Abstract: The invention relates to a strip-casting machine (20) for producing a metal strip (15). Said strip-casting machine comprises a pair of casting rolls (22, 24) which are arranged adjacent to each other, form a casting gap and are rotatably mounted on a machine tool table (32). The casting rolls (22, 24) and at least the machine tool table (32) carrying said rolls can be displaced on rails (48, 48?) or the like from the casting position (G) into a waiting position (W) and vice versa. The machine tool table (32) together with the casting rolls (22, 24) can thereby be displaced away from the casting position (G) by such a distance that a second machine tool table (32) that is provided with prepared casting rolls (22, 24) can be displaced into the casting position (G). The machine tool table (32) is held in a displaceable manner and preferably together with a housing (30) which surrounds said table.

Abstract: A method for extending the casting cycle for the two-roll strip casting of a steel strip, with inline rolling thereof, the steel strip being rolled in at least two successive rolling units of a rolling mill having replaceable working rolls. The casting process is carried out independently from the roll replacement by replacing the working rolls of one rolling unit during the casting, below or above the steel strip. An installation for carrying out the method includes a lifting devices for lifting the working rolls off the steel strip so as not to damage the strip during the replacement of the rolls.

Abstract: The invention relates to a casting roller (1), for a double-roller continuous casting machine, in particular for the casting of a steel strip, comprising a cylinder sleeve (2) which may rotate about a fixed axle (5). Intermediate rings (7b, 7c, 7d) rotating with the cylinder sleeve (2) are arranged between the cylinder sleeve (2) and the axle (5), which are provided with radial pressure means (9), acting on the cylinder sleeve (2). The above comprise a pressure chamber (10), pressurized with a fluid pressure medium and acting on a pressure ring (24) fixed to the inner wall of the cylinder sleeve (2), which may be deformed in the radial direction by inductive heating or radiated heat. The external profile of the casting roller (1) may be globally altered or local fine adjustments made by pressurizing the pressure chamber (10) with the pressure medium, or by heating the pressure ring (24).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of operating a strip casting machine for producing a metal strip, during which molten metal is continuously poured between two casting rolls (1, 2) that form a casting gap. Lateral seals (10) having sealing plates (11) are provided for laterally delimiting the casting gap, whereby the sealing plates (11) are placed or pressed with a preset placement or pressing force, whose magnitude can be set, against the end surfaces of the casting rolls (1, 2). The sealing plates (11) are, in repeatable stop-and-go steps, placed with a preset force and time against the end surfaces of the casting rolls (1, 2) and are held in the placing position for a preset time. This enables a distinct reduction in the wear of the sealing plates and of the casting roll end surfaces.

Abstract: The reliable sealing of a gap (10), between a roller front face (7) and a side seal (3) on a roller-strip-casting machine is achieved by the generation of an electrical eddy field in the region of the gap (10), such as to produce a local gradient field (13). The eddy currents generated in the metal melt for casting prevent the ingress of the metal into the gap (10) or eject the metal from the gap (10). The risk of escape of liquid metal is essentially eliminated and the formation of ridges on the narrow edge of the metal strip avoided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a strip-casting machine for production of a metal strip, comprising two adjacent case-width casting rollers (22, 24), forming a casting gap (15?), with side seals (25) arranged on the front face thereof. The rotating casting rollers are mounted on a machine mount (32). Between the above and the side seals (25), the metal melt, introduced by means of at least one casting tube (13), or similar, is protected by at least one gaseous medium. At least said casting rollers (22, 24) are surrounded on at least the case width and front face thereof as well as the side seals by a preferably multi-component housing (30, 60, 80). An optimal sealing of the casting rollers as well as the metal strip and the metal strip appearing from between the rollers can thus be achieved in a simple manner.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a strip casting machine (10), whereby molten metal (18) is poured between two rotatable casting rolls (11, 12). A gaseous film (G) is formed between the respective surfaces (11?, 12?) of the casting rolls and the strip skin (D1, D2, D3) forming on the molten metal, the gas being introduced essentially into the inerting chamber (24 ) above the metal bath. During the casting, a controlled quantity of a gas consisting of argon, nitrogen and/or another gas is introduced into the inerting chamber (24) in such a way that the heat transfer from the strip skin to the casting rolls (11, 12) can be influenced by the thickness of the gaseous film (G) in such a way that the surfaces (11, 12?) of the casting rolls can be provided with or without cavities (51). A smooth surface can thus also be obtained on the strip cast.

