Including Lubricating Of Mold Surface Patents (Class 164/472)
  • Patent number: 9393615
    Abstract: A method for producing a cast strip from steel with properties that can be adjusted across a cross section and a length of the strip, includes applying a coating mass including a carrier liquid with additives contained therein to a side of a rotating cast band of a horizontal strip cast system, drying the coating mass for removing liquid components of the coating mass, applying a steel melt to the side of the rotating cast band via a melt container, wherein the dried coating mass is materially united with the applied steel melt; and allowing the steel melt to solidifiy to a pre-strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: SALZGITTER FLACHSTAHL GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Evertz, Zacharias Georgeou, Bianca Springub, Hellfried Eichholz, Rune Schmidt-Jürgensen
  • Patent number: 9120145
    Abstract: There is disclosed an oil type release agent for metal casting includes 0-7.5% by mass of water consisting of one or two kinds of water selected from distilled water, ion-exchange kinds of water, tap water and water includes any one of aforementioned kinds of water and electrolyte(s) dissolved in any one of aforementioned kinds of water, and 0.3-30% by mass of a solubilizing agent, a spray method using the oil type release agent, and an electrostatic spray apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignees: AOKI SCIENCE INSTITUTE CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirobumi Ohira, Koji Togawa, Daisuke Serino, Kazuo Kato
  • Publication number: 20130206353
    Abstract: Lubricating compositions for use in the casting of steel, in particular in continuous casting processes are provided. Methods for making and using such compositions are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: PROSIMET S.p.A
    Inventor: PROSIMET S.p.A
  • Patent number: 8307883
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mold powder supply apparatus using the waste heat of a tundish, which can collect waste heat from molten steel in the tundish, and preheat and dry mold powder. The mold powder supply apparatus using the waste heat of a tundish according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a powder hopper that is mounted to a frame close to a tundish to absorb heat radiated from the top of the tundish, through one side; an agitator that agitates mold powder filled in the powder hopper; and a supply pipe that is connected to the bottom of the powder hopper to supply the powder hopper into a mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Hyundai Steel Company
    Inventors: Jinsoo Jang, Jutae Choi, Sukhyun Yoo
  • Patent number: 8122941
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an aluminum alloy including aluminum as a basic component, silicon, copper, magnesium, iron, manganese, zinc, nickel and the like in a predetermined composition ratio, and a method of manufacturing of a vehicle cylinder liner having excellent wear resistance and heat resistance using the aluminum alloy. The method of manufacturing a vehicle cylinder liner includes the steps of: adding 50˜500 ppm of phosphorus (P) to the aluminum alloy while maintaining a temperature of the aluminum alloy at 700˜800° C. in a holding furnace, stabilizing the molten aluminum alloy including the phosphorus (P) for 30˜60 minutes to reform the molten aluminum alloy, and then continuous-casting the reformed molten aluminum alloy to form a round bar; hot-forging the round bar to forming a cylindrical liner; and machining an internal surface of the cylinder liner, with which a reciprocating piston comes into contact, to allow silicon particles to protrude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Young Gi Kim, Seok Jun Kim, Hoon Mo Park
  • Patent number: 8047259
    Abstract: A mold, comprising: a substrate, the substrate having an inside surface and an outside surface; and a ceramic coating formed on at least substantially the entire inside surface, the ceramic coating comprising chromic oxide, silicon dioxide, and alumina. A method for making the present mold is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignees: Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co., Ltd., FIH (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventors: Li Long, De-Bao Ma, Chao-Hsun Lin, Da-Wei Ding, Yong-Gang Zhu
  • Patent number: 7661457
    Abstract: A gas flow control system for molten metal molds with permeable perimeter walls, wherein an approximately constant gas mass flow is maintained in individual molds and approximately equal gas mass flows are maintained in molds on the same mold table. A PLC is utilized in combination with a gas mass flow controller to continually monitor and maintain the approximately desired mass flow of gas to the mold cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Wagstaff, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Snyder, David Salee, Steve Anderson, Brett Thielman
  • Patent number: 7637306
    Abstract: A continuous casting apparatus, continuous casting method and aluminum alloy cast bar enable stable and smooth high-speed casting with a reduced amount of a lubricant and prevent occurrence of breakout and lubricant reaction products, resulting in reduction in ingot failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Show A Denko K.K.
