Abstract: The abnormality is detected during a flow thereof through the mold. The detection is achieved by means of at least a pair of upper and lower temperature detecting elements, located along the flow of the casting metal. The abnormality is determined to exist when a temperature inversion, that is T.sub.U .ltoreq.T.sub.L, takes place. The symbols T.sub.U and T.sub.L denote the temperatures measured by the upper and lower temperature detecting elements, respectively, in which a relationship, that is T.sub.U >T.sub.L, stands under a normal casting operation.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for controlling the position of a cast ingot is provided so that unwanted distortions of the casting are substantially avoided. The instant process and apparatus also permit substantially uniform heat transfer about the casting periphery. A control system for maintaining the casting within a mold so that the casting outer periphery is substantially uniformly spaced from the mold inner wall comprises a casting supporting mechanism adjacent the mold exit and non-thermal position detectors.

Abstract: An apparatus and process electromagnetically forms feed ribbon or rod material into a desired thin strip shape. Inductors contain and form the material in molten form into the desired shape. There are at least an upstream and downstream inductor for applying the magnetic field to the molten material. Both the upstream and downstream inductors may be jointly used to contain and form the molten material into the thin strip shape. An alternating current is applied to the inductors to generate the magnetic field. This magnetic field defines a containment zone for the molten material and a gap between the molten material and the inductors. The current is applied to the inductors so that the gap remains substantially constant. The feed material has an upstream and a downstream liquid-solid interface adjacent the upstream and downstream inductors, respectively, which define the molten material head and solid material portions of the material.

Abstract: An apparatus for drawing casting in a horizontal type continuous casting machine, which basically comprises a forward drive motor of a large capacity for driving a pair of pinch rollers in a forward direction with a large torque, a reversible constant-load motor for driving the pinch rollers in the reverse direction, a clutch for disconnectibly connecting the forward drive motor to the pinch rollers, a control circuit for engaging and releasing the clutch in response to output signals of detecting means which detect the forward and backward motions of the casting, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of controlling and regulating operational parameters of a machine for continuously casting bands between cylinders, allowing adhesion to be avoided. This method comprises considering as parameters the torque exerted on one or other of the cylinders for moving the band on and comprises permanently comparing the frequency of the variations in the torque measurement with a reference frequency. When the variation frequency is greater than the reference frequency, the casting speed of the machine is reduced and/or the lubricant flow rate is increased until the variation frequency is again lower than the reference frequency. The speed of the casting machine is then increased as long as the variation frequency remains below the reference frequency.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the monitoring and control of operating parameters of a machine for the continuous casting of strips between rolls, including the torque exerted on at least one of the rolls to cause the strip to advance and/or the stress exerted by the strip on at least one of the journals and/or the temperature of the strip as it leaves the rolls and permanently measuring the deviation between the instantaneous value of one of these parameters and the mean value of this parameter over a period of time immediately beforehand. If this deviation exceeds a reference deviation, the casting speed of the machine is reduced until the deviation again becomes less than the reference deviation. The speed of the casting machine is then increased for as long as this deviation remains lower than the reference deviation.

Abstract: A method for continuous casting of metallic strands which provides a maximum compressive stress to the strand at the precise bending point of the strand guide. In this manner, continuous casting speeds of greater than 0.8 m/min. can be utilized without the otherwise present potential for ruptures and tears. Pairs of supporting rollers are spaced along the strand guide. A bending point is defined as the precise point where the arcuate section of the strand guide becomes the linear section of the strand guide. It is at that bending point that the compressive forces on the cast metallic strand are maximized by the selected driving of the supporting rollers, located downstream of the bending point. The number of supporting rollers located upstream of the bending point is not less than twice the number of supporting rollers located downstream of the bending point.

Abstract: A horizontal continuous casting method and apparatus is disclosed. Liquid metal, held in a storage container, is continuously maintained at a height not less than the height of the continuous casting mold. Additionally, adjustment of the relative positions with respect to one another of a magnetic coil surrounding a portion of the continuous casting mold, the storage container, in both the horizontal and vertical directions and the drain pipe extending from the storage container into the continuous casting mold is disclosed.

Abstract: A continuous casting method in which molten metal is continuously poured into a moving mould cavity formed between a rotary casting wheel having a peripheral casting groove and a moving belt partially covering the peripheral casting groove. The cast billet which has been solidified at least outer surfaces thereof is continuously pulled out from the moving mould cavity by means of pinch rollers which are rotated at a peripheral speed greater than that of the rotary casting wheel.

Abstract: A method of controlling relative movement between an ingot and a mold consists of monitoring the level of the metal pool in the mold by measuring the voltage between the ingot and a mold section disposed above the metal pool, in contact with the bath of molten slag and insulated electrically from the ingot and from the ingot-forming mold section; comparing an instantaneous value of said voltage with a predetermined value and varying the relative speed of the ingot and the mold depending on a signal proportional to the difference between the instantaneous and the predetermined values of said voltage so that the predetermined level of the metal pool is restored.

Abstract: A continuous metal casting machine having a starter bar handling apparatus which includes a first pivoting arm member generally suspended over the downwardly oriented, generally arcuate strand conveying structure and a second pivoting arm member generally suspended over the upwardly oriented, generally arcuate starter bar receiving structure. Releaseable starter bar engagement means are mounted on the terminal ends of these pivoting arms so that as the first arm pivots downwardly through a vertical arc generally coplanar with the strand conveying structure, the starter bar is moved from the mold to the straightener apparatus. A guide structure or other such control means is mounted in the path of the first arm member so that its terminal engagement means will release the starter bar as it is engaged by the straightener apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method of and apparatus for radiation pyrometric temperature measurement of a continuous cast metal bar. Cast bar advancing from a continuous casting machine is continuously monitored for temperature without contacting the cast bar with any apparatus by applying a layer of soot onto the surface of the bar, detecting infrared radiation emitted from the sooted area, converting the detected radiation into a temperature signal, displaying the temperature, and completely removing the soot from the cast bar before it enters a rolling mill.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for measuring the displacement and velocity of metal ingots, such as aluminum ingots, during direct chill casting thereof. A tube rests on the table carrying the ingot and travels with this table. Attached to this tube is a cable, forming a part of a linear velocity transducer, which transducer senses movement in the cable and correlates this movement to the velocity and displacement of the mold.