Abstract: A refractory pouring spout and channel unit for the arrangement on the outlet of a tundish of a strip casting installation has at least one vertical, refractory pouring spout and channel part (25) which can be connected to the tundish; and a refractory pouring spout and channel part (25?) which originates from said vertical part, which extends horizontally and which is provided with one or more openings that are distributed over its length. This results in almost constant laminar flow conditions for the melt flowing between the casting rollers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a strip-casting machine for producing a metal strip. Said strip-casting machine consists of a pair of casting rolls (2, 3) arranged in side-by-side parallel relation, two small faces (4) and a machine tool table (5) that supports the two casting rolls (2, 3). Said small faces (4) can be exchanged by means of a small face exchanging device. The aim of the invention is to reduce the change-over time between two castings, to improve positioning of the small faces and to heat them until start of the casting process while improving the accessibility of the casting rolls for an exchange thereof and while further allowing an optimum inerting of the plant. To this end, the small face exchanging device is configured as a support element, especially as a support arm (9) for one small face (4).

Abstract: The invention relates to strip casting machines comprised of two parallel casting rollers (1, 2) whose bearing journals (8, 9) are supported on a stand (3). Cooled roll barrels of the casting rollers (1, 2) and narrow lateral parts (5) delimit a casting gap (6). The aim of the invention is to obtain an optimal ratio between the width of the casting machine and the maximally castable strip width, to provide for a simple stand construction both for changing rollers as well as for exchanging narrow lateral parts, and to attain an improved protection against oxidation. To these ends, the invention provides that the cooled roll barrels are constructed as cylindrical casings (4). The casing (4) should be supported on a stationary axle, which is fixed on the stand (3), via the concentric support rings which project inside the casing (4) on both sides and which are connected to the same.

Abstract: The invention relates to a strip-casting machine (20) for producing a metal strip. Said strip-casting machine consists of a pair of casting rolls (22, 24) arranged in side-by-side parallel relation with a casting gap thereinbetween and of lateral sealing elements (25) that are provided with respective sealing plates (61) at both sides of the casting rolls (22, 24) that are pushed or pressed against the casting rolls from the front by means of pushing or pressing means. The respective sealing plate (61) is pushed or pressed against the two equilateral front faces (22′, 24′) of the casting rolls (22, 24) in such a manner that, in the heated operational state, it facilitates an extremely exact positioning on the front faces of the casting rolls. To this end, the sealing plate (61) is mounted in such a manner as to allow a three-dimensional displacement of the sealing plate, as if floating.

Abstract: The invention relates to a strip-casting machine (20) for producing a metal strip. Said strip-casting machine consists of a pair of casting rolls (22, 24) arranged in side-by-side parallel relation of lateral sealing elements (25) that are provided with respective sealing plates (61) at both sides of the casting rolls (22, 24) and that adjoin the casting rolls. The contact pressure of the sealing plate (61) against the casting rolls (22, 24) and/or the frictional conditions between them can be measured. The sealing plates (61) at the front faces (22′, 24′) of the casting rolls (22, 24) are positioned at a distance of a few tenth of millimeters or so as to closely fit the front faces (22′, 24′) in the operational state, with our without contact pressure. The sealing plates are positioned in such a manner that also in the heated operational state the desired positions of the sealing plates relative to the front faces of the casting rolls are kept very precise.

Abstract: A side dam assembly for a continuous casting apparatus for continuously casting thin steel strips between casting rolls. The side dam assembly has a side dam for bearing directly against the rolls of the casting apparatus for preventing leakage of molten metal therebetween. The side dam is attached by a pair of belts to an insulating refractory plate which is carried by a cooled panel. To allow axial motion, one of the belts is not rigidly affixed to either the insulating refractory plate or the side dam. The cooled panel is carried by a thrust plate and is urged toward the rolls by biasing elements which preferably comprise a plurality of pistons urged outwardly from the thrust plate by springs. Preferably, the biasing elements are constructed and arranged so that they are distributed over a zone of shape corresponding to that of the side dam and are capable of exerting on the side dam thrust forces independently of one another.