Abstract: A process for controlling the molten metal level in continuous thin slab casting in which molten metal poured from a large-sized tundish into a small-sized tundish through a sliding nozzle is caused to overflow from the small-sized tundish for casting through a tiltable casting spout into a twin-belt-type continuous casting machine is disclosed. The process comprises measuring the level of molten metal on the casting machine to provide a deviation signal representative of a deviation of the level of the molten metal from a target value; and adjusting a directly influencing factor on the molten metal level, such as a pouring rate of the molten metal into the mold and a pulling speed of the molten metal according to the deviation signal.

Abstract: In a caterpillar track type mold having opposed moving mold belts wherein molten metal is fed to the mold by a nozzle, a process for preventing back flow of metal between the moving mold belts and the nozzle comprising feeding a fluxing powder between the nozzle and the moving mold belts wherein the fluxing powder forms a protective skin on the surface of the molten metal downstream of the nozzle.

Abstract: In a method of continuously casting unrefined electrodes in quantity for use in the electrolytic refining of metal in which a metal e.g. copper, strip is continuously cast and cut at spaced positions along its length to form electrodes, a substantial saving in metal is effected by casting the strip in such a way that, in longitudinally spaced minor portions of its length, the strip has at least one hole, recess in at least one of its side edges, or region of substantially reduced thickness as compared with that of the major portion of its length.

Abstract: A unitary-layer partially metallic, suitably adherent, mechanically and thermally durable, non-wetting, fusion-bonded matrix coating on endless, flexible metallic casting belts for continuous casting machines is described. This fusion-bonded matrix coating is also advantageous for coating other molten-metal-contacting surfaces, in continuous casting machines, such as edge-dam blocks that define moving side walls of a mold cavity. The fusion-bonded matrix (or reticulum) coating provides advantageous accessible porosity throughout the coating and comprises a nonmetallic refractory material interspersed substantially uniformly throughout a matrix of heat-resistant metal or metal alloy, for example nickel or nickel alloy, which is fusion-bonded to the grit-blasted surface of the belt and anchors and holds the nonmetallic material. The coating is applied by thermally spraying a powdered mixture directly on the roughened surface.

Abstract: An improved process and apparatus for casting a strip with laterally extending lugs by introducing molten metal at the inlet of a molding zone having a bottom and sidewalls, the bottom of the molding zone being formed by the upper surface of a moving endless belt and the sidewalls being formed by a first and second moving endless sidedam. The sidedams move with the belt from the inlet to the outlet of the molding zone and return from the outlet to the inlet. Each sidedam comprises an endless strap and a multiplicity of blocks strung thereon. Some of the blocks form lug molding pockets, the height of each pocket being lower than the height of the molding zone. A cast strip with laterally extending lugs is extracted at the outlet of the molding zone. The passage of lug molding pockets or blocks forming these pockets in each sidedam is detected.

Abstract: A continuous casting apparatus for the production of cast sheets having a casting space defined by a pair of opposed endless belts and a pair of side plates arranged near the side edge portions of the belts while being brought into intimate contact therewith and designed to be converged toward a drawing direction. In this apparatus, a filmy water flow-forming pad arranged behind each of the belts, and each of the side plates are so profiled that the casting space inclusive of the tapered portion depicts a smooth curve at at least a transition area from the taper end portion to a constant thickness portion.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for the recycling accumulation of at least one moving continuous band in a continuous molten metal casting machine of the type having continuously advancing mold parts, at least one of which is formed by said band and wherein at a station located in a spaced relationship to said casting machine, the elongated continuous band, belt, or strip is accumulated from the mold end and simultaneously fed out or supplied to the mold beginning. In combination therewith are the use of means to properly tension said band or bands, and means to join the ends thereof to new lengths of band, belt, or strip so as to connect a substantially unlimited number of individual elongated belts to the one in use.

Abstract: A continuous centrifugal casting machine employs a rotating water cooled mould in which a tubular mould cavity is formed by a number of pallet conveyors, each having an upper run defining a part cylinder. The conveyors are driven so that the tubular mould which they form moves with the casting, thus eliminating relative movement between the mould and the casting. The conveyors are housed inside a rotating drum so that centrifugal force causes molten metal such as steel poured against the wall of the mould cavity at one end to form a comparatively thin walled tube which is withdrawn from the other end of the mould cavity. The tube may be spirally slit to form sheet.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method for continuously casting a filament, such as a glassy metal filament, at high speed within a zone of preselected vacuum. A continuous extrusion mechanism and a rapidly moving quench surface are located within a casting module. A vacuum mechanism provides the preselected vacuum in the module as the filament is cast, and a transport mechanism continuously moves the resultant rapidly advancing filament across the boundary between the vacuum in the casting airlock mechanism substantially preserves the module vacuum as the cast filament is transported across the boundary and a passivator mechanism passivates the quench surface to prevent the filament from adhering thereto.

