Control Of Product Withdrawal Means In Continuous Casting Apparatus Patents (Class 164/413)
  • Patent number: 11648608
    Abstract: A secondary cooling control method for reinforcing surface solidification structure of microalloyed steel continuous casting bloom includes: in situ observing precipitation behavior of secondary phase particles of the microalloyed steel, and determining a concentrated precipitation temperature range; cooling the microalloyed steel at different cooling rates, obtaining a particle size and a volume fraction of the secondary phase particles of the microalloyed steel at different cooling rates; determining an optimal average cooling rate; determining an optimal average cooling rate r; determining an optimal average cooling rate; and determining an optimal average cooling rate range through intersection of the three optimal average cooling rates whereby the continuous casting secondary cooling is optimized. The present invention can enhance the surface solidification structure of continuous casting bloom and reduce surface and subsurface cracks of the microalloyed steel continuous casting bloom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: University of Science and Technology Beijing
    Inventors: Qing Liu, Leilei Zou, Jiangshan Zhang, Huisheng Wang, Biao Tao
  • Patent number: 11565309
    Abstract: A strand guide segment for a continuous casting plant, which strand guide segment has an upper frame, a lower frame and position-controlled hydraulic cylinder units for setting the distance between the upper frame and the lower frame and, as a result, a strand thickness of a strand to be guided by the strand guide segment. A first end of each hydraulic cylinder unit is mounted on the upper frame. At the second end of the hydraulic cylinder units, facing away from the upper frame, each hydraulic cylinder unit is detachably connected by a respective flange connection to a respective tie rod which, at its end facing away from the flange connection, is mounted on the lower frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: SMS GROUP GMBH
    Inventors: Axel Stavenow, Alexander Raile
  • Patent number: 11014147
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus having a rotatable wheel with a planar external circumferential surface, which is flat in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the wheel, at least one nozzle having a nozzle opening for directing a molten metal onto the circumferential surface and a collection means for collecting solidified fibers of metal formed on the circumferential surface from the molten metal and separated from the circumferential surface by centrifugal force generated by rotation of the wheel. The nozzle has a rectangular cross-section having a width of the nozzle opening in the circumferential direction of rotation of the wheel and a length transverse to the circumferential surface of the wheel which is greater than the width. An apparatus is provided for controlling a gas pressure applied to the liquid metal and delivers it to the circumferential surface of the rotatable wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Wissenschaften e.V.
    Inventors: Joachim Spatz, Alexandre Micoulet, Elham Sharifikolouei
  • Patent number: 10773438
    Abstract: Disclosed herein, amongst other things, is a molding system (100) comprising control structure that includes a mold (120) that is configured to mold a molded article (180), a controller (170) with which to control the operation of the molding structure, and a vision system (174) with which to appreciate a parameter of the molded article (180) for control of molding system (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: HUSKY INJECTION MOLDING SYSTEMS LTD.
    Inventor: Vijay Gopichand Panjwani
  • Patent number: 10768036
    Abstract: A method detects a level of a melt contained by an oscillating mold. The method includes a) sensing radiation interacted with the melt and generating from the sensed radiation radiation signals, such that the generated radiation signals are varied by the mold oscillation, b) determining a radiation signal variation of the generated radiation signals, c) determining an oscillation deflection variation of the oscillating mold, and d) determining from the determined oscillation deflection variation and the determined radiation signal variation, the level of the melt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Berthold Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Albert Roedfalk
  • Patent number: 9427796
    Abstract: Disclosed is a continuous casting method in which a melt obtained by melting titanium or a titanium alloy is poured into a bottomless mold and is drawn downward while being solidified, wherein: the surface of the melt in the mold is heated by horizontally moving a plasma torch over the surface of the melt; thermocouples are provided at a plurality of locations along the circumferential direction of the mold; if the temperature of the mold measured by one of the thermocouples is lower than a target temperature, then the output of the plasma torch is increased when the plasma torch comes close to the location where that thermocouple is installed; and if said temperature is higher than the target temperature, then the output of the plasma torch is decreased when the plasma torch comes close to the location where that thermocouple is installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takehiro Nakaoka, Eisuke Kurosawa, Kazuyuki Tsutsumi, Hideto Oyama, Hidetaka Kanahashi, Hitoshi Ishida, Daiki Takahashi, Daisuke Matsuwaka
  • Patent number: 9427798
    Abstract: A template (1) for centering rollers at the foot of an ingot mold, the ingot mold being provided with a round section crystallizer into which the template can be inserted passing therethrough from a first end to a second end, the template comprising a round section tubular frame (5), defining a longitudinal axis (X) and having a plurality of longitudinal slots (6) arranged at an equal angular distance from one another; a plurality of longitudinal plates (7) configured so that each longitudinal plate is inserted into a respective longitudinal slot (6) and can move in radial direction through said respective longitudinal slot; at least one inflatable chamber (8, 8?), housed into the tubular frame (5) and at least partially covering the longitudinal extension of a frame stretch adapted to remain inside the crystallizer when the template is inserted into said crystallizer, said at least one inflatable chamber being adapted to expand so as to move said longitudinal plates outwards in radial direction to adhere the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Danieli & C. Officine Meccaniche S.P.A.
