Abstract: A refrigeration and heating system includes a refrigeration circuit which includes in the direction of flow of a circulating refrigerant: at least one compressor; a refrigeration circuit side of a coupling heat exchanger; at least one gas cooler; at least one gas cooler bypass line and at least one gas cooler bypass valve assembly allowing to bypass the at least one gas cooler; at least one expansion device and at least one evaporator. The refrigeration and heating system includes a heating circuit which includes in the direction of flow of a circulating heating fluid: a heating circuit side of the coupling heat exchanger and at least one heating device.

Abstract: A method for producing a casting by pouring a metal melt by gravity into a gas-permeable casting mold 1 having a cavity comprising at least a sprue 6, a runner 7 and a product-forming cavity 9, comprising pouring a metal melt into a desired cavity portion 10 including the product-forming cavity through the sprue, the melt being in a volume substantially equal to the volume of the desired cavity portion; supplying a gas 14 to the desired cavity portion through the sprue before the desired cavity portion is filled with the poured melt, so that the melt fills the desired cavity portion; and cooling a portion of the melt in contact with the gas directly or indirectly by water 16 supplied from outside the gas-permeable casting mold, simultaneously with, during or after supplying the gas, thereby solidifying the melt.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for centrifugal casting, in which transfer functions are developed relating the fluidity of molten metal, for example iron of varying composition, to casting machine movement for a particular mold in order to cast objects, for example pipe, having desired and uniform characteristics, including wall thickness. Fluidity is calculated for each pour of molten metal based on the measured pour temperature and measured liquidus arrest temperature. A drive system controlled by a programmable logic controller moves the casting machine in accordance with the output of the transfer functions based on the calculated fluidity.

Abstract: A method of measuring the temperature of a sheet material in which the sheet material is arranged such that it forms at least one side of a cavity so as to enhance the effective emissivity of the sheet material in the vicinity of the cavity.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a steel strip (1) including a) providing a functional relationship in a machine controller (8) between a slab casting speed (v) or the mass flow as a product of casting speed and strip thickness or as a product of strip speed and strip thickness and the strip temperature (t) downstream of the last rolling stand (7) for a different number (n) of active rolling stands (7) and different final thicknesses, b) determining or specifying the casting speed (v) or the mass flow (v×H) and feeding the determined value into the machine controller (8), and c) determining the optimum number of active rolling stands (7) and the final thicknesses and thickness reductions which can be rolled with them in the rolling train using the functional profiles.

Abstract: During continuously casting metal strip, delivering molten metal supported on the casting surfaces of the casting rolls, and counter rotating the casting rolls to form metal shells on the casting surfaces brought together at the nip to deliver cast strip downwardly with a controlled amount of mushy material between the metal shells, determining at a reference location downstream from the nip a target temperature for the cast strip corresponding to a desired amount of mushy material between the metal shells of the cast strip, sensing the temperature of the cast strip cast downstream from the nip at the reference location and producing a sensor signal corresponding to the sensed temperature, and causing an actuator to vary the gap at the nip between the casting rolls in response to the sensor signal received from the sensor and processed to determine the temperature difference between the sensed temperature and the target temperature.

Abstract: Disclosed is a molding-system method, including a temperature-changing operation, including changing temperature of a feedstock being positioned in a barrel assembly from an out-of-barrel temperature to substantially within a processing-temperature range, in response to supplying a calculated amount of thermal energy to the barrel assembly based on a melt throughput being associated with molding articles.

Abstract: A controller for at least one heater utilized in a hot runner injection molding system, which includes a regulated voltage supply that is electrically connected to the at least one heater utilized in a hot runner injection molding system, at least one sensor operatively associated with at least one heater and utilized in a hot runner injection molding system, at least one digital signal processor that is operatively connected to the at least one heater utilized in a hot runner injection molding system, the regulated voltage supply and the sensor operatively associated with the at least one heater utilized in a hot runner injection molding system based on feedback from the at least one sensor.

