Abstract: A method is disclosed for continuously or semi-continuously producing hot steel strip which, starting from a slab guided through a slab-guiding device, is rolled in a roughing train having at least four-stands, the method comprising: casting a slab in a die, the slab being reduced to a thickness of between 60 and 95 mm in a liquid core reduction process by the adjoining slab-guiding device, a slab support length measured between the meniscus, i.e., the bath level, of the die and an end of the slab-guiding device facing the roughing train being between 12 m and 15.5 m, and a casting speed ranging from 3.8 to 7 m/min. The disclosed combination of casting parameters may ensure that the crater tip of the slab extends to the vicinity of the end of the slab-guiding device independently of the respective maximum casting speeds which are dependent on the particular grade of material.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for continuously or semi-continuously producing hot steel strip which, starting from a slab guided through a slab-guiding device, is rolled in, for example, an at least four-stand roughing train to form an intermediate strip and, in a further sequence in a finish rolling train, into a final strip. The thickness of a slab cast in a die is reduced in the liquid core reduction process by means of the adjoining slab-guiding device to between 85 and 120 mm, a slab support length measured between the meniscus, i.e., the bath level, of the die and an end of the slab-guiding device facing the roughing train being at least 18.5 m, a casting speed ranging from 3.8 to 7 m/min, and slabs of different thicknesses being cast as a function of given casting speeds. Using the disclosed casting parameters, high-quality finishing may be provided with high production capacities.

Abstract: A mold (2) has a cooling means (21) for having the thermal flux at four corner sections (2a) be smaller than the thermal flux at four face sections (2b). The cooling means (21) has first channels (22a) which are each embedded in the four corner sections (2a) respectively and which channel cooling water, and second channels (22b) which are each embedded in the four face sections (2b) respectively and which channel cooling water. The distance from the inner peripheral surface of the mold (2) to the first channels (22a) is greater than the distance from the inner peripheral surface of the mold (2) to the second channels (22b).

Abstract: The continuous casting device according to the present invention enables at least some of a plurality of hearths (3) to be converted between being hearths (13) used for titanium, which are used during the continuous casting of titanium ingots, and being hearths (23) used for titanium alloy, which are used during the continuous casting of titanium alloy ingots. The number of hearths (23) used for titanium alloy is greater than the number of hearths (13) used for titanium. Also, the total capacity of the hearths (23) used for titanium alloy is greater than the total capacity of the hearths (13) used for titanium. Thus, titanium ingots and titanium alloy ingots can each be continuously cast by means of a single piece of equipment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for direct chill casting ingots with in-situ homogenization. Large particles of eutectic material may form in the solid ingot and the metal may exhibit macrosegregation of alloying components, especially when large ingots are cast in this way. This can be alleviated by applying a first liquid coolant to the ingot emerging from the mold, removing the first liquid coolant at a certain distance along the ingot by means of a wiper, and then applying a second liquid coolant to perform a quench at a greater distance along the ingot. The quench raises the level of the molten sump in the ingot, which helps to overcome the indicated problems, without affecting the desired temperature rebound of the ingot shell (usually at least 425° C. (797° F.)) for a time effective to cause in-situ homogenization.

Abstract: In a mold for continuously casting a round billet with a curved type continuous casting apparatus, assuming that D0 (m) is an inner diameter at a lower mold edge and R0 (m) is a curvature radius of an outer curvature side at the lower mold edge, when a rate of change Tp (%/m) in mold inner diameter per unit length along a casting direction is expressed by Formula 1, and when a rate of change Rp (%/m) in curvature radius of an outer curvature side per unit length along the casting direction is expressed by Formula 2, the rate of change Tp in mold inner diameter and the rate of change Rp in curvature radius satisfy a relationship expressed by Formula 3; Tp=(1/D0)×(dD/dx)×100(%/m)??Formula 1 Rp=(1/R0)×(dR/dx)×100(%/m)??Formula 2 where D in Formula 1 is a mold inner diameter at a distance x away from an upper mold edge and R in Formula 2 is a curvature radius of the outer curvature side at the distance x, Rp=(Tp/2)×(D0/R0)??Formula 3 Uniform and good contact is obtained between the billet and a mold inner pe

