Abstract: Provided herein is a system, apparatus, and method for aligning a continuous casting mold and a starter block. The continuous casting mold alignment system may include: a continuous casting mold; a mold frame supporting the continuous casting mold; a starter block; and at least one bearing assembly. The at least one bearing assembly is movable between a lowered position and a raised position, where the at least one bearing assembly, in the raised position, engages and supports one of the continuous casting mold or the starter block. The at least one bearing assembly, in the raised position, enables the one of the continuous casting mold or the starter block to be moved into alignment with the other of the continuous casting mold or the starter block by a force below a predefined threshold.

Abstract: A system for controlling the progress of the manufacture of at least one product by vertical semi-continuous direct chill casting, in particular from aluminium alloy, in a fixed mold, the control system includes a dummy bottom configured to form a movable lower bottom of the fixed mold and to carry the product during casting; a weighing cell, on which the dummy bottom is arranged to rest, the weighing cell being configured to take measurements representative of the mass of the product carried by the dummy bottom during casting; and a support of the dummy bottom, to which the weighing cell is linked, configured to lower the false bottom relative to the fixed mold, substantially in a vertical direction, during casting; and a processing unit connected to each weighing cell, and configured to process the measurements, and calculate the variation in the mass of the product over time.

Abstract: The tool according to the invention comprises a connecting head (22) support (70) extending along a longitudinal axis (B-B?); a mold base (72), supported by the support (70), the mold base (72) defining an axial orifice for passage of the connecting head (22); an end-piece (74) for mounting the support (70) on a movement member for moving the tool in the mold; and a mechanism (76) for longitudinal immobilization of the connecting head (22) on the support (70). The mechanism (76) for longitudinal immobilization is longitudinally adjustable relative to the support (70) in order to immobilize the connecting head (22) relative to the support (70) in at least two different longitudinal positions along the longitudinal axis (B-B?).

Abstract: An up-drawing continuous casting apparatus includes a holding furnace that holds molten metal, a shape determining member that is arranged near a molten metal surface of the molten metal held in the holding furnace, and that determines a sectional shape of a casting by the molten metal passing through the shape determining member, and a cooling portion that cools the molten metal that has passed through the shape determining member. The shape determining member includes, on a main surface on the molten metal surface side, at least one of a protruding portion that protrudes from the main surface, or a recessed portion that is recessed from the main surface.

Abstract: Equipment for the semi-continuous direct chill (DC) casting of sheet ingot or slabs of different dimensions, in particular for rolling purposes. The equipment includes a mold frame (2) with a pair of facing long side walls (3) and a pair of facing short end walls (4) where the walls define an upwardly open inlet for the supply of metal and a downwardly facing outlet. The outlet is provided with a starter block (6) on a movable support, which prior to each casting, closes the opening. The equipment includes a device for changing the mold dimensions where at least one end wall can be displaced to enable casting of different size ingots. The equipment further includes an arrangement for indirect and direct cooling of the metal during casting. The starter block is provided with short end walls (11) and long side walls (9). At least one short end wall is movable relative to the mold.

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: In a system for sealing a dummy bar head in a mould of a continuous casting plant for casting large-format preliminary sections, a flat gasket (6) to seal the gap between the dummy bar head and the mould is provided, which is held on a packing plate (7) contained on the dummy bar head. Said packing plate has approximately the cross-sectional shape of the mould profile and covers the flat gasket (6). The packing plate (7) is displaceable towards the centre of the mould by an amount which is a function of the conicity of the mould (3). To this end, it consists of two plate halves (7a, 7b) lying in one plane with respect to each other. This makes it possible, when inserting the dummy bar head, to compensate for the angled course of the mould with the contracting packing plate until the sealing gap between packing plate and mould remains uniform on all sides.

Abstract: A continuous casting furnace for producing metal ingots includes a molten seal which prevents external atmosphere from entering the melting chamber. A startup sealing assembly allows an initial seal to be formed to prevent external atmosphere from entering the melting chamber prior to the formation of the molten seal.

Abstract: A continuous casting furnace for producing metal ingots includes a molten seal which prevents external atmosphere from entering the melting chamber. A startup sealing assembly allows an initial seal to be formed to prevent external atmosphere from entering the melting chamber prior to the formation of the molten seal.

Abstract: A continuous casting furnace for producing metal ingots includes a molten seal which prevents external atmosphere from entering the melting chamber. A startup sealing assembly allows an initial seal to be formed to prevent external atmosphere from entering the melting chamber prior to the formation of the molten seal.