Abstract: Disclosed is: (i) a method of a molding system, (ii) a controller of a molding system, (iii) an article of manufacture of a controller of a molding system, (iv) a network-transmittable signal of a controller of a molding system, and/or (v) a molding system having a controller, amongst other things.

Abstract: A casting apparatus has a melting pot (4) in which pieces of metal (8) to be melted is placed. A RF induction heater coil (10) is disposed in association with the melting pot (4) to heat the metal pieces (8). An inverter (18) supplies the coil (10) with high-frequency power to melt the metal pieces (8) in the melting pot (4), and the resulting molten metal is poured into a die (6). A control unit (36), after all of the metal pieces (8) having various sizes and shapes are melted, causes the operation of the inverter (18) to continue for a first time period and, after that, to suspend the operation of the inverter (18) for a second time period so that the heating can be stopped. After that, the control unit (36) causes the inverter (18) to resume its operation to heat the melted metal (8) in the melting pot (4) until the molten metal (8) assumes a predetermined state and, a third predetermined time after that, operates a melting pot driver (9) to cause the molten metal (8) to be poured into the die (6).

Abstract: A system provided in a high-speed continuous casting plant for casting a metallic strand for automatically operating the high-speed continuous casting plant. In the system, the stopping or slide movement, the modification of the steel level, the heat currents through the mold walls, the temperature of the liquid metal and the drawing-off speed are measured over the casting time, supplied to a computer and compared with predetermined limit values for an automatic operating mode.

Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus 1 for carrying out a melting and casting operation in the fine casting art comprising a melting crucible 2 for receiving melting charge, a heating device 3 for heating the melting charge in the melting crucible 2, and a pyrometer 8 for ascertaining the temperature of the melting charge. In order to improve the quality of the products manufactured with such an operation the invention provides that the apparatus 1 is provided with a control device 4 for controlling the melting and casting operation in dependence on the ascertained melting charge temperature, wherein the control device 4 has a database 16 with a plurality of selectable, respectively melting charge material-specific parameter sets PS1, PS2, PS3 each with one or more parameters for configuring the pyrometer 8.

Abstract: A casting apparatus has a melting pot (4) in which pieces of metal (8) to be melted is placed. A RF induction heater coil (10) is disposed in association with the melting pot (4) to heat the metal pieces (8). An inverter (18) supplies the coil (10) with high-frequency power to melt the metal pieces (8) in the melting pot (4), and the resulting molten metal is poured into a die (6). A control unit (36), after all of the metal pieces (8) having various sizes and shapes are melted, causes the operation of the inverter (18) to continue for a first time period and, after that, to suspend the operation of the inverter (18) for a second time period so that the heating can be stopped. After that, the control unit (36) causes the inverter (18) to resume its operation to heat the melted metal (8) in the melting pot (4) until the molten metal (8) assumes a predetermined state and, a third predetermined time after that, operates a melting pot driver (9) to cause the molten metal (8) to be poured into the die (6).

Abstract: A mold temperature control system comprises a mold section having a cavity, a fluid circuit to distribute a flow of a conditioning fluid, the fluid circuit being positioned spaced apart from the cavity, a temperature sensor positioned in the mold to generate a signal representative of a temperature in the mold, a controllable supply of the conditioning fluid, and a controller for automatically initiating flow of the conditioning fluid through the fluid circuit in response to an initiation temperature and for automatically terminating flow of the conditioning fluid through the fluid circuit in response to a termination temperature.

Abstract: A model-based strategy is provided for determining casting roll operating temperature in a continuous thin strip casting process. A first temperature sensor produces a first temperature signal indicative of the temperature of cooling liquid supplied to the casting rolls and a second temperature sensor produces a second temperature signal indicative of the temperature of cooling liquid temperature exiting the casting rolls. A computer determines a heat flux value as a function of the first and second temperature signals, and computes the operating temperature of the casting rolls as a function of the heat flux value, the second temperature signal and a number of constants defined by fixed-valued operating parameters of the continuous thin strip casting process. A control strategy is also provided to modify one or more operating parameters of the continuous thin strip casting process as a function of the casting roll temperature.

