Abstract: A method for detecting a roller failure at a roller in a continuous casting machine having a plurality of rollers arranged in a row and rotatably supported in bearings for transporting material produced in the machine involves determining a radial target load value exerted by the material on a roller, measuring the actual load value on at least each second roller in the row of rollers, comparing the measured actual load value with the determined target load value, detecting a possible divergence between the actual load value and the target load value, and establishing the presence of a roller failure upon detection of such divergence.

Abstract: A continuous extrusion machine has a chassis (1) supporting a wheel (2) for rotation by a motor. An endless groove (7) extends around the periphery of the wheel (2). A shoe (3) is mounted in the chassis (1) and has an enveloping surface shaped to closely envelop an arc of the wheel (2) periphery so that the groove (7) co-operates with the shoe (3) to form a passage. An abutment is mounted on the shoe (3) to extend into the passage at a downstream end. Tooling is mounted in the shoe (3) including a die such that a material such as aluminium or copper bar fed into the groove (7) is extruded through the die as a consequence of the energy transfer via friction from the rotating wheel (2). A gap (12) exists between the enveloping surface and the wheel (2). The gap (12) is used to provide the orifice of a sonic gap (12) sensor whereby the size of the gap (12) can be accurately and directly measured.

Abstract: A method for detecting a seized or still standing roller in a track of rollers in a continuous casting machine, in which each roller is rotatably mounted in supporting members and is arranged with its axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the track so that the rollers are arranged to transport elongated material produced in the machine. The method includes measuring a load exerted on at least one supporting member of each roller, with the load being substantially parallel with the extent of the track. The existence of a seized or still standing roller is established when the load deviates from a predetermined value by virtue of a force induced on the roller by seizure or stoppage of the roller at the contact with the transported material.

Abstract: A method for detecting a misaligned roller portion of a roller in a continuous casting machine, in which the machine includes rollers arranged in a row after each other, with the rollers being divided into at least two roller portions each rotatably mounted in supporting members and arranged for transporting produced material. The method involves measuring the radial load exerted by the material on each supporting member of the roller portions of a roller, comparing the radial loads of the supporting members at the outer ends of the roller with each other, comparing the radial loads of the supporting members at the inner ends of the roller with each other, and determining a misaligned roller portion where the divergence between the radial loads of the supporting members of the outer ends of the roller and/or the supporting members of the inner ends of the roller exceed a predetermined value.

Abstract: A method for detecting an at least partly bulging portion of an elongated material produced in a continuous casting machine in which the machine has a plurality of rollers arranged in two tracks converging towards each other to transport the material, with the rollers being divided into at least two roller portions each rotatably mounted in supporting members. The method involves measuring the radial load exerted by the material on each supporting member of the roller portions of a roller, comparing the radial load values of the supporting members arranged in the ends of roller portions facing away from each other with those of the supporting members arranged in the ends of the roller portions facing each other to ascertain a divergence, and establishing that an at least partly bulging portion of the material exists where the divergence exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: The present invention provides a manufacturing method for a continuously cast product of steel comprising the steps of: detecting a position of crater end of product by a method for measuring a solidification state of continuously cast product using a sensor arranged so as to be in non-contact with the product; and controlling at least one condition selected from the conditions of the casting speed and the quantity of secondary cooling water based on the detected position of crater end, the method for measuring a solidification state of continuously cast product comprising the steps of: cooling the product until a surface layer portion thereof is &agr; transformed; transmitting transverse waves of electromagnetic ultrasonic waves to the cooled product; receiving the signal after the transmitting signal propagates in the product; and judging the solidification state of the product based on the received signal.

Abstract: A model-based strategy is provided for determining casting roll operating temperature in a continuous thin strip casting process. A first temperature sensor produces a first temperature signal indicative of the temperature of cooling liquid supplied to the casting rolls and a second temperature sensor produces a second temperature signal indicative of the temperature of cooling liquid temperature exiting the casting rolls. A computer determines a heat flux value as a function of the first and second temperature signals, and computes the operating temperature of the casting rolls as a function of the heat flux value, the second temperature signal and a number of constants defined by fixed-valued operating parameters of the continuous thin strip casting process. A control strategy is also provided to modify one or more operating parameters of the continuous thin strip casting process as a function of the casting roll temperature.