    Inventors: Andrea De Luca, Marco Ansoldi, Alfredo Poloni
  • Patent number: 9404786
    Abstract: A device to detect the level of liquid metal (M) in a casting apparatus includes a box-like structure associated in correspondence with an upper end of a crystallizer. The box-like structure has a peripheral cavity inside in which a device for the generation and detection of a variable magnetic field is disposed. The device for the generation and detection extends for a segment beyond an inner corner of the crystallizer so as to face directly into the open top of the crystallizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: DANIELI AUTOMATION SPA
    Inventor: Lorenzo Ciani
  • Publication number: 20150101776
    Abstract: A method and a system for forming a solid casting. A material is fed into a mold having a retractable bottom. A first portion of the material at a first, lower position within the mold is allowed to solidify to thereby form a portion of the casting. The retractable bottom is withdrawn downwards at a withdrawal rate. A second portion of the material at a second, upper position within the mold is maintained in a liquid state by application of heat thereto, using a plasma arc generated by a plasma arc torch. A voltage of the plasma arc is measured, and the withdrawal rate of the retractable bottom is controlled based on the voltage of the plasma arc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Tony Tesoriere, Robin Lampson
  • Patent number: 8820392
    Abstract: A method for adjusting a roll segment of a strand guide of a slab-casting installation against a strand, wherein the roll segment has an upper and a lower roll support that each have an adjusting element for adjusting the two roll supports relative to each other. The method includes individual control of the individual adjusting elements, wherein the actual profile of the strand, including the heights of the right and left lateral edges of the strand, is detected and compared with a set profile that includes a predetermined set height, which is the same for the right and left lateral edges, and the individual adjusting elements of the roll segment are individually controlled based on the control deviation that results from the comparison so that the actual profile is adapted to the set profile, including equalization of the heights of the right and left lateral edges of the strand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: SMS Siemag Aktiengsellschaft
    Inventors: Axel Weyer, Christian Stolp, Hans Esau Klassen
  • Patent number: 8788084
    Abstract: The inflow of liquid metal into a continuous casting mold is set by a closure device. A measured actual meniscus value is fed to a controller determining a closure device target position on the basis of the actual and a corresponding target value. The measured actual value is fed to a disturbance variable compensator. The target position/corrected target position or a corresponding actual value are further fed to the disturbance variable compensator which determines the disturbance variable compensation value. The disturbance variable compensator has a model of the continuous casting mold for determining an expected value. A number of oscillating compensators determine a frequency disturbance proportion. The sum of the frequency disturbance proportions corresponds to the disturbance variable compensation value. The disturbance variable compensator has a jump determiner, by which it determines the jump compensation value by integrating the difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Martin Niemann, Bernhard Weisshaar
  • Patent number: 8596332
    Abstract: The invention relates to a speed synchronization system for an aluminum alloy slab continuously casting and rolling line having a twin-belt casting machine and skin pass rolling machine which controls the belt speed of the twin-belt casting machine and roll speed of the skin pass rolling machine. An actually measured value of a slab speed during advance from a twin-belt casting machine to a skin pass rolling machine is compared with a line speed setting to control roll speed of the skin pass rolling machine by proportional/integrated control and simultaneously control belt speed of the twin-belt casting machine based on the line speed setting and a solidification shrinkage rate of the aluminum alloy to be cast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Nippon Light Metal Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Isao Shikine, Kazumi Tono
  • Patent number: 8387681
    Abstract: A strand guiding apparatus includes a plurality of pairs of rollers arranged along a moving direction of a strand, a plurality of drive motors for generating driving forces to drive the pairs of rollers, a plurality of worm reducers for transmitting the driving forces of the drive motors to the pairs of rollers while reducing the rotational speed of the drive motors, each worm reducer having a worm extending in a direction orthogonal to an axis of the corresponding roller, and operable to transmit a load occurring at the roller to the corresponding drive motor, and a control unit for controlling the respective rotational speeds of the rollers and/or the respective driving forces of the drive motors based on the load to the drive motors. The reliable control for drive rollers can be attained to have a proper rotational speed without causing a reduction in surface quality and chatter in a strand guiding apparatus for continuous casting equipment using worm reducers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kawaguchi, Fumiki Asano, Kazunori Okada