Abstract: The method for controlling flow pattern of molten steel in continuous casting, comprises the steps of: (a) continuously casting a molten steel injected through an immersion nozzle; (b) measuring temperatures of a copper plate on longer side of the mold in width direction thereof at plurality of points; (c) detecting a flow pattern of the molten steel in the mold based on the time-sequential variations of temperatures of the copper plate at individual measurement points; and (d) controlling the flow pattern to establish a specified pattern on the basis of the detected result. The temperatures of mold copper plate are measured by plurality of temperature measurement elements buried in the rear face of the mold copper plate for continuous casting. The temperature measurement elements are arranged in a range of from 10 to 135 mm distant from the melt surface in the mold in the slab-drawing direction.

Abstract: Spray form cell including a two-wavelength imaging pyrometer adapted to provide real-time measurement of the surface temperature distribution of a metal billet thereby formed. The steel billets may be advantageously used as tools in metal forming processes, injection molding, die casting tooling and other processes that require hard tooling, such as in the automotive industry. The steel billet is formed based on a goal of uniform surface temperature distribution thereby minimizing thermal stresses induced within the steel article thereby produced.

Abstract: A temperature control unit for dies and molds, particularly for pressure die-casting or injection-molding of aluminum and alloys thereof, plastic materials and the like, comprising a die or mold cooling circuit through which pressurized water flows. A water feed pump is connected to the circuit and is adjustable to a pressure which is higher than the evaporation pressure of water at a preheating temperature of the water, which can be detected by a first sensor for detecting the temperature of the water. The circuit includes a circulation pump, a water overflow valve which can be set to a lower pressure than the feed pump, and a heating unit which is controlled by the first temperature sensor. A die or mold temperature sensor is further provided which controls the feed pump.

Abstract: A model-based strategy is provided for determining casting roll operating temperature in a continuous thin strip casting process. A first temperature sensor produces a first temperature signal indicative of the temperature of cooling liquid supplied to the casting rolls and a second temperature sensor produces a second temperature signal indicative of the temperature of cooling liquid temperature exiting the casting rolls. A computer determines a heat flux value as a function of the first and second temperature signals, and computes the operating temperature of the casting rolls as a function of the heat flux value, the second temperature signal and a number of constants defined by fixed-valued operating parameters of the continuous thin strip casting process. A control strategy is also provided to modify one or more operating parameters of the continuous thin strip casting process as a function of the casting roll temperature.

Abstract: A method for producing a cast article comprising the steps of: (a)providing a casting apparatus having a mold, a casting chamber containing a molten metal under pressure and a fluid under pressure, the casting apparatus having a first supply port for supplying the molten metal to the casting chamber and a second supply port for supplying the fluid to the casting chamber; (b) supplying the molten metal to the first supply port; (c) supplying the fluid to the second supply port; (d) determining the amount of the molten metal in the casting chamber as a variable V1; (e) determining the amount of the fluid in the casting chamber as a variable V2; (f) determining the amount of humidity in the casting chamber as a variable V3; (g) determining the amount of the fluid entering the casting chamber as a variable V4; (h) determining the pressure of the fluid in the casting chamber as a variable V5; (i) determining the amount of the molten metal needed to produce a cast article in the mold as a variable V6; (j) determini

Abstract: A molten metal pouring time determining apparatus determines a proper time for pouring molten metal into a die. A mass of metal is placed in a melting pot. The melting pot and the metal mass are radio frequency (RF) induction heated with RF signal modulated with a low frequency signal. A light receiver receives light emitted by the metal mass heated in the melting pot and develops a received-light representative signal. A high-pass filter extracts a high frequency component developed by a sudden change in the received-light representative signal caused by the melting of the metal mass. A comparator develops an output signal when the output signal of the high-pass filter exceeds a reference signal. When the comparator output signal remains above the reference signal for a predetermined time period, a timer generates a molten metal pouring command signal.