Abstract: Metal flow control for a continuous casting process is provided by providing a gas back pressure bubble to block the flow of molten metal above the casting nozzle. Pressurized gas is provided to a cap positioned upstream of the nozzle and including a depending skirt that cooperates with a dam. When the gas pressure offsets the head pressure of the molten metal, the flow of molten metal into the nozzle is blocked. By terminating the control pressure, the flow of metal over the dam may be reestablished. The cap including the skirt and the dam form a weir assembly defining a channel along one side or around the periphery of the nozzle. The cap may be supported and fed with gas pressure through a duct from the side, or along the center of the crucible.

Abstract: A hydraulic control system with a pipeline antiburst safety device for a double acting drive cylinder, more particularly for adjusting and securing the position of a driven guide roller in the strand guide of a continuous casting plant which exerts an operationally conditioned reaction force, applied by the strand, on the piston of the drive cylinder.

Abstract: During the continuous casting of at least two strands, withdrawn with the same speed from the continuous casting molds, the withdrawal speed for both strands should be adjusted in accordance with the quantity of cast metal, typically steel, infed to the first continuous casting mold i.e. also the level of molten metal therein. The infed quantity of steel is regulated in at least one further continuous casting mold as a function of such withdrawal speed or velocity.

Abstract: A method for controlling a casting and rolling mill by measuring the speed of a cast strip between the casting machine and the first following rolling mill and regulating the speed of the casting machine directly proportional to the measured speed of the cast strip. It is thus possible to avoid auxiliary equipment required in prior art systems such as pinch rolls and a continuous furnace between the casting machine and the first following rolling mill. Furthermore no loop on the cast strip is required. As a result, great reductions in capital expenditures, the energy required to operate the line and the necessary space can be obtained.

Abstract: A method for preventing damage to the strand guide elements of strand guide arrangements or roller aprons of a continuous casting installation for metals, especially steel, wherein it is possible to withdraw a strand which is immobile in the strand guide arrangement or roller apron, by means of a powerful withdrawal unit, without the risk of damaging elements of the strand guide arrangement. At pre-selected locations of the strand guide arrangement there are determined the withdrawal forces effective at such locations and acting upon the elements of the strand guide arrangement. Upon exceeding maximum permissible values the strand withdrawal operation is interrupted.

Abstract: Breakouts due to insufficient skin thickness exiting below caster mold are prevented. Minimum mold heat removal rate is defined in terms of casting speed, mold faces, mold size, material grade and tundish superheat, then calculated, indicated and compared to actual measured values of heat removal rate. As a result of the comparison, caster preset speed correction is taken to automatically maintain the mold heat removal rate above the minimum level where breakouts occur.

Abstract: A method of, and apparatus for, regulating the bath level of a continuous casting mold by means of electromagnetic alternating fields which contemplates measuring changes in the inductance as a function of the bath level and employing such measured changes as an input signal for bath level regulation. According to specific aspects of the invention an electromagnetic primary alternating field is directed at one mold wall from the side of the continuous casting mold where the molten metal is poured-in. This alternating field induces a current in the mold wall and a secondary electromagnetic alternating field produced by such current is measured and employed as an input signal for regulation of the bath level in the continuous casting mold.

Abstract: There is disclosed a molten metal level monitoring and controlling apparatus for continuous casting machines which employs an eddy-current type distance measuring device for measuring the level of the molten metal in the mold of a continuous casting machine. The eddy-current type distance measuring device generates a molten metal level signal by detecting in a noncontact manner the distance between its detecting mechanism fixedly mounted in place just above the surface of the molten metal and the molten metal level.

Abstract: Apparatus and method of metal casting utilize a die having at least one helical rib or channel surrounded by a cooler which cooperates with a means for imparting a relative screwing motion, such as a pair of rollers at an angle to the longitudinal member which is being cast, to screw a helically shaped metal member continuously from the die.

Abstract: In a continuous compression casting process for making a casting slab such as steel, the problem of the occurrence of slippage; between the casting slab and the rolls is effectively overcome by a control means for releasing or gradually decreasing the braking action of the braking rolls.

Abstract: In continuously casting molten steel at least a pair of rolls is disposed near the leading end of the crater at which solidification of the molten steel in the cast piece completes so as to roll the cast piece at a reduction rate of from 0.1 to 2.0%. The variation in the thickness of the cast piece is detected and compared with a definite reference value for controlling the drawing speed and or the quantity of the secondary cooling water.

Abstract: A method and mechanism for determining forces on a casting as it solidifies in a continuous-casting machine. A plurality of roll-pairs of an otherwise conventional curved roll-rack are equipped with means (e.g. load cells) which show the compressive load exerted by the different roll-pairs on the casting. The roll-pair beyond which no further upward trend in compressive load occurs marks the plane at which the casting first solidifies throughout its cross section, since beyond this plane the casting no longer has a liquid core tending to bulge the skin and separate the rolls. Whenever the load on a roll-pair departs substantially from the norm, the indication is that the rolls of this pair are improperly gapped (that is, the spacing between roll faces is either too great or too little).