Abstract: In a mold for casting a billet with a curved type continuous casting apparatus, D0 (m) is an inner diameter at a lower mold edge and R0 (m) is a curvature radius of an outer curvature side at the lower mold edge. When a rate of change Tp (%/m) in mold inner diameter per unit length along a casting direction is Tp=(1/D0)×(dD/dx)×100 (%/m), and when a rate of change Rp (%/m) in curvature radius of an outer curvature side per unit length along the casting direction is Rp=(1/R0)×(dR/dx)×100 (%/m), the rate of change Tp in mold inner diameter and the rate of change Rp in curvature radius satisfy a relationship expressed Rp=(Tp/2)×(D0/R0), where D is a mold inner diameter at a distance x away from an upper mold edge and R in Formula 2 is a curvature radius of the outer curvature side at the distance x.

Abstract: A method and device for driving the support rolls of a continuous casting machine for liquid metals, which support rolls form a strand guide for the continuously cast strand. The strand guide includes electrically driven individual support rolls and/or hydraulically adjustable support roll segments. An automatic load balance control system for the drives is used as the sum of the individual forces for casting speed, motor torque, motor speed, and standard correction factors and is provided with individual adjustment of torque and speed of each drive support roll motor. A total driving torque for all drives is determined from the normal force of the driven drive support rolls and proportionately transmitted to each support roll in such a way that a static base setting of the torque distribution is used as the basis for the specific load capacity of each drive support roll.

Abstract: Equipment for a continuous casting operation includes a closed chamber having first and second connecting holes, a furnace unit disposed in the chamber, a horizontal casting apparatus connected to the first connecting hole and including at least one first die having a first passage connected to the melting furnace, a first drawing unit disposed downstream of the horizontal casting apparatus, an upcast casting apparatus disposed above the chamber and connected to the second connecting hole, and a second drawing unit disposed downstream of the upcast casting apparatus. The upcast casting apparatus includes at least one second die having a second passage connected to the melting furnace. With the equipment, either horizontal casting or upcasting may be performed.

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: The invention relates to a method and to an installation for producing a metal strip. The aim of the invention is to make sure that the metal strip formed in the casting installation passes through the first cooling and grain texturing phase substantially without being subjected to stress and without effects on the subsequent installations. To this end, the molten bath is fed to a two-roll casting device and a cast metal strip is formed in the casting gap between two casting rolls whose rotational axes lie in a horizontal plane (two-roll casting method), the thickness of the cast strip ranging between 1.0 to 20 mm, preferably between 1.5 to 12 mm. The cast metal strip that freely emerges downwards from the two-roll casting installation is directly deflected from the vertical casting direction to a substantially horizontal transport direction. The metal strip is taken up and conveyed in a controlled manner by means of a first drive roll stand that operates at a first transport speed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a strip guide for a strip casting unit, comprising at least two segments, in particular roller segments (1-4), each with a strip input side (2.1) and a strip output side (3.1) and a pair of roller supports, each with a number of support rollers (5), running along a support region. The roller supports are adjustable by means of, in particular, hydraulic adjuster units (8). According to the invention, the strip guide can be more flexibly embodied and the assembly and disassembly times reduced, whereby a mechanical connection (9) is provided between neighbouring segments (1-4) and, on fitting a cylinder pair (8.1-8.4) to the strip input side (2.1) of a segment (1-4), the adjustment movement occurs both on said side (2.1), as well as simultaneously on the strip output side (3.1) of a previous segment connected thereto. On fitting a cylinder pair (8.1-8.4) to the strip output side (3.1) of a segment (1 4), the adjustment movement thereof affects said side (3.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and the apparatus required for carrying out the method for the continuous production of billets or ingots of metals, in particular steels and Ni- and Co-base alloys using the method of electroslag remelting and electroslag continuous casting in downwardly open water-cooled ingot molds, in which the billet issuing downwardly from the ingot mold is pressed against at least one guide element arranged rigidly in respect of its position with respect to the ingot mold axis, by at least one clamping element arranged opposite the guide element, in such a way that the regions of the billet surface which are in contact with the guide or clamping elements change within short intervals of time, wherein at least one of the elements is driven to withdraw the billet while the others move with the billet and a contact with a current source can be made by way of at least one of the elements.

