Abstract: A method for casting metal strip by controlling the distance between the confining side plates confining the casting pool and the outer nozzle ends of discrete nozzle pieces of the delivery nozzle delivering the molten melt. The nozzle pieces defining the outer nozzle ends may be moved and control separately from the position of the confining plates, or with the position of the confining plates, by a nozzle delivery drive. The distance between the outer nozzle ends and the confining plates may be set before casting and maintained during casting with wear and thermal expansion of the confining plates, nozzle pieces, or both, or varied during the casting operation, to inhibit the formation of skulls in the casting pool and the formation of “snake eggs” in the cast strip.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for casting metal strip by controlling the distance between the confining side plates confining the casting pool and the outer nozzle ends of discrete nozzle pieces of the delivery nozzle delivering the molten melt. The nozzle pieces defining the outer nozzle ends may be moved and control separately from the position of the confining plates, or with the position of the confining plates, by a nozzle delivery drive. The distance between the outer nozzle ends and the confining plates may be set before casting and maintained during casting with wear and thermal expansion of the confining plates, nozzle pieces, or both, or varied during the casting operation, to inhibit the formation of skulls in the casting pool and the formation of “snake eggs” in the cast strip.

Abstract: An apparatus for casting metal strip in which molten metal is applied to a casting roll the surface of which is cleaned by a cleaning brush device comprising a main brush extending across the roll surface by sweeper brush actuator 28A and a sweeper brush extending across the roll and capable of tangentially engaging the peripheral longitudinal roll surface in advance of the main brushing device. Both brushes are mounted on mounting frames moveable to bring the main and sweeper brushes into contact with the casting roll. The sweeper brush is independently moveable on the frame by operation of an sweeper brush actuator to move the sweeper brush into engagement with the surface of the casting roll near the start and end of the casting run and the main brush actuator to move the main brush into engagement with the peripheral longitudinal surface of the casting roll during normal casting operation.

Abstract: A method for casting metal strip by controlling the distance between the confining side plates confining the casting pool and the outer nozzle ends of discrete nozzle pieces of the delivery nozzle delivering the molten melt. The nozzle pieces defining the outer nozzle ends may be moved and control separately from the position of the confining plates, or with the position of the confining plates, by a nozzle delivery drive. The distance between the outer nozzle ends and the confining plates may be set before casting and maintained during casting with wear and thermal expansion of the confining plates, nozzle pieces, or both, or varied during the casting operation, to inhibit the formation of skulls in the casting pool and the formation of “snake eggs” in the cast strip.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for casting metal strip by controlling the distance between the confining side plates confining the casting pool and the outer nozzle ends of discrete nozzle pieces of the delivery nozzle delivering the molten melt. The nozzle pieces defining the outer nozzle ends may be moved and control separately from the position of the confining plates, or with the position of the confining plates, by a nozzle delivery drive. The distance between the outer nozzle ends and the confining plates may be set before casting and maintained during casting with wear and thermal expansion of the confining plates, nozzle pieces, or both, or varied during the casting operation, to inhibit the formation of skulls in the casting pool and the formation of “snake eggs” in the cast strip.

Abstract: A thin steel strip is passed through a pinch roll stand comprising pinch rolls to a hot rolling mill comprising work rolls and backing rolls. In advance of rolling mill, the strip passes over support rolls. An anti-crimping guide roll located immediately in advance of the rolling mill is mounted on a pair of rocker structures so as to be rasiable from a lower inoperative position to lift the strip out of a straight line path so as to pass around the anti-crimping roll and to be wrapped about the upper work roll, that roll supports the strip and resists buckling of the strip and the generation of crimping defects.

Abstract: Twin roll caster produces cast steel strip that passes in a transit path through pinch roll stand and optional hot rolling mill and runout table to a coiling station which has a pair of switchable coilers. A strip shear located in advance of the coiling station is operable to sever strip into discrete lengths which can be diverted by setting deflectors to allow the severed lengths to pass across a runout table to a scrap bin. The strip may be thus severed and diverted to scrap on development of strip defects or malfunctioning of equipment without stopping continuous casting and the strip redirected to the coiling station when the problem is rectified.