Abstract: In a system for sealing a dummy bar head in a mould of a continuous casting plant for casting large-format preliminary sections, a flat gasket (6) to seal the gap between the dummy bar head and the mould is provided, which is held on a packing plate (7) contained on the dummy bar head. Said packing plate has approximately the cross-sectional shape of the mould profile and covers the flat gasket (6). The packing plate (7) is displaceable towards the centre of the mould by an amount which is a function of the conicity of the mould (3). To this end, it consists of two plate halves (7a, 7b) lying in one plane with respect to each other. This makes it possible, when inserting the dummy bar head, to compensate for the angled course of the mould with the contracting packing plate until the sealing gap between packing plate and mould remains uniform on all sides.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for continuous casting of metal billets comprising a horizontal casting mold having and inlet end and an outlet end. It includes a feed trough for feeding molten metal to the mold inlet end and a horizontal conveyor for receiving a cast billet from the mold outlet end. A moveable cutting saw is operable to move synchronously with the conveyor for cutting a continuous billet into lengths while supported on the conveyor. The billet is resiliently supported and the saw mechanism is isolated so as to minimize transmission of low and high frequency vibrations from the cutting and conveying operations to the mold.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for starting and stopping a horizontal casting machine, e.g. a caster for continuous casting of metal ingots. The caster comprises a feed trough for carrying molten metal, at least one casting mould and a connecting trough separately connecting each casting mould to the feed trough. A shutoff gate is associated with each connecting trough and movable between an open position and a closed position. Each connecting trough includes a drop-down portion located between the shutoff gate and the casting mould, this drop-down portion being adapted to swing downwardly and thereby rapidly drain molten metal from the connecting trough and an entrance of the mould. The apparatus may also include an elongated starter block, adapted to be inserted into the casting mould and having a threaded recess formed therein for receiving molten metal. An O-ring is fitted to the starter block to seal the block against the casting mould.

Abstract: A dummy bar for a continuous metal casting plant, particularly for a continuous casting plant for preliminary steel sections, includes a one-piece head piece having dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of the mold cross-section and two rows of segments connected to the head piece. The two rows of segments extend parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction of the dummy bar and are spaced apart from each other by the width of the dummy bar. Flexible steel bands are mounted on each row of segments for connecting the segments.

Abstract: A method of initiating a continuous casting mold includes steps of positioning a plug inside a continuous casting mold, sealing the plug with respect to inner walls of the mold, positioning a prefabricated chill member on a top surface of the plug; and introducing molten metal into the mold. By prefabricating the chill member, valuable time is saved during the mold startup phase. The prefabricated chill member may have a compressible metallic sealing strip secured thereto to enhance sealing against the mold wall without abrading or scratching the mold wall. Another aspect of the invention involves sealing the gaps that exist between the mold surfaces and the mold plug by use of a an elongated body that defines in cross-section a broadened upper portion and a tapered lower portion that narrows into a leading edge. This construction permits the sealing element to be quickly inserted into a gap without being caught on the mold plug.

Abstract: A start-up billet head for a continuous casting machine for metal closes off an outlet of the casting die before start-up of the casting process. The start-up billet head has a coupling part facing an interior of the casting die and forms together with a billet cast in the casting die a positive-locking, hook-shaped connection. The connection can be decoupled after leaving the casting die by performing a tilting movement of the start-up billet head about a joint of the start-up billet. The coupling part has a recess with a first side active in a billet removal direction and a second side facing the first side. The first and second sides have oppositely oriented arc shapes. The coupling part has the shape of a preliminary billet profile with at least one undercut located in the area of at least one flange or angled joint of the preliminary billet profile.

Abstract: When the starter block commences reciprocating along the axis of an open ended mold cavity, with a body of start up material in tandem with it, successive layers of molten metal are relatively superimposed on the body of start up material, and layers thereof are confined to a first cross sectional area of the cavity but permitted to distend relatively peripherally outwardly from the circumferential outline of the first cross sectional area at relatively peripherally outwardly inclined angles to the axis while thermal contraction forces are generated in the respective layers and the magnitude of the forces is controlled so that the thermal contraction forces counterbalance the splaying forces in the respective layers and confer a free-formed circumferential outline on the resulting body of metal as it becomes form-sustaining.

