexibile carrying member, thereby closing gaps between the blocks entering the mold entrance for sealing the entrance against outward leakage of molten metal between blocks.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuous casting includes a tundish for containing molten metal and delivering the metal to a work zone where the metal solidifies as it is moved through the work zone in a continuous casting process. The tundish contains molten metal and includes an outlet and a pervious flow restricting element is positioned in the outlet. The element causes the flow of the metal to be distributed as it flows through the outlet and into the work zone to engage a growing shell of solid metal carried through the work zone by a chilled substrate. The molten metal acts to apply a pressure on the shell and to lubricate the moving shell. The arrangement minimizes exposure of liquid to air and minimizes opportunity for turbulence in the liquid contained in the work zone. A method of continuous casting is also described.

Abstract: The wide, thin, revolvable, flexible, metallic casting belts are made to incorporate differential patterns of residual internal longitudinal tensile and compressive stresses. The two marginal areas are residually longitudinally stretched more than the main middle area straddled by these margins. This main middle area is used as a moving mold and is expected to contact molten metal. Thus, the treated belts have two marginal areas in a state of mild longitudinal compression straddling the main middle area in a state of mild residual longitudinal tension. During casting, when hot metal comes into contact with the main middle area of such treated belt, the main middle area expands. Because of the built-in differential compensating stresses, the stresses throughout such belt during casting advantageously become balanced or equalized across the whole belt width.

Abstract: A side dam block disposed along the widthwise end portion of a block mold is supported by springs such that the side dam block is pressed against the casting flat surface of the opposing block mold so that gap between the opposing block molds can be suitably adjusted.

Abstract: Downward force resulting from the block mold and its carrier of the upper mold assembly which move downwardly toward the upstream end of the mold cavity defined by the vertically spaced-apart upper and lower mold assemblies is transmitted to the block mold and its carrier of the upper mold assembly passing the upward path extending upwardly from the downstream end of the mold cavity so that the distortions of the cross-sectional configuration and size of the mold cavity due to the weight of the block molds and their carriers are prevented.

Abstract: In continuously casting molten metal into cast product by a twin-belt machine, it is desirable to achieve dramatic increases in speed (linear feet per minute) at which cast product exits the machine, particularly in installations where steel cast product is intended to feed a downstream regular rolling mill (as distinct from a planetary mill) operating in tandem with the twin-belt caster. Such high-speed casting produces product with a relatively thin shell and molten interior, and the shell tends to bulge outwardly due to metallostatic head pressure of the molten center. A number of cooperative features enable high-speed, twin-belt casting: (1) Each casting belt is slidably supported adjacent to the caster exit pulley for bulge control and enhanced cooling of cast product. (2) Lateral skew steering of each belt provides an effective increase in moving mold length plus a continuity of heat transfer not obtained with prior art belt steering apparatus.

Abstract: In a mold cavity and/or in horizontal cooling zones, upstream- and downstream-side gears are drivingly coupled to each other through an endless-track-like member to which the tensile force is exerted by a tensioner, so that gaps between the adjacent block molds can be eliminated and therefore intrusion and leakage of a cooling liquid and melt are prevented.

Abstract: A casting method and apparatus making use of a twin belt caster which has an upper belt, a lower belt and dam members disposed between both opposing longitudinal edges of the upper and lower belts. The upper belt, lower belt and dam members in cooperation provide a continuous casting mold which is inclined at a predetermined angle from the horizontal plane and into which a melt of steel is poured. The lower belt provides a smaller cooling effect than the upper belt so that the solidification of the melt is retarded in the region near the lower belt as compared with the region near the upper belt.

Abstract: A pair of guide pins are mounted on sideplate extensions of the caster and mating roller pairs are mounted on the nozzle assembly. The nozzle is advanced toward the caster so that the roller pairs engage the guide pins. Both guide pins are remotely adjustable in the vertical direction by hydraulic cylinders acting through eccentrics. This moves the nozzle vertically. The guide pin on the inboard side of the caster is similarly horizontally adjustable. The nozzle roller pair which engage the inboard guide pin are flanged so that the nozzle moves horizontally with the inboard guide pin.

Abstract: In order to securely hold a moving belt of a continuous casting device against selective movable side walls, a first group of rotatable control rods which are disposed in a first supply header and an adjacent exhaust header are arranged to produce narrow high pressure zones in the film defined between the cooling pad in which the header are formed and the moving belt. These zones can be selectively moved to juxtapose the side walls when the gap between the walls is adjusted. A second group of rotatable control rods which are disposed in second and third supply headers selectively heat the side edges of the belt which are relatively cool as compared with the center section which is exposed to molten metal. As the side walls are moved apart the width of the edge sections which are exposed to pre-heated coolant can be reduced and the amount of normal temperature coolant applied thereto also increased.