Abstract: A thin steel strip is passed through a pinch roll stand comprising pinch rolls to a hot rolling mill comprising work rolls and backing rolls. In advance of rolling mill, the strip passes over support rolls. An anti-crimping guide roll located immediately in advance of the rolling mill is mounted on a pair of rocker structures so as to be rasiable from a lower inoperative position to lift the strip out of a straight line path so as to pass around the anti-crimping roll and to be wrapped about the upper work roll, that roll supports the strip and resists buckling of the strip and the generation of crimping defects.

Abstract: Twin roll caster for casting metal strip comprises pair of parallel casting rolls forming nip to receive molten metal from elongate metal delivery nozzle formed in two pieces supported in end to end relationship with a gap between them. A pair of casting pool confinement plates are thrust against the ends of rolls by thrusters mounted with the side plastes on carriages forming part of moveable structures which are connected to the outer rends of nozzle pieces by pins and which can be moved by operation of screw jacks. The outer ends of nozzle segments can be accurately set in position relative to side plates prior to a casting and during a casting operation screw jacks can be operated so as to move the nozzle segments inwardly to match inward advance of the side plates as they wear.

Abstract: Continuous strip casting device comprises a pair of parallel casting rolls onto which molten metal is supplied by metal supply means. Casting rolls are enclosed by a casting chamber into which hot strip is delivered downwardly from the casting rolls. Strip passes downwardly into a cooling chamber where it can either fall into a moveable scrap box at the bottom of chamber or be guided by operation of moveable apron through an exit door from chamber into a heat exchange chamber provided with heaters. A pair of seal rolls are moveable in a seal chamber to form a seal between chambers and are provided with respective gas inlets to admit oxidation inhibiting gas into those chambers. Scrap box is moveable into and out of the bottom of chamber via a scrap box exchange chamber fitted with an airtight door.

Abstract: A pinch roll assembly that may be used for feeding hot metal strip comprises a pair of parallel pinch rolls. At least one of the rolls comprises a copper or copper alloy tube providing the external peripheral roll surface and internal water cooling passages to cool the cylindrical tube by flowing water through the passages. The copper or copper alloy tube is fitted to a cylindrical arbor formed with end shafts for mounting the roll in journal bearings. Shaft is provided with a rotary drive coupling and shaft is fitted with a rotary water coupling for flow of cooling water to the water flow passages.

Abstract: An apparatus for casting metal strip in which molten metal is applied to a casting roll the surface of which is cleaned by a cleaning brush device comprising a main brush extending across the roll surface by sweeper brush actuator 28A and a sweeper brush extending across the roll and capable of tangentially engaging the peripheral longitudinal roll surface in advance of the main brushing device. Both brushes are mounted on mounting frames moveable to bring the main and sweeper brushes into contact with the casting roll. The sweeper brush is independently moveable on the frame by operation of an sweeper brush actuator to move the sweeper brush into engagement with the surface of the casting roll near the start and end of the casting run and the main brush actuator to move the main brush into engagement with the peripheral longitudinal surface of the casting roll during normal casting operation.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuously casting metal strip comprises a pair of parallel casting rolls (16). In use of the apparatus molten metal is delivered between the casting rolls which are rotated to deliver cast strip product downwardly from the rolls. Casting rolls (16) are mounted on a roll module (13) installed in and removable from the caster as a unit. Module (13) is movable horizontally from a stand-by position to an intermediate position beneath a casting position of the rolls and can be hoisted from the intermediate position by operation of hoists (71) to lift the rolls (16) into their casting position.

Abstract: A pinch roll assembly that may be used for feeding hot metal strip comprises a pair of parallel pinch rolls. At least one of the rolls comprises a copper or copper alloy tube providing the external peripheral roll surface and internal water cooling passages to cool the cylindrical tube by flowing water through the passages. The copper or copper alloy tube is fitted to a cylindrical arbor formed with end shafts for mounting the roll in journal bearings. Shaft is provided with a rotary drive coupling and shaft is fitted with a rotary water coupling for flow of cooling water to the water flow passages.