Abstract: An improved cylindrical bottom block for casting of large ingots or billets, particularly cylindrical shaped ingots, of light metals, such as aluminum and aluminum alloys, the cylindrical bottom comprising: (a) a base section having an outer diameter; (b) a centrally located circular surface forming the upper end of the base section, the circular surface positioned substantially perpendicular to the direction of casting, the circular surface forming the floor of the dish of the cylindrical bottom block which receives and cools liquid phase metal to form the butt end of an ingot, the circular surface being substantially flat and having a peripheral edge; (c) a cylindrical rim extending around the peripheral edge of the centrally located circular surface, the rim having an upper edge and an inner side wall which forms the side wall of the dish; (d) a concave transition section positioned between the peripheral edge and the lower end of the inner side wall, the concave transition section extending completely aro

Abstract: The apparatus has a starter bar of novel design which avoids the problems of deformation of the billet base, loss and waste of casting metal and loss of billet stability. The apparatus includes a tub-like having a peripheral wall and a central raised element or cone having tapered outer surfaces, to stabilize the base of the billet during casting and to dislodge the cooled billet as it shrinks.

Abstract: A mobile bottom closure/support includes a metal disc-shaped body, having at its top a suitable diameter for allowing the body to be translated inside a crystallizer-collar and having, at its bottom, a larger diameter. The disc-shaped body includes a pair of disc-shaped plates made from metal materials with different values of heat conductivity and concentrically superimposed to each other. The upper disc-shaped plate has at least a portion of its external cylindrical surface with such a diameter as to enable the plate to be translated inside the crystallizer-collar. The lower disc-shaped plate has a greater diameter, suitable for enabling the disc-shaped body to remain guided, coaxially with the collar, between vertical trueing elements angularly spaced apart from one another and integral with the collar.

Abstract: A curved-mold continuous casting apparatus has a reciprocable mold with a curved casting passage and an arm which guides the mold for reciprocation. A secondary cooling unit is located downstream of the mold and is followed by a withdrawal-and-straightening unit. The apparatus further has a rigid, curved dummy bar, a piston-and-cylinder unit for moving the dummy bar between a storage position and a casting position, and a lever which is articulated to the dummy bar and guides the same. A support consisting of a bedplate with an upright stand holds the mold, guide arm, secondary cooling unit, withdrawal-and-straightening unit, dummy bar, piston-and-cylinder unit and lever in assembled condition and in alignment for casting. The support and the components carried thereby form a preassembled, transportable module which can be brought to a casting location or removed from such location.

Abstract: A dummy bar for use in a strip steel casting machine of the type including a continuous casting mold having a sealing plane between a pair of broad side walls and a pair of narrow side walls, and at least a first set of driven rollers or rolls located in spaced relation to and downstream of the outlet of said mold. The dummy bar is formed of a single piece of steel plate, and includes an upper contour adapted to form a cast connection with the leading end of the strip being cast, a sealing portion, and means for supporting and withdrawing the forward end of the strip from the mold. The bar, measured from the upper end of the sealing portion to the bottom of the lower portion, is longer than the spacing between the sealing plane of the mold and the common axle plane of the first roller or roller pair.

Abstract: The dummy bar includes a flexible sheet having several rows of contact elements fastened along a portion of its length to both sides of the sheet. Free projections of contact elements of different rows overlap one another in a lengthwise direction to the dummy bar. In order to create a simple, operationally safe, low maintenance dummy bar the flexible sheet includes recesses corresponding to the projection of the free projections of the contact elements.

Abstract: Parking device for dummy bars which can be employed in continuous casting machines with a roller-type casting line stretching between the ingot mold and a substantially horizontal outlet, and an extraction and straightening group located at the outlet, in which the device comprises; a swinging parking structure to park the dummy bar, the structure being pivoted at one end upstream from the extraction and straightening group and being able to rotate around a pivot between a raised position of rest and a lowered working position, a jack able to move the free end of the parking structure between the position of rest and the working position and a further jack anchored to the parking structure and acting to pull the dummy bar to the ingot mold.

Abstract: A continuous casting apparatus comprising a tubular die, a cooler associated with the tubular die, and opposed pairs of drawing rolls associated with the outlet of the die for drawing the cast product from the die. One set of rolls is mounted for rotation about stationary axes and the other set of rolls is mounted for rotation about axes movable radially with respect to the cast product. A starting bar includes a starter tip dimensioned to fit within the die. The starter tip and starter bar are interconnected for adjustment radially relative to one another such that when the starting tip is inserted into the tubular die upon start up of the casting apparatus, the movable drawing rolls can be successively moved radially inwardly or outwardly with respect to the center line of the cast product to maintain the center line of the cast product aligned with the center line between the opposed sets of rolls.

