Abstract: A continuous casting method and apparatus therefor wherein a reaction force/reduction controller selects a pivot reduction roll such that the thickness of the solidified shell of the cast slab having a liquid core is equal to the target thickness T.sub.ref, and calculates a difference between a thickness T.sub.in of the cast slab having a liquid core at the inlet of the reduction roll zone PRT and the target thickness T.sub.ref, i.e., .DELTA.T. The resulting value of .DELTA.T, i.e., a target reduction is provided to the reduction controllers 2 of the pivot reduction roll. The reaction force/reduction controller 1 assigns target reductions 1/3 .DELTA.T and 2/3 .DELTA.T to the two reduction rolls upstream of the pivot reduction roll. The reaction force/reduction controller 1 calculates a target pressure (P.sub.i +.alpha.) on the basis of the selected value for .alpha., and the resulting target pressure (P.sub.i +.alpha.

Abstract: A metal strip is continuously cast between a pair of heat conductive endless belts which serve to form a molding zone to solidify molten metal. The endless belts remove heat from the molten metal and are cooled when the belts are not in contact with the molten metal, which minimizes belt distortion.

Abstract: Apparatus for die casting a shape from a metal matrix composite billet composed essentially of a metal alloy matrix and dispersed ceramic particles, comprising heating means to soften the metal alloy; a horizontal plunger to drive and to compress the billet; a die through which the softened metal matrix and ceramic particles are formed into a shape defined by the interior surface of the die; and cooling means to maintain the temperature of the interior surface of the die at a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A method of advancing molds (5), after pouring to form castings (9) in the casting cavities (8), leaving a foundry plant comprising a mould-making station (A, 1-4) and a pouring station (B,7), the molds (5) leaving the plant in the form of closely juxtaposed mold parts (5) with the castings (9) in casting cavities (8) at the mainly vertical parting surfaces between successive molds (5), the latter constituting a mold string (F), in which each mold (5) occupies a given length (S) in the longitudinal direction of the mold string (F), the latter after having passed a precision conveyor (6, 16) being transferred to a second conveyor (10, 16, D).

Abstract: Hot rolled steel strip is produced from continuously cast semi-finished steel in directly successive work steps, in which, after conversion of the molten steel into continuously cast semi-finished steel in a stationary process, the semi-finished steel is fed directly from the continuous casting to a continuous hot rolling mill, without prior separation, and an endless steel strip of any desired thinness is produced at the final rolling temperatures usual in process technology directly from the primary heat, using certain parameters.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a chilling block and temperature measuring devices disposed in different positions. The output from the temperature measuring devices can be employed to provide ongoing control of cooling of the chilling block in x-, y- and/or z-directions.

Abstract: The casting assembly includes a horseshoe shaped casting ring having a plurality of handling posts; a horseshoe shaped crucible former having a flange for retaining the casting ring and a top surface for supporting the casting ring; and a pair of tongs having a plurality of openings, each of the openings adapted to receive one of the handling posts.

Abstract: A gradient material is manufactured in which the alloy composition varies continuously with the cross-section. A first metal liquid is introduced from a first tundish into the outer portion of a water-cooled mould. A second metal liquid is introduced into the inner portion of the water-cooled mould through a refractory entry nozzle immersed in the first metal liquid to form a metal liquid pool. The metal liquid pool is solidified into an ingot where the composition of alloys varies continuously from the inside to the outside of the ingot.

Abstract: An opening 206 is provided in a system for delivering molten metal to the mold cavity 18 of a molten metal casting apparatus. A valve closure device 192, 196 is mounted at 198 to be reciprocated in relation to the opening 206 to control the flow of molten metal therethrough, and the driven end 206 of a bellows motor 208 is connected with the valve closure device at 258 to reciprocate the device in relation to the opening. A pair of concentric relatively inside and outside thimble-shaped chambers 238 and 240, 264 is circumposed about the bellows motor so that the bight portions thereof are opposed to the driven end of the motor, and interconnected with one another by a restricted liquid flow passage 270 in the screw 268. When fluid input signals are generated in the relatively outside chamber 240, 264, for the actuation of the closure device through the bellows motor, each signal is transmitted to the end of the bellows motor through the restricted liquid flow passage 270 and the relatively inside chamber 238.

Abstract: A side wall is provided for closing off the casting space of a plant for the continuous casting of metal strip between two counterrotating rolls which define a nip area and have horizontal axes, of the type including an upper edge, a lower edge, and a face that defines part of a casting space. The wall includes a lower part for preventing cracking in the side wall adjacent to the nip area that includes a recess filled with a refractory. Preferably, the refractory enclosed by the recess is a material having a lower hardness than the refractory forming the balance of the wall, and high thermal insulation properties.

Abstract: The article is produced by prepositioning nonwoven reinforcement, coated h a bond enhancing compound inside of a centrifugal casting mold that is surface coated for protective shielding of the reinforcement. Molten matrix metal is then introduced into the mold while being rotated about its longitudinal axis until the molten metal completely encapsulates the reinforcement.