Abstract: In a continuous casting plant for the continuous casting of a thin strip (14), comprising a mold (8) provided with two casting rolls (6, 7), with a strip-like strand (14) being united from two half-shells (12) and exiting in a vertically downward direction at the nip (13) formed by the casting rolls (6, 7) of said mold, a deflecting-supporting means (16) for deflecting the strand (14) emerging vertically from the mold (8) into a roughly horizontal direction is provided below the nip (13). In order to gently transfer the strand (14) from the vertical into the horizontal while avoiding great bending stresses or plastic deformations, the deflecting-supporting means (16) of plate-shaped construction has a surface supporting the strand (14) over a large area (FIG. 1).

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.

Abstract: A radius configuration of a strand guide of a vertical bending caster and including following over another bending zone, transition straightening zone, main radius guide zone, and transition final straightening zone, with the bending zone having at least one first region with a comparatively stronger bend and defined by a curvature formed by a series of continuously smaller, starting from an infinite radius of the vertical section of the strand guide, radii, and a second region adjoining the first region and having a comparatively smoother bend in comparison with that of the first region, and with the transition straightening zone, guide zone, being defined by a curvature with continuously increasing lengths of curvature-forming radii.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and the apparatus required for carrying out the method for the continuous production of billets or ingots of metals, in particular steels and Ni- and Co-base alloys using the method of electroslag remelting or electroslag continuous casting in downwardly open water-cooled ingot molds (10), in which the billet (20) issuing downwardly from the ingot mold (10) is pressed against at least one guide element (24, 24,) arranged rigidly in respect of its position with respect to the ingot mold axis (A), by at least one clamping element (26) arranged opposite the guide element, in such a way that the regions of the billet surface which are in contact with the guide or clamping elements (24, 26) change within short intervals of time, wherein at least one of said elements is driven to withdraw the billet while the others move with the billet and a contact with a current source can be made by way of at least one of said elements.

Abstract: Method and device to control the axial position of slabs emerging from continuous casting applied in rolling plants comprising at least a casting machine (11), a heating and/or temperature maintenance furnace (15) and a roughing and prefinishing (16) or finishing train (19) comprising at least one rolling stand (17), the method serving to align the axis (32) of a slab (24) entering the furnace (15) with the axis (25) of the first rolling stand (17), the method providing to control the axial position of the slab (24) and to activate at least a thruster element (26) able to be introduced inside the furnace (15) to act on the edge of the slab (24) and displace it laterally according to a measured discrepancy between the axis (32) of the slab (24) and the axis (25) of the rolling stand (17), wherein the thruster element (26) has a contact element (28) able to cooperate with the edge of the slab (24) advancing inside the furnace (15).

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for producing slabs in a continuous casting plant preferably equipped with a vertical mold, preferably for thin slab plants for casting preferably steel having, for example, a solidification thickness of 60 mm-120 mm, for example, 80 mm, and casting speeds of up to 10 m/min. and a maximum casting output of about 3 million tons per year. In a first vertically extending first segment 0 of a strand guide, exclusive strand reduction, also called casting and rolling, is carried out. The segment 1 arranged immediately underneath the first segment 0 carries out bending of the strand through several bending points into the inner circular arc. Prior to final solidification, the strand is bent back through several return bending points into the horizontal.

