Direct Cooling Of Material Patents (Class 164/444)
  • Patent number: 12030114
    Abstract: Systems and associated methods are provided for controlling the shape of an ingot head during formation. At the end of a cast, prior to forming the ingot head, chill bars or other cooling structure may be lowered into an ingot mold and define a reduced casting footprint for forming the ingot head. Supplemental molten metal may be fed into the reduced casting footprint, and the chill bars may be moved laterally towards the center of the ingot, further reducing the casting footprint. As additional molten metal fills the reduced mold footprint, the ingot may be lowered relative to the chill bars to further increase the height of the ingot head. Additional molten metal may be added until the desired shape of the ingot head is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: NOVELIS INC.
    Inventors: Phillip Wilson, John Robert Buster McCallum, Aaron David Sinden, Brent Opdendries, Jason Dell Hymas, Todd F. Bischoff
  • Patent number: 11819895
    Abstract: A control system is a control system of casting and rolling equipment having a twin roll-type continuous casting machine, a rolling mill, and a conveyor. The control system includes a rolling mill control unit that controls the rolling mill by any one of controls including a rolling control and an open control, a conveyor control unit that controls the conveyor by any one of controls including a tension control and a speed control, a first control unit that controls to perform the rolling control and the tension control, a second control unit that controls to perform the open control and the speed control, and a third control unit that controls to resume the tension control and the rolling control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naruaki Itoh
  • Patent number: 11717882
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method, system, and apparatus for improving the efficiency of a continuous casting operation. A continuous casting mold component described herein includes: a mold wall substrate defining a groove proximate a bottom of the mold wall substrate; a graphite liner having a bottom edge defining a first angled surface and a top edge defining a second angled surface, where the bottom edge is received into the groove of the mold wall substrate; and a clamping element defining an angled clamping surface attached to the mold wall substrate with at least one fastener, where the bottom angled surface of the graphite liner is driven into the groove defined in the substrate in response to the angled clamping surface of the clamping element engaging the second angled surface of the graphite liner and the fastener pressing the clamping element toward the mold wall substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: WAGSTAFF, INC.
    Inventors: Craig Cordill, Nicholas Shaber
  • Patent number: 11590566
    Abstract: A roller stand for a billet guide of a continuous billet casting machine, having a carrying frame for mounting at least one lower supporting roller, wherein the roller stand includes retaining devices for fastening intermediate-area spray bars. A billet guide and a continuous billet casting machine having such a roller stand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Primetals Technologies Austria GmbH
    Inventor: Lukasz Bilski
  • Patent number: 11331715
    Abstract: Provided herein is a system, apparatus, and method for continuous casting of metal, and more particularly, to a mechanism for controlling the shape of a direct chill casting mold to dynamically control a profile of an ingot cast from the mold during the casting process. Embodiments may provide an apparatus for casting material including: first and second opposing side walls; first and second end walls extending between the first and second side walls, where the first and second opposing side walls and the first and second opposing end walls form a generally rectangular shaped mold cavity. At least one of the first and second opposing side walls may include two or more contact regions, where each of the two or more contact regions may be configured to be displaced relative to a straight line along the side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: WAGSTAFF, INC.