Abstract: A side dam consisting of elements is arranged laterally of the casting nozzle and the casting mold. The side dam with the elements travels over two pulleys. Each element consists of a carrier and an easily exchangeable block which is connected to the carrier. Each carrier is supported at one end on a guide rail and a pulley by way of a foot and is swivel mounted at the other end to the foot of the neighboring element by way of a connection rod. By these measures optimum conditions are provided so that the side dam travels at a constant speed, despite the application of relatively long elements. Defect blocks can be exchanged during operation. The side dam's plane of motion is parallel to the mold wall's planes of motion and the side dam can herewith be adjusted at any desired depth between the casting mold walls, whereby the width of the cast product is determined.

Abstract: Prior to reaching the nozzle's exit, the belt is pressed from outward against the nozzle by means of a rail supported by springs whereby the mould is reliably sealed off under all working conditions. Pressing the belt against the nozzle can also be achieved by means of pistons or the direct hydrostatic and/or hydrodynamic effect of the coolant from the outside or through various combined measures. In order to reduce friction and wear, the nozzle in the area of contact with one belt can be provided with a wear-resistant coating or wear-resistant inserts. This sealing method enables a casting process with high metallostatic pressure, consequently resulting in a high quality product.

Abstract: A belt type cast sheet continuous caster of the type comprises a pair of opposed circulatorily movable belts, a pair of opposed side plates arranged along opposite side edge portions of the movable belts, coolers which each have numerous water feed openings and water discharge openings opened to the movable belt and are arranged behind the respective movable belts, and movable partition plates which are placed in respective cooling headers and each connected to driving means for moving the partition plates in a width direction of a cast sheet. A casting space is defined by the movable belt and the side plates.

Abstract: A method and belt composition for improving the performance and flatness of thin revolving flexible casting belts of continuous casting machines wherein at least one wall of the moving mold is provided by a thin flexible endless metallic casting belt having a permanent insulative coating with fluid-accessible porosity in this permanent coating. Contrary to prior methods and apparatus which have sought to protect the wide thin casting belts, the present method for improving belt flatness and performance involves providing a Helium-containing gaseous film between the metal and the front face of the casting belt which is coated with a permanent insulative porous coating.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuous casting of an elongated thin metal strip achieves substantially high yield without allowing break-out or sticking. The method for casting a continuous elongated metal strip includes a step of driving endless belts at a varying speed so as to apply jerks to the slightly and half-solidified metal that release the metal from the surfaces of the stationary side walls. Applying jerks to the casting chamber by varying the driving speed of the endless belt ensures that the solidifying metal will travel smoothly and thus ensures a high manufacturing yield.

Abstract: An endless track continuous casting machine having a pair of upper and lower endless belts facing each other in a spaced apart relationship and travelling in a downwardly slanted direction which form the long side walls of a mold. Dam blocks continuously and closely disposed and pinched between both side edges of the pair of endless belts and each supported by a link forming part of an endless chain wound around sprockets disposed on each side of the pair of endless belts form the short side walls of the mold. The dam blocks are mounted on each of the links of the endless chain to be movable inwardly and outwardly, and they are guided by a guiding mechanism to a projecting position when entering the advancing path of the mold and are guided to a set back position when entering the returning route. This guiding mechanism is adjustable to change the projected position of each dam block while the endless chain is moving, thus enabling the width of a cast piece to be altered without stopping the casting work.

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.

Abstract: In continuous metal-casting machines utilizing one or more thin flexible belts as mold surfaces, a suitably placed thermal sensing probe which contacts the reverse side of a casting belt results in enhanced control of molten-metal pool levels, in contrast to the earlier systems where a series of separately monitored probes were disposed serially against the belt from upstream to downstream, each of which registered a separately monitored "yes" or "no" signal. In accordance with the present invention, an intermediate temperature is selected as the control point, at one location in the mold. If the pool of molten metal rises above the optimum level, the sensing probe will register a correspondingly increased temperature. If the pool falls below optimum, the probe will register a cooler temperature. The resulting electrical signals are processed by an electronic circuit.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for synchronizing the travelling edge dams in the continuous casting of metal slab, strip, or bar, thereby providing a means for the continuous uniform casting of longitudinally spaced edge shapes, contours, or profiles such as integral shoulders, lugs, lobes, depressions, curves, or indentations in the opposite edges of the cast product. Shapes include the protruding lugs, cast directly opposite each other, for suspending copper anodes in electrolytic refining-also the intruding, material-saving contours in the tops of anodes. A belt-type continuous casting machine is shown wherein two moving contoured edge dam loops each comprise blocks strung upon flexible endless metal straps. The moving edge dams on each side of the mold must be synchronized, regardless of disturbing thermal variations notably.

