Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for direct chill casting ingots with in-situ homogenization. Large particles of eutectic material may form in the solid ingot and the metal may exhibit macrosegregation of alloying components, especially when large ingots are cast in this way. This can be alleviated by applying a first liquid coolant to the ingot emerging from the mold, removing the first liquid coolant at a certain distance along the ingot by means of a wiper, and then applying a second liquid coolant to perform a quench at a greater distance along the ingot. The quench raises the level of the molten sump in the ingot, which helps to overcome the indicated problems, without affecting the desired temperature rebound of the ingot shell (usually at least 425° C. (797° F.)) for a time effective to cause in-situ homogenization.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for direct chill casting ingots with in-situ homogenization. Large particles of eutectic material may form in the solid ingot and the metal may exhibit macrosegregation of alloying components, especially when large ingots are cast in this way. This can be alleviated by applying a first liquid coolant to the ingot emerging from the mold, removing the first liquid coolant at a certain distance along the ingot by means of a wiper, and then applying a second liquid coolant to perform a quench at a greater distance along the ingot. The quench raises the level of the molten sump in the ingot, which helps to overcome the indicated problems, without affecting the desired temperature rebound of the ingot shell (usually at least 425° C. (797° F.)) for a time effective to cause in-situ homogenization.

Abstract: The present embodiments methods and systems for use in providing supplemental content to be played back with a portable storage medium through a playback device that conforms to a fixed length content framework, by receive request for supplemental content from a playback device; identifying the supplemental content; retrieve supplemental content; accessing a predefined clip template defined prior to receiving the request; processing the supplemental content and generating a plurality of clips of supplemental content that have a playback length that is a fraction of a playback length of the supplemental content; and forward supplemental content clips to the requesting playback device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for direct chill casting ingots with in-situ homogenization. Large particles of eutectic material may form in the solid ingot and the metal may exhibit macrosegregation of alloying components, especially when large ingots are cast in this way. This can be alleviated by applying a first liquid coolant to the ingot emerging from the mold, removing the first liquid coolant at a certain distance along the ingot by means of a wiper, and then applying a second liquid coolant to perform a quench at a greater distance along the ingot. The quench raises the level of the molten sump in the ingot, which helps to overcome the indicated problems, without affecting the desired temperature rebound of the ingot shell (usually at least 425° C. (797° F.)) for a time effective to cause in-situ homogenization.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide methods and systems for use in providing supplemental content to be played back with a portable storage medium. Some embodiments retrieve supplemental content associated with a portable storage medium distributed to be played back by a playback device; access a predefined clip template; process the supplemental content in accordance with the predefined clip template; and generate a plurality of clips of supplemental content in accordance with the predefined clip template, such that the plurality of clips of supplemental content have a playback length that is a fraction of a playback length of the supplemental content.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for direct chill casting ingots with in-situ homogenization. Large particles of eutectic material may form in the solid ingot and the metal may exhibit macrosegregation of alloying components, especially when large ingots are cast in this way. This can be alleviated by applying a first liquid coolant to the ingot emerging from the mold, removing the first liquid coolant at a certain distance along the ingot by means of a wiper, and then applying a second liquid coolant to perform a quench at a greater distance along the ingot. The quench raises the level of the molten sump in the ingot, which helps to overcome the indicated problems, without affecting the desired temperature rebound of the ingot shell (usually at least 425° C. (797° F.)) for a time effective to cause in-situ homogenization.

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 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 present embodiments methods and systems for use in providing supplemental content to be played back with a portable storage medium through a playback device that conforms to a fixed length content framework, by receive request for supplemental content from a playback device; identifying the supplemental content; retrieve supplemental content; accessing a predefined clip template defined prior to receiving the request; processing the supplemental content and generating a plurality of clips of supplemental content that have a playback length that is a fraction of a playback length of the supplemental content; and forward supplemental content clips to the requesting playback device.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide methods and systems for use in providing supplemental content to be played back with a portable storage medium. Some embodiments retrieve supplemental content associated with a portable storage medium distributed to be played back by a playback device; access a predefined clip template; process the supplemental content in accordance with the predefined clip template; and generate a plurality of clips of supplemental content in accordance with the predefined clip template, such that the plurality of clips of supplemental content have a playback length that is a fraction of a playback length of the supplemental content.

Abstract: The exemplary embodiments relate to the removal of cooling water used to cool the surface of an ingot as it is formed during casting. The cooling water is removed from the surface by directing jets of water onto the surface at an angle, and with a momentum, that causes the cooling water to be stripped from the surface when contacted with the jets, and to follow a path that prevents the cooling water from again coming into contact with the ingot surface at a position beyond the point of removal. The apparatus for this includes nozzles to create the water jets, and equipment for supplying water under sufficient pressure and rate of flow to the nozzles.