    Inventors: Craig Richard Cordill, Craig Lee Shaber, Michael Kim Anderson
  • Patent number: 10118218
    Abstract: To provide a continuous casting method according to which a slab difficult for surface cracking to appear can be manufactured, in a first water cooling step, the slab is cooled so that only a surface temperature of corner parts is below Ar3 point, in a first recuperation step, the slab is recuperated so that the surface temperature of all the slab including the corner parts is no less than the Ar3 point, in a second water cooing step, the slab is cooled so that the surface temperature of all the slab including the corner parts is below the Ar3 point, and in a second recuperation step, the slab is recuperated so that the surface temperature of only a portion of the slab other than the corner parts is no less than the Ar3 point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshihiko Murakami, Hiroyuki Yotsuhashi, Shin Takaya
  • Patent number: 9255304
    Abstract: A cooling system that cools hot rolled long steel bar, provided with a plurality of chambers that are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the rolled steel bar. Each of the plurality of chambers is provided with a blow outlet that, facing from the chamber to the rolled steel bar, blows out compressed air for cooling that is introduced to the chamber from a gas inlet that is connected to the chamber; a nozzle plate having a plurality of nozzle holes that is provided at this blow outlet so as to face the rolled steel bar; a cooling water supply nozzle that supplies cooling water into the chamber; and a rectifying plate that is provided between the gas inlet and the cooling water supply nozzle, and that prevents the compressed gas for cooling that is introduced from the gas inlet from directly striking the nozzle plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seiji Sugiyama, Tatsuya Yamanokuchi, Takeshi Kimura, Mitsugu Kajiwara, Kazuhisa Fujiwara, Takuya Sato
  • Publication number: 20150071817
    Abstract: There are provided a manufacturing method of a casting capable of easily manufacturing a casting having a complex form and of increasing the degree of freedom of form of the casting to be manufactured, a manufacturing device thereof and a casting. At the time of forming a casting by drawing out molten metal from a bath surface of a molten metal bath and solidifying the molten metal which has been drawn out, an outer contour unit configured from a plurality of outer contour defining members for defining the outer contour of a casting is arranged in a region between the bath surface of the molten meth bath and a solid region where the molten metal is solidified and the molten metal which has been drawn out from the bath surface is drawn out through a region determined by the outer contour unit, and the form of the casting is changed by moving at least one of the plurality of outer contour defining members according to the drawing out of the molten metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA CHUO KENKYUSHO
    Inventors: Yu Sasaki, Yuichi Furukawa, Norihiro Amano, Jun Yaokawa, Yasushi Iwata, Yoshio Sugiyama
  • Publication number: 20140374052
    Abstract: The subject matter of the invention is a device for the direct cooling of a mould for the vertical semicontinuous casting of rolling ingots or extrusion billets (3) with gradual quenching by double jet (4 and 5), the first at substantially 32° and second at substantially 22°, simultaneously and delivering substantially the same flow rates and speeds from a single liquid chamber (2). Another subject of the invention is a method using said device, with or without graphite insert (1) on the working faces and in association with various bottom block configurations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Philipe Jarry, Olivier Ribaud, Pierre-Yves Menet, Laurent Jouet Pastre, Emmanuel Waz, Aurèle Mariaux
  • Patent number: 8911571
    Abstract: This invention discloses an L,R,C method and equipment for casting amorphous, ultracrystallite and crystallite metal slabs or other shaped metals. A workroom (8) with a constant temperature of tb=?190° C. and a constant pressure of pb=1 bar, and liquid nitrogen of ?190° C. and 1.877 bar is used as a cold source for cooling the casting blank. A liquid nitrogen ejector (5) ejects said liquid nitrogen to the surface of ferrous or non-ferrous metallic slabs or other shaped metals (7) with various ejection quantity v and various jet velocity k. Ejected liquid nitrogen comes into contact with the casting blank at cross section c shown in FIG. 2. This method adopts ultra thin film ejection technology, with a constant thickness of said film at 2 mm and ejection speed Kmax of said liquid nitrogen at 30 m/s.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Inventor: Zhuwen Ming
  • Patent number: 8899304
    Abstract: Crystallizer for continuous casting, having a monolithic tubular structure defined by lateral walls (12) in the thickness of which channels (11) are made in which a cooling liquid flows, wherein two adjacent lateral walls (12) define a corner or s edge zone. On at least one longitudinal portion (C) of at least one of the lateral walls (12) and/or of at least one of the corner zones, defining a zone in correspondence with which, during use, the meniscus of the liquid metal is located, a reduction in thickness (13) is made, starting from the external surface, determining a cross section with a reduced area with respect to the remaining longitudinal portions of the monolithic tubular structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Danieli & C. Officine Meccaniche SpA
    Inventors: Marco Ansoldi, Gianluca Bazzaro, Andrea De Luca
  • Patent number: 8813827
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Novelis Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne J. Fenton, Jeff McDermott, Robert Bruce Wagstaff
  • Patent number: 8631854