Abstract: A method of monitoring the operation of a continuous caster in which a multivariate statistical model is developed using off-line measurements of process parameters representing normal operation of the continuous caster. On-line process parameters are measured in real time to determine if the caster operation is normal by calculating test statistics on vectors calculated using the multivariate statistical model with input from the on-line process parameters. The method may advantageously be used to predict breakouts in a continuous caster and allows an operator to take corrective action to avoid such breakouts. Corrective action may also be taken automatically.

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 device for hydraulic adjustment of rollers of strand guiding segments of a strand casting device has hydraulic cylinders which are separated by a piston with piston rod into a cylinder chamber and an annular cylinder chamber, respectively. The cylinder chambers can be connected by control members alternatingly and in opposite directions as well as simultaneously with a pressure source and a pressure sink, wherein on-off valves are provided as control members.

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. 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: A guide element of a continuous casting plant, particularly a continuous casting plant for thin slabs, for guiding a metal strip in a strand guiding direction includes a pair of guide rollers which are located opposite each other relative to the metal strip and form a roller gap. The pair of guide rollers is provided with an adjusting device for adjusting a crown of the roller gap.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for casting a continuous metal strand, in particular steel, in a continuous casting apparatus having strand parts disposed opposite one another and being fitted with bearings in which guide rollers are mounted, and having actuators by which a gap between respective opposed rollers can be set infinitely variable, and which method includes sensing a value representing a compressive force which occurs in the bearings and feeding said value to a computing unit; comparing the individual measured force values of a roller or of a pair of oppositely disposed rollers with respect to a level of the force; and utilizing at least the relating highest value measured as a command variable for controlling the gap and/or the casting rate and/or the amount of cooling water and/or the melt feed and/or the casting powder feed and/or the mold oscillation.

Abstract: A method for detecting an at least partly arched roller in a continuous casting machine in which the machine includes a plurality of rollers forming upper and lower tracks and arranged substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the tracks, with the rollers being rotatably mounted in supporting members to transport elongated material produced in the machine. The method includes measuring the reaction forces resulting in the supporting members by counteracting the weight of the roller and the load from the material and any dynamic forces exerted by the material on the roller, with the measuring being made at least two times during a rotation of the roller and at at least one of the supporting members of the roller. The presence of an at least partly arched roller is established based on a considerable fluctuation of the reaction force value during a rotation of the roller.

Abstract: A method for detecting an at least partly bulging portion of an elongated material produced in a continuous casting machine in which the machine has a plurality of rollers arranged in two tracks converging towards each other to transport the material, with the rollers being divided into at least two roller portions each rotatably mounted in supporting members. The method involves measuring the radial load exerted by the material on each supporting member of the roller portions of a roller, comparing the radial load values of the supporting members arranged in the ends of roller portions facing away from each other with those of the supporting members arranged in the ends of the roller portions facing each other to ascertain a divergence, and establishing that an at least partly bulging portion of the material exists where the divergence exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: A disadvantage of continuously casting thin metal strips in a continuous casting plant (1) wherein the casting strand (7) exits the mould (2) in a downward direction and is guided in a vertical strand guide (3) with the help of pairs of driver rolls (4, 5) for supporting and conveying the strand (7), is that the force with which the driver rolls (4, 5) are pressed against the strand (7) results in the unchecked rolling of the strand while it is still soft. The aim of the invention is to solve this problem. To that end, the driver rolls (4, 5) are pressed against the strand (7) with a variable pressure (P1, P2) which is regulated “on-line” in accordance with the thickness (d3, d4) of the strand (7), in such a way as to obtain and maintain a constant strand thickness.

Abstract: A method for detecting a misaligned roller portion of a roller in a continuous casting machine, in which the machine includes rollers arranged in a row after each other, with the rollers being divided into at least two roller portions each rotatably mounted in supporting members and arranged for transporting produced material. The method involves measuring the radial load exerted by the material on each supporting member of the roller portions of a roller, comparing the radial loads of the supporting members at the outer ends of the roller with each other, comparing the radial loads of the supporting members at the inner ends of the roller with each other, and determining a misaligned roller portion where the divergence between the radial loads of the supporting members of the outer ends of the roller and/or the supporting members of the inner ends of the roller exceed a predetermined value.

Abstract: A method of removing ceramic core material from an internal passage of a superalloy airfoil casting using a CNC controlled fluid spray nozzle in a manner that the fluid spray nozzle is caused to laterally scan and/or rotary orbit an area of one or more openings of one or more passages at an exterior casting surface to improve removal of material residing in the passage.