  • Patent number: 8387680
    Abstract: A device for the hydraulic positioning of structural component parts, in particular rollers of strand guide segments of a continuous casting installation, with hydraulic cylinders, each of which is divided into a cylinder space and an annular cylinder space by a piston having a piston rod. The cylinder spaces can be connected to a pressure source by of control members. Hydraulic connection lines are reduced or components used are reduced. Either the annular cylinder space is acted upon by a pressure which is adjustable but which then remains constant, while the pressure applied to the piston in the cylinder space is position-controlled or pressure-controlled, or the cylinder space is acted upon by a pressure which is adjustable but which then remains constant, while the pressure applied to the piston in the annular cylinder space is position-controlled or pressure-controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: SMS Siemag AG
    Inventors: Holger Beyer-Steinhauer, Peter Jonen, Dietmar Hinz, Lothar Schaps, Axel Weyer
  • Patent number: 8342231
    Abstract: A cast strip withdrawing apparatus includes a plurality of pairs of rolls, and retains and withdraws a dummy bar via a fixed-side roll and pressure-side roll, which face each other, of each of these pairs of rolls. Each of the pressure-side rolls includes a fluid pressure cylinder imparting a dummy bar retaining pressure. A source pressure side fluid line supplying fluid pressure to these fluid pressure cylinders includes: a first pressure-reduction unit, a pressure drop detection unit, a line isolating unit installed on a source pressure side of the pressure drop detection unit, and a bypass unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kawaguchi, Fumiki Asano
  • Patent number: 8342232
    Abstract: A speed synchronization system in an aluminum alloy slab continuous casting and rolling line having a twin-belt casting machine and skin pass rolling machine which suitably controls a belt speed of the twin-belt casting machine and roll speed of the skin pass rolling machine so as to obtain a sound aluminum alloy continuously cast and rolled slab and a production facility and method of production of an aluminum alloy continuously cast and rolled slab using the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Nippon Light Metal Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Isao Shikine, Kazumi Tono
  • Patent number: 8336602
    Abstract: A continuous casting installation (20) including a strand guide having strand casting segments with rollers (2) for guiding a cast strand, wherein at least one of the strand casting segments (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27) is formed as a measurement segment, wherein there is provided at least one measurement point for direct or indirect determination of a force acting on one or several rollers (2), wherein further the at least one measurement point is provided on a support housing (30), preferably between the support and the segment frame of strand casting segment, and there is provided a data processing unit that based on data of the at least one measurement point determines the solidification states of the cast strand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: SMS Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ina Huellen, Andreas Runge, Holger Beyer-Steinhauer, Markus Reifferscheid
  • Patent number: 8327918
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: SMS Seimag AG
    Inventors: Juergen Seidel, Ernst Windhaus, Markus Reifferscheid, Juergen Mueller
  • Patent number: 8205661
    Abstract: A method for adjusting a roll segment of a strand guide of a slab-casting installation against a strand, wherein the roll segment has an upper and a lower roll support that each have an adjusting element for adjusting the two roll supports relative to each other. The method includes individual control of the individual adjusting elements, wherein the actual profile of the strand, including the heights of the right and left lateral edges of the strand, is detected and compared with a set profile that includes a predetermined set height, which is the same for the right and left lateral edges, and the individual adjusting elements of the roll segment are individually controlled based on the control deviation that results from the comparison so that the actual profile is adapted to the set profile, including equalization of the heights of the right and left lateral edges of the strand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: SMS Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Axel Weyer, Christian Stolp, Hans Esau Klassen
  • Publication number: 20120152486
    Abstract: A cast strip withdrawing apparatus includes a plurality of pairs of rolls, and retains and withdraws a dummy bar via a fixed-side roll and pressure-side roll, which face each other, of each of these pairs of rolls. Each of the pressure-side rolls includes a fluid pressure cylinder imparting a dummy bar retaining pressure. A source pressure side fluid line supplying fluid pressure to these fluid pressure cylinders includes: a first pressure-reduction unit, a pressure drop detection unit, a line isolating unit installed on a source pressure side of the pressure drop detection unit, and a bypass unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Hiroshi KAWAGUCHI, Fumiki ASANO