Abstract: Segregation of carbon or alloying elements in a solidifying liquid core during casting of a continuous metal strand of high carbon steel or alloy steel, are disbursed by vibrating hammers engaged with a solidified shell enclosing a liquid steel core. The hammers are located before the end of the liquid core. A vibrator operating at a frequency of between 1000 and 5000 cycles per minute is coupled to the hammers by a support structure forming a dead weight mass for maintaining a metal-to-metal contact with the solidified shell while vibrated by the vibrator. The support structure is guided for stabilizing the hammers and for displacement of the hammers between an operative position and inoperative position.

Abstract: A device for resetting opposite guide segments of a continuous casting or continuous casting and rolling plant in three different positions, and including a hydraulic cylinder connectable with one of the opposite guide segments, and a double-acting piston connectable with another of the opposite guide segments and displaceable in the hydraulic cylinder between three positions corresponding to the three different positions of the guide segments, with the three positions of the piston in they hydraulic cylinder being defined by stop surfaces at least one of which is located inside the hydraulic cylinder and at least one of which is located outside of the hydraulic cylinder.

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: The invention relates to a method for guiding strands in a continuous casting installation, in particular an installation for producing thin slabs made of steel, having an ingot mold and a strand-guidance frame which is provided with a cooling device. In this case, heat is extracted indirectly from the strand after it leaves the ingot mold, and the strand, at least in sections, is held in shape, guided in the strand discharge direction and additionally cooled by means of a gaseous medium. Furthermore, the strand is additionally moved in a defined manner and at a predeterminable speed through the strand frame by mechanical means, the speed of the strand being accelerated or decelerated.

Abstract: A supporting roll framework for continuous metal, in particular steel, casting installations, which is divided into straight or curved segments with roll carriers, a plurality of rolls being assembled on one roll carrier. The frame element, as a carrying element, has at least two pipes, which lie parallel to and at a distance from one another, transversely with respect to the running direction of the strand, and between which a web plate is welded in. A holding plate, which is directed toward the strand, is attached to the respectively outer lateral surface of the outer pipes, between which holding plates the carrier which carries the rolls is welded in. The pipes, in the case of internally cooled rolls, function as the cooling medium supply and discharge and, for this purpose, are provided with a connection stub on the outer lateral surface.

Abstract: High speed continuous casting device and method, comprising an ingot mold provided with a crystalliser having side-walls between which the product as it cools is suitable to take shape, the product then being sent to a guide, containing and possibly pre-rolling assembly located downstream of the ingot mold and cooperating with secondary cooling, and a system of primary cooling associated with the side-walls, the crystalliser having a longitudinal development with a radius of curvature (“R”) having a value at least five times more than the first radius of curvature of the product in the secondary cooling zone located at the outlet of the crystalliser, wherein the length (L) of the walls is more than 1050 mm, so that a progressive and gradual deformation of the product being formed is obtained which prevents tensions, inner cracks and surface lesions from forming thereon.

Abstract: In a method for changing a billet section of a continuous billet casting device from an initial section to a final section, the opposed billet sides interact with oppositely positioned roll supports of a billet guide arranged below a continuous casting die. The roll supports have segments with rolls, and each segment is individually adjustable with respect to its angular position relative to the billet. In an initial position of the roll supports, the segments are adjusted to a uniform production format of the billet. A controlled sequence of adjusting steps of the segments successively arranged in a direction of continuous casting is carried out, wherein, for reducing the section of the billet, the segments are advanced successively toward the billet in the continuous casting direction and, and for increasing the section of the billet, the segments are moved successively away from the billet in the continuous casting direction.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for guiding a strand, especially a steel strand in a continuous casting plant with a soft reduction zone in which hydraulic servo units continuously adjust the gap width between oppositely located strand guide rollers. In a strand guiding segment with 4 servo piston-cylinder units, two adjacent servo piston-cylinder units are adjusted relative to the strand so as to be linked with one another hydraulically. The rest of the servo piston-cylinder units are adjusted independently. The invention is further directed to a strand guide.

