Abstract: A process and apparatus for starting a continuous casting plant, which involves the filling of the empty area over the dummy bar of an ingot mold to the desired filling level, is simplified while achieving improved operating safety. To this end, a controllable spout closure, which is completely open during the starting of the casting of the molten metal into a tundish, is brought into a predetermined throttle position by the actual filling level rising in the ingot mold to a first signal level and thereafter the further rise of the actual filling level is monitored and controlled, if necessary, in accordance with a second signal level of a predetermined characteristic time curve by logically changing the throttle position of the spout closure. It is thereby possible to control the actual filling level rising in the ingot mold so as to reach its desired filling level without undue risk.

Abstract: A refractory plate-frame assembly for use in a sliding closure unit includes a frame having therein a recess and a refractory plate positioned within the recess. A flexible band is mounted within the recess about the periphery of the refractory plate. A tightening device is mounted in the frame and is selectively operable from the exterior thereof to tighten the band about the periphery of the plate and thereby securely mount the plate within the recess, and alternatively for loosening the band from the periphery of the plate, whereby the plate may be removed from the band and the frame.

Abstract: The casting of several strands with a common puller unit is effected by a process which allows a high degree of operational reliability in its initial start-up phase. To accomplish this, slide gates or valves are throttled at a predetermined level provided in the lower area of a measuring section monitoring the levels in a group of molds and the strand-pulling drive is switched on and the slide gates of molds that have remained in the level below the level are closed no later than at a point when at least one of the actual levels in the molds is at another predetermined level which is below the optimum level. The rising of the levels in the molds may be controlled in accordance with preset rising curves.

Abstract: A sliding closure unit includes at least two refractory plates having therethrough discharge openings, the plates abutting on respective planar sliding surfaces. A generally U-shaped recess is formed in each sliding surface, each recess including a pair of free arms extending toward the other recess. The recesses are dimensioned such that, when the plates are in the open position thereof, the arms of the recesses overlap, thereby forming a connected recessed area encircling the discharge openings. One of the plates has therethrough a channel opening into the recessed area and adapted to be connected to a vacuum source, thereby making it possible to prevent air from contacting molten metal being discharged through the discharge openings.