  • Patent number: 8176969
    Abstract: An apparatus for continuously casting thin strip includes a caster having a pair of casting rolls having a nip there between capable of delivering cast strip downwardly from the nip and an first enclosure capable of forming a protective atmosphere into which the strip can be formed in loop to extend over a plurality of rollers into pinch rolls with the strip having a strain of less than 0.4%, which may be provided by a plurality of rollers at entry of the strip into the pinch rolls to carry the strip into the pinch rolls, with at least a first entry roller having a diameter between 200 and 650 millimeters and being below a majority of other rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Nucor Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Edward Dixon, Gary McQuillis, Rama Ballav Mahapatra, Leigh Wolley
  • Patent number: 8006743
    Abstract: A method of and a device for determining the position of the solidification point (1a) in a strand (1) during continuous casting of liquid metals, in particular of steel, lead to precise results, while an indirect measurement of a movable amount of a core liquid volume per unit of length is carried out by direct measurement of generated process parameters by force and/or path signals on fixed or adjustable individual support rollers or groups of fixed or adjustable support roller pairs, and based on the measurement values, a calculation model for a momentary position of the solidification point (1a) is produced, based on which, changeable casting parameters are continuously adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: SMS Siemag AG
    Inventors: Axel Weyer, Albrecht Girgensohn
  • Patent number: 7987896
    Abstract: In a method for guiding a cast material out of a casting chamber of a casting system, the cast material is discharged from a casting chamber by means of a succession of guiding rollers and rolling rollers. A rolling roller exerts a rolling force on the cast material to reduce the thickness of the cast material, whereas a guiding roller, which simply guides, exerts no rolling force on the cast material. At least the rolling rollers are driven by a drive, each drive applied under load. Because the rolling force of at least one rolling roller is detected, and the load of the drive of this rolling roller is controlled according to the detected rolling force, a method can be provided by which the stability of the casting speed is increased, and a significant reduction of the thickness of a cast material is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Hans-Joachim Schmidt
  • Patent number: 7984748
    Abstract: An apparatus for continuously casting thin strip includes a caster having a pair of casting rolls having a nip there between capable of delivering cast strip downwardly from the nip and an first enclosure capable of forming a protective atmosphere into which the strip can be formed in loop to extend over a plurality of rollers into pinch rolls with the strip having a strain of less than 0.4%, which may be provided by a plurality of rollers at entry of the strip into the pinch rolls to carry the strip into the pinch rolls, with at least a first entry roller having a diameter between 200 and 650 millimeters and being below a majority of other rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Nucor Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Edward Dixon, Gary McQuillis, Rama Ballav Mahapatra, Leigh Wolley
  • Patent number: 7913745
    Abstract: A method for continuously casting a billet with a small cross section in which a curved type or vertical type continuous casting machine is used while oscillating the mold upward and downward is characterized in that the casting machine is provided with a mechanism for withdrawing speed oscillation. The mechanism has structural play in the directions of driving and reverse driving in such a manner that the amount of a play-incurred displacement from the neutral position of the structural play in the direction of billet driving or reverse driving is ±2 to ±30 mm in the direction of driving on the pinch roll circumferential length equivalent basis. The mechanism produces a returning force toward the neutral position and operational parameters such as the billet length, the specific amount of secondary cooling water, the casting speed as well as the oscillation amplitude and frequency are optimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Tsukaguchi, Masayuki Kawamoto, Masahito Hanao, Atsushi Hirata, Hiroshi Hayashi, Manabu Adachi
  • Patent number: 7909086
    Abstract: Continuously casting a billet with a small cross section by pouring molten steel into a mold using a cylindrical immersion nozzle is characterized by measuring the molten steel level in the mold using an eddy current sensor. The level is controlled based on the thus-measured value, motion of steel in the mold is adjusted by electromagnetic stirring, a cooling zone during the final period of solidification is disposed within a certain region ranging from the meniscus to the specific site, and casting speed is adjusted so that the region in which the solid phase ratio at the billet center is 0.3-0.99 may be included in the cooling zone during the final period of solidification. The secondary cooling water amount and the billet surface temperature at the entrance to the cooling zone the density of cooling water in the cooling zone during the final period of solidification are optimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Tsukaguchi, Masayuki Kawamoto, Masahito Hanao, Atsushi Hirata, Hiroshi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7845389
