Abstract: An adjustable mold for a horizontal continuous casting apparatus includes an airtight cylindrical-shaped mold tube and an adjustable mold divided into a plural number of cooling plates in the direction of the periphery of the casting section and arranged after the airtight cylindrical-shaped mold tube. The plural number of cooling plates of the adjustable mold are able to move in the direction of the casting section radius. The inlet ends of each of the cooling plates of the adjustable mold are supported by support shafts that can have their position determined so that an inner diameter of an outlet end of the airtight cylindrical-shaped mold tube and an inner diameter of an inlet end of the adjustable mold can be brought into agreement.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for withdrawing a strand in a horizontal continuous casting installation, the strand is withdrawn from a mold by a predetermined stroke and then retracted by a smaller stroke corresponding to shrinkage of the strand. This cycle of withdrawal and retraction is repeated intermittently. A strand withdrawing and retracting characteristic of a cycle is set in a control unit, and pinch rolls for withdrawing and retracting the strand are controlled based on the set characteristic. Actual withdrawing and retracting strokes of the strand are detected by a detecting device and the detected signal is compared with the set characteristic to produce an instruction signal which is fed back to the pinch rolls, so that the positional accuracy of the strand and the quality of the strand are improved.