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: An apparatus for starting the casting of a continuous casting system has a mold (2) and a strand guide (10; 10?) comprising drive and guide rollers (11, 12; 11?, 12?). Moreover, a dummy bar (22) that can be introduced into the mold (2) by the strand guide (10; 10?) and be withdrawn from said mold is provided. A safety device (20; 20?) for the dummy bar (22) has an element (25) that can be engaged, with form fit, with the dummy bar (22) and limiting the speed of the cold bar (22). It is thus guaranteed that a predetermined maximum strand speed can not be exceeded and that the dummy bar does not slide through.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dummy bar (1) for a continuous casting installation for casting a metal strand, including a dummy bar head (2), a transition piece (3) and a link chain (4), wherein the transition piece (3) and/or the link chain (4) are made of a plurality of links (5, 6) that are connected to each other in an articulated manner, and wherein the links (5, 6) can be pivoted relative to each other about a transverse axis (Q) extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (L) of the dummy bar (1). In order to particularly prevent internal stresses in the dummy bar when replacing parts of the dummy bar, the invention provides for at least one articulated joint (7) to be configured between two links (5, 6) that are connected to each other in an articulated manner, such that said joint allows a relative pivoting movement of the links (5, 6) about the transverse axis (Q) that is greater than any pivot angle (?) occurring during the use of the dummy bar (1).

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: Method of making wire comprising polycrystalline &agr;-Al2O3 fibers within a matrix of substantially pure elemental aluminum, or an alloy elemental aluminum and up to about 2% copper.

Abstract: A starter bar is designed for beam blank production by continuous casters. The starter bar has a unique transition section including H-profiled segment members which are fixed to an elongated flexible steel band forming the core of the unit. The transition section is readily connected and disconnected to a universal tail section, also having an elongated flexible steel band as its core.

Abstract: Method for the controlled pre-rolling of thin slabs (20) leaving a continuous casting plant, whereby the pre-rolling is carried out with a plurality of pairs of rolls (14-16) grouped together in one or more pre-rolling assemblies (10), the first of the pre-rolling assemblies (10) being positioned immediately downstream of foot rolls (12) of a mold (11), at least one displaceable roll (16) being included in the pairs of rolls (14-16), the pairs of rolls (14-16) being associated with pressure transducer means (18) and hydraulic capsule means (17), position transducer means (24) being included. The pressure transducer means (18) and position transducer means (24) can be associated with a data processing unit (21), at least the first of the pairs of rolls (14-16) processing a slab (20) which has just emerged from the mold (11) with a thin solidified skin.

Abstract: There is provided a starter bar head for a continuous caster, which includes a lower part capable of being introduced into the mold cavity of a continuous casting mold at least partially and on whose upper surface at least one re-entrant groove is provided, and a sealing mat of refractory material whose peripheral edge is placeable into contact with the mold side walls. At least one connection element having a projection reaching into the mold cavity is fastenable to the lower part and is connectable with the cast strand by casting-on. In order to enable the easy detachment of the starter bar from the cast strand and to be able to assemble the starter bar head in a simple manner, the connection element includes two superimposed plates, the upper plate being provided with the projection and the lower plate being clampable relative to the upper plate upon insertion of the sealing mat.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dummy bar for continuous casting installations with a curved bar guide arranged downstream of a mold. The invention provides a dummy bar which is characterized by a flexible metallic strip (1) and components (3) which are fastened to a surface of the strip (1) for detachably connecting with spacers (2) extending in the shape of strips along the width of the strip (1) on the same surface transversely to the longitudinal direction of the strip, which spacers (2) have mutually adjacent contact areas (6) at least in the region of the components (3). The free surface of the spacers (2) is covered with congruent rubber-like plates (5) and the free surface of the strip (1) is provided with a rubber-like coating (4).

Abstract: The flexible starter bar has a body which comprises a flexible substantially planar spine on one side, a series of blocks attached to the spine on the other side, and in a top portion thereof adjacent a head for the starter bar, a plurality of block supports disposed between adjacent pairs of blocks adapted to protrude from one block of a pair so as to lie in abutting and supporting relationship with the other block of the pair, thereby increasing the effective length of the operatively outer side of the starter bar body so that the starter bar may assume a curved configuration and be self-supporting. The block supports in the top portion of the starter bar are retractable to shorten the effective length of the starter bar body on the operatively outer side so that the starter bar may resume a straight configuration. The bottom portion of the starter bar is without any block supports and is supported in the curved configuration by a strand guide and support rolls.