    Abstract: A method and continuous casting device for dynamically placing rolling segments against a cast bar made of metal, particularly steel. The continuous casting device is a bloom or billet casting device and has pairs of rollers that are placed against each other in a position-controlled and pressure-controlled manner by piston-cylinder units. The hydraulic pressure is switched from position-controlled operation to pressure-controlled operation when a threshold pressure is reached. The roller segments are arranged in the hot bar zone and the soft reduction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: SMS Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Adolf-Gustav Zajber, Holger Beyer-Steinhauser, Christian Geerkens, Axel Weyer
  • Patent number: 7806164
    Abstract: A system and method for tracking and positioning a continuous cast strand in a casting plant. Lateral positions and, optionally, elevational positions of a cast strand are monitored by sensors as casting proceeds and are fed to a computer-based system as corresponding position information where the information is stored as associated data. The computer-based system processes the associated data and generates corresponding control signals which are used to control at least one correcting device to maintain desired orientation of the cast strand as casting proceeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Nucor Corporation
    Inventors: Darrell Morales, Kevin Evans
  • Publication number: 20100132908
    Abstract: A device for the hydraulic positioning of structural component parts, in particular rollers of strand guide segments of a continuous casting installation, with hydraulic cylinders, each of which is divided into a cylinder space and an annular cylinder space by a piston having a piston rod. The cylinder spaces can be connected to a pressure source by control members. Hydraulic connection lines are reduced or components used are reduced. Either the annular cylinder space is acted upon by a pressure which is adjustable but which then remains constant, while the pressure applied to the piston in the cylinder space is position-controlled or pressure-controlled, or the cylinder space is acted upon by a pressure which is adjustable but which then remains constant, while the pressure applied to the piston in the annular cylinder space is position-controlled or pressure-controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: SMS Siemag AG
    Inventors: Holger Beyer-Steinhauer, Peter Jonen, Dietmar Hinz, Lothar Schaps, Axel Weyer
  • Publication number: 20090314455
    Abstract: The invention relates to a strand guiding device and a method for guiding a metal strip, in particular a metal strip that has not yet solidified right through, in a continuous casting installation. Known strand guiding devices comprise a segment frame and at least one pair of opposing guiding rollers, between which the metal strip is guided. At least one of the guiding rollers takes the form of at least two part-rollers 122, 124 arranged next to each other. The part-rollers are mounted on the segment frame 110 by means of two outer bearings 132, 134 and at least one common intermediate bearing 133.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: SMS DEMAG AG
    Inventors: Markus Reifferscheid, Juergen Seidel
  • Publication number: 20090272510
    Abstract: A speed synchronization system in an aluminum alloy slab continuous casting and rolling line having a twin-belt casting machine and skin pass rolling machine which suitably controls a belt speed of the twin-belt casting machine and roll speed of the skin pass rolling machine so as to obtain a sound aluminum alloy continuously cast and rolled slab and a production facility and method of production of an aluminum alloy continuously cast and rolled slab using the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventors: Isao Shikine, Kazumi Tono
  • Publication number: 20090159232
    Abstract: The invention relates to a strand guiding unit and a method for positioning at least one roll segment of a strand guiding unit against a strand, the roll segment (110) comprising an upper and a lower roll support (114, 112), each of which bears at least one roll (116, 118) for guiding the strand (200) between the rolls. When viewed in the direction of the material flow, at least one respective positioning element is allocated to the tight-hand and left-hand side of the roll segment in order to position the two roll supports (112, 114) in relation to one another. The aim of the invention is to relieve the mechanical stress on a rolling frame that is connected downstream of the strand guiding unit, to relieve said frame of some of its previous tasks and to improve the quality of the strand. To achieve this, the separate positioning elements are individually controlled in such a way that the heights (Hr, Hl) of the right-hand and left-hand edges of the strand (200) are identical.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Inventors: Axel Weyer, Christian Stolp, Hans Esau Klassen
  • Publication number: 20090099688
