Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for an event detection system that captures data associated with events while a DC casting system forms an ingot, determines characteristics of the events, and improves the casting system based on the events. Example systems and methods may include initiating a casting operation using one or more pieces of equipment of a casting system including a casting apparatus; capturing sensor data associated with one or more acoustic signals captured relative to the one or more pieces of equipment performing the casting operation; comparing the sensor data with a set of acoustic profiles; determining whether a particular type of event has occurred; causing an adjustment to the casting system or to the casting operation based on whether the particular type of event has occurred; and initiating a second casting operation using the adjusted casting system or casting operation.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for an event detection system that captures data associated with events while a DC casting system forms an ingot, determines characteristics of the events, and improves the casting system based on the events. Example systems and methods may include initiating a casting operation using one or more pieces of equipment of a casting system including a casting apparatus; capturing sensor data associated with one or more acoustic signals captured relative to the one or more pieces of equipment performing the casting operation; comparing the sensor data with a set of acoustic profiles; determining whether a particular type of event has occurred; causing an adjustment to the casting system or to the casting operation based on whether the particular type of event has occurred; and initiating a second casting operation using the adjusted casting system or casting operation.

Abstract: A metal delivery system for a casting system includes a spout having a spout passageway extending through the spout with an elongated slot as a bottom orifice. A bottom control pin is positionable within the spout and is movable between a closed position and an open position. In certain aspects, in the closed position, the bottom control pin engages a portion of a surface of the passageway proximate to the bottom orifice.

Abstract: Systems and associated methods are provided for controlling the shape of an ingot head during formation. At the end of a cast, prior to forming the ingot head, chill bars or other cooling structure may be lowered into an ingot mold and define a reduced casting footprint for forming the ingot head. Supplemental molten metal may be fed into the reduced casting footprint, and the chill bars may be moved laterally towards the center of the ingot, further reducing the casting footprint. As additional molten metal fills the reduced mold footprint, the ingot may be lowered relative to the chill bars to further increase the height of the ingot head. Additional molten metal may be added until the desired shape of the ingot head is formed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for using magnetic fields (e.g., changing magnetic fields) to control metal flow conditions during casting (e.g., casting of an ingot, billet, or slab). The magnetic fields can be introduced using rotating permanent magnets or electromagnets. The magnetic fields can be used to induce movement of the molten metal in a desired direction, such as in a rotating pattern around the surface of the molten sump. The magnetic fields can be used to induce metal flow conditions in the molten sump to increase homogeneity in the molten sump and resultant ingot.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for using magnetic fields (e.g., changing magnetic fields) to control metal flow conditions during casting (e.g., casting of an ingot, billet, or slab). The magnetic fields can be introduced using rotating permanent magnets or electromagnets. The magnetic fields can be used to induce movement of the molten metal in a desired direction, such as in a rotating pattern around the surface of the molten sump. The magnetic fields can be used to induce metal flow conditions in the molten sump to increase homogeneity in the molten sump and resultant ingot.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for using magnetic fields (e.g., changing magnetic fields) to control metal flow conditions during casting (e.g., casting of an ingot, billet, or slab). The magnetic fields can be introduced using rotating permanent magnets or electromagnets. The magnetic fields can be used to induce movement of the molten metal in a desired direction, such as in a rotating pattern around the surface of the molten sump. The magnetic fields can be used to induce metal flow conditions in the molten sump to increase homogeneity in the molten sump and resultant ingot.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for using magnetic fields (e.g., changing magnetic fields) to control metal flow conditions during casting (e.g., casting of an ingot, billet, or slab). The magnetic fields can be introduced using rotating permanent magnets or electromagnets. The magnetic fields can be used to induce movement of the molten metal in a desired direction, such as in a rotating pattern around the surface of the molten sump. The magnetic fields can be used to induce metal flow conditions in the molten sump to increase homogeneity in the molten sump and resultant ingot.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for using magnetic fields (e.g., changing magnetic fields) to control metal flow conditions during casting (e.g., casting of an ingot, billet, or slab). The magnetic fields can be introduced using rotating permanent magnets or electromagnets. The magnetic fields can be used to induce movement of the molten metal in a desired direction, such as in a rotating pattern around the surface of the molten sump. The magnetic fields can be used to induce metal flow conditions in the molten sump to increase homogeneity in the molten sump and resultant ingot.

Abstract: A composite metal ingot, comprising at least two layers of differing alloy composition, wherein pairs of adjacent layers consisting of a first alloy and a second alloy are formed by applying the second alloy in a molten state to the surface of the first alloy while the surface of the first alloy is at a temperature between solidus and liquidus temperatures of the first alloy to form an interface there between, wherein the second alloy is a high or medium strength heat treatable aluminum alloy, and further wherein one or more alloy components from the second alloy are present within grain boundaries of the first alloy adjacent said interface.