    Abstract: With a continuous casting method for producing preliminary profiles, in particular double T preliminary profiles, the downwardly flowing cooling water is pushed out of the internal curve of the preliminary profile strand (3) via the profile flanges and discharged using water nozzles (21, 22) aligned substantially to the crossover from the bar (4) to the respective flange (5, 6) by means of the diverting water delivered via the water nozzles (21, 22). In this way the excessive cooling caused by downwardly running cooling water is largely avoided in the internal curve of the preliminary profile strand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: SMS Concast AG
    Inventors: Christian Dratva, Klaus Von Eynatten
  • Patent number: 8596335
    Abstract: A method for continuous casting from molten metal, where metal flows vertically downward from a mold and the metal strip is then guided vertically downward along a vertical strand guide, cooling as it moves. The strip is then deflected from the vertical direction to the horizontal direction. In the terminal area of the deflection of the strip into the horizontal direction or after the deflection into the horizontal direction, a mechanical deformation of the strip is carried out. The strip is cooled at a heat-transfer coefficient of 3,000 to 10,000 W/(m2 K) in a first section downstream of the mold and upstream of the mechanical deformation of the strip. In a second section, downstream of the cooling, the surface of the strip is heated to a temperature above Ac3 or Ar3 by heat equalization in the strip, after which the mechanical deformation is carried out in a third section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: SMS Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Uwe Plociennik, Jens Kempken, Peter Jonen, Ingo Schuster, Tilmann Böcher
  • Patent number: 8590596
    Abstract: A coolant or wiper control system for use in continuous casting mold for controlling and managing the coolants interaction with the castpart during casting. In some aspects of the process, the wiper framework is started sufficiently away from the bottom block so as not to interfere or cause/allow coolant to get into the bottom block; is then rapidly moved back to the emerging castpart during transient heat-up; and then moved away from the mold with the solidified castpart at a controlled rate to a predetermined steady state position or to a second transitory state of the casting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Wagstaff, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig Shaber
  • Patent number: 8561670
    Abstract: An apparatus for direct chill casting of metal having an open ended mold cavity formed by a casting surface, a refractory sleeve adapted to receive molten metal, a coolant delivery system for supplying coolant to chill the descending hot metal body, and a boron nitride ring mounted between the refractory sleeve and the peripheral wall of the mold cavity. A downspout may be used instead of a refractory sleeve having a flow control rod or floating baffle to control the amount of molten metal entering the mold cavity. A process for direct chill casting of a metal including continuously filling the cavity with molten metal and permitting the metal to move downwardly through the mold to form an ingot, and simultaneously chilling the ingot by spraying coolant on the ingot from the coolant delivery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Gildemeister, James L. Kirby, Ray T. Richter, Charles W. Shanko
  • Publication number: 20130248136
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Inventors: Wayne J. FENTON, Jeff McDERMOTT, Robert Bruce Wagstaff
  • Patent number: 8522858
    Abstract: A method for continuous casting from molten metal, where metal flows vertically downward from a mold and metal strip is then guided vertically downward along a vertical strand guide, cooling as it moves. The strip is deflected from the vertical direction to the horizontal direction. In the terminal area of the deflection of the strip into the horizontal direction or after the deflection into the horizontal direction, a mechanical deformation of the strip is carried out. The strip is cooled at a heat-transfer coefficient of 3,000 to 10,000 W/(m2 K) in a first section downstream of the mold and upstream of mechanical deformation of the strip. In a second section, downstream of the cooling, the strip surface is heated to a temperature above Ac3 or Ar3 by heat equalization in the strip. The mechanical deformation is subsequently carried out in a third section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: SMS Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Uwe Plociennik, Jens Kempken, Peter Jonen, Ingo Schuster, Tilmann Böcher
  • Patent number: 8517248
    Abstract: A method of providing a mould with a conformal cooling passage includes rough machining a mould cavity generally corresponding to a moulded part shape using CAD data. Conformal cooling slots are cut in the mould cavity using the CAD data. The conformal cooling slots are welded shut using the CAD data to provide conformal cooling passages. A class A surface is machined over the conformal cooling passage and corresponds to a finished mould part shape using the CAD data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Inventor: Pascal Zaffino
  • Patent number: 8479802
    Abstract: Direct chill casting that allows for the continuous or serial introduction of an inert fluid into the coolant stream during casting while allowing for stoppage of the coolant flow and introduction of only inert fluid as the coolant in the event of a “bleed out” or “run out”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Almex USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravindra V. Tilak, Rodney W. Wirtz, Ronald M. Streigle
  • Publication number: 20130171021
