Abstract: A molten metal feed tip nozzle for a continuous roll caster is made by combining a pair of elongated feed tip nozzle members with a non-aggressive buffer pad. The feed tip nozzle members are spaced apart a sufficient distance to allow molten metal to pass through the downstream edges to engage the surfaces of the caster rolls. The buffer pad is secured to an outside face of each feed tip nozzle member along the downstream edge. The buffer pad comprises at least an outside face which is less aggressive than the material forming the feed tip nozzle members for minimizing scratching of the rolls. Preferably, an upstream portion of the buffer pad contains a material that expands upon heating for conforming the outside of the pad to the surface of the adjacent roll.

Abstract: A molten metal feed tip assembly comprises independently replaceable upstream and downstream units. The upstream unit comprises a pair of upstream plates spaced apart by one or more spacers. The downstream unit is preassembled and comprises a pair of spaced-apart downstream plates, each comprising two or more segments. The downstream unit also comprises spacers for maintaining the spacing between the plates and a brace, which extends across the upstream edges of the downstream plate segments to maintain the segments in edge-to-edge abutment.

Abstract: Heat treating apparatus for continuous painted strip, comprising an elongated, convective heating oven through which painted strip is passed while jets of hot gas are directed against the top and bottom surfaces of the strip to dry and cure the paint film. The strip is suspended from tension bridles at opposite ends of the oven, and hangs in a relatively flat catenary curve therefrom. Spaced longitudinally within the oven is a plurality of pairs of headers which are arranged to follow the catenary curve of the strip, each of said pairs comprising an upper header located above the strip and a lower header located below the strip. Each of the headers has a plurality of jet nozzles directed toward the strip, and duct means is provided for supplying hot gas to the headers so that the nozzles send jets of hot gas impinging against the strip.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing extremely fine-grained aluminum sheet in a casting machine having a pair of parallel casting rolls, a pouring tip on the entrance side of the rolls, and means for driving the rolls. Molten aluminum is poured through the tip into the space between the rolls, and the rolls are driven at a speed such that solidification of the metal is completed at a point ahead of the centerline of the rolls, and the frozen metal is then hot-rolled down to the thickness of the roll spacing. During this hot-rolling, the metal is heavily stressed internally by being reduced at least 33% of the thickness at the point of solidification, and this destroys the "as cast" crystal structure and causes complete recrystallization to take place. As compared with conventional roll casters, the present caster has larger-diameter casting rolls, which are driven at a faster speed, and the tip is set back further from the rolls centerline.