Abstract: The starter bar has a free end portion which is flexible for storage and a substantially rigid portion at the end which plugs the mold. The starter bar is constructed in discrete blocks secured to one side of a planar spine provided in segments and arranged end to end. Adjustable spacers in the form of tapered blocks are disposed between the blocks of the bar to allow the starter bar to be self-supporting in a curved configuration corresponding to the casting path. A more flexible spine in the end portion of the starter bar allows the starter bar to be curved to a tighter radius than that of the casting path while the blocks fan out in an unsupported configuration. A storage ramp is provided to support the flexible end in the stored position.

Abstract: A flexible starter bar has a body which comprises a flexible substantially planar spine on one side a series of blocks attached to the spine on the other side, and a plurality of block support means disposed between adjacent pairs of blocks adapted to protrude from one block of a pair so as to lie in abutting and supporting relationship with the other block of the pair, thereby increasing the effective length of the operatively outer side of the starter bar body so that the starter bar may assume a curved configuration and be self-supporting. The block support means are retractable to shorten the effective length of the starter bar body on the operatively outer side so that the starter bar may resume a straight configuration.

Abstract: Device (10) to park starter bars employed in continuous casting plants, which is able to take at least one starter bar coming from a casting line and to draw and position at least one starter bar towards a casting line and comprises a revolver-type drum (13), which can rotate about a pivot shaft (29) and contains within itself at least one chamber (18-25) to lodge starter bars belonging to at least two types of starter bar, the device (10) comprising also first means (12-30) able to impart rotation to the drum (13) and second means (26) able to cooperate with a temporary pre-set position of standstill of the drum (13) and at the same time to impart to that at least one starter bar a movement into or out from the at least one chamber (18-25).

Abstract: Start-up head for continuous casting in the horizontal has a coupling member that will be embedded from three sides in molten metal, the coupling member has a hooklike portion having an undercut portion below a center line of the casting and having a point of curvature inflection, the undercut portion running from that point of inflection towards the center line along a circular path having a center of curvature above a horizontal plane that runs through the center line; a front end of the hooklike portion has a circular contour beginning from a point below the center line at a distance that is about the same distance the point of inflection has from the center line, the circular contour extending to the upper side of the member has a center of curvature above the first mentioned center of curvature but a larger distance from the center line; and the center for uncoupling the member from the casting is situated between the first and second centers of curvature.

Abstract: A novel and improved starting bar head for use in conjunction with the starting bar and the flow through mold of a continuous casting apparatus for the continuous casting of metal strands wherein the starting bar head includes a body member defining a mold plug portion which is retained with respect to the starting bar and a strand retention member which is releasably retained with respect to the starting bar head body member in a manner that, upon separation of the cast strand from the starting bar, the body member and plug portion are retained by the starting bar and the strand retention member is retained by the leading end of the strand.

Abstract: Means are provided for connecting the proximal end of a dummy strip to the distal (i.e. leading) end of a strip casting, in which a throw-away element serving both as a connector and a heat sink for chilling the metal adjacent to the connector is removably mounted on the proximal end of the dummy strip, with a slightly resilient sealing element holding both the dummy strip and the connector-heat sink element centrally of the mold cavity, and with the connector-heat sink spaced from the walls of the mold by a narrow gap and also having means for both chilling and positively interlocking with the metal of the distal end of the cast strip when it congeals.

Abstract: This invention relates to a machine for the curved continuous casting of metals, particularly steel, with a semi-rigid starting bar (20) comprised of two successive segments (120, 220) pivoted to each other (21). In the stowed position of the starting bar (20), the leading segment (120) of the starting bar (20) is folded upwards, together with a swingable arm (122) of the supporting structure (22) for the starting bar (20), to a position wherein the inspection and maintenance of the connecting or coupling head may be effected more easily. Preferably, the trailing segment (220) of the starting bar (20) has the same cross section as the strand of the smallest section to be cast in the machine, whereas the leading segment (120) has a cross section corresponding to that of the strand which is cast at each time, so that it can be removed and replaced.

Abstract: A continuous casting apparatus has a casting platform which supports a mold defining two casting passages. A laterally undivided roller guide is disposed below the mold. The apparatus further includes a pair of dummy bars, and a carriage on the casting platform for storing the dummy bars. When a casting operation is to be performed, each dummy bar is lowered into the roller guide via a respective casting passage so as to seal the lower end of such passage. At this time, the dummy bars are spaced from, and are generally parallel to, one another. Since the roller guide is laterally undivided, the roller guide is unable to maintain the spacing between the dummy bars as the latter are withdrawn from the roller guide during casting. Accordingly, distancing means is provided to keep the dummy bars spaced from one another.

