Abstract: A side dam assembly for a continuous casting apparatus for continuously casting thin steel strips between casting rolls. The side dam assembly has a side dam for bearing directly against the rolls of the casting apparatus for preventing leakage of molten metal therebetween. The side dam is attached by a pair of belts to an insulating refractory plate which is carried by a cooled panel. To allow axial motion, one of the belts is not rigidly affixed to either the insulating refractory plate or the side dam. The cooled panel is carried by a thrust plate and is urged toward the rolls by biasing elements which preferably comprise a plurality of pistons urged outwardly from the thrust plate by springs. Preferably, the biasing elements are constructed and arranged so that they are distributed over a zone of shape corresponding to that of the side dam and are capable of exerting on the side dam thrust forces independently of one another.

Abstract: The continuous casting machine comprises two counter-rotary rolls (1, 2) having parallel axes disposed in confronting relation with a given gap therebetween and on the axial ends of which two lateral walls (5a) are applied so as to define a pouring space (3) between the rolls. The rapid changing device for the lateral wall (5a) comprises a turret (14) having means (16) for fixing at least two lateral walls in positions which are separated from each other by a rotation through a given angle about the axis of the turret. Means for shifting the turret in rotation in steps of amplitude corresponding to the given angle of rotation permit shifting one lateral replacement wall (5b) from a standby position to a position occupied by the lateral wall (5a) which is in service and has to be replaced.FIG. 1 .

Abstract: A cassette for a device for continuously casting liquid metal between two parallel rolls, the cassette includes a metal case which has a lateral wall and is open on a side of the case, and plate of refractory material which may be preheated before casting the liquid metal. The refractory plate is preshaped in such a manner so to define a free space between the periphery of the plate and the lateral wall of the case. The cassette is provided with an arrangement for fixing and gripping the plate and exerting an elastically yieldable opposing action allowing free expansion of the plate within the case.

Abstract: The side dam comprises a layer in contact with the molten metal constituted by a refractory material of fibrous structure and composed mainly of alumina and silica, and a second layer which is provided behind the first layer and composed of compact refractory material. The fibrous layer ensures the thermal insulation and the compact layer acts as a safety plate. The invention permits the construction of side dams which are capable of both durably ensuring the sealing of the molten metal and preventing untimely solidifications of the metal upon contact with these side dams. The invention is preferably applied to the continuous casting between rolls of hard metals having a high melting temperature, such as iron and its alloys.

Abstract: The method comprises effecting the solidification of the metal in a continuous casting ingot mould constituted by two cooled rolls (2) rotating in opposite directions and disposed in confronting relation so as to define a casting space therebetween, continuously extracting from the ingot mould a solidified steel strip (3), and, below the ingot mould, subjecting the strip to a quenching medium (6) so as to cool it sufficiently rapidly to prevent formation of austenite. This medium may be formed by a quenching bath placed in a container (4) disposed under the rolls (2) and having a bottom provided with an opening (5) for the passage of the solidified strip (3). The quenching medium may also be formed by an inert gas in the liquid state blown onto the product by nozzles. The steel strips obtained are easier to shear and coiled at the output end of the casting line owing to the absence of martensite in the ferritic matrix.

Abstract: An apparatus for the direct continuous casting of thin strips of molten metal comprises a source of molten metal and at least one cooled roll which receives the molten metal, wherein the at least one cooled roll includes a cylindrical inner core, a first sleeve enclosing the inner core, cooling channels provided between the first sleeve and the core and a second sleeve enclosing the first sleeve and being in contact with the molten metal. The second sleeve forms with the first sleeve two superposed cylindrical layers which are chosen of materials such that the first sleeve has a coefficient of thermal expansion higher than that of the second sleeve.

Abstract: The device for casting thin metal products comprises one or two rolls (1) driven in rotation and having cooled walls, and side walls (3) defining a casting space (4). The surface of each roll is divided into at least three circumferential zones, at least one (5) of said zones having a roughness (Rz) greater than the roughness of the other zones (6). This device permits carrying out the process according to the invention in which solely certain longitudinal zones of the skins of cast metal solidified on contact with the cooled walls of the rolls are preferentially driven along.

Abstract: Installation for continuous casting between two rolls (1,2) having parallel axes and defining therebetween and with two fixed lateral walls (3) a casting space for a liquid metal, each lateral wall comprising at least one lateral part (6) placed against the planar end face of an adjacent one of the rolls and constituted by a portion of a disc having an outside diameter equal to that of the adjacent roll, and a part (12) which is central relative to and confronts the casting space and is composed of an insulating refractory material. The disc portion is made from a material having properties of thermal conductivity and mechanical resistance superior to those of the refractory material and is a frustoconical disc portion whose face having the larger radius of curvature is placed against the adjacent roll and the disc portion defines a frustoconical surface which is in contact with the insulating material of the central part.

Abstract: A device for the continuous casting of thin metal strips includes two parallel spaced rotatable rolls, side walls located at the ends of the rolls and defining with the rolls a casting space for liquid metal, a flat cover disposed above the liquid metal and in the immediate vicinity of the meniscus of the liquid metal so as to form a thermal screen which is so dimensioned as to cover the whole of the surface of the liquid metal. The cover is provided with a refractory lining on the side of the cover facing toward the liquid metal and bearing against the two rolls. This cover forms a thermal screen or shield preventing any surface solidification of the bath of liquid metal from starting. Advantageously, an inert gas may be injected between the meniscus and the cover through the latter.