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: Continuous casting methods and apparatus are described wherein a defect in the cast surfaces consisting of longitudinal bands of sinkage, sometimes called "sinks", which are spaced relatively far inwardly from the edges of wide, relatively thin slab or strip, usually being spaced inwardly away from the edges by a distance of 3 to 7 times (sometimes up to 9 times) the thickness of the cast slab, is practically eliminated by means of a coating or covering of non-wettable refractory ceramic material of low heat conductivity applied to the inner faces of the edge-dam blocks for reducing heat flow out of the edges of the slab or strip being cast. Numerous such blocks are strung onto a flexible metal band or cable to constitute each of the two edge dams which define the edges of the mold space.

Abstract: In order to be able to manipulate a feeding device with which molten steel is introduced into a twin-belt caster without ingress of air in preparation for the casting process and to carefully align the feeding device and the caster to the required extent, the feeding device includes a pouring body which is mounted in its own carriage so as to be rotatable about a horizontal pivot axis, and a separately movable tundish which is connected with the pouring body via a ball joint which forms the point of separation in that the ball socket of the ball joint and the ball pivot of the ball pivot are each respectively associated with either the tundish or the pouring body. The pouring body can be arrested in the manner of a rocker in different sloped positions and can be laterally displaced in a direction transverse to its longitudinal extent.

Abstract: The casting belt is preheated with steam closely ahead of the entrance to the casting zone by providing wrap-around steam feed tubes having nozzles, such tubes being positioned in very deep circumferential grooves in input pulley or nip pulley which moves the casting belt into the input end of the casting zone. These circumferential grooves of the input or nip pulley also house wrap-around liquid coolant feed tubes for cooling the casting belt near the beginning of the casting zone. The wrap-around steam feed tubes also have radial ports positioned to direct steam toward the reverse side of the endless belt, with the port being spaced from the nozzle thereby providing a staged elevation of temperature in the flexible casting belt on the input or nip pulley, while the belt is in contact therewith before the belt reaches the casting zone.

Abstract: A continuous casting assembly has a pair of counter-rotating belts for controllably forming a continuous elongated cast ribbon. One of the belts is a chilled substrate for receiving molten metal discharged from a dispensing nozzle. The other belt is positioned immediately adjacent the chilled substrate belt and contactable. Both of the belts are moved in a substantially parallel paths at the same predetermined speed with the cast ribbon interposed between the belts. Magnetic forces are used to urge the two belts together in contacting relationship with each other and with the interposed cast ribbon.

Abstract: The continuous sheet metal casting device of this invention has a mold which comprises: a pair of flexible top and bottom belts traveling along with the sheet metal being cast; and a pair of side belts traveling together with the sheet metal, a part of the side belts being held between the top and the bottom belts, the other part being located on the side of one of the top and bottom belts with respect to the sheet metal. With this construction it is possible to elongate the width of the side belts without affecting the bending stress acting on the side belts and regardless of the thickness of the sheet metal. The greater width of the side belts thus obtained results in improved adhesion between the top and bottom belts and the side belts, thereby preventing the leakage of molten metal from the mold.

Abstract: In a method of continuously casting unrefined electrodes in quantity for use in the electrolytic refining of metal in which a metal e.g. copper, strip is continuously cast and cut at spaced positions along its length to form electrodes, a substantial saving in metal is effected by casting the strip in such a way that, in longitudinally spaced minor portions of its length, the strip has at least one hole, recess in at least one of its side edges, or region of substantially reduced thickness as compared with that of the major portion of its length.

Abstract: An improvement in continuous metal casting machines of the type having a pair of flexible, moving casting belts which revolve along endless paths for defining a casting region therebetween and moving side dams which revolve along with the casting belts for confining the cast strip, slab or bar laterally. The casting belts are individually supported by upper and lower carriage means. The machine is provided with sensors such as load cells for sensing the displacement forces existing between the upper and lower carriages at selected points along the path of belt travel, and for sensing the side pressures exerted upon the side dams by the cooling, solidifying metal. This sensing permits the maintenance of predetermined, desired contact pressures along the length of the solidifying metal to thereby improve the physical characteristics of the cast product.