Abstract: This invention concerns a billet launching device in continuous casting machines of the type employed to withdraw and pull the billet from the ingot mould along the casting line, whereby the device comprises, near the outlet of the ingot mould, gripping means cooperating at least momentarily with a launching element able to engage and pull the billet at least momentarily, and whereby the launching element is inserted momentarily into the ingot mould and engages the billet.

Abstract: A starter bar has a starter bar head attached to a rear end portion thereof, the plate type starter bar being formed by a relatively thin plate. A starter bar handling device for effecting storage and charging of the plate type starter bar for clamping and swinging portions of the starter bar.

Abstract: A continuous casting machine has a flow through mold and a flexible starting bar composed of a plurality of short sections coupled by hinges which permit the sections to pivot inwardly to a slight degree but prevent outward pivotal movement beyond the machine's arcuate casting path. A storage assembly for the starter bar includes a pair of support stands each having spaced drive rolls disposed along the arcuate casting path through which the starter bar passes as it is moved into and out of its stored position. One roll of each stand is fixed and the other is mounted on a pivotal arm engaged by a hydraulic cylinder to provide a pinching effect on the starter bar as it is moved between its operative and stored positions.

Abstract: A gas cutting machine for cutting a cast strand includes a torch and is movable downward together with a cut portion of the cast strand. In the neighborhood of the torch is located a movable hood which is movable in synchronism with vertical lifting operation of the gas cutting machine, and an expansible sludge discharge pipe and an expansible suction duct communicated with a suction blower are mounted on the movable hood. A divisional dummy bar is utilized and includes an upper and lower divisional dummy bar, and a connector for connecting the divisional dummy bars together. The connector comprises an upper member and a lower member, the upper member having in its inner cavity a pair of levers pivotally supported on lever shafts and the lever havign a locking roller at the lower end thereof. The lower member includes a hooking head held by a pair of locking rollers.

Abstract: A continuous casting installation has a dummy bar which is designed such that its connection with a strand can be broken by moving the dummy bar and the strand relative to one another in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the strand. A straightening roll for the strand is movable in this direction between a raised position and a lowered position. A support roll is mounted in the region of the straightening roll and is pivotable between an elevated position and a depressed position clear of the casting path. In operation, the connection between the dummy bar and the strand is positioned between the straightening roll and the support roll. The straightening roll is in its raised position and is located above the strand while the support roll is in its elevated position and supports the dummy bar. The straightening roll is now lowered to straighten the strand thereby simultaneously breaking the connection between the dummy bar and the strand.

Abstract: A dummy bar wagon is provided with a chain having two dog-shaped carriers spaced therealong to engage and disengage the dummy bar for loading it onto and unloading it from the wagon respectively. The loading and unloading operations are effected automatically by means of a device which suitably varies the linear velocity of the chain and the dummy bar relative to each other.

Abstract: A long rigid starting or dummy bar, after passing through a withdrawal and straightening unit, is suspended by means of an automatically operating connection device in a holder arm pivotable about the center of the curved arc or arcuate-shaped path of travel of the secondary cooling zone. The holder arm removes the starting bar out of the withdrawal and straightening unit by virtue of its own pivotal movement which is accomplished by means of a fluid-operated cylinder unit, such as a hydraulic cylinder unit, and places such starting bar in a position where it does not disturb the cast strand region of the installation. The holder or holding arm is mounted and constructed such that it can be placed by means of a crane or other appropriate facility into an almost vertical position, so that the entire space above the withdrawal and straightening unit and the subsequent rolls are freely accessible from above.

Abstract: Dummy bars with a detachable end comprising: an end portion which has a hook of a smaller width and is an integral part of the dummy bar and a lodgement groove stretching lengthwise in said dummy bar, a detachable head which bears on its outside a connection for attachment of the billet and has within itself a lengthwise groove containing an inside crosswise attachment pin, whereby the groove can lodge the hook of the dummy bar, and whereby said hook cooperates from above with said attachment pin, abuttments provided on the lower side between the end portion with hook and the detachable head and which enable the detachable head to rotate in one direction in relation to the end portion, a latch which pivots within the lodgement groove and can close from below against the attachment pin, a bar to actuate the latch provided and hinged at the end of the latch, and a tension spring connected at one end to the inner end of the bar and at their other end to the body of the dummy bar.