Abstract: Continuous strip casting device comprises a pair of parallel casting rolls onto which molten metal is supplied by metal supply means. Casting rolls are enclosed by a casting chamber into which hot strip is delivered downwardly from the casting rolls. Strip passes downwardly into a cooling chamber where it can either fall into a moveable scrap box at the bottom of chamber or be guided by operation of moveable apron through an exit door from chamber into a heat exchange chamber provided with heaters. A pair of seal rolls are moveable in a seal chamber to form a seal between chambers and are provided with respective gas inlets to admit oxidation inhibiting gas into those chambers. Scrap box is moveable into and out of the bottom of chamber via a scrap box exchange chamber fitted with an airtight door.

Abstract: An arbourless casting roll for casting steel strip includes a cylindrical tube (20) of copper of copper alloy having a wall thickness in the range of 30 mm-200 mm and a series of holes defining longitudinal water flow passages (26). A pair of steel stub shafts (21, 22) disposed one at each end of tube (20) have end formations (27, 28) which fit snugly into the ends of tube (20) and have circumferential flanges (29, 30) abutting the ends of the tube. Fasteners (71) extend through flanges (29, 30) into at least some of the holes (26) to fix the stub shafts to the tube (20) such that the tube is unsupported between the stub shafts (21, 22). Water flow ducts (35, 36( in the stub shaft end formations (27, 28) allow flow of water to and from the flow passages (26).

Abstract: Twin roll strip casting apparatus in which a pair of pool confining side plates (56) engage end surfaces of casting rolls (16) to form side confining closures for the pool. Plates (56) are mounted in side plate holders (82) connected to horizontally acting thrusters (83) which apply inward closure forces to the side plates (56). Thrusters (83) are mounted on a pair of carriages (101) disposed one at each end of the casting roll assembly and movable toward and away from one another to enable the spacing between them to be adjusted so that the carriages (101) can be preset before a casting operation to suit the width of the casting rolls (16). Carriages (101) are mounted on a central frame structure (103) which sits over the casting rolls (16).

Abstract: Twin roll caster for continuously casting metal strip comprises a pair of parallel casting rolls (16) to which molten metal is supplied through a delivery nozzle (19). The rolls are mounted on roll carriers (104) moveable on a frame (102) to allow rolls (16) to move toward and away from one another. Biasing units (110, 111) allow inward biasing forces to be applied to the roll carriers (104) so as to bias one of the rolls (104) toward the other. The biasing units (110) incorporate biasing springs and means to adjust the thrust exerted by the springs.

Abstract: Twin roll caster for casting metal strip. Metal is delivered through a distributor (18) and delivery nozzle (19) between a pair of casting rolls (16) to form a casting pool (30) supported on rolls (16) and confined by end plates (56). Rolls (16) are rotated to deliver cast strip downwardly from the nip between them. Rolls (16) are mounted on carriers (104) moveable to allow rolls (16) to move bodily toward and away from one another. Biasing units (110, 111) act on the roll carriers (104) to force them against central stops (107) and to provide roll biasing forces. Stops (107) are adjustable to set the width of the nip between the rolls (16). Biasing units (110) comprise biasing springs (112) whereas biasing units (111) comprise hydraulic actuators (113).

Abstract: Apparatus for continuously casting metal strip comprises a pair of parallel casting rolls (16). In use of the apparatus molten metal is delivered between the casting rolls which are rotated to deliver cast strip product downwardly from the rolls. Casting rolls (16) are mounted on a roll module (13) installed in and removable from the caster as a unit. Module (13) is movable horizontally from a stand-by position to an intermediate position beneath a casting position of the rolls and can be hoisted from the intermediate position by operation of hoists (71) to lift the rolls (16) into their casting position.