Abstract: A twin drum-type continuous casting process for casting thin cast strip by solidifying molten steel continuously fed between a pair of cooling drums placed parallel to each other, wherein the cooling drums are given an added degree of concave crown such that a solid fraction at the thickness center of the thin cast strip, when the distance from the edges toward the center of the thin cast strip at the closest position of the cooling drums is within 50 mm, is exhibited which is a value greater than the fluid critical solid fraction, or alternatively the cooling rate near the edges of the cooling drums is improved.

Abstract: An installation has a fixed die portion and a moving die portion, ejector rods under the control of an actuator fed with control fluid, and a spray device for spraying a coating substance. A monitoring apparatus comprises a pressure sensor for continuously measuring the pressure of a control fluid, a device for measuring and recording the pressure as a function of time, a device for comparing the recorded measurement with a reference measurement, and a device for modifying the spraying of the coating substance as a function of the comparison.

Abstract: A gas permeable ceramic investment mold is disposed in a casting chamber and filled with melt to be solidified via a mold melt inlet, such as for example a mold pour cup adapted to receive the melt from a melting crucible in the casting chamber. After the melt is cast into the hot investment mold in the vacuum casting chamber, a pressure cap is positioned in sealing engagement with the mold melt inlet, and gas pressure is introduced through the pressure cap to provide selective or local gas pressure on the melt in the mold without pressure cracking or other damage to the relatively fragile investment mold, while the casting chamber is maintained under relative vacuum or a different pressure from that in the mold.

Abstract: Molten metal is poured into a continuous casting mold having a rectangular mold exit opening to produce a rectangular metal strand having a liquid core, a width and a thickness. A convex shape is imparted to the rectangular strand along at least a part of the width thereof downstream of the casting mold by arranging a plurality of oppositely disposed guide rolls immediately downstream of the rectangular mold exit opening so that the cast strand while travelling from the mold exit opening through the plurality of guide rolls expands along at least part of its width no more than 8% of the strand thickness, thereby preventing snaking of the strand.

Abstract: The continuous casting plant includes a continuous casting mold having a round mold shape or also an oval mold shape in the upper mold half and a shaping portion starting at the latest in the middle of the mold, wherein the shaping portion has over the lower mold half up to at the latest the mold exit a polygonal shape or sectional shape with approximately the same circumference as the initial round mold shape.

Abstract: A continuous casting device comprises, in combination, a continuous casting mold for receiving molten metal, and at least one pair of guide rolls disposed immediately downstream of the mold exit opening. The exit opening of the mold is rectangular shaped so as to permit a rectangular strand to be cast which has a liquid core, a width and a thickness. The guide rolls are constructed so as to impart to the rectangular strand leaving the mold exit opening a convex shape so as to prevent snaking of the strand within the continuous casting device. The convexivity concavity extends along at least a part of the width of the strand and is no more than 8% of the strand thickness.

Abstract: A metal or alloy is melted in a vaccuum chamber disposed about an end of a shot sleeve. The opposite end of the shot sleeve is communicated to a die cavity between first and second dies which are disposed in ambient air atmosphere. The dies have one or more vacuum seals therebetween extending about the die cavity to isolate the die cavity from the ambient air atmosphere when the dies are closed. A vacuum thereby is provided in the die cavity through the shot sleeve when the vacuum chamber is evacuated despite the dies being disposed in ambient air atmosphere. The first and second dies are opened after the metal or alloy is die cast in the die cavity for ready removal of the cast component from the die cavity directly to the ambient air atmosphere and then to an optional quenchant medium proximate the dies.

Abstract: Finely divided embossed metal particles are prepared by forming an embossment on a carrier surface in which the embossment comprises a machine readable image produced by a diffraction grating pattern, a holographic image pattern or an image visible solely by optical magnification. A layer of metal is applied to the surface so the layer adopts the complement or the embossment. The layer is then separated from the surface and reduced to embossed particles. Alternatively, the embossment can be formed on the carrier sheet directly or on the outer surface of a release coating formed on the carrier sheet. When removing the film of metal from the release-coated carrier, the carrier sheet with the release coating and film of metal can be passed through a release environment which causes the release coating to separate the film and carrier, but which is nondestructive of the metal.

Abstract: The device for the making a flat product (P) comprises a cylindrical wall, brought into rotation around a fixed core (1) and cooled by circulation of a fluid for the formation, of the flat product (P), onto an angular sector of the wall (2). The cooled wall on which is cast the metal is made up of a thin metal envelope forming a shell (2) simply inserted with possibility of sliding onto a circular surface (11) of the fixed core which constitute the central section of a fixed shaft (1) to hold and center the shell (2), the shaft (1) being connected with a thrust device allowing application of the shell (2) on the circular surface (11) of the shaft (1), the cooling fluid providing the lubrication of the bush thus made.