    Abstract: A free casting method according to the present invention includes, a lead-out step for leading out molten metal from a lead-out area provided in a source of supply, e.g. a surface level of the molten metal, to retain the molten metal temporarily by surface films generated on an outer surface, and a forming step for obtaining a formed body by solidifying retained molten metal led out along a set passage depending on a desired casting shape, wherein the retained molten metal is solidified after being formed into the desired casting shape by applying an external force thereto at positions between an unrestrained root portion of the retained molten metal in vicinity of the surface level of the molten metal and a solidification interface defined as a boundary between the retained molten metal and the formed body in the forming step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA CHUO KENKYUSHO
    Inventors: Jun Yaokawa, Yasushi Iwata, Yoshio Sugiyama, Hiroaki Iwahori, Norihiro Amano, Noriyuki Ueno, Takehito Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8418746
    Abstract: This invention discloses an L,R,C method and equipment for casting amorphous, ultracrystallite and crystallite metal slabs or other shaped metals. A workroom (8) with a constant temperature of tb=?190° C. and a constant pressure of pb=1 bar, and liquid nitrogen of ?190° C. and 1.877 bar is used as a cold source for cooling the casting blank. A liquid nitrogen ejector (5) ejects said liquid nitrogen to the surface of ferrous or non-ferrous metallic slabs or other shaped metals (7) with various ejection quantity v and various jet velocity k. Ejected liquid nitrogen comes into contact with the casting blank at cross section c shown in FIG. 2. This method adopts ultra thin film ejection technology, with a constant thickness of said film at 2 mm and ejection speed Kmax of said liquid nitrogen at 30 m/s.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Inventor: Zhuwen Ming
  • Patent number: 8413711
    Abstract: A device in connection with equipment for continuous or semi-continuous casting of metal, in particular direct mold (DC) casting of aluminum in the form of a billet or wire billet. The device includes a mold with a cavity or a mold (3) that is provided with an inlet connected, via supply channels (6, 18) and a distribution chamber (5), to a metal reservoir (13) and an outlet arranged in the mold with a support and devices for cooling the metal. In connection with the supply channels (6, 18) between the metal reservoir (13) and the molds (3), a metal lifting container (15) is arranged at an inlet (16) to the metal reservoir (13) via a channel (18) and to the distribution chamber (5) and the molds (3) via an outlet (17) via another channel (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Norsk Hydro ASA
    Inventors: Bjørn Vaagland, John Olav Fagerlie, John Erik Hafsås, Arild Håkonsen, Geir Øyen, Terje Iveland
  • Publication number: 20130032305
    Abstract: A method of casting a metal ingot with a microstructure that facilitates further working, such as hot and cold rolling. The metal is cast in a direct chill casting mold, or the equivalent, that directs a spray of coolant liquid onto the outer surface of the ingot to achieve rapid cooling. The coolant is removed from the surface at a location where the emerging embryonic ingot is still not completely solid, such that the latent heat of solidification and the sensible heat of the molten core raises the temperature of the adjacent solid shell to a convergence temperature that is above a transition temperature for in-situ homogenization of the metal. A further conventional homogenization step is then not required. The invention also relates to the heat-treatment of such ingots prior to hot working.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Inventors: Robert Bruce Wagstaff, Wayne J. Fenton
  • Patent number: 8365807
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of reducing butt curl during DC casting of a metal ingot. The ingot is cast in at least two stages, including an initial casting stage and then a steady-state casting stage carried out at higher casting speed. The emerging ingot is cooled by directing a liquid coolant onto its outer surface. During the first casting stage, the liquid coolant is directed in the form of at least two streams, including a constant first stream in the form of a series of first jets, and an intermittent second stream in the form of a series of second jets. The first and second jets impact the outer surface at locations spaced from each other peripherally and/or longitudinally of the ingot. Both the first and second streams experience film boiling when they contact the ingot. The invention includes apparatus for the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Novelis Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Bruce Wagstaff, Mark D. Anderson, Aaron David Sinden
  • Patent number: 8365808
    Abstract: Steam exhaust ports are located around a perimeter of a direct chill casting pit, at various locations from below the top of the pit to the pit bottom to rapidly remove steam from the casting pit with addition of dry excess air. Gas introduction ports are also located around a perimeter of the casting pit and configured to introduce an inert gas into the casting pit interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Almex USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravindra V. Tilak, Rodney W. Wirtz, Ronald M. Streigle
  • Patent number: 8336603
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for casting a composite ingot made of metals that are susceptible to surface oxide formation when molten. The method involves co-casting at least two metal layers from at least two molten metal pools formed within a direct chill casting apparatus. During the casting operation, movement of metal oxide formed on the upper surface of at least one of the pools towards an edge of the pool is restrained by an oxide skimmer positioned close to an edge of the pool above an external surface or metal-metal interface of the ingot. The apparatus provides a DC caster with at least one oxide skimmer that operates in this manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Novelis Inc.