    Abstract: At present, the tasks associated to the dislodging process and/or anode handling from casting wheels is characterized by the exposure of the personnel to harsh environmental conditions. As well as the use of take-off mechanisms with a high rate of failures. This, in the medium and long term, could generate serious occupational illnesses to the operators in charge of carrying out this activity such as decrease and/or delays in production. Due to the above, an integral robot system and method have been developed for the dislodging process and/or anode handling from casting wheels which allows to carry out this activity in an automated way. The robotic system is composed mainly of a robotic manipulator of at least 4 degrees of freedom which is mounted on a fixed and/or mobile system and is provided with a gripping mechanism to take anodes and deposit them in the cooling chain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventor: Hugo Salamanca
  • Publication number: 20090084517
    Abstract: Maintaining the shell surface temperature profile under transient conditions by spray water cooling in continuous casting of steel is often desired to reduce occurrence of surface cracks. For this purpose, a real-time spray-cooling control system is provided that includes one or more of: a virtual sensor for accurate estimation/prediction of shell surface temperature, control algorithm and data checking subroutines for robust temperature control, server and client programs for communicating between these software components and the caster, and a real-time monitor to display the predicted shell surface temperature profiles, water flow rates, and operating data, among other things.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Brian G. Thomas, Joseph Bentsman, Kai Zheng
  • Patent number: 7448430
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for a continuously cast product of steel includes the steps of detecting a position of a crater end of the product by measuring a solidification state of the continuously cast product using a sensor which is not a contact with the product, and controlling at least one condition selected from the conditions of the casting speed and the quantity of secondary cooling water based on the detected position of the crater end. The method for measuring a solidification state of the continuously cast product includes the steps of cooling the product until the surface layer portion is ? transformed, transmitting transverse waves of electromagnetic ultrasonic waves to the colled product as a transmitting signal, receiving a signal after said transmitting signal propagates in said product as a receiving signal, and judging the solidification state of said product based on the receiving signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: NKK Corporation
    Inventor: Yukinori Iizuka
  • Patent number: 7156148
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for a continuously cast product of steel includes the steps of detecting a position of a crater end of the product by a method for measuring a solidification state of the continuously cast product using a sensor arranged so as to be in non-contact with the product, and controlling at least one condition selected from the conditions of the casting speed and the quantity of secondary cooling water based on the detected position of crater end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: NKK Corporation
    Inventors: Yukinori Iizuka, Yutaka Awajiya, Masayuki Nakada, Makoto Suzuki, Koichi Tsutsumi
  • Patent number: 6945311
    Abstract: In a method for vertical continuous casting of a steel band, a strand (11) of a parallelogram-like cross section is cast at first in a revolving chill-mold (2) and is thereafter transferred from said initial cross section with completely solidified longitudinal edges (10) and liquid core into a band (1) with plane-parallel cross section, this occurring in such a way that an already solidified shell (9) of the strand (11) which becomes increasingly thicker by cooling is increasingly compressed in the casting direction in a forming device (4) without upsetting deformation of the completely solidified longitudinal edges (10). In order to provide advantageous conditions it is proposed that after the compression into a band (1) the strand (11) with a still liquid core (16) is guided during the complete solidification of the core merely in a forming gap with a constant width corresponding to the thickness of the completely solidified longitudinal edges (10) and is calibrated in this process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Inventor: Anton Hulek
  • Patent number: 6896035
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for a continuously cast product of steel includes the steps of detecting a position of crater end of product by a method for measuring a solidification state of continuously cast product using a sensor arranged so as to be in non-contact with the product, and controlling at least one condition selected from the conditions of the casting speed and the quantity of secondary cooling water based on the detected position of crater end. The method for measuring a solidification state of continuously cast product includes the steps of cooling the product until a surface layer portion thereof is ? transformed, transmitting transverse waves of electromagnetic ultrasonic waves to the cooled product, receiving the signal after the transmitting signal propagates in the product, and judging the solidification state of the product based on the received signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: NKK Corporation