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: A composite metal ingot having two or more lengthwise alloy layers including adjacent first and second layers respectively formed of an aluminum-manganese alloy and an aluminum alloy of a different composition wherein the interface between the first and second layers is in the form of a substantially continuous metallurgical bond characterized by the presence of particles of one or more intermetallic compositions containing manganese from the first layer dispersed within a region of the second layer adjacent the interface, the first and second layers having been formed by applying the alloy for the second layer to a self-supporting surface of the first layer while the self-supporting surface is at a temperature between the solidus and liquidus temperatures of the first layer alloy.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for the casting of a composite metal ingot having two or more separately formed layers of one or more alloys. An open ended annular mould is provided having a divider wall dividing a feed end of the mould into at least two separate feed chambers. For each pair of adjacent feed chambers, a first alloy stream is fed through one of the pair of feed chambers into the mould and a second alloy stream is fed through another of the feed chambers. A self-supporting surface is generated on the surface of the first alloy stream and the second alloy stream is contacted with the first stream. By carefully selecting conditions and positions where the alloy streams meet, a composite metal ingot is formed in which the alloy layers are mutually attached with a substantially continuous metallurgical bond.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment provides a method of eliminating a shrinkage cavity in a metal ingot cast by direct chill casting. The method involves casting an upright ingot having an upper surface at an intended height. Upon completion of the casting, the lower tip of the spout is maintained below the molten metal near the center of the upper surface. The metal flow through the spout is terminated and a partial shrinkage cavity is allowed to form as metal of the ingot shrinks and contracts. Before the partial cavity exposes the lower tip of the spout, the cavity is preferably over-filled with molten metal, while avoiding spillage of molten metal, and then the flow of metal through the spout is terminated. These steps are repeated until no further contraction of the metal causes any part of the upper surface to contract below the intended ingot height.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for casting a composite ingot made of metals that are susceptible to surface oxide formation when molten. The method involves co-casting at least two metal layers from at least two molten metal pools formed within a direct chill casting apparatus. During the casting operation, movement of metal oxide formed on the upper surface of at least one of the pools towards an edge of the pool is restrained by an oxide skimmer positioned close to an edge of the pool above an external surface or metal-metal interface of the ingot. The apparatus provides a DC caster with at least one oxide skimmer that operates in this manner.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for the casting of a composite metal ingot having two or more separately formed layers of one or more alloys. An open ended annular mould is provided having a divider wall dividing a feed end of the mould into at least two separate feed chambers. For each pair of adjacent feed chambers, a first alloy stream is fed through one of the pair of feed chambers into the mould and a second alloy stream is fed through another of the feed chambers. A self-supporting surface is generated on the surface of the first alloy stream and the second alloy stream is contacted with the first stream. By carefully selecting conditions and positions where the alloy streams meet, a composite metal ingot is formed in which the alloy layers are mutually attached with a substantially continuous metallurgical bond.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment provides a method of eliminating a shrinkage cavity in a metal ingot cast by direct chill casting. The method involves casting an upright ingot having an upper surface at an intended height. Upon completion of the casting, the lower tip of the spout is maintained below the molten metal near the center of the upper surface. The metal flow through the spout is terminated and a partial shrinkage cavity is allowed to form as metal of the ingot shrinks and contracts. Before the partial cavity exposes the lower tip of the spout, the cavity is preferably over-filled with molten metal, while avoiding spillage of molten metal, and then the flow of metal through the spout is terminated. These steps are repeated until no further contraction of the metal causes any part of the upper surface to contract below the intended ingot height.

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: A method and apparatus is disclosed for casting metals in a DC mold to form an ingot or product having at least two layers formed by sequential solidification. The apparatus has at least one cooled divider wall at the entry end portion of the mold to divide the entry end portion into at least two feed chambers. Metal is fed to the chambers to form an inner layer and at least one outer layer. The divider wall has a metal-contacting surface for contacting the metal for the at least one outer layer, the surface being arranged at an angle sloping away from the metal for the outer layer in a downward direction. The angle is larger at the center of the divider wall compared to the angle adjacent to each longitudinal end thereof. The apparatus is suitable for co-casting metals having similar coefficients of contraction to minimize problems of adhesion between the layers of a resulting ingot or rolled products produced therefrom.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for the casting of a composite metal ingot having two or more separately formed layers of one or more alloys. An open ended annular mould is provided having a divider wall dividing a feed end of the mould into at least two separate feed chambers. For each pair of adjacent feed chambers, a first alloy stream is fed through one of the pair of feed chambers into the mould and a second alloy stream is fed through another of the feed chambers. A self-supporting surface is generated on the surface of the first alloy stream and the second alloy stream is contacted with the first stream. By carefully selecting conditions and positions where the alloy streams meet, a composite metal ingot is formed in which the alloy layers are mutually attached with a substantially continuous metallurgical bond.