    Inventors: Todd F. Bischoff, Randy Womack, Wayne J. Fenton, Robert Bruce Wagstaff, Lawrence G. Hudson
  • Patent number: 8215376
    Abstract: A continuous cast molten metal mold and casting system is disclosed, which may include a heat distribution or temperature management system for billet type molds, a mold assembly expansion system for continuous cast molds and/or an adjustable mold bore length mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Wagstaff, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy A. Scott, Brett A. Thielman, Gary P. Grealy
  • Patent number: 8127827
    Abstract: An improved apparatus for direct chill casting of metals includes a mold, a bottom block assembly and a coolant. The mold is configured to surround a molten metal with a mold wall and the mold wall has an outer surface and an inner surface being in contact with the molten metal. The bottom block assembly is arranged at the bottom of the mold and includes a direct chill casting block configured to move away from the mold as the casting forms a solidifying shell of the molten metal. The coolant surrounds the outer surface of the mold wall and is arranged to remove heat away from the molten metal via the inner surface of the mold wall. The outer surface of the mold wall has a circumferential groove filled with a brazing alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Inventor: Edmund M. Dunn
  • Patent number: 8096344
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for sequentially direct chill casting a composite ingot made of metals having similar freezing ranges. Poor adhesion between the layers and low reliability of casting are addressed by adjusting the position of secondary cooling (created by applying water streams to the emerging ingot) relative to the upper surfaces of the molten metal pools compared to the conventional positions of first application of the secondary cooling. This can be achieved by moving one or more walls of the mold (when the secondary cooling emanates from the bottom of such walls), or adjusting the height of the molten metal pools within the mold and moving cooled divider walls between the pools. The relative temperatures and conditions of the metals at positions where they meet at the metal interface may therefore be optimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Novelis Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Bruce Wagstaff, Eric W. Reeves, Wayne J. Fenton, Jim Boorman
  • Patent number: 8056611
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus for direct chill casting of metal includes an open ended mold cavity formed by a casting surface with an upper end and a lower end, a refractory sleeve located at the upper end of the mold cavity being adapted to receive molten metal, a coolant delivery system below the lower end of the mold for supplying coolant to chill the descending hot metal body, and a boron nitride ring mounted between the refractory sleeve and the peripheral wall of the mold cavity. Another embodiment further includes a downspout instead of a refractory sleeve that is located at the upper end of the mold cavity being adapted to receive molten metal having a flow control rod or a floating baffle where the flow control rod controls the amount of molten metal to enter the mold cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Gildemeister, James L. Kirby, Ray T. Richter, Charles W. Shanko
  • Patent number: 8056610
    Abstract: A secondary cooling apparatus capable of gradually cooling cast thin pieces and a cast apparatus that uses it are provided. A comb tooth-shaped device is arranged inside a vessel of the secondary cooling apparatus; the cast thin pieces are piled on the comb tooth-shaped device; and crushed small pieces are placed thereon. After the cast thin pieces and the crushed small pieces are gradually cooled, the cast thin pieces are crushed by a pressing device. The crushed small pieces are rapidly cooled by being in contact with a surface of a bottom wall and side faces of cooling teeth. Nd-rich phases or R-rich phases can be annealed by the gradual cooling, and after the crushed small pieces are rapidly cooled to its oxidation temperature or below, the crushed small pieces can be taken out to the air atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Ulvac, Inc.
