Abstract: A continuous casting apparatus includes a first belt carried by a first upstream pulley and a first downstream pulley, a second belt carried by a second upstream pulley and a second downstream pulley, and a mold region defined by a first mold support section arranged behind the first belt and a second mold support section arranged behind the second belt. The first mold support section supports the first belt and defines a shape of the first belt in the mold region and the second mold support section supports the second belt and defines a shape of the second belt in the mold region. At least one of the first mold support section and the second mold support section includes a transition portion and a generally planar portion downstream from the transition portion. The transition portion has a variable radius configured to receive molten metal from a metal feeding device.

Abstract: A continuous casting apparatus includes a first belt carried by a first upstream pulley and a first downstream pulley, a second belt carried by a second upstream pulley and a second downstream pulley, and a mold region defined by a first mold support section arranged behind the first belt and a second mold support section arranged behind the second belt. The first mold support section supports the first belt and defines a shape of the first belt in the mold region and the second mold support section supports the second belt and defines a shape of the second belt in the mold region. At least one of the first mold support section and the second mold support section includes a transition portion and a generally planar portion downstream from the transition portion. The transition portion has a variable radius configured to receive molten metal from a metal feeding device.

Abstract: A continuous casting apparatus includes a first belt carried by a first upstream pulley and a first downstream pulley, a second belt carried by a second upstream pulley and a second downstream pulley, and a mold region defined by a first mold support section arranged behind the first belt and a second mold support section arranged behind the second belt. The first mold support section supports the first belt and defines a shape of the first belt in the mold region and the second mold support section supports the second belt and defines a shape of the second belt in the mold region. At least one of the first mold support section and the second mold support section includes a transition portion and a generally planar portion downstream from the transition portion. The transition portion has a variable radius configured to receive molten metal from a metal feeding device.

Abstract: A continuous casting apparatus includes a first belt carried by a first upstream pulley and a first downstream pulley, a second belt carried by a second upstream pulley and a second downstream pulley, and a mold region defined by a first mold support section arranged behind the first belt and a second mold support section arranged behind the second belt. The first mold support section supports the first belt and defines a shape of the first belt in the mold region and the second mold support section supports the second belt and defines a shape of the second belt in the mold region. At least one of the first mold support section and the second mold support section includes a transition portion and a generally planar portion downstream from the transition portion. The transition portion has a variable radius configured to receive molten metal from a metal feeding device.

Abstract: A magnetic induction pump for pumping molten metal. The pump includes a motor and a shaft operatively connected to the motor. The pump further includes at least one bipolar permanent magnet operatively connected to the shaft and a conduit for the passage of molten metal. The motor rotates the shaft and magnet about the conduit inducing eddy currents in the molten metal in the conduit which react with the moving magnetic field to produce force to pump the metal through the conduit with the metal coming into contact with only an interior surface of the conduit.

Abstract: A magnetic induction pump for pumping molten metal. The pump includes a motor and a shaft operatively connected to the motor. The pump further includes at least one bipolar permanent magnet operatively connected to the shaft and a conduit for the passage of molten metal. The motor rotates the shaft and magnet about the conduit inducing eddy currents in the molten metal in the conduit which react with the moving magnetic field to produce force to pump the metal through the conduit with the metal coming into contact with only an interior surface of the conduit.

Abstract: A lightweight constructed navigation buoy, and method for handling the same, is provided with waterborne stability comparable to the conventional and much heavier navigation buoys. The desired waterborne stability is achieved using a liquid-ballasting/-venting system in which a ballasting compartment and a connection cooperate to allow a liquid ballast to be added and/or removed from the ballasting compartment. The position-accuracy of said buoy can be improved by incorporating the liquid ballasted buoy with a high-strength, flexible, elastic tether providing a scope of between 1.5-to-1 and 1-to-1 at high water.

Abstract: A lightweight constructed navigation buoy, and method for handling the same, is provided with waterborne stability comparable to the conventional and much heavier navigation buoys. The desired waterborne stability is achieved using a liquid-ballasting/-venting system in which a ballasting compartment and a connection cooperate to allow a liquid ballast to be added and/or removed from the ballasting compartment. The position-accuracy of said buoy can be improved by incorporating the liquid ballasted buoy with a high-strength, flexible, elastic tether providing a scope of between 1.5-to-1 and 1-to-1 at high water.

