Abstract: A metal distribution system for the simultaneous production of a plurality of logs or round billets from molten metal comprising: 1) a trough for the introduction of molten metal; 2) a plurality of side streams extending from the trough and each of the side streams including a plurality of opposing apertures each of the apertures including a thimble for the shaping of molten metal passing through the trough and the side streams and into the thimbles. A uniform flow of molten metal into the side streams and the individual apertures is provided by the controlled negative angular orientation of the most upstream opposing pair of apertures thereby providing relative uniformity of the temperature of molten metal reaching each of the plurality of apertures. A unique unitized thimble configuration and trough damming arrangement are also described.

Abstract: A metal distribution system for the simultaneous production of a plurality of logs or round billets from molten metal comprising: 1) a trough for the introduction of molten metal; 2) a plurality of side streams extending from the trough and each of the side streams including a plurality of opposing apertures each of the apertures including a thimble for the shaping of molten metal passing through the trough and the side streams and into the thimbles. A uniform flow of molten metal into the side streams and the individual apertures is provided by the controlled negative angular orientation of the most upstream opposing pair of apertures thereby providing relative uniformity of the temperature of molten metal reaching each of the plurality of apertures. A unique unitized thimble configuration and trough damming arrangement are also described.