Abstract: The machine has a vertically oriented open-topped mold cavity having downwardly moving containment surfaces that hold a pool of liquid metal. The cavity is wide at the top-center and tapers to the narrow thickness of the strip (34) being cast at the edges of the sides and at the bottom. The two wide sides of the cavity are each delineated by a matrix of contiguous plates (38) separated by narrow fissures, the surface of each plate being subdivided by narrow expansion joints. Each matrix is a many-facetted approximation of a doubly-curved surface, the dynamic changes in the shape of which being facilitated by small changes in the relative linear and angular orientation of the plates with each other as they proceed downwardly through the matrix. A plate supporting arrangement with arcuately grooved tracks precludes lateral shifting of the plates of a given column with respect to each other and provision is made for adjusting both the thickness and the width of the casting.

Abstract: The machine has a vertically oriented open-topped mold cavity with downwardly moving sides that contain a pool of liquid metal. The cavity is wide at the top-center and tapers to the narrow thickness of the strip being cast at the sides and bottom. The two wide sides of the cavity are each delineated by a matrix of contiguous plates seperated by narrow fissures.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuously casting strip material comprising a casting drum rotatable about a first axis, a pair of cheek members including portions slidably engageable with sides of the casting drum mounted for rotation about a second axis spaced from said first axis and a casting belt wrapped around a portion of the cheek members together defining a converging casting arc. The cheek members include peripheral surfaces engageable by marginal edges of the casting belt which maintain a variable casting gap between a casting surface on the belt and a casting surface on the drum. The eccentric mounting of the cheek members with respect to the casting drum cause the spacing between the belt and the drum to decrease as the end of the casting arc is reached. The cheek members each include tapered side surfaces which together with the casting drum define ear receiving recesses that increase in a radial direction as the end of the casting arc is approached.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a protective gas shroud around molten metal being teemed from a ladle having a slide gate secured to the bottom. The apparatus comprises a plenum box sealed to and extending downwardly from the sliding part of the slide gate. A hood is arranged to telescope over the plenum box and form a rough sliding seal therewith. The hood has a skirt flange at the bottom thereof. The width of said skirt flange in the direction of movement of the slide gate is greater than the maximum slide gate movement. Means are fixed relative to the plenum box to raise and lower the hood. Means are provided for introducing a protective gas into the plenum box. The method comprises aligning the ladle with the mold into which hot metal is to be teemed. The means for raising and lowering the hood is activated to lower the skirt flange to rest upon the top of the mold or hot top. Thereafter the slide gate is opened dragging the hood over the top of the mold or hot top into alignment with the mold.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for loading, in stepwise fashion, hollow cylinders on a recumbent positioned mandrel, for retaining the cylinders on the mandrel during transfer for vertical positioning, and for releasing the cylinders on a seat without disturbing the linear alignment of or dropping the cylinders.

Abstract: Nozzle apparatus and method for controlling molten metal flow in a bottom pour casting system whereby a fluid passage is defined wherein the flow is controlled to minimize splashing of the molten metal in the molds and the flow distribution is better equalized among a plurality of molds which are being simultaneously charged.

Abstract: An ingot mold buggy for carrying steel ingots and molds which buggy is of improved construction to resist damage due to excessive impact loading such as that which might be encountered by dropping a mold and a contained ingot on the buggy.

Abstract: A vented coke oven door includes a door frame having a vertical face surface carrying a plug assembly having a central vertical internal opening to conduct coke oven gas generated at the bottom of a coal charge in a coke oven chamber. The plug assembly includes a plurality of U-shaped refractory plug segments arranged in an end-to-end aligned relation with leg sections of each U-shaped segment extending horizontally into an abutting relation with the face surface of the door frame. Each leg section carries either an embedded hooked end or a T-shaped head of a threaded fastener which is supported by the door frame so that the leg sections are unrestrained against movement toward and away from each other in response to a thermal gradient across the wall thickness of the refractory plug segment.

Abstract: A warp-resistant doorjamb is mounted next to the refractory at the outer end of a coke oven chamber. The doorjamb includes a rectangularly-shaped frame with end segments joining together two side segments each having a length substantially corresponding to the height of the coke oven chamber. Both side segments have an outwardly-extending rigid beam section with openings to releasably engage with hanger bars on a coke oven door. A plurality of web sections extends at spaced-apart intervals from each rigid beam section to define window openings between the web sections to minimize the conductive transfer of heat to the rigid beam section and dissipate heat to the atmosphere. A base plate section extends along the end and side segments and forms a face surface for mounting next to the refractory of a coke oven chamber. The base plate section is divided by transverse slots into individual base segments each joined with at least one of the web sections for the support thereby.

Abstract: One or more pulsating streams of liquid material may be transformed into streams of essentially constant velocity with use of a counterweighted tundish that tilts in response to variations in liquid input. The dispensing system is particularly suited for use as a feeding source of liquid metal for continuous strip casting processes due to its ability to provide a constant low velocity teeming stream.