Abstract: A continuous casting mold for selectively casting strands of different widths and thicknesses includes two first plate-shaped side walls arranged opposite each other and defining a mold cavity at two opposite sides, each of the two first side walls having a recess at one side edge, two second side walls each arranged so as to be sunk in one of said recesses at an angle to said first side walls, the second side walls having front surfaces pressable against the first side walls so as to form a peripherally closed mold cavity. The first side walls may be subdivided into several parts assembled in the manner of a circulating continuous chain, each chain being guided over an upper and a lower deflection pulley. In a method for operating a continuous casting mold of the above-defined kind, the adjustment force relative the strand is measured during casting, and a lower deflection pulley is adjusted to the oppositely arranged lower deflection pulley until the two oppositely arranged strand shells contact each other.

Abstract: Methods for continuously casting metal product directly from molten metal confined and solidified in a casting region defined by upper and lower, cooled, endless, flexible, traveling, casting belts supported by belt support systems including back-up rollers in respective upper and lower carriages and laterally defined by first and second traveling side dams. The back-up rollers and belt support systems shape and maintain the casting region for improved heat transfer between cast metal and belts for improved product uniformity and enhanced machine performance. Several methods are disclosed including having one belt flexibly constrained, resulting in a transverse bowing away from the casting centerline due to liquid metal head, with the opposing belt being rigidly constrained and contoured or transversely bowed towards the casting centerline in a configuration that compensates for displacement of the flexibly constrained belt resulting in a uniform transverse cross section.

Abstract: A belt-converging type continuous casting apparatus for the continuous production of sheet bar-like cast sheet, wherein a casting space is defined by a combination of a pair of metal belts for supporting broad side planes of the cast sheet arranged opposite to each other with circulatedly moving, and a pair of tapered fixed-type side plates for supporting narrow-side planes of the cast sheet each disposed between the metal belts in intimate contact therewith, and is characterized in that the shape of the side plate is designed so as to satisfy the following relations:d=5-300 mm,D.gtoreq.60 mm,D/d.ltoreq.16,.theta..ltoreq.30.degree..theta.=tan.sup.-1 (D-d/Hto thereby prevent the occurrence of defects in the side planes of the cast sheet, while the metal belt is selected so as to satisfy the following relations:Sy.gtoreq.10,500 t/Dr,0.4.ltoreq.t.ltoreq.2.

Abstract: Systems are provided for continuously casting metal product directly from molten metal confined and solidified in a casting region defined by upper and lower, cooled, endless, flexible, traveling, casting belts supported by belt support systems including back-up rollers in respective upper and lower carriages and laterally defined by first and second traveling side dams. The back-up rollers and belt support systems shape and maintain the casting region for improved heat transfer between cast metal and belts for improved product uniformity and enhanced machine performance. Several systems are disclosed including having one belt flexibly constrained, resulting in a transverse bowing away from the casting centerline due to liquid metal head, with the opposing belt being rigidly constrained and contoured or transverselybowed towards the casting centerline in a configuration that compensates for displacement of the flexibly constrained belt resulting in a uniform transverse cross section.

Abstract: A twin-belt continuous casting mold has a mold chamber which is formed of parallel length portions of cooled upper and lower casting belts as well as parallel length portions of endless side dams which bound the mold chamber laterally. In the zone of the mold chamber the side dams are backed by adjustable guide rails. The continuous caster further has upper and lower caster frames which respectively support the end drums for the upper and lower casting belts as well as a series of support rollers for backing up the casting belts. There are further provided seals which are in engagement with the casting belts and which serve for sealing off the mold chamber from the environment. Opposite longitudinal edges of each casting belt are approximately flush with the outer wall faces of the respective side dams and the casting belt support rollers are shorter than the distance between the outer wall faces of the two side dams. The seals are situated laterally adjacent the support rollers and are resiliently supported.

