Abstract: A protection arrangement for a casting jet emerging from a metallurgical vessel includes a protective tube enveloping the casting jet and fastened to an articulation-rod assembly that is pivotable into any space direction. In order to be able to follow any desired position of the casting jet with the protective tube, the articulation-rod assembly includes a first, vertically extending, four-bar linkage parallelogram which is mounted with its vertically arranged web so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis. To its coupler, an extension arm carrying the protective tube is hinged, forming the oscillating crank of a second four-bar linkage. The web of the second four-bar linkage is formed by an oscillating crank of the first four-bar linkage parallelogram.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for exchanging rollers in a continuous casting plant for strands, which plant has opposite roller paths for guiding the strand, involves moving the rollers to be exchanged into or out of their bearing places in the roller paths and transporting them away from or to the bearing place, respectively, in the region between the roller paths in the longitudinal direction thereof. Advantageously, a sled with recesses is provided for delivering and removing the rollers.