Abstract: An apparatus for guiding a moving, flexible, tensed casting belt on a continuous metal casting machine along a substantially oval path. The continuous metal casting machine having an entrance-end, an exit-end and a moving-mold casting region extending from the entrance-end to the exit-end. The apparatus includes a non-rotating fluid pillow structure at the entrance end of the machine. The fluid pillow structure supports the mold-width of the casting belt. The apparatus includes two narrow shoulder-pulleys at the entrance end of the casting machine which are adjacent to opposite sides of the entrance-end fluid-pillow structure. Each pulley supports a portion of the belt outside of the moving-mold casting region. Each pulley guides the belt around the fluid-pillow structure as the belt revolves along its substantially oval path. The apparatus also facilitates the sealing, controlled-venting and recovery of pressurized fluids used to levitate the belt about a fluid-pillow structure.

Abstract: Method precisely, quickly controls flow of molten metal to metal-casting apparatus by pumping, braking or throttling. The Faraday-Ampére principle of current flow in a unidirectional magnetic field is employed. Permanent magnets comprising neodymium or similar high-energy, rare-earth materials provide “reach-out” magnetism. These neo-magnets, usually shown as cubes, are arranged in various powerful configurations driving intense unidirectional magnetic field B across a non-magnetic gap many times larger than economically feasible otherwise. This gap accommodates a conduit for pressurizing and moving a flow of molten metal. In making multiple identical castings, a controlled, intermittent, predetermined flow of molten metal is fed to a series of identical individual molds. The invention obviates needs for operating metallurgical valves or expensive tilting mechanisms for metallurgical furnaces.

Abstract: Non-rotating, belt-levitating, cylindrical air-pillow method supporting and guiding a moving, tensed, flexible, heat-conductive casting belt along a convex, cylindrically shaped path toward an entrance into a continuous casting machine. Pressurized air is applied in belt-levitating relation to the inner surface of the casting belt moving along the path. Stationary belt-guiding elements define the path. Pressurized air is fed through throttling passages communicating with regions between stationary elements or communicating with outwardly facing stationary plateau surfaces. For reducing flexural stress in the belt moving toward the entrance, a variable radius R+ progressively increases toward the entrance. Escape of pressurized air is restricted by throttling barrier on a perimeter of the belt path. A cylindrical shell supports the stationary elements and is adjacent to a plenum chamber feeding pressurized air through throttling passages in the shell.

Abstract: A non-rotating, belt-levitating, cylindrical air-pillow apparatus supports and guides a moving, tensed, flexible, heat-conductive casting belt along a convex, cylindrically shaped path toward an entrance into a continuous casting machine. Pressurized air is applied in belt-levitating relation to the inner surface of the casting belt moving along the path. Stationary belt-guiding elements define the path. Pressurized air is fed through throttling passages communicating with regions between stationary elements or communicating with outwardly facing stationary plateau surfaces. A cylinder shell supports the stationary elements and is adjacent to a plenum chamber feeding pressurized air through throttling passages in the shell. Stationary elements of suitable, durable, wear-resistant, slippery material are mounted in grooves in the shell. The air-pillow apparatus includes belt coolant application deflector or nozzles.

Abstract: Method, system and apparatus for controllably heating copper alloy dam blocks in revolving edge dam chains in twinbelt continuous casters by induction heating of thermally-sprayed ferromagnetic layers bonded in shallow depressions in such blocks. High thermal conductivity of such blocks advantageously quickly conducts inductive heat from ferromagnetic layers into the blocks. For casting a slab of electrolytic anodes having aligned opposed protruding lugs, such chains include uniformly spaced lug-molding pocket blocks. Periodic induction heating of ferromagnetic layers on dam blocks of one chain or the other keeps pocket blocks aligned as revolving chains travel downstream along opposite sides of moving mold casting regions. Directly induction heating copper alloy dam blocks is very impractical. Therefore, ferromagnetic layers are thermally sprayed into depressions in blocks prior to assembling such chains.

Abstract: Apparatus, system and method precisely, quickly control flow of molten metal to metal-casting apparatus by pumping, braking or throttling. The Faraday-Ampère principle of current flow in a unidirectional magnetic field is employed. Permanent magnets comprising neodymium or similar high-energy, rare-earth materials provide “reach-out” magnetism. These neo-magnets, usually shown as cubes, are arranged in various powerful configurations driving intense unidirectional magnetic field B across a non-magnetic gap many times larger than economically feasible otherwise. This gap accommodates a conduit for pressurizing and moving a flow of molten metal. In making multiple identical castings, a controlled, intermittent, predetermined flow of molten metal is fed to a series of identical individual molds. The invention obviates needs for operating metallurgical valves or expensive tilting mechanisms for metallurgical furnaces.