Abstract: A flexible dummy or starting bar provided with a dummy bar head for closing the opening of a continuous casting mold is insertable into and again retractable from a guide device which is pivotable in a substantially vertical plane in order to allow for the intermediate storage of such dummy or starting bar. To obtain a starter apparatus possessing longer exchange intervals for the dummy bar heads caused by wear and changes in the sectional shape or format and for reducing the downtimes of the continuous casting plant the dummy bar is provided at each end with a dummy bar head. The guide device which is mounted at one end region at a carriage which can travel upon the casting platform is pivotable by means of its free end from a transport or conveying plane of a delivery or run-out roller table of the continuous casting plant up to a plane located above an upper edge of the continuous casting mold.

Abstract: A system for the rapid insertion and removal of a starting chain for the change of format or cross section of a continuous strand casting operation utilizing such starting chains, comprises an arcuate guide into which a portion of the chain can be drawn, a swingable ramp for lifting this portion of the chain into alignment with another arcuate guide at a device for separating the chain into segments or joining a segment of the chain to another portion thereof, and an automatic gripper, lifter and transport system for the chain segments. The latter mechanism is provided at the free end of the second arcuate guide.

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

Abstract: An elongated dummy bar has one end secured to a closure plug arranged within an open ended, continuous casting mold for supporting the plug within the mold and for endwise movement for removing the plug from the mold and guiding it along a curved path away from the mold. Molten metal cast in the mold forms a continuous cast strand whose lead end joins to the closure plug so that endwise movement of the bar and plug guides the cast strand along the curved path. The bar is formed of parallel rows, of rigid links which are arranged end to end. Pivot pins transversely extend across all the rows between the adjacent ends of the links. The pins are pivotally journalled within opposing sockets formed in the facing ends of adjacent links in each row. Flexible cables are arranged between and parallel to the rows of links and pass through openings extending diametrically through the pins.

Abstract: A dummy bar head for a continuous casting installation, particularly for casting steel, containing a dovetail-shaped coupling portion which can be decoupled by carrying out a relative movement between the dummy bar head and the cast strand. The relative movement is undertaken in a direction approximately transverse to the strand withdrawal direction. To ensure a disturbance-free starting of the continuous casting operation, with high casting speeds, the dovetail-shaped coupling portion comprises a raised or protruding dovetail-shaped body. The dovetail-shaped body or body member essentially contains a trapezoidal-shaped surface area. A boundary surface of the raised body has aligned therewith a boundary surface of the dummy bar head which is arranged in the strand withdrawal direction and as to the remaining three boundary surfaces at least two oppositely situated ones thereof contain undercut portions.

Abstract: A starter bar head for a continuous casting plant includes side faces that are directed to, and sealed relative to, the walls of a continuous casting mould, a front face closing the continuous casting mould, and at least one anchoring recess for the hot strand. The anchoring recess departs from a side face of the starter bar head, at least partly penetrates the front face of the starter bar head and is to be filled up by the metal to be cast. It is designed to be widened from the front face to a bottom face of the anchoring recess and includes at least two side walls arranged symmetrically to the longitudinal axis of the starter bar head and directed to the bottom face. The side walls of the anchoring recess pass over into a further recess whose surfaces that border at the mould side walls to be sealed off are directed upwardly, i.e. to the front face of the starter bar head.

Abstract: A continuous casting machine for billets and blooms has a curved mold which is followed by a curved cooling zone and a straightener. A dummy bar for the casting machine has a length at least equal to the distance between the mold and the straightener. The dummy bar has a rigid portion and a flexible portion which are pivotally connected with one another. The rigid portion, which is curved and has a radius equal to the casting radius, includes a dummy bar head. The flexible portion is made up essentially of pivotally connected, curved links having radii equal to the casting radius. The flexible portion is designed such that it can assume radii equal to or less than the casting radius. When the dummy bar is in position for casting, the flexible portion assumes the casting radius and the dummy bar conforms to the curvature of the casting machine.

Abstract: The drawing and straightening machine for use in continuous casting plants, comprises a first pair of superposed pinch rolls, arranged at the bottom end of the curved guide path section, passing through which the casting is bent, and a second pair of pinch rollers arranged subsequently to the first pair. The second pair of pinch rollers is mounted on the machine frame so as to be capable of swinging from an upper starting position, at which the rolls are operatively arranged on the curvilinear upwardly directed prosecution of the curved path of the casting, to a lower straightening position, at which the rolls are in alignment with the rectilinear guide section onto which the straightened casting moves for further processing. Each roll of the second pair of rolls is mounted on a roll-carrier, and each roll-carrier is hinged to the machine frame around a single common fulcrum axis.

