Abstract: A monitoring system may monitor a gap between an ingot and a bottom block of a mold. The monitoring system may include a camera and a computer system. The camera may be positioned to capture or detect optical data associated with one or more molds positioned in a casting environment and send the optical data to the computer system. The computer system may compare the optical data with a baseline profile. Based on the comparison between the optical data and the baseline profile, the computer system may determine if the ingot has separated from the bottom block and the height of the separation. The computer system may generate operating instructions based on the separation. The operating instructions may be used to adjust the casting process.

Abstract: A monitoring system may monitor a gap between an ingot and a bottom block of a mold. The monitoring system may include a camera and a computer system. The camera may be positioned to capture or detect optical data associated with one or more molds positioned in a casting environment and send the optical data to the computer system. The computer system may compare the optical data with a baseline profile. Based on the comparison between the optical data and the baseline profile, the computer system may determine if the ingot has separated from the bottom block and the height of the separation. The computer system may generate operating instructions based on the separation. The operating instructions may be used to adjust the casting process.

Abstract: Systems and associated methods are provided for controlling the shape of an ingot head during formation. At the end of a cast, prior to forming the ingot head, chill bars or other cooling structure may be lowered into an ingot mold and define a reduced casting footprint for forming the ingot head. Supplemental molten metal may be fed into the reduced casting footprint, and the chill bars may be moved laterally towards the center of the ingot, further reducing the casting footprint. As additional molten metal fills the reduced mold footprint, the ingot may be lowered relative to the chill bars to further increase the height of the ingot head. Additional molten metal may be added until the desired shape of the ingot head is formed.

Abstract: Automated processes and systems dynamically control the delivery rate of molten metal to a mold during a casting process. Such automated processes and systems can include automatically controlling a flow control device (such as a control pin) during a first phase of casting to modulate molten metal flow or flow rate, moving the flow control device in a transition time between the first phase and a second phase toward a substitute flow control device position determined based on a difference between a first projected flow rate of the first phase and a second projected flow rate of the second phase, and resuming automatic control of the flow control device during the second phase based on the detected metal level and the metal level setpoint. Overshoot and/or undershoot can additionally or alternatively be mitigated by translating the mold or altering the cast speed.

Abstract: Automated processes and systems dynamically control the delivery rate of molten metal to a mold during a casting process. Such automated processes and systems can include automatically controlling a flow control device (such as a control pin) during a first phase of casting to modulate molten metal flow or flow rate, moving the flow control device in a transition time between the first phase and a second phase toward a substitute flow control device position determined based on a difference between a first projected flow rate of the first phase and a second projected flow rate of the second phase, and resuming automatic control of the flow control device during the second phase based on the detected metal level and the metal level setpoint. Overshoot and/or undershoot can additionally or alternatively be mitigated by translating the mold or altering the cast speed.

Abstract: Automated processes that dynamically control rate of delivery of molten metal to a mold during a casting process. Such automated processes can use dynamic metal level variation, control pin pulses and/or oscillation during the mold fill and transient portion of the cast. It has been found that such pulses keep metal flowing in a manner that addresses problems, particularly at the beginning of an ingot cast, associated with metal meniscus contracting and pulling away from the mold on the short faces and corners.

Abstract: Automated processes that dynamically control rate of delivery of molten metal to a mold during a casting process. Such automated processes can use dynamic metal level variation, control pin pulses and/or oscillation during the mold fill and transient portion of the cast. It has been found that such pulses keep metal flowing in a manner that addresses problems, particularly at the beginning of an ingot cast, associated with metal meniscus contracting and pulling away from the mold on the short faces and corners.

Abstract: Automated processes that dynamically control rate of delivery of molten metal to a mold during a casting process. Such automated processes can use dynamic metal level variation, control pin pulses and/or oscillation during the mold fill and transient portion of the cast. It has been found that such pulses keep metal flowing in a manner that addresses problems, particularly at the beginning of an ingot cast, associated with metal meniscus contracting and pulling away from the mold on the short faces and corners.