Abstract: Steering, tensioning and driving a revolving metallic casting belt in continuous casting machines wherein the belt travels along a generally straight casting plane P. Two two-axis robotic mechanisms are positioned at opposite ends of an exit-pulley drum, each including a "floating" housing carrying a bearing rotatably supporting a journal at the respective drum end. A drive shaft connected to one of the journals rotates the drum for revolving the belt. The robotic mechanisms adjustably position opposite ends of a rotating drum in X--X plane parallel with plane P for tensioning the belt and in Y--Y plane perpendicular to plane P for steering the revolving belt. These robotic mechanisms are controlled to operate in any of several modes: (1) "Walking-tilt" steering keeps the belt much closer to an exiting product than prior art, the belt being flatter and in better contact with the product for improving casting speed and quality.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for leveling or adjusting a power-boat's average angle of bank or list about its roll axis RA regardless of side wind or off-center loading to improve passenger comfort, increase fuel efficiency, and smooth hull passage through waves with reduced pounding. Improved operating characteristics are accomplished by adjusting steering force angle-of-attack of a small fin-rudder mounted under a forward portion of the boat's keel. The boat's heading is maintained by applying an opposite steering force by altering thrust direction of the driving and steering mechanism. Altering thrust direction occurs either by a pilot steering the helm or automatically by adjusting thrust direction independently of pilot steering. In an optional automatic mode, an electronic gravity inclinometer adjusts a fin-rudder servo. An electronic filter processes the inclinometer signal to control the boat's average attitude around its roll axis RA.

Abstract: Permanent-magnetic hydrodynamic methods and apparatus stabilize a moving, flexible, thin-gauge, heat-conducting, magnetically soft ferromagnetic casting belt against thermal distortion while moving along a mold cavity being heated at its front surface by heat coming from molten metal being cast while being cooled at its reverse surface by flowing pumped liquid coolant. Hydro-magnetic devices are arranged in an array wherein flows of pumped coolant pass through fixedly throttling passageways feeding pressure pockets facing the belt's reverse surface. These pockets are shown rimmed by magnetic pole faces. Coolant issues from the pressure pockets as fast-moving films radiating therefrom and travelling in gaps between the belt's reverse surface and the pole faces.

Abstract: Edge-dam blocks assembled with their upstream faces in keyed mating interengagement with downstream faces of adjacent blocks form an endless edge dam revolvable in a preselected path for defining a boundary of a moving-mold casting region. The edge dam keeps molten metal in the casting region. Upstream and downstream faces of adjacent blocks have mutually complementary shapes for minimizing intrusion of molten metal between abutting blocks. Keying engagement between abutting blocks prevents relative translational slippage of blocks toward or away from molten metal. An abuttable face on each block has at least one protrusion such as an integral elongated key extending perpendicularly to a casting belt associated with the casting region, or the protrusion includes two round pins having projecting tapered ends. Another abuttable face has a recess such as a keyway for snugly receiving a key on an adjacent block or has two tapered recesses for snugly receiving two tapered projections of an adjacent block.

Abstract: A radial-flow, wide-pouring molten-metal distributor comprising a curved or arcuate overflow weir which is normally horizontal on its top and which is concave on its upstream side as viewed from above. Over this arc-shaped overflow weir flows molten metal to be continuously cast in an open pool. An impetus is thereby imparted to the molten metal along diverging radial lines. The flow so impelled continues radially onto a horizontal apron. The flow spreads fanwise to the desired width which may be as much as six times the width of the weir. Thence, the metal cascades or flows uniformly into the casting apparatus. The overflow weir is preferably supplemented by a skimmer mounted above it in substantially uniform spaced aligned relationship, thereby completing a slot beneath the skimmer through which the molten metal flows. When employed for the casting of wide, thin product, the invention results in a far more uniform and gentle distribution of metal than heretofore available.

Abstract: Elongated finned backup rollers have multiple magnetized fins for rolling contact with a moving endless, flexible, thin-gauge, heat-conducting, magnetically soft ferromagnetic casting belt for guiding and stabilizing the belt against thermal distortion while it moves along the mold cavity being heated at its front surface by heat from molten metal while being cooled at its reverse surface by flowing liquid coolant. Each finned backup roller includes an elongated, non-magnetic shaft rotatable around its axis and having multiple annular fins of magnetically soft ferromagnetic material fitted onto the shaft spaced along the shaft. The fins have circular perimeter rims for rolling contact with the reverse surface of a belt. Intervening collar shaped reach-out permanent magnets are mounted on the shaft between successive fins. The fins and reach-out collar magnets alternate in sequence along the length of the roller. The reach-out collar magnets are magnetized in a direction parallel with the axis of the roller.