Abstract: A starting bar for a flow-through continuous casting mold is curved lengthwise in a vertical plane and has a trailing end for joining to a metal strand issuing from the mold, and a leading end portion provided with a row of rack teeth extending along the bar. A storage housing spaced laterally from the mold has a vertical passage through it for receiving the leading end portion of the bar when the bar is moved lengthwise from a strand-receiving position to the storage housing and up into its passage where a vertical gear will be engaged by the rack teeth.

Abstract: In a continuous casting system, a starter block for withdrawing a metal strand from a casting mold is provided with a bolt which is readily releasable from the metal block. The bolt is provided with a conical head having a threaded surface which projects out from the end face of the starter block and is cast into the metal strand. After casting of the metal strand, the starter block is uncoupled from the bolt and the bolt is rotatably removed from the metal strand. The starter block can then be reused.

Abstract: An arrangement for separating a starter bar from a hot strand in a continuous casting plant employs a starter bar head that that is tong-shaped and includes a latch movable between between a position in which the cheeks of the tong are locked and a released position. A switch member is movable into and out of a recess of the starter bar head for driving the latch from its locked position to its released position. The latch includes a projection which cooperates with a counter stop on the strand guideway to reclose the latch once the separation has occurred. the separation has occurred.

Abstract: Continuous casting apparatus includes opposing sets of rollers defining a guide path for a cast section emanating from a mould outlet. A key-piece is keyed to the leading end of the cast section at the mould outlet in a conventional manner. A detachment member is mounted at the end of the guide path for entrainment by the key-piece. The entrained detachment member is constrained to move in a path which has a component directed transversely of the feed direction of the cast section. In this way a releasing force is applied to the key-piece by the feed movement of the cast section.

Abstract: A starter bar for continuous casting plants has a starter bar head and linked bodies immediately following the starter bar head and pivotally interlinked by hinge pins. Neighboring linked bodies are provided with recesses at their ends to be penetrated by the hinge pins. The recesses provided at the ends of at least one linked body are open in the longitudinal direction of the starter bar, and tensile-forces-accommodating connecting means are laterally provided on the starter bar to connect the hinge pins at the ends thereof with the linked body whose ends have the open recesses.

Abstract: The invention refers to a dolly for the starting or initiation strand of a metal strand casting plant, the dolly being equipped with guide pulleys at each end for a traction device embracing the pulleys and forming the drive for the initiation strand. The traction device includes a retractible support carrier for the starting or initiation strand. The support carrier has forwardly and rearwardly facing bearing surfaces which engage cooperating bearing surfaces on each end of an initiation strand for the engagement, support and positioning thereof. The invention eliminates the need for hoisting cranes of great height, and provides effective control of the initial feeding of the initiation strand to the casting mold.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating a starter bar from a hot strand crop-end in a continuous casting plant (which plant includes a lifting mechanism for lifting the starter bar and its tong-shaped starter bar head, a stationary vertical guide, and an opening mechanism for the two lockable nippers of the tong-shaped starter bar head) has a centering means in the stationary vertical guide to hold the starter bar in separating position, at least one bayonet closing means locking the nippers of the tong-shaped starter bar head, a displaceable pin acting on the at least one bayonet closing means in the opening direction thereof, and a conveying means located below the centering means and the displaceable pin for transporting the hot strand crop-end away.

Abstract: A starter bar head arrangement to be used in continuous casting plants has at least one strand anchoring piece connecting the starter bar head with the crop end of the strand by casting-on inserted in a recess of the starter bar head so that it protrudes therefrom and fixed by a transverse bolt, the recess being open towards the front face of the starter bar head, and the at least one strand anchoring piece is automatically droppable after removal of the transverse bolt and separation of the crop end.

Abstract: A starter bar to be used in continuous casting plants for extracting cast strands has a starter bar head and articulately interconnected link bodies following upon the starter bar head, and at least one of these link bodies is divided between the joints connecting it with the neighboring link bodies and the link body parts thus formed are braced together by laterally arranged connecting elements.

Abstract: A dummy or starter bar head used in the continuous casting of molten metal has an elongated cavity along its upper small face whose cross section increases inwardly from the small face. This cavity is formed partly in the head and partly in an insert removably mounted on the head, the plane of separation between the portion of the cavity defined by the head and that defined by the insert being so disposed that cast solidified metal formed in the cavity may be lifted out of the portion of the cavity after the insert has been removed.

Abstract: A starter bar for guiding and extracting cast strands of various thicknesses in continuous casting plants with arcuate guiding paths supporting the strands at opposite sides is comprised of pivotally connected link bodies arranged one behind the other. The bar has a thickness corresponding to the smallest or slightest thickness of the strands. Also, exchangeable locking pieces are provided between individual ones of the link bodies to assure that the starter bar is guided between the guiding paths without play.