Abstract: The device for casting thin metal products comprises one or two rolls (1) driven in rotation and having cooled walls, and side walls (3) defining a casting space (4). The surface of each roll is divided into at least three circumferential zones, at least one (5) of said zones having a roughness greater than the roughness of the other zones (6). This device permits carrying out the process according to the invention in which solely certain longitudinal zones of the skins of cast metal solidified on contact with the cooled walls of the rolls are preferentially driven along.

Abstract: A device for casting thin metal products by solidifying the molten metal on the cooled lateral surfaces of two parallel horizontal rolls rotating in opposite directions, in which the casting space between the rolls is closed laterally by side dams each comprising an insert penetrating into the space between the rolls. A consumable or deformable material is provided between the rolls and the insert to provide a fluid-tight seal joint between the lateral faces of the inserts and the ends of the opposite rolls. The seal changes shaped by being consumed or deformed to maintain the fluid-tight seal as the rolls expand due to contact with the molten metal.

Abstract: The roll comprises a core (6) and a sleeve (7) in which latter are provided ducts (8) for the circulation of a cooling fluid. According to the invention, the sleeve (7) is rigidly connected to the core (6) in its axially median part and substantially throughout its circumference by an assembly which prevents any axial and radial displacement in this median part of the sleeve relative to the core, such as a dovetail assembly (9, 10) or a T-way assembly. The sleeve is in contact with the core throughout its width and is maintained by its edges (7', 7") on the core by maintaining means (11, 12, 13, 14) which allow an axial displacement but prevent a radial displacement of the edges of the sleeve relative to the core.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for starting a device for the continuous casting of molten metal, particularly steel, on a cooled roll (1) rotating about its horizontal axis. An adjacent container (4) contains the metal to be cast and has a front wall (5) whose free upper edge (11) is lowered in order to permit the exit of the metal to be cast, and which is swept by the cooled surface of the roll (1). According to the invention, casting is started with a relatively large lead angle (A) and, when casting has started, the container is displaced by pivoting about a horizontal axis, which can be the axis of rotation of the roll, so as to reduce the lead angle in order to arrive at a nominal working position (4') in which the container is held stationary.

Abstract: The process imparts heat during their solidification to the edge portions of a thin metal product (4) which is continuously cast in a machine comprising a casting space defined by two rotating rolls (1, 1') and two lateral closing plates (2, 2'). The process comprises applying on the portions (9) of the cooled surface of the rolls close to the lateral closing plates a coating of consumable material (5) which is adapted to react in an exothermic manner with the metal which comes in contact with the coating. A roll of a continuous casting device adapted for this purpose is provided together with a continuous casting device for carrying out the process.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is an installation for the continuous casting of thin metal products between two cooled rotating rolls, of the type comprising a riser, called a "header", interacting with the rolls and the small faces in order to define the casting space, wherein the longitudinal walls of the header in contact with the rolls consist of a refractory with high heat-insulating properties and the front walls of the header in contact with the small faces consist of a refractory material with high mechanical strength.

Abstract: The surface of each roll (2, 3) has a knurling constituted by two series of parallel grooves (5, 6) which are inclined to the axis (XX) of the roll and joining up at the center of the latter so as to form a series of chevrons, the two grooves (5, 6) of each chevron downwardly converging when they are on the side of the roll (2, 3) in contact with the liquid metal. The device is completed by a cage for extracting the cast product at a speed slightly higher than the speed of rotation of the casting rolls (2, 3). This arrangement avoids the formation of longitudinal or transverse cracks on the surface of the cast thin metal strip.

Abstract: The device comprises two parallel and rotating rolls (3) separated by a casting space, and two lateral closure walls (4) applied in a leaktight manner against the ends of the rolls (3) and lined with insulating refractory lining (5). Each lateral wall (4) is of the "negative insert" type. Refractory leaktight gaskets (6), consisting of consumable flexible bands, are interposed between the front faces (3a) of the rolls and the lateral walls (4) and run, during casting, at the same speed as the rolls (3), by virtue of suitable entrainment elements. The gaskets (6), unwound from feed reels, prevent infiltration of molten metal between the front faces of the rolls (3) and the lateral walls (4) and thus reduce the risk of jamming of the device.

Abstract: This device comprises plates held against front faces (1a, 2a) of the rolls (1, 2) in order to close the ends of a casting space (3) delimited by the rolls; each front face (1a, 2a) of a roll is equipped with a flexible endless band (5, 5') bearing, on the one hand, on the roll at the junction of its front face (1a) and its cylindrical surface (1b) and, on the other hand, on the opposite face of the associated closing plate (4), in order to ensure the seal between the latter and the front faces of the rolls.

Abstract: The casting installation is of the type in which the ingot mould is essentially constituted by two rolls (1, 1') which are energetically cooled, substantially horizontal and parallel and rotate in opposite directions, and two lateral closing plates (5), termed "side dams", each maintained in contact with an end of each roll. According to the invention, the rolls (1, 1') have end portions of frustoconical shape and the contact between the rolls and the side dams occurs between the lateral surfaces (4a) of these frustoconical end portions and surfaces (7) of the peripheral parts (9) of the side dams which match their shape. Preferably, the parts (9) of the side dams in contact with the rolls are of ceramic.

Abstract: A panel of curtain wall with an air-tight system, which is placed in position before the panel is installed, has an outer air-tight barrier and an inner air-tight barrier, one of which consists of a U-shaped profile with asymmetrical lips, the shorter lip being on the outside of two adjacent sides of the panel, the longer lip being on the outside on the other two sides.