Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing a striped coating on a continuously moving strip are provided, in which the apparatus has a smoothing device including a doctor roll forming a nip with the strip. A stationary partition means is provided, which divides the nip into nip lengths, and upstream of the smoothing device is a means to deposit coating materials on the strip for delivery into the respective nip lengths at predetermined rates. The deposit means maintains a bead of coating material in each nip length and a stripe of coating material is formed on the strip from coating material escaping the respective nip length as the strip passes through the nip.

Abstract: Twin roll caster for casting metal strip comprises casting rolls (11) between which is formed a casting pool (16) of molten metal. The casting pool is confined at each end of the roll nip by end closure plate (22). Alternating electric current is supplied to electrical conductors (33) disposed outside the closure plate (22) so as to generate an electromagnetic field which extends through the closure plate and pushes back molten metal at the conjunctions (27) between the closure plate (22) and the rolls (11).

Abstract: Method and apparatus for steering a strip along a desired path. The strip 12 is fed along a guide table 13 by a pair of pinch rolls 50 which are of concave formation so as to grip the strip at two laterally spaced locations at the edges of the strip. A pair of fluid cylinder units 52 are independently operable to vary the pressures applied by the rolls at the two gripping locations to steer the strips. The position of the strip is monitored in the vicinity of the rolls 50 by a strip position sensor 51. Steering of the strip is controlled by a control signal derived from the output of sensor 51. The control signal in the sum of three factors the first of which is a measure of an instantaneous value of the lateral position of the strip, the second of which is a measure of an instantaneous lateral traversing velocity of the strip and the third of which is an integration of instantaneous values of the lateral position of the strip over a preceding time interval.

Abstract: Metal delivery nozzle 19 for a twin roll caster is formed in two pieces 19A disposed end to end with a gap 50 between them. Each nozzle piece 19A is mounted on two pairs of mounting brackets 60. Outer end parts of the nozzle pieces 19A are constrained by the interengagement of mounting bracket projections 71 and nozzle recesses 72 such that thermal expansion of the nozzle pieces is accommodated by inward movement into the gap 50. Projection 71 may be upstanding lugs and nozzle recesses 72 may be slots in the undersides of nozzle side flanges.

Abstract: A structural member of the kind including a strip of metal sheet folded over onto itself at its lateral edges so that the member has respective boxed edge formations (20, 21) which extend between a pair of notional substantially parallel planes and are linked by a web (30). At least one of the boxed edge formations defines a longitudinally extending ridge (40) at one of the planes and, behind the other plane; an outwardly open longitudinally extending groove (34) complementary to the ridge, whereby the structural member may be stacked on another similar member and the stack be laterally stabilized by co-operation of the groove (34) on one member and the ridge (40) on the other.

Abstract: A hot dip coating pot (2) having a strip inlet passage (3) and electro-magnetic plugging means to prevent leakage of bath liquid form the pot through that passage, wherein: the plugging means comprises two magnetic field generator (7) disposed one on each side of the passage; each generator projects an oscillating magnetic field into the passage from at least two poles of opposite polarity that are adjacent the passage and spaced apart in the through direction of the passage; the said at least two poles of each generator are respectively in substantial alignment with the corresponding poles of the other in the transverse direction of the passage; the magnetic field projected by the generators have flux patterns which are substantially mirror images with reference to a plane of reflection coinciding with a centre plane of the passage; and both generators operate at a frequency of more than seven kiloHertz. When no strip is present the fields combine and extend transversely of the passage.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for continuously casting metal strip. Molten metal is introduced between a pair of parallel chilled casting rolls (16) via an elongate metal delivery nozzle (18) disposed above and extending along the nip between the casting rolls (16) to form a casting pool (68) supported on the rolls and contra-rotating the rolls to produce a solidified strip (20). The molten metal is delivered into a trough (67) of the nozzle (18) through an entry nozzle (18) having an upper inlet end for receiving molten metal from a tundish, and a lower outlet end (84) extending into trough (61) of the delivery nozzle (19). The outlet end (84) of entry nozzle (18) has a bottom wall (86), elongate side walls (88) spaced inwardly from the side walls (62) of the delivery nozzle (19) and outlets (92) for molten metal in the side walls (88).

Abstract: The invention addresses the problem of edge bulging and breakout of as cast strip due to a decrease of perfect solid phase shell thickness of the strip caused by heat recuperation of the unsolidified portion of the strip, by providing a chamber 19 which encloses the travel path of a strip 8 delivered from a pair of chilled rolls 1a and 1b, a pair of chilled blocks 29a arranged in the chamber to be positioned near a nip between the chilled rolls 1a and 1b, with each chilled block 29a being shaped for loose fitting over an edge of a strip 8 and being capable of injecting cooling gas toward the edge of the strip 8. When the strip 8 is to be continuously cast, the interior of the chamber 19 provides an inert gas atmosphere, in which the cooling gas injected by the cooling blocks 29a injection-cools the edges of the strip 8 delivered from the chilled rolls 1a and 1b at a position near the nip between the chilled rolls 1a and 1b.

Abstract: A refractory nozzle 19 for delivery of molten metal to a casting pool 68 of a twin roll caster, and a method and apparatus for casting strip 20 is disclosed in which said nozzle 19 has an elongate open topped trough 61 to receive molten metal, a pair of elongate nozzle chambers 82 extending one along each side of a floor 60 of a trough, metal flow openings 86 for flow of molten metal from the interior of the trough into the nozzle side chambers 82, and nozzle side outlets 64 for flow of molten metal from the side chambers 82 outwardly from the bottom of the delivery nozzle. In a preferred form the nozzle side outlets 64 are elongate slots extending continuously substantially throughout the length of the nozzle and the nozzle side chambers 82 are formed by partition walls 83, 84 disposed within the nozzle to divide off bottom side corner parts of the nozzle from the trough interior whereby the form said side chambers 82 extending along the bottom side corner parts of the nozzle.

