Abstract: On detection of an occurrence of skin sticking in the mould, the withdrawal speed is subjected to a cyclic variation which comprises a ramp from the cruising speed to a reduced, decelerated speed, a healing plateau, and an acceleration ramp from the reduced speed to the cruising speed, measures are taken to determine the ferritic potential (PF) of the steel which is being cast, to determine the gradients (d, a) of one of the two ramps as a function of this ferritic potential, and to determine the length (t.sub.r) of the healing plateau as a function of the difference between the liquidus and solidus temperatures of said steel.

Abstract: A system with a principal hopper having balances and discharge piping fitted with a valve and a flow sensor. The lower end of the piping extends into a secondary hopper which is connected to a pipe fitting powder to an ingot mold. The powder flows from the principal hopper into the secondary hopper and flows through the pipe into the ingot mould where it spreads over a cast metal surface. When the level of powder in the secondary hopper reaches the lower end of the piping, the flow is terminated and the flow sensor initiates valve closure. The valve is reopened after a specified time period or when another sensor indicates the absence of powder. In this way, it is possible to determine powder consumption by measuring the time between two successive valve openings or closures.

Abstract: The coring probe is constructed in the form of a tube (1) whose front part is capable of being disassembled into at least two parts (2,3), for example an upper element (2) which is fixed in use to a lower element (3) by members (4) and screws (6). This probe may be employed several times and consequently permits achieving a marked saving relative to known probes.

Abstract: According to the invention, molten metal 3 is poured into a continuous-casting ingot mold and the thickness of the product 1 emerging from the ingot mold is reduced using a device for reducing the thickness 20, while the core 5 of said product has still not solidified.The thickness of the product 1 is reduced only in a central zone, excluding the solidified edges of the product, using means for reducing the thickness such as rolls 22 whose working length is less than the width of the large faces 11 of the ingot mold.Means 8 are provided downstream of the rolls 22 in order to crop the edges 7' of the product in the manufacture of thin slabs 9.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing thin metal products by continuous casting. The apparatus comprises an ingot mold (2) and squeezing rolls (6, 6') intended to cause, by reduction of the thickness of product, closing of the solidification pool. The separation force (F) exerted on the squeezing rolls by the product is measured and a variable magnetic field, matched to the separation force so that the latter does not exceed over a long period a predetermined upper limit value representing the force that the squeezing rolls can tolerate temporarily without damage, is applied to the core of the still molten product by inductors (8, 8') housed in, or upstream of, the squeezing rolls.

Abstract: The process for the continuous casting of thin metal products, particularly steel, products, of the type according to which the molten metal is poured into a continuous-casting ingot mold of elongated section, from which the partially solidified metal is continuously withdrawn and the thickness of the product emerging from the ingot mold is reduced by means of squeezing rolls (4, 4'), comprises the steps of (a) detecting whether the liquid phase tip is located upstream or downstream of the squeezing rolls, (b) applying between the squeezing rolls, a variable magnetic field to the core of the product, while matching the action of the magnetic field to the detected position of the liquid phase tip.