Abstract: Twin roll strip caster comprising parallel casting rolls one of which is mounted on moveable roll supports which allow it to move bodily toward and away from the other roll. A pair of roll biasing units comprising compression act on roll supports to bias the moving roll toward the other roll. Biasing units comprise compression springs acting on roll supports through thrust transmission structures and thrust reaction structures. The positions of thrust reaction structures are set by hydraulic cylinder units operable to vary the position of each reaction structure to replicate movements of the respective thrust transmission structure so as to maintain a constant compression of the biasing springs regardless of lateral movements of the roll supports.

Abstract: A process for casting a continuous metal strand, in particular steel, in a continuous casting apparatus having strand parts disposed opposite one another and being fitted with bearings in which guide rollers are mounted, and having actuators by which a gap between respective opposed rollers can be set infinitely variable, and which method includes sensing a value representing a compressive force which occurs in the bearings and feeding said value to a computing unit; comparing the individual measured force values of a roller or of a pair of oppositely disposed rollers with respect to a level of the force; and utilizing at least the relating highest value measured as a command variable for controlling the gap and/or the casting rate and/or the amount of cooling water and/or the melt feed and/or the casting powder feed and/or the mold oscillation.

Abstract: In the operation of a horizontal strip casting facility, each lengthwise segment of a metal strip is continuously scanned in a fan shape across the entire width of the metal strip, immediately after emerging from a mold associated with a furnace. An infrared scanner is used to perform the scan, and passes temperature values, taking into consideration the emissivity values corresponding to the material being cast, to a computer. In the computer, on the basis of those temperature values, a color-graded graphic diagram and/or a temperature profile diagram depicting the temperature over the width of the metal strip are created and displayed on at least one monitor. The speed of the metal strip, the volumes of cooling water for the mold, the withdrawal parameters, and the melt temperature in the furnace are controlled as a function of the temperature profile that is ascertained.

Abstract: A strand pulling-off method for a metal strip cast in a curved continuous casting plant and a curved continuous casting plant, wherein the metal strip is initially pulled vertically from a casting mold using a curved entry segment driven with an entry speed. A curved shape is imparted to the metal strip in the curved entry segment such that the metal strip travels in a circular arc. The metal strip is straightened after reaching a horizontal strip travel direction using a curved exit segment driven with an exit speed and conveying the metal strip out of the curved exit segment.

Abstract: The method for controlling flow pattern of molten steel in continuous casting, comprises the steps of: (a) continuously casting a molten steel injected through an immersion nozzle; (b) measuring temperatures of a copper plate on longer side of the mold in width direction thereof at plurality of points; (c) detecting a flow pattern of the molten steel in the mold based on the time-sequential variations of temperatures of the copper plate at individual measurement points; and (d) controlling the flow pattern to establish a specified pattern on the basis of the detected result. The temperatures of mold copper plate are measured by plurality of temperature measurement elements buried in the rear face of the mold copper plate for continuous casting. The temperature measurement elements are arranged in a range of from 10 to 135 mm distant from the melt surface in the mold in the slab-drawing direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an adjusting method for a roller section of a continuous casting machine which is provided with a section input side (6), a section output side (7) and a pair of roller carriers (1, 2) which each carry at least two rollers (3) extending over a supporting zone (4), with the roller carriers (1, 2) being mutually adjusted against one another by way of an adjusting unit arranged at the section input side (6) and at the section output side (7), with each adjusting unit being provided with two hydraulic cylinder units (8 to 11) arranged on either side of the supporting zone (4), characterized in that the hydraulic cylinder units (8 to 11) can be adjusted both in a position-controlled and pressure-controlled manner; the rollers (3) are placed in a position-controlled manner by the hydraulic cylinder units (8 to 11) against a metal billet (5) which is guided by the rollers (3); the hydraulic cylinder units (8 to 11) are changed over from position-controlled to pressure-controlled o

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. 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. For a single drive and corresponding drive roll the permissible torque limit value is measured by continuously increasing the drive torque starting at zero and monitoring the rotational speed of the drive roll, while the remaining drive rolls are controlled to a preset nominal casting speed. For a superproportional increase of the rotational speed, the torque limit value is determined and the process is stopped.

Abstract: Method and device to control the axial position of slabs emerging from a continuous casting machine, providing to control the axial position of the slab (24) in correspondence with the inlet to the first rolling stand and to act in feedback on means to modify the correct position of the axis (32) of the slab (24) in a position located between the first rolling stand and the foot rolls (26) of the ingot mold (13) from which the slab (24) emerges, wherein alignment means operating inside the furnace (15) are employed to induce a controlled lateral displacement governed by the control of the axial position of the slab (24).