Abstract: Continuous casting of steel strip in twin-roll caster comprises casting rolls (16). Molten steel is delivered by a delivery system and comprising delivery nozzle (19b) to casting pool (30) supported above nip (10) between the casting rolls (16) which are rotated to deliver a solidified strip (20) downwardly from the nip. To avoid dissolution of carbon from refractories of the metal delivery system including the nozzle (19b), the molten steel is a silicon/manganese killed carbon steel having a manganese content of not less than 0.02% by weight, a silicon content of not less than 0.10% by weight, an aluminium content of less than 0.01% by weight and a sulphur content of at least 0.02% by weight. The required sulphur content of the steel may be achieved by addition of iron sulphide to a batch of steel in a tundish (18) of the delivery system.

Abstract: Method of casting steel strip in which molten steel solidifies as a shell on a chilled casting surface (100). The casting surface (100) has a texture (101) formed by a regular pattern of surface projections (103) and depressions (102) and the steel chemistry is selected to generate in the casting pool deoxidation products which form on the casting surface (100) a layer of less than 5 microns thickness a major proportion of which is liquid during cooling of the steel to below its liquidus temperature in the formation of said solidified shell. The substantially liquid layer suppresses the formation of surface defects in the solidifying metal surface due to early deposition of solid oxides on the casting surface.

Abstract: In a melt deposition painting station, a solid body of paint is fed onto an endless belt conveyor, incorporating a substantially planar belt flight, a head pulley, and turn round means adjacent to the contact point of the paint block and the moving steel strip and consisting of a stationary guide and an idler pulley. The turn round means is so constructed that the direction of the belt movement after the turn is at least parallel to that of the continuously moving strip and preferably at an angle away from it. The head pulley is preferably coated with a high friction material such as natural rubber. The planar belt flight is adapted to support one or more blocks of substantially solvent-free paint composition, which becomes bonded to the pliable, durable heat-resistant material of the belt. The belt causes continuous movement of the paint block towards one end of the flight to affect melting of some portion of a solid body of paint composition onto a moving strip.

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

Abstract: Metal strip (20) is cast from casting pool (68) of molten metal supported above nip (69) between chilled casting rolls (16). Molten metal is introduced into the casting pool by nozzle (19) having a trough (61) closed by a bottom floor (63). Metal is supplied to trough (61) in free-falling streams (65) which impinge on floor (63) and fan outwardly across the floor and through nozzle side openings (64) into the casting pool. Streams (65) are staggered longitudinally of the trough with respect to the side openings (64).

Abstract: A wrapping apparatus is provided including a shuttle for orbital movement around an object to be wrapped, the shuttle carrying a feed roll from which a web of plastic film is drawn to wrap the object, the shuttle including a pre-stretching mechanism including: a braking roller mounted on the shuttle for rotation about an axis that is fixed relative to the shuttle; a stretching roller mounted on the shuttle for rotation about an axis which is fixed relative to the shuttle, parallel to the braking roller axis and spaced therefrom, the web being drawn directly from the feed roll around the stretching roller; drive transmission means connecting the rollers such that the surface speed of the stretching roller exceeds that of the braking roller; mandrel means for the rotational support of a feed roll of stretch wrap film mounted on the shuttle by guide means allowing the mandrel to move freely towards the braking roller under the influence of tension in a web of film drawn directly from the feed roll and passing ar

Abstract: A nozzle for delivering molten metal to a casting pool of a twin roll strip caster is formed in two halves and comprises an upwardly opening trough (61) to receive falling supply streams of molten metal and outlet openings (64) at the bottom of the trough. Nozzle end formations (87) define reservoirs (88) to receive separate supply streams of molten metal and flow passages (95) to direct metal from the reservoirs across pool confining end closures of the caster. Each reservoir (88) is separated from trough (61) by an upstanding wall (70) which functions as a weir for metal in the reservoir such that metal can flow over it into the trough when the reservoir is full.

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

Abstract: Casting metal strip by delivering molten metal to a casting pool (81) supported on a pair of parallel casting rolls (16) and passing metal downwardly between the rolls to produce solidified strip (20). Flow of metal to the casting pool (81) is controlled by an input flow control valve (47). At start of casting when pool (81) is being filled speed of rolls (16) is varied in response to variations between actual instantaneous pool level and predicted level until pool approaches desired operational level. Thereafter any variations between instantaneous roll speed and desired operational roll speed are caused to adjust valve (47) to being pool level and roll speed to desired operational valves.

Abstract: Method of continuously casting metal strip from a casting pool of molten metal supported on chilled casting rolls such that metal solidifies onto moving casting surfaces of the rolls. The metal is austenitic stainless steel containing chromium and nickel in a ratio (Cr/Ni).sub.eq of less than 1.60 and the casting surface of each roll has an Arithmetical Mean Roughness Value (R.sub.a) of more than 2.5 microns. The heat transferring from the austenitic stainless steel solidifying on the textured surface of the moving casting surface to the casting surface at an initial peak heat transfer rate is more than 15 MW/m within the initial 20 ms of contact.

Abstract: Continuous casting of steel strip by solidification of casting poo (68) onto chilled cooling rolls (16) of a twin roll caster. Steel is delivered to casting pool (68) by a refractory delivery nozzle (19) which dips into the casting pool. The refractory material of nozzle (19) contains a significant quantity of chemical compounds contains sulphur, such as molybdenum disulphide (MoS.sub.2), magnesium sulphide (MgS) and calcium sulphate (CaSO.sub.4).