Abstract: When casting e.g. aluminium alloy in a mould (2), that may be one of a string of moulds extending at right angles to the plane of the drawing, the pressure used for filling the mould (2) against gravity by a pressurizing device (4) is controlled according to a predetermined pressure/time programme having previously been read into a control unit (22), e.g. a digital computer, at least one of a number of sensors sensing pressure (8), levels (9,10) and full level (11) being used to supply inputs to the control unit (22). Sensors are chosen according to need for each particular casting programme.

Abstract: A method and a device for the casting of rectangular billets from metal, in particular from steel, close to final dimensions, and for the subsequent inline rolling out of the billet, with a material supply vessel, via the outlet nozzle of which the liquid metal is deposited onto the upper strand of a conveyor belt, on which it solidifies and is transferred to a roll stand for forming, characterized by the following steps: a) before the start of casting aa) the point at which the liquid metal is deposited onto the conveyor belt is predetermined approximately, ab) the conveying speed of the conveyor belt is set as a function of the desired rolling thickness and rolling speed of the roll stand, b) during casting ba) the position of thorough solidification of the metal billet located on the conveyor belt is detected, bb) the temperature of the rolling stock is detected in the region of the roll stand, and bc) the position of thorough solidification and the temperature of the rolling stock are used as contr

Abstract: Spraycasting method involves directing an atomized metal or alloy spray at a collector disposed in a spray chamber and controlling temperature of the spray in flight in the spray chamber and of the atomized metal or alloy as it is deposited on the collector by a spray chamber pressure control technique that involves in-situ evacuation of the spray chamber during spray deposition to a maintain spray chamber gas partial pressure less than about 400 torr. Such low spray chamber gas partial pressure provides a higher temperature of the atomized spray in flight in the spray chamber and of the sprayed material as it is deposited on a collector in the spray chamber effective to reduce deposit porosity, reduce grain layering or banding, and provide a uniform grain through the thickness of the deposit.

Abstract: A molten metal pouring time determining apparatus determines a proper time for pouring molten metal into a die. A mass of metal is placed in a melting pot. The melting pot and the metal mass are radio frequency (RF) induction heated with RF signal modulated with a low frequency signal. A light receiver receives light emitted by the metal mass heated in the melting pot and develops a received-light representative signal. A high-pass filter extracts a high frequency component developed by a sudden change in the received-light representative signal caused by the melting of the metal mass. A comparator develops an output signal when the output signal of the high-pass filter exceeds a reference signal. When the comparator output signal remains above the reference signal for a predetermined time period, a timer generates a molten metal pouring command signal.

Abstract: A casting apparatus for direct chill casting of molten metal includes a mold having an inlet to receive molten metal, a side wall and an outlet for withdrawal of a casting from the mold, a water spraying device positioned to direct water sprays which impinge directly on an outer surface of the casting emerging from the outlet and an infra-red detector positioned adjacent a region in which the water sprays impinge directly upon the outer surface of the casting being withdrawn from the outlet of the mold. The detector is thus exposed to radiation from this region as the casting is cooled by the water sprays, and any molten metal bleeding out from the casting in this region immediately exposes the infra-red detector to high temperature radiation.

Abstract: A metal material is placed in a crucible 4. An inverter 16 outputs a voltage amplitude-modulated with a low frequency signal. The output voltage is used to RF induction heat the crucible. A photodiode 30 receives light emitted by the metal material in the crucible and develops a received-light-representative signal. A high-pass filter 34 extracts, from the received-light-representative signal, a frequency component having a frequency above the frequency of the low frequency signal. A comparator 40 develops an output signal when the output signal of the high-pass filter exceeds a reference signal provided from a peak sample-and-hold circuit 42 to which the output signal of the high-pass filter is applied as an input thereto.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for the early recognition of ruptures when continuously casting steel using an oscillating mold constructed of copper plates, wherein the method includes continuously and comparatively measuring operating parameters, for example, the temperature distribution with respect to location and time in the copper plates, and analyzing the obtained measurement results. For increasing the probability of an accurate evaluation of indications of an acute tendency of ruptures, two measuring data to be compared are coupled with each other as well as with measuring data of at least one third measuring row, and the measuring data are preferably analyzed online.