Abstract: There is disclosed a continuous casting machine for selectively casting a strand having slab cross section or at least two strands having smaller cross sections. It includes a plate mold surrounded by a support frame supporting the end walls and side walls, and further intermediate end walls provided between the end walls for casting at least two strands. In order to provide end walls that are insertable into the mold and positively connectable thereto with parts that project into the mold used for slab cross sectional formats being avoided, a hollow body carrying copper plates of the intermediate end walls is inserted between the copper plates of the side walls. A coolant flows through the hollow body, which is supported with its upper end on the side walls by supporting elements overlapping the side walls, and with its lower end is fixed by coolant supply and discharge piping.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved bottom block for vertical DC and EM casting large ingots and billets, particularly ingots having generally rectangularly shaped cross sections which are rolled into sheet and plate. The improved bottom block stably supports the ingot or billet in its downward descent during casting so that the ingot or billet does not move on the bottom block by leaning off center or rocking back and forth. In accordance with the invention, a plurality of drain holes in the bottom block, which are adapted to remove coolant which collects on the top surface of the bottom block, are provided with fan shaped recesses which form appendages on the butt of the ingot or billet. These ingot or billet appendages ride up the lower inclined surfaces of the recesses when the ingot or billet butt shrinks and curls, thereby stabilizing the ingot or billet.

Abstract: A mold-starting plug alignment system for a horizontal direct chill continuous casting apparauts includes a frame support positionable at the exit of a continuous casting mold and guides attached to the frame support spaced along the periphery of the mold opening. The arrangement also includes an adjustable starter head which is attached to a primary starting block member by an adapter member and which cooperates with the guides to self-align the starting head while inserting the starting head into the mold opening prior to casting.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuous casting has pairs of rolls defining a path for the solidifying slab of steel. Between the rolls on each side are rows of spray nozzles. To check the operation of the sprays and thus achieve uniform cooling, checking apparatus carrying detectors for the sprayed water is passed through the path. To achieve a useful measure of the spraying efficiency the detectors must be highly sensitive and robust. Each detector has a metal diaphragm which is set in vibration by the sprayed water and a piezo-electric element fixed to the diaphragm so as to emit a signal whose amplitude is dependent on the amplitude of the vibration of the diaphragm.

Abstract: A bottom block for use in electromagnetic casting of metals wherein the block is constructed of a material having a closely matched electrical resistivity to that of the metal to be cast. The block may be provided with a deeply hollowed out central section so that during startup the end of the down spout supplying molten metal may be positioned a substantial distance below the plane of the top surface of the bottom block.

Abstract: A semicontinuous casting apparatus comprises a mould positioned above a secondary-cooling chamber which accommodates a dummy bar having a thickened portion and a body made in the form of a hydraulic cylinder intended to pull out a casting and mounted to move lengthwise of said chamber. For the dummy bar to be able to move, the apparatus is provided with alternately actuated index pins. The pins are fixed on stationary mounted legs and extend through openings in the walls of the secondary cooling chamber and cooperate with openings provided in the lateral sides of the thickened portion and body of the dummy bar.

Abstract: In a continuous casting plant the space between the walls of a cooled continuous casting mould and the head of a starter bar is sealed. The seal is achieved by means of an elastic member inserted in an annular peripheral recess of the starter bar head. The elastic member closes the recess, extends completely around the starter bar head in the groove and may have a cylindrical or plane shape.

Abstract: The machine for semicontinuous casting of metals comprises a rack-and-gear drive for withdrawal an ingot and for moving a carriage fitted with a dummy bar along a vertical column. The racks of said drive are fixed on said carriage and the gear wheels with a pitch approximating the length of said racks are disposed along said column. The initial weight of said carriage fitted with the dummy bar exceeds slightly the initial force required for withdrawal of the ingot from the mold. To maintain constant operating conditions for the driving electric motor of the ingot withdrawal gear, provision is made for a ferromagnetic powder brake whose exciting winding is coupled with an ingot length sensor and whose control winding is coupled with an ingot withdrawal force sensor.

Abstract: Casting apparatus comprising means for feeding molten material, a mold receiving the molten material in which the molten material solidifies forming a casting advancing through the mold, a cylinder, means including a piston operable in the cylinder ahead of the advancing casting limiting the speed of advance of the casting, means including a fluid pressure system for controlling the speed of advance of the piston in the cylinder by differential pressure on opposite ends of the piston, a control device settable for the desired speed of advance of the piston, a signal device responsive to the actual speed of advance of the piston and connections between the control device and the signal device determining said differential pressure to insure maintenance of the speed of advance of the piston at the desired speed.