Abstract: The invention relates to an aluminum sliding bearing alloy, comprising 3 to 6 mass % zinc, 0.3 to 2.0 mass % copper, 0.2 to 1.0 mass % magnesium, 0.3 to 2.0 mass % silicon and 2 to 4.5 mass % lead. According to the invention, said alloy is obtained by means of continuous casting with a minimum dimension, i.e. a strand thickness of more than 20 mm, solidifying in a mold which is indirectly cooled only, with a withdrawal speed of 1 to 5 mm/s and with a cooling speed of less than 100 K/s.

Abstract: A billet continuous casting machine comprises, and a billet continuous casting method uses, a jacket for cooling an outer wall of a quadrangular tubular mold with cooling water, electromagnetic brakes disposed outside the mold for decelerating the flow speed of poured molten metal in the mold, an X ray-based level sensor for detecting the level of molten metal in the mold, notched portions formed at the corners of a quadrangular lower part of the mold, spray nozzles for spraying a cooling liquid directly onto the notched portions, and elastically pushing means for imparting a pushing force corresponding to the static pressure of the molten metal to unnotched portions of the quadrangular lower part of the mold to push the unnotched portions inwardly of the mold, whereby molten metal is continuously poured into the cooled mold to solidify the molten metal so that a cast piece quadrangular in cross section is continuously produced.

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 continuous horizontal strip casting installation for producing a metal strip that can be coiled into a coil has a stationary draw-off unit with multiple draw-off rolls at a distance from a chill mold assigned to a furnace, a strip cutting unit which is displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the metal strip drawn out of the chill mold by the draw-off unit, and a coiling unit with coiling rolls, which can also be displaced in the same longitudinal direction. At least one draw-off roll and one coiling roll are driven in synchronization, and their drives are linked together by a programmable controller. The strip cutting unit is arranged between the draw-off unit and the coiling unit and is also linked to the programmable controller and is moved by the metal strip only when the strip is to be cut.

Abstract: A strand pulling-off method for a metal strand, particularly a steel strip, cast in a curved continuous casting plant, wherein the metal strand is initially vertically pulled from a casting mold, wherein a curved shape is then imparted on the metal strand in a curved entry driver driven with an entry torque, and wherein, after reaching a horizontal strand travel direction, the metal strand is finally straightened in a curved exit driver driven with an exit torque. An entry speed is assigned to the curved entry driver and an exit speed is assigned to the curved exit driver, the entry torque and the exit torque are determined, and the exit speed is adjusted in such a way that the entry torque as well as the exit torque have a positive value.

Abstract: A method for automatic, vertical continuous casting of metals, in particular aluminium alloys, in a casting facility having several molds. According to the method, the liquid metal is fed from a furnace along a spout to the molds and guided, via nozzles with adjustable through-flow, to the molds which are initially closed off by the dummy blocks arranged on a lowerable casting table. The metal through-flow volume of each nozzle is adjusted individually for each mold on the basis of an initial time (t0) and an initial metal level (N0) at which adjustment of the metal level begins, in such a way that the metal in all molds at a pre-set starting time (tS) is at substantially the same starting level (NS) at which the casting table starts being lowered for the production of the metal strands.

Abstract: In a strand guide for a continuous casting plant comprising a plurality of strand supporting elements for supporting the strand, in particular support segments carrying supporting rollers, several support segments being fastened adjacent each other on a supporting framework designed in one piece in its longitudinal extension, each support segment is fastened to the supporting framework by a fixed bearing and a movable bearing spaced apart therefrom in the longitudinal extension of the strand guide, each support segment, by at least one bearing, is pivotally mounted to the supporting framework so as to be pivotable about an axis, the axis being oriented transversely with respect to the longitudinal extension of the strand guide and horizontally, as well as in a vertical plain passing through the longitudinal extension of the supporting framework and by at least one bearing is mounted so as to be adjustable with respect to the supporting framework in a direction toward the pivoting movement of the support segme

Abstract: A method and an installation for producing slabs in a continuous casting plant which includes a strand guiding unit arranged following the casting mold and divided into segments. Each segment is composed of a two-part segment frame whose frame parts are braced together by hydraulic cylinders. Rollers for supporting and conveying the solidifying cast strand are mounted in pairs opposite each other, wherein at least one of these rollers, i.e., the drive roller, is pressed with a defined adjusting force against the cast strand for transmitting the strand conveying forces.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for the early recognition of ruptures when continuously casting steel using an oscillating mold constructed of copper plates, wherein the method includes continuously and comparatively measuring operating parameters, for example, the temperature distribution with respect to location and time in the copper plates, and analyzing the obtained measurement results. For increasing the probability of an accurate evaluation of indications of an acute tendency of ruptures, two measuring data to be compared are coupled with each other as well as with measuring data of at least one third measuring row, and the measuring data are preferably analyzed online.