    Inventors: Youichi Hirose, Hiroshi Nagata
  • Publication number: 20110079329
    Abstract: A method of casting a metal ingot with a microstructure that facilitates further working, such as hot and cold rolling. The metal is cast in a direct chill casting mold, or the equivalent, that directs a spray of coolant liquid onto the outer surface of the ingot to achieve rapid cooling. The coolant is removed from the surface at a location where the emerging embryonic ingot is still not completely solid, such that the latent heat of solidification and the sensible heat of the molten core raises the temperature of the adjacent solid shell to a convergence temperature that is above a transition temperature for in-situ homogenization of the metal. A further conventional homogenization step is then not required. The invention also relates to the heat-treatment of such ingots prior to hot working.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Inventors: Robert Bruce Wagstaff, Wayne J. Fenton
  • Patent number: 7905271
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (100) for carrying cooling water away from the narrow sides (210) of a slab (200) passed essentially vertically through a secondary cooling device after casting in a continuous casting installation. In order to prevent partial overcooling of the slab at its edges, the apparatus (100) according to the invention comprises a plurality of water drainage devices (110-n), which are arranged such that they are distributed in a vertical direction over the length of the narrow side of the slab. This plurality of water drainage devices (110-n) is carried by a vertically arranged collecting downpipe (120). The collecting downpipe additionally serves for collecting the cooling water that is drained by the plurality of water drainage devices (110-n) and carrying it away in a decentralized manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: SMS Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Schmitz, Axel Stavenow
  • Patent number: 7871478
    Abstract: A method of casting a metal ingot with a microstructure that facilitates further working, such as hot and cold rolling. The metal is cast in a direct chill casting mold, or the equivalent, that directs a spray of coolant liquid onto the outer surface of the ingot to achieve rapid cooling. The coolant is removed from the surface at a location where the emerging embryonic ingot is still not completely solid, such that the latent heat of solidification and the sensible heat of the molten core raises the temperature of the adjacent solid shell to a convergence temperature that is above a transition temperature for in-situ homogenization of the metal. A further conventional homogenization step is then not required. The invention also relates to the heat-treatment of such ingots prior to hot working.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Novelis Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Bruce Wagstaff, Wayne J. Fenton
  • Patent number: 7849911
    Abstract: A device for continuous casting and direct deformation of a metal strand, with a strand guide which is curved after the continuous casting mold in the direction of strand travel, a spray device for liquid coolant, a bending-straightening unit, and an automatic control system for a uniform temperature field in the strand cross section. The cast strand is cooled with a liquid coolant only in the longitudinal sections in which the cast strand is liquid in the cross section. The curved strand guide with the spray device for liquid coolant is followed by a dry zone, which operates without liquid coolant and serves as insulation against the elimination of radiant heat and systematically surrounds the cast strand. A reduction line is provided, which includes individual, hydraulically adjustable deforming rolls or several hydraulically adjustable roll segments and precedes, coincides with, or follows the region of the bending-straightening unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: SMS Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Axel Weyer, Dirk Letzel, Horst Gärtner, Wilfried Milewski, Adolf Gustav Zajber
  • Publication number: 20100084109
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus for direct chill casting of metal comprises an open ended mold cavity formed by a casting surface with an upper end and a lower end, a refractory sleeve located at the upper end of the mold cavity being adapted to receive molten metal, a coolant delivery system below the lower end of the mold for supplying coolant to chill the descending hot metal body, and a boron nitride ring mounted between the refractory sleeve and the peripheral wall of the mold cavity. In another embodiment, the apparatus for direct chill casting of metal further includes a downspout instead of a refractory sleeve that is located at the upper end of the mold cavity being adapted to receive molten metal having a flow control rod or a floating baffle where the flow control rod controls the amount of molten metal to enter the mold cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Inventors: David R. Gildemeister, James L Kirby, Ray T. Richter, Charles W. Shanko
  • Publication number: 20090165906
    Abstract: A method of casting a metal ingot with a microstructure that facilitates further working, such as hot and cold rolling. The metal is cast in a direct chill casting mold, or the equivalent, that directs a spray of coolant liquid onto the outer surface of the ingot to achieve rapid cooling. The coolant is removed from the surface at a location where the emerging embryonic ingot is still not completely solid, such that the latent heat of solidification and the sensible heat of the molten core raises the temperature of the adjacent solid shell to a convergence temperature that is above a transition temperature for in-situ homogenization of the metal. A further conventional homogenization step is then not required. The invention also relates to the heat-treatment of such ingots prior to hot working.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Robert Bruce Wagstaff, Wayne J. Fenton
  • Patent number: 7516775