Abstract: The cast steel strip must be supported, particularly after the casting device, to reduce stresses and mechanical deformations. A flexible support element, in particular, a chain with rolls, whose length can be changed by suitable adjustment devices, is arranged for the purpose of support after the casting device.

Abstract: There is disclosed a plant for producing a hot-rolled product from a cast strand comprising two or several continuous casters and a rolling mill associated therewith and respective guide sections for transporting a strand piece separated from the cast strand. A pivotable or laterally displaceable guide section is each provided in at least one line of the rolling mill and in a line not registering with the former, of the continuous caster. The guide sections are capable of being aligned in a mutually registering position. In order to reach a high plant availability, at least one pivotable and/or laterally displaceable guide section is provided with two or several guide parts each serving to receive strand pieces and capable of being alternately aligned to register with the line of the rolling mill.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for the prevention of unacceptable rotation control of a vertical non-ferrous metal casting apparatus during the casting process, and more particularly for aluminum. A guide key internal to the ram interacts with an inset keyway in the guide column to prevent the unacceptable rotation of the ram during casting.

Abstract: A billet guide in continuous casting installations for producing slabs, in particular according to the continuous casting and rolling process, including rollers which are located across from one another in pairs can be adjusted to different billet thicknesses, and are supported at frame pans of the billet guide. The frame pans are connected by tie rods which are formed by piston-cylinder units. Spacers are placed between the upper and lower frame pans in the flow of force of the piston-cylinder unit. A hydraulic ring cylinder is arranged between the spacers and the cylinder of the piston-cylinder unit and encloses the piston. The ring piston of the hydraulic ring cylinder supports the spacer in a frictional manner.

Abstract: A horizontal multiple-strand continuous casting plant and a method of operating the plant. The casting plant includes a distributor with several molds and a corresponding strand drawing unit which conveys the individual strands out of the molds by means of pulling movements and return pushing movements, wherein the strands can be individually clamped within the strand drawing unit. The strand drawing unit includes two clamping devices which alternatingly carry out the pulling movements and the return pushing movements. In the event of an interruption in one of the molds, the method includes connecting in a frictionally engaging manner the strand located in the affected mold to one of the two clamping devices of the strand drawing unit by actuating the corresponding clamping device only during at least one return pushing movement, and disconnecting from this strand the second clamping unit during the pulling movement thereof.

Abstract: A twin roll-type sheet continuous casting apparatus includes a nozzle for supplying molten metal; a pair of casting rolls for casting the molten metal supplied from the nozzle into a sheet, the casting rolls being horizontally disposed in parallel relation to each other, being cooled, and rotated in opposite directions, respectively; a coiler; and a support sheet extending generally horizontally below the pair of casting rolls for receiving the cast sheet and transferring it to the coiler, and being taken up by the coiler along with the cast sheet placed therein. Since tension is not applied to the cast sheet, even a brittle material can be continuously cast into a sheet. Also, a dummy sheet requested for starting the casting of the sheet becomes unnecessary, and even when a rupture of the sheet occurs, the apparatus can be continuously operated without stopping the operation.

Abstract: In an installation for the manufacture of hot-rolled steel strip from continuously cast stock, a caster for the continuous casting of the stock into steel strip, a furnace positioned for receiving the strip after it leaves the caster and containing at least two winding/unwinding mandrels each placed in first and second proximate locations, respectively, the first mandrel is placed in the first location adapted to receive and wind the strip into a coil, transport devices are provided for transporting the coil and first mandrel from the first location to a second location and the second mandrel from the second location to the first location; the strip is unwound from the first mandrel in said second location and then fed to a mill. Alternative embodiments include vertical or horizontal movement of the mandrels, more than two mandrels, devices for driving the mandrels at different speeds, cutting means, clamping devices, furnace heating devices, dividing shears and descaling.