    Inventors: Yukinori Iizuka, Yutaka Awajiya, Masayuki Nakada, Makoto Suzuki, Koichi Tsutsumi
  • Patent number: 6854507
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: SMS Demag AG
    Inventors: Fritz-Peter Pleschiutschnigg, Stephan Feldhaus, Lothar Parschat, Michael Vonderbank, Thomas Ulke, Robert Victor Kowalewski, Rolf-Peter Heidemann
  • Patent number: 6779587
    Abstract: A method and a device for adjusting one or more roll segments (1) in a continuous casting installation for metals, especially for steel materials, the rolls (1a) of which adjusted in the segment upper frame (2) and the segment lower frame (3) on frame cross members (5) by pairs (4) of hydraulic piston-cylinder units in a position-and/or pressure-controlled manner, wherein an operation for guiding and/or pressing the casting strands (6) is switched from a position-controlled to a pressure-controlled operation when pressure within the respective pair (4) of piston-cylinder units reaches a predetermined maximum value, whereby an improved reaction is effected by operating the piston-cylinder unit of every roll segment (1) in the case of overload, in subsequent steps at a reduced pressure or in a pressureless switching mode until the switching mode is reached in which the segment upper frame (2) can be opened to some extent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: SMS Demag AG
    Inventors: Axel Weyer, Horst von Wyl, Wolfgang Schmitz, Dieter Böttger, Axel Selke, Peter Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6712123
    Abstract: In a method for changing the section of a billet of a continuous casting plant during continuous casting, wherein opposed sides of the billet are in contact with oppositely positioned roll supports arranged below a continuous casting die, wherein the roll supports are comprised of segments having rolls, wherein adjoining ones of the segments of each roll support are connected to one another by a jointed connection and wherein each segment is configured to be adjustable independent of the other segments with respect to an angular position relative to the billet, and wherein in an initial position the segments of the roll supports are adjusted to a uniform billet section, a thickness reduction can be achieved by advancing sequentially in a direction of continuous casting the segments toward the billet by moving the jointed connections toward the billet in a controlled sequence of adjusting steps or a thickness increase can be achieved by moving sequentially in a direction of continuous casting the segments away
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: SMS Schloemann-Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Axel Weyer, Dirk Letzel, Reiner Külchen, Adolf Zajber
  • Patent number: 6698498
    Abstract: Twin roll caster produces cast steel strip that passes in a transit path through pinch roll stand and optional hot rolling mill and runout table to a coiling station which has a pair of switchable coilers. A strip shear located in advance of the coiling station is operable to sever strip into discrete lengths which can be diverted by setting deflectors to allow the severed lengths to pass across a runout table to a scrap bin. The strip may be thus severed and diverted to scrap on development of strip defects or malfunctioning of equipment without stopping continuous casting and the strip redirected to the coiling station when the problem is rectified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Castrip, LLC
    Inventors: John Albert Ziegelaar, Heiji Kato
  • Patent number: 6619376
    Abstract: A method for detecting a seized or still standing roller in a track of rollers in a continuous casting machine, in which each roller is rotatably mounted in supporting members and is arranged with its axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the track so that the rollers are arranged to transport elongated material produced in the machine. The method includes measuring a load exerted on at least one supporting member of each roller, with the load being substantially parallel with the extent of the track. The existence of a seized or still standing roller is established when the load deviates from a predetermined value by virtue of a force induced on the roller by seizure or stoppage of the roller at the contact with the transported material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventor: Håkan Lindgren
  • Patent number: 6615903
    Abstract: A method for detecting an at least partly bulging portion of an elongated material produced in a continuous casting machine in which the machine has a plurality of rollers arranged in two tracks converging towards each other to transport the material, with the rollers being divided into at least two roller portions each rotatably mounted in supporting members. The method involves measuring the radial load exerted by the material on each supporting member of the roller portions of a roller, comparing the radial load values of the supporting members arranged in the ends of roller portions facing away from each other with those of the supporting members arranged in the ends of the roller portions facing each other to ascertain a divergence, and establishing that an at least partly bulging portion of the material exists where the divergence exceeds a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventor: Håkan Lindgren
  • Patent number: 6615904