    Abstract: A method of casting a metal ingot with a microstructure that facilitates further working, such as hot and cold rolling. The metal is cast in a direct chill casting mold, or the equivalent, that directs a spray of coolant liquid onto the outer surface of the ingot to achieve rapid cooling. The coolant is removed from the surface at a location where the emerging embryonic ingot is still not completely solid, such that the latent heat of solidification and the sensible heat of the molten core raises the temperature of the adjacent solid shell to a convergence temperature that is above a transition temperature for in-situ homogenization of the metal. A further conventional homogenization step is then not required. The invention also relates to the heat-treatment of such ingots prior to hot working.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Novelis Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Bruce Wagstaff, Wayne J. Fenton
  • Publication number: 20090000760
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mold for air-slip noncircular continuous casting and a casting method of aluminum alloy using the same. The mold of the present invention includes a mold body 20 having a noncircular through hole 10 which allows molten metal 80 to move therein; a porous graphite ring 70 provided on an inner circumference of the mold body 20 to supply gas and oil to a surface of the lowering molten metal 80 metal thereby solidifying the molten metal 80 into a billet; and a conveying plate 95 provided on the inner circumference of the mold body 20 on top of the graphite ring 70 to convey the molten metal 80 downward, wherein a cooling water chamber 60 is formed in the mold body 20 to store cooling water for cooling a surface of the billet, the cooling water chamber 60 being formed in the rear of the graphite ring 70, and a gas inlet 32 and an oil inlet 34 are connected to an upper end of the graphite ring 70 to respectively supply gas and oil into the graphite ring 70 through the mold body 20.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventors: Won Duck KANG, Byung Keun Lee, Gook Whan OH
  • Patent number: 7445037
    Abstract: A method and equipment for continuous or semi-continuous casting of metal, in particular directly-cooled (DC) casting of aluminum, including at least one mold (3) with a mold cavity (11) that is provided with an inlet (4) linked to a metal store and an outlet with devices (27) for cooling the metal so that an object in the form of an extended string, rod or bar is cast through the outlet. The metal is supplied to the mold (3) in such a way and with such regulation that the metallostatic pressure in the contact point (solidification zone) against the mold wall is virtually zero during casting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Norsk Hydro ASA
    Inventors: Bjarne Anders Heggset, Bjørn Vaagland, Steinar Benum, Geir Olav Ånesbug, Torstein Sæther, John Erik Hafsås
  • Publication number: 20080230202
    Abstract: The invention relates to a continuous casting installation, for example for steel billet and bloom formats having substantially rectangular or circular cross-section. The invention improves the strand structure in the corner areas, to avoid rhomboidity, cracks and dimensional imperfections of the strand cross-section while achieving a high throughput capacity per strand and reducing investment and running costs. The fillets of the groove curvatures in the die cavity amount to a proportion of the length of the side of the strand cross-section. The degree of curvature 1/R of the groove curvatures decreases in the direction of the strand at least along at least partial length of the entire casting die, thereby achieving gap elimination between the casting shell and the casting die wall and/or a targeted casting shell shaping in the area of the groove curvature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicant: CONCAST AG
    Inventors: Adalbert Roehrig, Franz Kawa
  • Publication number: 20070251663
    Abstract: The invention includes a system, method and machine readable program for dynamically controlling the casting of a material. Generally, the systems and methods described herein include an active control feedback system or aspects thereof including a temperature sensing device that is well-suited for the harsh environment of the interior of a caster such as a caster for casting metal. Temperature measurement can be accomplished either directly or indirectly. The system is configured to compare the measured temperature with an ideal casting temperature. The temperature sensing device is operably coupled to a cooling device that modulates a flow of coolant to dynamically cool the material being cast. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the cooling device includes a plurality of nozzles for delivering one or more cooling fluids to the material being cast.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Inventors: William Sheldon, Randall Duane Siders, Douglas Myhre, Steven Lenertz, Timothy Griffith, David R. Percival
  • Patent number: 7284593
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for collecting and evacuating run-off water from the inner arc of the strand guide (8) of a beam blank casting machine, according to which the cast strand (2) is solidified and the required dissipation of heat is achieved, among other things, by sprayed water, whereby run-off water can also collect on the inner arc of the strand (2). The run-off water is collected using a suction head (1). The run-off water that is collected in the suction head is fluidized using fluidizers or momentum inhibitors. The fluidized water is sucked off and the water-air mixture is split into water and air in a separation device. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out said method, comprising at least one suction device that is arranged or can be driven along the strand guide (8), said suction device having an attachable suction head (1) and being equipped with fluidizers. The suction device (4) is driven along the beam blank preliminary section (9) by means of manipulators (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: SMS Demag AG
    Inventors: Dirk Letzel, Josef Kockentiedt, Thomas Fest, Jürgen Friedrich, Adolf-Gustav Zajber
  • Patent number: 7216693
    Abstract: A temperature regulation device for the strip (3) produced in a continuous casting plant with ingot mold (16) comprising a pair of cooled, parallel, counter-rotating rolls (2, 2?), closed by two plates at the axial ends of the rolls, includes a pair of substantially rectangular panels (5) placed symmetrically under the plane of the rolls axis, with its longest dimension substantially parallel to the axis of the rolls. Ducts (6, 8, 8?) are provided which feed a series of jets (7) to spray cooling gas onto the strip surface (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Danieli & C. Officine Meccaniche S.p.A.