Abstract: A plant for manufacturing steel strip in which the steel strip case in a mold is conducted into a horizontally arranged straightening conveyor and subsequently into a temperature equalizing furnace. For avoiding lateral deviations of the steel strip in the temperature equalizing furnace, an aligning station for the steel strip is arranged between the straightening conveyor and the temperature equalizing furnace.

Abstract: The cast metal strip is retained on both sides between supporting and conveying elements, the supporting and conveying elements comprising on one side a group of wire cables 6, 12, 18, 27 and on the other side either a similar group of wire cables 5, 24 or a cooling roller 11, 17 or a coiler 23. The wire cables 5, 6, 17, 18, 24 and 27 ensure that the cast metal strip 4 is guided with as small a contact area as possible, so that on the one hand the strip is less stressed and on the other hand can irradiate heat.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a spray chamber having a transport device for positioning a billet adjacent a nozzle for spraying a stream of molten metal onto the surface of the billet. The billet is engaged by a tandem arrangement of holding devices which are attached to driven ring gears. With the holding devices engaging the billet rotation of the ring gears rotates the billet about its longitudinal axis as the billet is sprayed with molten metal from the nozzle. As the billet is rotated it is also moved longitudinally by servo-cylinders attached to the ring gears. The servo-cylinders advance and retract in sequence as the ring gears rotate to generate combined longitudinal and rotational movement of the billet adjacent the nozzle. Thus a uniform layer of metal is deposited over length of the billet to form a round billet exclusively by spray-casting.

Abstract: A device for supporting and cooling a continuous casting emerging from a discharge end of a mold comprises a member having a support surface and mounted below the mold at the discharge end thereof in such a manner that one of the faces of the emerging continuous casting comes into contact with the support surface of the member and glides therealong, the member defining cavities spaced along the support surface, spraying heads positioned in the cavities to project jets of a cooling fluid onto the face of the emerging continuous casing in contact with the support surface of the member. To permit atomization of the cooling fluid, the device also comprises an atomizing chamber for the cooling fluid affixed to the member at a distance from the cavities, the member defining conduits connecting the atomizing chamber to the spraying heads, the conduits having outlet ends at the cavities and the spraying heads being mounted on the outlet ends of the conduits.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing low cost, high purity solar grade Si wherein a reduction reaction, preferably the reduction of SiF.sub.4, by an alkali metal (Na preferred) is carried out by jetting a spray of reactants into a reaction chamber at a rate and temperature which causes the reaction to take place far enough away from the entry region to avoid plugging of reactants at the entry region and wherein separation in the melt is carried out continuously from the reaction and the Si can be cast directly from the melt. The melt separation is provided by openings in the reaction chamber wall between about 2 to about 3.5 millimeters in width. The Si is retained within the reaction chamber due to its surface tension.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the continuous casting of thin steel slabs in which a chilled surface submerged below the surface of a pool of molten metal is exposed to molten metal to cause an embryo cast strand to be formed thereon and in which the embryo strand is withdrawn upwardly continuously over a continuation of said chilled surface. The strand may be moved directly from withdrawal rolls to reshaping rollers while still retaining sufficient residual heat to permit reshaping without reheating.

Abstract: An electromagnetic stirring apparatus arranged at an arbitrary position from just beneath a mold to a secondary cooling zone in a continuous caster, so as to close about a cast strand containing an unsolidified molten metal therein. The apparatus is fundmentally constituted such that guide plates each having a cooling function are detachably attached at their back face to corresponding cores each constituting an electromagnetic coil so that the coil can approach as near as possible to the cast strand.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an installation for the step by step extraction from an ingot-mould of an elongated solid product (1) obtained by continuous bottom casting, shaping, calibration and solidification in a suitable chamber (2), the installation being characterized in that it is constituted:--by a first fixed device (3), a situated in the immediate vicinity of the outlet orifice of the chamber, constituted by a ring, surrounding the solid, having an inner face (4) in the shape of a frustum of a cone and having an opening comprised between 10.degree. and 20.degree.

