Abstract: A method of preventing roll chatter in a stand of a rolling mill during the process of directing a strip of material through the mill. The method comprises the step of introducing into the stand a low power vibration component that prevents the rolls in the stand from vertically oscillating in any generally large, uncontrollable manner.

Abstract: A roll for use in a belt caster. The roll has a plurality of axial segments, at least one of which can be adjusted to compensate for transverse distortions in the belt. Generally uniform tension is maintained transversely in the belt so that the belt remains generally planar in the portion that contacts the molten metal that is cast in the belt caster.

Abstract: A roll for use in a roll caster. The roll has a heat exchanger core and an outer generally cylindrical shell surrounding the core, the core and the shell defining an enclosed space. A working fluid is contained in the enclosed space. When molten metal is cast onto the shell, the working fluid in proximity to the outer shell changes from a liquid to a vapor. Due to the rotation of the roll, the liquid phase of the working fluid forces the vapor in proximity with the outer cylindrical shell to return to the area adjacent to the core. At this area, the vapor phase is condensed into a liquid which is then subsequently delivered radially to the outer cylindrical shell. In this way, the working fluid constantly changes from vapor to liquid and back to vapor again and acts to continuously remove heat from the molten metal cast onto the outer cylindrical shell. A single roll caster, a twin roll caster, and a melt spinning apparatus as well as an associated method are also disclosed.

Abstract: A continuous casting machine ("block caster") is provided with chain-wise interlinking of mold block assemblies. Such chain-wise interlinking maintains the mold block assemblies essentially contiguous and is essential to provide operation of a continuous casting machine essentially free of mechanical noise. Each mold block assembly is elastically independently hinged by dual parallel hingepins, spaced-apart in the casting direction (x-axis), as the mold block assembly is carried between opposed, transversely (y-axis) spaced-apart guide rails of each carriage track. The elastic hinge means compensates for variation in block-to-block (centerline) distance caused by kinematic phenomena, including thermally induced variations in the dimensions of individual blocks as a function of their position in each track during operation. Guide rollers guided in generally horizontal guide roller-ways are afforded no measurable tolerance relative to their vertical displacement, when the roller-ways are off-set.