    Abstract: A method for detecting a misaligned roller portion of a roller in a continuous casting machine, in which the machine includes rollers arranged in a row after each other, with the rollers being divided into at least two roller portions each rotatably mounted in supporting members and arranged for transporting produced material. The method involves measuring the radial load exerted by the material on each supporting member of the roller portions of a roller, comparing the radial loads of the supporting members at the outer ends of the roller with each other, comparing the radial loads of the supporting members at the inner ends of the roller with each other, and determining a misaligned roller portion where the divergence between the radial loads of the supporting members of the outer ends of the roller and/or the supporting members of the inner ends of the roller exceed a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventor: Håkan Lindgren
  • Patent number: 6609556
    Abstract: In a method for casting prefabricated products in a continuous casting device, having a casting mold and a strand guide downstream of the casting mold, wherein the strand guide has rolls positioned opposite one another in pairs for supporting and guiding the solidifying cast strand, wherein some rolls are drive rolls and others are idle rolls, wherein drives are provided for the drive rolls, and wherein the drive rolls are adjustable against the cast strand in order to transmit guiding forces and strand conveying forces onto the cast strand in interaction with the idle rolls, the drive rolls and the drives are controlled to a preset rotational speed such that the drive rolls have circumferential speeds identical to one another within the limits of a preset casting speed. The motor torques of the drives are maintained at a level as equal as possible below a permissible torque limit value relative to a loadability of the strand shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: SMS Demag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Axel Weyer, Horst von Wyl
  • Patent number: 6604569
    Abstract: Twin roll casting of metal strip (20) by rotation of parallel casting rolls (16) supplied with molten metal through distributor (19a) and delivery nozzle (19b). X-ray scanner (44) continuously scans the thickness of strip (20) to produce a signal which is a continuous measure of thickness variation along the strip due to eccentricities of the casting rolls (16). This signal controls operation of roll drive motors (53) to impose a pattern of speed variation on the rolls so as to reduce the amplitude of the thickness variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Castrip, LLC
    Inventors: Nikolco S. Nikolovski, Peter A Woodberry, Brett Gray
  • Publication number: 20030141036
    Abstract: The present invention provides a manufacturing method for a continuously cast product of steel comprising the steps of: detecting a position of crater end of product by a method for measuring a solidification state of continuously cast product using a sensor arranged so as to be in non-contact with the product; and controlling at least one condition selected from the conditions of the casting speed and the quantity of secondary cooling water based on the detected position of crater end, the method for measuring a solidification state of continuously cast product comprising the steps of: cooling the product until a surface layer portion thereof is &agr; transformed; transmitting transverse waves of electromagnetic ultrasonic waves to the cooled product; receiving the signal after the transmitting signal propagates in the product; and judging the solidification state of the product based on the received signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Applicant: NKK Corporation
    Inventors: Yukinori Iizuka, Yutaka Awajiya, Masayuki Nakada, Makoto Suzuki, Koichi Tsutsumi
  • Patent number: 6568459
    Abstract: An apparatus and process for casting a continuous metal strand, in particular steel, in a continuous casting apparatus having strand parts disposed opposite one another and being fitted with bearings in which guide rollers are mounted, and having actuators by which a gap between respective opposed rollers can be set infinitely variable, and which method includes sensing a value representing a compressive force which occurs in the bearings and feeding said value to a computing unit; comparing the individual measured force values of a roller or of a pair of oppositely disposed rollers with respect to a level of the force; and utilizing at least the relating highest value measured as a command variable for controlling the gap and/or the casting rate and/or the amount of cooling water and/or the melt feed and/or the casting powder feed and/or the mold oscillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Mannesmann AG
    Inventor: Ronald E. Ashburn
  • Patent number: 6540010
    Abstract: A device for hydraulic adjustment of rollers of strand guiding segments of a strand casting device has hydraulic cylinders which are separated by a piston with piston rod into a cylinder chamber and an annular cylinder chamber, respectively. The cylinder chambers can be connected by control members alternatingly and in opposite directions as well as simultaneously with a pressure source and a pressure sink, wherein on-off valves are provided as control members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: SMS Schloemann-Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christian Geerkens, Ralf Hartmann, Berthold Hild, Meinhard Watzlaw