Abstract: A vertical slab mold has a pair of spaced wide walls, and a pair of spaced narrow walls which are located between the wide walls. The narrow walls are movable towards and away from one another for the purpose of performing width changes during casting. Drives for remote adjustment of the narrow walls during casting are connected with the narrow walls. A support for the narrow face of a slab is mounted immediately below each of the narrow walls and constitutes a downward extension of the respective narrow wall. The upper end of each support is articulated to the bottom of the associated narrow wall so that the support pivots relative to the narrow wall towards and away from the other support. A biasing element acts on the lower end of each support to urge the latter towards the other support and, hence against an adjacent narrow face of a slab. The biasing elements are designed to permit the supports to follow changes in the contours and/or positions of the narrow faces of the slab.

Abstract: In a horizontal continuous casting plant which includes a mold and an oscillatory withdrawal device downstream of the mold, the withdrawal device is positioned along the strand path, by a computer-controlled motor, at a point such that the strand will not be damaged or impaired by the pressure applied to it by the strand engagement elements of the withdrawal device. Preferably, the strand engagement elements comprises one or more pairs of rollers which also are adjustable, by computer-controlled motors, to a desired elevation and separation to accommodate a range of cross-sectional dimensions of the strand.

Abstract: An apparatus for melting and treating metal wastes including radioactive wastes, including a melting and treating vessel formed of the upper surface of a truck and split mold, wherein metal wastes are charged into the vessel in a closed system and melted by an electroslag melting method using a non-consumable electrode. This invention also provides a method which includes the steps of charging a slag melt starting agent and slag into the vessel in layers, and passing electricity through the non-consumable electrode to thereby heat the starting agent.

Abstract: A metal supporting structure is disposed just beneath the mold of a continuous casting machine for supporting and cooling hot metal coming down from the mold. The structure comprises a backing frame which is disposed just beneath the mold of the continuous casting machine for defining a cavity leading from the exit of the mold. The backing frame is formed therein with a number of through openings. A number of spray nozzles are arranged at the back of the backing frame and which are directed to spray cooling water through the openings onto the skin of the metal being continuously drawn from the mold into the cavity of the backing frame. A wear lining is disposed to line the inner wall of the backing frame.

Abstract: A horizontal continuous casting plant includes a tundish for accommodating melt and at least one through-type mold fastened to the tundish. The tundish is placeable into a position in alignment with a stationary strand guideway and removable from this position, together with the mold. In order to provide a continuous casting plant in which the relative movement between the strand skin and the mold exactly has the desired course and extent, the through-type mold is fixable relative to the base without play in the longitudinal direction of its mold cavity.

Abstract: A casting support apparatus comprising pairs of opposed separate cooling plates arranged in an upper stage immediately below a mold and each having grooves in its surface; pairs of opposed separate cooling plates arranged in a lower stage immediately below the upper stage cooling plates and each having grooves in its surface; a plurality of cooling rolls each rotatably provided in a space formed between each two adjacent cooling plates in each of the stages, each of the cooling rolls being formed with annular grooves along its outer periphery; jet nozzles arranged for introducing cooling water into a space between a casting and the cooling plates in each stage from above the cooling plates; jet nozzles arranged for introducing cooling water into a space between the casting and the cooling rolls in each stage from above the cooling rolls; and auxiliary jet nozzles arranged for applying cooling water to the rear surfaces of the cooling plates in each stage.

Abstract: The guiding section of a continuous casting plant comprises walking beams extending transversely to the longitudinal center plane of the path for the continuous casting. The beams are arranged in pairs of registering beams disposed on opposite sides of the path. A plurality of props are mounted in a guiding frame of said guiding section. Each of said beams is connected to at least one of said props at one end of the latter and is supported by said at least one prop in said guiding frame. Drive means are operatively connected to said beams by said props and operable to cyclically move each of said beams into and out of engagement with said casting and in the direction of movement of said casting when said beam engages said casting and opposite to the direction of movement of the casting when said beam is disengaged from said casting.