    Inventors: Nuredin Kapaj, Alfredo Bassarutti, Giampietro Zamo′, Alfredo Poloni
  • Patent number: 7204295
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hot-top mold for a strand casting apparatus, consisting of a hot-top, which lies on the upper side of a parting agent distributor and presses it with its underside against the surface of a mold, an overhang being formed on the radially inner surface of the hot-top, which protrudes beyond the parting agent distributor in the direction of take off of the strand, the hot-top being centered and held by an outer ring, which is releasably fastened to the mold. The mold surrounds a function ring toward the bearing surface of the mold which, together with the parting agent distributor, forms function surfaces with adjustable roughness on the surfaces. In the parting agent distributor, radial channels are formed at the upper side and the underside, the channel cross sections at the upper side and the underside being in a ratio of 1:3 to 1:5 to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Maerz-Gautschi Industrieofenanlagen GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Schneider, Manfred Langen, Stephen Instone
  • Patent number: 7159642
    Abstract: A method and strand guide for supporting, guiding and cooling casting strands (1) made of steel, especially preliminary sections (2) for girders, which are cooled by injected water (29) and are drawn, serve to prevent cracks, especially surface cracks, from appearing in the microstructure by adapting the cooling conditions of the surface of the strand in the region of the secondary cooling, and serve to prevent undercooling of the strand shell, wherein in order to avoid an undesirable solidification structure on the upper flange edges or in other cross-sectional areas, the cooling and support of the beam blank format are so adapted to the solidification range that cooling and support are provided exclusively where a crater is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: SMS Demag
    Inventors: Adolf Gustav Zajber, Dirk Letzel, Wilfried Milewski, Thomas Fest, Heinz-Dietrich Schneider, Lothar Fischer, Herbert Brotzki
  • Patent number: 7156152
    Abstract: A process for the continuous production of a thin steel strip, in which a steel melt from a melt reservoir is introduced onto one or more, in particular two, cooled shaping wall surfaces which move synchronously with a casting strip, in particular rotate in the form of casting rolls and at least partially solidifies at the shaping wall surface to form the casting strip. The steel melt, in terms of the crucial alloying constituents, contains less than 1% by weight of Ni and less than 1% by weight of Cr and less than 0.8% by weight, in particular less than 0.4% by weight, of C and at least 0.55% by weight of Mn. In the process, recesses are arranged on the shaping wall surface in a random pattern, distributed uniformly over the shaping wall surface, and the roll separating force (RSF) at the shaping wall surface is set to a value of between 5 and 150 N/mm, in particular between 5 and 100 N/mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Gerald Hohenbichler
  • Patent number: 7152662
    Abstract: A method of casting a metal ingot having the steps of delivering molten metal to a direct chill mold, forming a solidified shell of metal, applying a coolant to a surface of the shell as it emerges from the mold, and withdrawing a solidified ingot from the mold. The coolant contains an oxidation inhibitor for increasing the rate of heat transfer from the solidifying metal compared to a coolant not containing the oxidation inhibitor to produce an ingot which is resistant to cracking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventor: Ho Yu
  • Patent number: 7143809
    Abstract: Equipment for continuous, horizontal casting of metal, in particular aluminum. The horizontal casting equipment includes an insulated reservoir or pool (2), which is designed to contain liquid metal, and a releasably attached mold (3) that can be removed from the reservoir (2). An insulating plate (19) is provided with holes (25, 26) which communicate with the mold. The mold (3) includes a preferably circular mold cavity (17) having a wall (12, 13) of permeable material for the supply of oil and gas. The wall provides primary cooling to the metal being cast and at least one slit or nozzles (16) arranged along the circumference of the cavity for the direct supply of coolant, thereby providing secondary cooling of the metal. The primary cooling is so designed that it may be increased or reduced. The insulating plate (19) is replaceable and, depending on the type of alloy and the cooling required, the plate may be designed to extend along the permeable material (12, 13) in the cavity (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Norsk Hydro ASA
    Inventors: Inge Johansen, Geir Mæland, Åge Strømsvåg