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: 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 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 mold for hot-top vertical continuous casting of metals includes a feed head (8) made of a thermally insulating refractory material which surmounts a cooled copper crystallizer (9) and is internally aligned with a cooled copper element (14) of the cooled copper crystallizer (9) in order to define a calibrating passage for the cast metal. The copper element (14) is formed by an assembly of plates, some of which, termed “large walls”, are each held against a reinforcing backplate (16) to which it is rigidly fastened by a clamp (22), the shape of which is elongate in the width direction of the large wall and which goes over the top of the large wall and its associated backplate.

Abstract: The nozzle includes a chimney whose upper end is connected to the output nozzle of a vessel containing liquid metal and whose lower end is connected to a terminal part of the nozzle provided with outlets for distributing liquid metal into the casting space defined by the mold. The terminal part includes, in its upper region, at least one opening for allowing the reheating of the inside of the terminal part by a burner. The nozzle is particularly adapted for use with a bottomless mold having intensively internally cooled walls, and is preferably made of a refractory material.

Abstract: The device includes two rolls (10, 11) held by bearings (13, 14) on a frame (16) and, for each roll, devices (22) for measuring the position of the generatrix diametrically opposite the neck between the rolls, at three or more points lying respectively in a mid-plane (P.sub.3) perpendicular to the axes and in secondary planes such as (P1, P5) parallel to the mid-plane, and means (23) for measuring, in the said mid-plane, the position of a generatrix lying at 90.degree. to the neck. The method according to the invention uses these measurements to determine continuously the gap between the rolls, taking into account the in-service deformations of the rolls.

Abstract: The twin-roll continuous casting device comprises two counterrotating rolls (1, 2), having parallel axes, defining between them a casting space (5), and a shroud (4) placed above the casting space and including two longitudinal walls (41) which extend respectively along the surface of each roll. Each wall (41) includes two gas inlet pipes (45, 46) which include openings emerging towards the said surfaces, these pipes being mutually parallel and adjacent to the surface of the roll, and are separated by pressure-drop seals (50, 64) so that the flow of gas supplied by the pipe (45) lying upstream, in relation to the direction of rotation of the roll, is exclusively directed towards the outside of the shroud, the flow supplied by the pipe (46), located further downstream, being directed towards the casting space. Application especially to the twin-roll continuous casting of thin steel strip.

Abstract: A strip is continuously cast between rolls that includes a pair of rolls driven in rotation, two side dams urged against the ends of the rolls, and a jack for pressing the side dams against the rolls. The thrust force on the side dams is measured and the friction force exerted on the side dams by the rolls as a result of the rolls rotating is measured. From these measurements of thrust and friction forces, a coefficient representative of friction conditions between each of the surfaces of contact between the side dams and rolls is deduced and casting parameters are adjusted in response to the contact state between the surfaces.

Abstract: A casting roll for continuous casting of metals. The roll comprising a core (2) and a sleeve (3), coaxially arranged one with respect to the other. The sleeve is axially coupled to the core by a inward projection (33) on the sleeve which abuts a shoulder (24) on the projection. The projection and the shoulder are located in a plane (P) substantially median with respect to the roll. The sleeve is radially centered on the core by flanges (5) and (6) which are elastically coupled together. The flanges and sleeve have relieved surfaces (37) which allow the sleeve to expand axially without bowing. The invention is particularly well suited for continuous casting thin metallic strips, especially steel strips, between two of these casting rolls.

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.