Abstract: Automated processes that dynamically control rate of delivery of molten metal to a mold during a casting process. Such automated processes can use dynamic metal level variation, control pin pulses and/or oscillation during the mold fill and transient portion of the cast. It has been found that such pulses keep metal flowing in a manner that addresses problems, particularly at the beginning of an ingot cast, associated with metal meniscus contracting and pulling away from the mold on the short faces and corners.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the invention provides a method of direct chill casting a composite metal ingot. The method involves sequentially casting two or more metal layers to form a composite ingot by supplying streams of molten metal to two or more casting chambers within a casting mold of a direct chill casting apparatus. Inlet temperatures of one or more of the streams of molten metal are monitored at a position adjacent to an inlet of a casting chamber fed with the stream, and the inlet temperatures are compared with a predetermined set temperature for the stream to determine if there is any difference. A casting variable that affects molten metal temperatures entering or within the casting chambers (e.g. casting speed) is then adjusted by an amount based on the difference of the compared temperatures to eliminate adverse casting effects caused by the difference of the inlet temperature and the set temperature.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of reducing butt curl during DC casting of a metal ingot. The ingot is cast in at least two stages, including an initial casting stage and then a steady-state casting stage carried out at higher casting speed. The emerging ingot is cooled by directing a liquid coolant onto its outer surface. During the first casting stage, the liquid coolant is directed in the form of at least two streams, including a constant first stream in the form of a series of first jets, and an intermittent second stream in the form of a series of second jets. The first and second jets impact the outer surface at locations spaced from each other peripherally and/or longitudinally of the ingot. Both the first and second streams experience film boiling when they contact the ingot. The invention includes apparatus for the method.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment provides a method of eliminating a shrinkage cavity in a metal ingot cast by direct chill casting. The method involves casting an upright ingot having an upper surface at an intended height. Upon completion of the casting, the lower tip of the spout is maintained below the molten metal near the center of the upper surface. The metal flow through the spout is terminated and a partial shrinkage cavity is allowed to form as metal of the ingot shrinks and contracts. Before the partial cavity exposes the lower tip of the spout, the cavity is preferably over-filled with molten metal, while avoiding spillage of molten metal, and then the flow of metal through the spout is terminated. These steps are repeated until no further contraction of the metal causes any part of the upper surface to contract below the intended ingot height.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of reducing butt curl during DC casting of a metal ingot. The ingot is cast in at least two stages, including an initial casting stage and then a steady-state casting stage carried out at higher casting speed. The emerging ingot is cooled by directing a liquid coolant onto its outer surface. During the first casting stage, the liquid coolant is directed in the form of at least two streams, including a constant first stream in the form of a series of first jets, and an intermittent second stream in the form of a series of second jets. The first and second jets impact the outer surface at locations spaced from each other peripherally and/or longitudinally of the ingot. Both the first and second streams experience film boiling when they contact the ingot. The invention includes apparatus for the method.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment provides a method of eliminating a shrinkage cavity in a metal ingot cast by direct chill casting. The method involves casting an upright ingot having an upper surface at an intended height. Upon completion of the casting, the lower tip of the spout is maintained below the molten metal near the center of the upper surface. The metal flow through the spout is terminated and a partial shrinkage cavity is allowed to form as metal of the ingot shrinks and contracts. Before the partial cavity exposes the lower tip of the spout, the cavity is preferably over-filled with molten metal, while avoiding spillage of molten metal, and then the flow of metal through the spout is terminated. These steps are repeated until no further contraction of the metal causes any part of the upper surface to contract below the intended ingot height.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the invention provides a method of direct chill casting a composite metal ingot. The method involves sequentially casting two or more metal layers to form a composite ingot by supplying streams of molten metal to two or more casting chambers within a casting mold of a direct chill casting apparatus. Inlet temperatures of one or more of the streams of molten metal are monitored at a position adjacent to an inlet of a casting chamber fed with the stream, and the inlet temperatures are compared with a predetermined set temperature for the stream to determine if there is any difference. A casting variable that affects molten metal temperatures entering or within the casting chambers (e.g. casting speed) is then adjusted by an amount based on the difference of the compared temperatures to eliminate adverse casting effects caused by the difference of the inlet temperature and the set temperature.

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: Balance beams are pivotally mounted on and crosswise of an elongated rack extending parallel to a trough over a series of mold cavities, valve closure devices are suspended from corresponding first end portions of the beams to throttle valve openings in the trough, float sensors are suspended from points on the opposing second end portions of the beams to contact the surfaces of molten metal columns brought to a state of equilibrium in the cavities, and the rack is elevated in relation to the cavities as molten metal is delivered to the trough, so that as the first end portions impose a desired value on the rate at which the surfaces escalate up the axes of the cavities, the second end portions elevate the suspension points for the sensors at a rate commensurate therewith, to assure that the input signals transmitted to the first portions through the fulcra for the beams, are consistent with the imposed value.

Abstract: To control the admission of molten metal to a series of mold cavities through a series of valve openings in the downspouts of a trough thereabove, an elongated rack is arranged parallel to the trough, a set of balance beams is pivotally mounted on the rack, a set of valve closure devices is suspended from corresponding first end portions of the beams for throttling the openings, and a set of float sensors is suspended from points on the opposing second end portions of the beams for contact with the surfaces of the molten metal in the cavities.

Abstract: A metal casting control device is provided for use in conjunction with a semi-continuous metal casting system. The control device is an integral module containing a metal surface elevation sensing device, a valve actuator for positioning a metal distribution control valve, and electronic circuits associated with these mechanical components. The control device module is adapted to be connected to an overhead metal distribution launder by a single quick-coupling for convenient and simple removal and replacement. Calibration of the control device is performed after installation by mounting a calibration target on the metal casting system and vertically adjusting the metal surface elevation sensing device until an integral calibration indicator positioned on the control device indicates that the proper vertical position has been attained.