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

Abstract: Method and apparatus for steering a strip along a desired path. The strip 12 is fed along a guide table 13 by a pair of pinch rolls 50 which are of concave formation so as to grip the strip at two laterally spaced locations at the edges of the strip. A pair of fluid cylinder units 52 are independently operable to vary the pressures applied by the rolls at the two gripping locations to steer the strips. The position of the strip is monitored in the vicinity of the rolls 50 by a strip position sensor 51. Steering of the strip is controlled by a control signal derived from the output of sensor 51. The control signal in the sum of three factors the first of which is a measure of an instantaneous value of the lateral position of the strip, the second of which is a measure of an instantaneous lateral traversing velocity of the strip and the third of which is an integration of instantaneous values of the lateral position of the strip over a preceding time interval.

Abstract: A billet continuous casting machine comprises, a jacket for cooling an outer wall of a quadrangular tubular mold with cooling water, electromagnetic brakes disposed outside the mold and decelerating the flow of poured molten metal in the mold, an X ray-based level sensor for detecting the level of molten metal in the mold, notched portions formed at the corners of a quadrangular lower part of the mold, spray nozzles for spraying a cooling liquid directly onto the notched portions, and elastically pushing unit for imparting a pushing force corresponding to the static pressure of the molten metal to unnotched portions of the quadrangular lower part of the mold to push the unnotched portions inwardly of the mold, whereby molten metal is continuously poured into the cooled mold to solidify the molten metal so that a cast piece quadrangular in cross section is continuously produced. Delay in solidification at sites near the corners of the cast piece is eliminated, and high quality, high speed casting is realized.

Abstract: Casting metal strip by delivering molten metal to a casting pool (81) supported on a pair of parallel casting rolls (16) and passing metal downwardly between the rolls to produce solidified strip (20). Flow of metal to the casting pool (81) is controlled by an input flow control valve (47). At start of casting when pool (81) is being filled speed of rolls (16) is varied in response to variations between actual instantaneous pool level and predicted level until pool approaches desired operational level. Thereafter any variations between instantaneous roll speed and desired operational roll speed are caused to adjust valve (47) to being pool level and roll speed to desired operational valves.

Abstract: A process and system for casting a billet of liquid metal. The liquid metal is cast into a casting die and drawn from the casting die as a billet having a solidified investment and a liquid core. The liquid metal level in the casting die is regulated to a predetermined reference value. Disturbance variables, which act on the liquid metal level in the casting die and which cause a deviation between the actual value and the reference value of the liquid metal level, are estimated, and the influence of the disturbance variables on the actual value of the liquid metal level is compensated or reduced using the estimated disturbance variables.

Abstract: A continuous-casting operation controlling method and apparatus in which: the molten-bath level of molten steel in a mold is detected in a period of from the time point just after the start of injection of the molten steel to the time point when the molten-bath level reaches a molten-bath level for the steady-state operation; and the quantity of discharge of the molten steel is controlled appropriately on the basis of the detected molten-bath level to thereby make it possible to start drawing-out of casting automatically. The molten-bath level is measured continuously by an electrode type molten-bath level meter, so that the molten-bath level ascending rate is obtained on the basis of the change of the molten-bath level. The flow rate of the molten steel discharged from a tundish is adjusted on the basis of the deviation of the molten-bath level ascending rate from a reference rate.

Abstract: A method and a device for casting a strand from molten metal is presented. The molten metal is poured into a mold and then pulled out of the mold as a strand having a liquid core characterized by a solidified shell and a tapering liquid pool. The pouring level associated with the rate at which the liquid metal is poured into the mold is regulated by determining the pouring level and influencing the inflow of liquid metal into the mold by means of a controller whose control parameters are adapted on-line, by means of fuzzy techniques, to any change in the parameters of the controlled system corresponding to the pouring apparatus and the mold.