Abstract: Installation for producing steel by melting scrap comprising an electric furnace (2') supplied with individual batches of scrap sequentially charged into the furnace after preheating in a preheating chamber (4) forming a batch container open at both ends and having a releasable bottom. The preheating chamber is mounted on a transporting device for movement between a first, preheating position, in which it is connected to a hot gas circulating circuit, and a second position in which it empties the batch of preheated scrap into the furnace. The lower portion of the side wall of the preheating chamber (4) forms a skirt (43) with a wide downwardly directed opening, and the chamber (4) is combined, in the preheating position, with a movable device (54) for sealably engaging the lower end (42) of the skirt (43) with a matching stationary base plate (3), whereby the skirt is sealed in the preheating position.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for feeding molten metal to the ingot mold (2) of an installation for the continuous casting of thin cogs (3). At least one jet (6) coming from a nozzle (8) connected to a distributor (4) feeds an ingot mold (2) in which the level of metal is regulated. The distributor (4) is movable vertically in order to keep the height of the jet (6) constant and horizontally in the direction of the largest dimension of the ingot mold in order to subject the jet (6) to an alternating lateral movement. The nozzle (8) and the casting tube (10) are protected by a liquefied neutral gas circulating between the tube (10) and a sleeve (25) surrounding the tube (10).

Abstract: The roll comprises a core (6) and a sleeve (7) in which latter are provided ducts (8) for the circulation of a cooling fluid. According to the invention, the sleeve (7) is rigidly connected to the core (6) in its axially median part and substantially throughout its circumference by an assembly which prevents any axial and radial displacement in this median part of the sleeve relative to the core, such as a dovetail assembly (9, 10) or a T-way assembly. The sleeve is in contact with the core throughout its width and is maintained by its edges (7', 7") on the core by maintaining means (11, 12, 13, 14) which allow an axial displacement but prevent a radial displacement of the edges of the sleeve relative to the core.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for feeding molten metal to the ingot mold (2) of an installation for the continuous casting of thin cogs (3). At least one jet (6) coming from a nozzle (8) connected to a distributor (4) feeds an ingot mold (2) in which the level of metal is regulated. The distributor (4) is movable vertically in order to keep the height of the jet (6) constant and horizontally in the direction of the largest dimension of the ingot mold in order to subject the jet (6) to an alternating lateral movement. The nozzle (8) and the casting tube (10) are protected by a liquified neutral gas circulating between the tube (10) and a sleeve (25) surrounding the tube (10).

Abstract: The device comprises two parallel horizontal rolls (2a, 2b) delimiting therebetween an inserted volume for the liquid metal (1) to be cast, the ends of the volume being closed by plates (4) with a predetermined clearance between the latter and the surfaces of the rolls against which they are maintained. In order to maintain the clearance constant during successive castings, the plates (4) incorporate rolling members (7) bearing against the end surfaces of the rolls (2a, 2b) and projecting from surfaces of the plates (4) a distance equal to the desired clearance (e). The plates (4) are biased toward the rolls by springs (10) which bear against a frame (2). The rolling members (7) (rollers and/or balls) avoid any wear of the plates and this clearance is automatically maintained by the action of the springs (10) during the casting operations.

Abstract: Machine for the continuous casting of metal in the form of at least two separate strips, comprising a tundish (1) supplied with liquid metal, a bottomless mold (2) supplied continuously by the tundish (1), and an extraction and secondary cooling device (4). The liquid metal is poured into a distributor vessel (3) interposed between the tundish (1) and the mold (2), the vessel (3) placed on the mold (2), secured to the latter and equipped with means of maintaining the metal at the casting temperature.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for maintaining the lining of a furnace shell (1) comprising a bottom and a side wall and supported by a floor (2). The shell (1) is composed of two parts adapted to be separated and constituting respectively a bottom (11) and a cooled side wall (12). The side wall (12) is supported directly on a work floor (2) and the bottom (11) on a support (5) movable vertically between an upper operating position of the bottom (11), in line with the side wall (12), and a lower position. After the bottom (11) has been lowered into the lower position, it is moved out of the axis (10) of the furnace to a maintenance station, from which a new bottom (11') is then brought into the lower position, in the axis (10) of the furnace, in order finally to be raised to the upper operating position. The invention applies particularly to arc melting furnaces for steel production.

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.