Abstract: Systems are provided for continuously casting metal product directly from molten metal confined and solidified in a casting region defined by upper and lower, cooled, endless, flexible, traveling, casting belts supported by belt support systems including back-up rollers in respective upper and lower carriages and laterally defined by first and second traveling side dams. The back-up rollers and belt support systems shape and maintain the casting region for improved heat transfer between cast metal and belts for improved product uniformity and enhanced machine performance. Several systems are disclosed including having one belt flexibly constrained, resulting in a transverse bowing away from the casting centerline due to liquid metal head, with the opposing belt being rigidly constrained and contoured or transversely bowed towards the casting centerline in a configuration that compensates for displacement of the flexibly constrained belt resulting in a uniform transverse cross section.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for feeding and continuously casting molten metal are described in which inert gas is applied to the moving mold surfaces and to the entering metal for the protection or shrouding of the molten metal surface within the mold cavity from oxygen and other detrimental atmospheric gases. The shrouding is by means of inert gas injected into the mold through a semi-sealing nosepiece, or directed at the mold cavity and passing through the necessary slight gaps around the nosepiece. At the same time, such inert gas is further circulated by channeling or shielding the circulated gas for blanketing and diffusing of the inert gas along the moving mold surfaces for cleansing them of undesired accompanying gases, such as atmospheric oxygen, water vapor, sulphur dioxide, carbonic acid gas, etc. as the mold surfaces approach the nosepiece before entering the mold region.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuously forming a continuous strip of aluminum sheet material using a belt caster for forming a continuous strip of aluminum sheet material and a roll caster for immediately reducing the thickness of the continuous strip of aluminum sheet material wherein the continuous loop belt means used in the belt caster are driven by the rolls of said roll caster.

Abstract: In an apparatus for the continuous casting of metal, especially with a casting machine having circulating molds, the metal flows as a melt out of a nozzle, if appropriate with a nozzle mouthpiece, between molds and solidifies between side-limiting elements. The mouthpiece has adjoining it on each of its two sides a baffle which is followed in the casting direction by a cooling block. Between the baffle and cooling block there is a gap through which a gas can be blown into a corner region formed by the baffle, cooling block and melt, this gas forming a gas cushion in this corner region. The throughflow width of the molten metal between the baffles located opposite one another can be changed as a result of the movement of the baffles in the direction. The same applies to the width of the cooling blocks located opposite one another.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for continuous casting in a twin-belt casting machine in which the moving side dams are guided along opposite sides of the moulding cavity by guide device extending along beside the respective moving side dams, and the moving side dams are cooled by cooling fluid circulated in at least a part of the guide device and applied directly to the moving side dams. The moving side dams are cooled by cooling fluid sprayed through orifices in the guide device directly onto the moving side dams along at least a part of the downstream zone of the moulding cavity. During movement of the side dams along the moulding cavity from its entrance to its exit, they pass successively through a first (or upstream) zone in which they face molten metal and through a second (or downstream) zone in which they face solidified metal. The cooling fluid is sprayed directly onto the moving side dams only in this second zone.

Abstract: Aluminum alloy sheet for use in drawn and ironed can bodies, having a content of 0.45-0.8% Mn, 1.1-2.2% Mg, 0.3-1.2% Fe, and 0.1-0.50% Si, produced by casting a continuous strip ingot of the alloy between chilled moving belts while maintaining a heat flux of at least about 40 cal./cm..sup.2 /sec. through the belts such that the as-cast ingot has a cell size ranging from about 10-15 microns at its surfaces to about 23-30 microns at the center of its thickness, and reducing the ingot by rolling operations including cold rolling to can body stock gauge, the cold-rolled product having a maximum constituent particle size of about 2 microns at the surface and about 3-4 microns at the center.

Abstract: A process and nozzle for the continuous casting of molten metal to the mold of a caterpillar track type mold wherein the distance of the nozzle from the moving mold belts is regulated during the casting operation by altering the temperature at a plurality of places inside the nozzle body and/or by creating a pressurized gas cushion at a plurality of locations between the nozzle and the moving mold belts. The nozzle for feeding molten metal to the mold includes heating elements for altering the temperature of the nozzle and, if desired, at least one gas channel for forming a gas cushion between the nozzle and the moving mold belts.

Abstract: A twin-belt continuous casting apparatus has a central support assembly (formed of rollers) in alignment with the mold chamber and arranged for backing up a respective casting belt at a plurality of locations; and lateral support assemblies in alignment with a respective side dam of the apparatus for backing up a respective casting belt against the side dams. Each lateral support assembly comprises a plurality of serially-arranged rolling bodies and a guiding arrangement for guiding each rolling body for a rolling advancement in the casting direction through a length portion while contacting a respective casting belt and for returning each rolling body from a downstream end of the length portion to an upstream end thereof while being out of contact with and oriented away from the casting belt. The length portion extends substantially from the inlet of the mold chamber and has a length which is, at the most, one fourth of the length of the mold chamber.