Abstract: In order to control a molten metal level within a mold of a system comprising a liquid core reduction device, while controlling a fluctuation of the molten metal level caused by a change of operational conditions, such as the withdrawal rate, reduction speed, etc., with improvement of the yield rate of product slabs, a method comprises the steps of: (i) estimating a disturbance to the molten metal level, which is caused by a change in operating conditions of a continuous casting machine before changing the operating conditions; (ii) determining an amount of correction of the control signal to eliminate the disturbance, and determining a delay time of the operation of the pouring means in responses to the control signal after correction; and (iii) applying a control signal containing the amount of correction in advance by a period of the delay time prior to the occurrence of a change in operating conditions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for direct casting of metal alloys from molten metal to continuous sheet or strip product while synchronizing the speeds of the casting surface and driven rolls by providing a master-slave relationship for controlling the casting process.

Abstract: An improved continuous casting mold and foot guide assembly includes a mold having a casting passage defined therein, a frame member, mounting structure for mounting the frame member to the mold for relative movement toward and away from an axis of the casting passage, and a strand support member for providing support to a strand of continuously cast material as it emerges from the casting passage. Biasing structure is provided for biasing the frame member toward the axis of the casting passage and, advantageously, is positioned so as not to occupy space that is behind the frame member. As a result, the assembly is compatible with all models of casting machines and will be less susceptible to degradation as a result of radiant heat and steam that is emitted from the strand during operation. In addition, a load cell is provided for monitoring the amount of relative force between the frame member and the strand during operation.

Abstract: A process for strand casting of steel in a cooled casting mold made to oscillate over a distance h at a frequency f, for manufacturing a product withdrawn from the mold at a casting speed V.sub.C, the metal being surmounted by alubrication product forming a liquid slag, the speed of descent of the casting mold being greater than the casting speed V.sub.C during a negative stripping time t.sub.N. The casting speed VC can be adjusted over a wide range to adapt to well-defined casting conditions without modifying the nature of the lubrication product, by acting in a combined way on the distance and frequency of oscillations according to the chosen casting speed, in such a way that the consumption rate Q of the lubrication product and the negative stripping time t.sub.N are both maintained at an optimum value that remains substantially constant over the entire speed adjustment range, irrespective of the casting speed V.sub.C.

Abstract: A billet guiding unit of a continuous casting plant for thin slabs includes guide rolls supported on oppositely located frames, wherein the frames are tensioned relative to each other against stop surfaces by means of tension rods. Hydraulic cylinders for extending or stretching the tension rods are mounted between corresponding stop surfaces of the frames. The distance between oppositely located rows of rolls of the frames are corrected by determining a lower deviation side of the slab by carrying out a continuous measurement of the thickness of the slab sides, by determining from the difference of the dimensions the required extension of the tension rods on the lower deviation side and by applying to the hydraulic cylinders the pressure required for the extension of the tension rods.

Abstract: A liquid metal/solid metal interface detecting device comprises in general a radiation source for generating gamma radiation, which is directed to pass through a strand extruded from a continuous casting mold. A detector detects the gamma radiation passing through the partially solidified strand to determine a spatial profile for a liquid metal/solid metal interface by relying on the different gamma radiation attenuation characteristics of the solid metal and the liquid metal. Preferably, the gamma radiation is at energies of greater than one million electron volts. In some embodiments, a movable support carries the radiation source and the detector and moves the radiation source and detector along and around the ingot enabling generation of a three-dimensional profile of the liquid metal/solid metal interface by utilizing tomographic imaging techniques.

Abstract: A liquid metal/solid metal interface detecting device comprises in general a radiation source for generating gamma radiation, which is directed to pass through a strand extruded from a continuous casting mold. A detector detects the gamma radiation passing through the partially solidified strand to determine a spatial profile for a liquid metal/solid metal interface by relying on the different gamma radiation attenuation characteristics of the solid metal and the liquid metal. Preferably, the gamma radiation is at energies of greater than one million electron volts. In some embodiments, a movable support carries the radiation source and the detector and moves the radiation source and detector along and around the ingot enabling generation of a three-dimensional profile of the liquid metal/solid metal interface by utilizing tomographic imaging techniques.

Abstract: In the manufacture of metal strip, the strip is cast in a caster (1) and it is then passed through a temperature control zone (5) where the temperature of the strip is brought to a predetermined level. To adjust the temperature of the strip, as its speed of passage through the temperature control zone varies, the temperature control means must be adjusted. Until operating conditions have stabilized, it is necessary to hang a part of the strip leaving the caster in a loop so as to accommodate variations in operating conditions.