    Inventors: Masashi Fukuda, Masatoshi Fukushima
  • Patent number: 7493936
    Abstract: A first inclined surface and a second inclined surface are provided on the inside of a mold to constitute a so-called two-step tapered mold. A mold powder is adjusted to have a total content of CaO component and SiO2 component of not less than 50 wt %, and a content of F component of not more than 11 wt %. The inclination rates of the first and second inclined surfaces are set according to the basicity or solidification temperature of the powder to be used. The pore area of molten steel discharge ports of a dipping nozzle is set to not less than 2500 mm2 to less than 6400 m2. The discharge angle of the molten steel discharge ports is set, based on the horizontal, obliquely downward to not less than 10° to not more than 35°. According to such a continuous casting method, solidification delay at angle parts of a bloom can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Nakata, Ko Kobayashi, Kazuki Sumida
  • Publication number: 20080041553
    Abstract: A gas flow control system for molten metal molds with permeable perimeter walls, wherein an approximately constant gas mass flow is maintained in individual molds and approximately equal gas mass flows are maintained in molds on the same mold table. A PLC is utilized in combination with a gas mass flow controller to continually monitor and maintain the approximately desired mass flow of gas to the mold cavities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Inventors: Todd Snyder, David Salee, Steve Anderson, Brett Thielman
  • Patent number: 7284591
    Abstract: A perimeter wall lubrication system for molten metal molds wherein the lubricant conduit within the permeable perimeter wall is configured with a K constant which is lower than 40 or more in the equation where X is the perimeter of the groove in the permeable perimeter wall and Y is the perimeter to area ratio, relative to the equation k=XY in a plot of the respective values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Wagstaff, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael K. Anderson
  • Patent number: 7273086
    Abstract: In a lubricant composition suitable for use in the manufacture of aluminum alloys comprising lubricant base selected from the group consisting of solid lubricants, liquid lubricants, grease lubricants, emulsion lubricants, and dispersion lubricants, the improvement wherein the lubricant composition further comprises: an effective amount of water and surfactant. It is believed that mixing oil with water and surfactant provides a method for uniformly distributing the surface oxide at the meniscus for casting applications. Uniform distribution of the oxide at the meniscus reduces vertical fold formation that can lead to cracks in the aluminum ingot. In addition, the mixture promotes uniform heat transfer around the mold. Uniform heat transfer around the mold allows the solidifying aluminum alloy to stay in contact with the mold longer and form stronger ingot shells. A process for continuous or semi-continuous casting of aluminum alloys via the use of this lubricant composition is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Ray T. Richter, Brian C. Reynolds, Jim N. Hart, Patricia A. Stewart, James R. Anglin, Larry F. Weiserman, Thomas J. Kasun
  • 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: 7172141
    Abstract: A lubricant mist sprayer is composed by spray headers, which have lubricant and gas supply pipes integrally fixed to each other by fixing members and which are spaced apart a required distance from and are arranged in parallel with surfaces of pinch rolls, and mist nozzles which are arranged at required intervals longitudinally of the spray headers for spraying lubricant mist m over the surfaces of the pinch rolls and which communicate with the lubricant and gas supply pipes so as to make the lubricant mist sprayer compact in size and facilitate arrangement of the lubricant mist sprayer in a narrow space of a roll chamber surrounding the pinch rolls in a metal strip continuous caster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Isamu Nakayama, Katsumi Nakayama
  • Patent number: 7143812
    Abstract: In a lubricant composition suitable for use in the manufacture of aluminum alloys comprising lubricant base selected from the group consisting of solid lubricants, liquid lubricants, grease lubricants, emulsion lubricants, and dispersion lubricants, the improvement wherein the lubricant composition further comprises: an effective amount of water and surfactant or water and a compound comprising phosphates, borates, fluorides, and silicates. It is believed that mixing oil with water and surfactant or one of these compounds provides a method for uniformly distributing the surface oxide at the meniscus for casting applications, thereby reducing vertical fold formation that lead to cracks in aluminum ingots. In addition, the mixture promotes uniform heat transfer around the mold allowing the solidifying aluminum alloy to stay in contact with the mold longer and form stronger ingot shells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: John Bahaychick, James R. Anglin, Patricia A. Stewart, Thomas A. Ferrazzoli, Larry F. Wieserman
  • Patent number: 7077186
    Abstract: A mold for horizontal casting of molten metal comprising a mold body forming an open-ended mold cavity having an inlet end and an outlet end. An annular permeable wall member is mounted in the mold body adjacent the inlet end of the mold cavity with an inner face thereof forming an interior face of the mold. A refractory transition plate is mounted at the inlet end of the mold cavity, this transition plate providing a mold inlet opening having a cross-section less than that of the mold cavity. This provides an annular shoulder at the inlet end of the cavity. Means are provided for feeding molten aluminum through the inlet opening. Separate conduits are also provided for feeding a gas into the shoulder and via the permeable wall means for providing a layer of gas between the metal and the inner face of the mold. A gas that is more reactive with molten aluminum is fed into the shoulder and a less reactive gas is fed via the permeable wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Novelis Inc.
    Inventors: Wade Lee Bowles, Jack Hamby, Alexander J. Fischer, David A. Salee
  • Patent number: 6840303
    Abstract: An ingot I made of a light alloy is produced using a continuous casting apparatus including a cylindrical water-cooled casting mold which is disposed immediately below a spout having an upward-turned molten metal receiving port and a downward-turned molten metal outlet, and which has an inside radius r1 larger than an inside radius r2 of the molten metal outlet, and lubricating oil discharge passages provided below the spout to supply a lubricating oil to between the water-cooled casting mold 13 and a molten metal m brought into contact with the water-cooled casting mold. In this production, a lubricating oil having a vaporization rate of 30% or more at 300° is used, and an annular gas accumulation for spacing the molten metal apart from outlets of the lubricating oil discharge passages is defined below an annular protrusion of the spout by vaporization of the lubricating oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Teruyuki Ohtani, Nobuhiro Saito, Takeyoshi Nakamura, Takashi Idegomori, Kiyonobu Mizoue, Yoshiyuki Fujikawa
  • Patent number: 6837300
    Abstract: A lubrication control system for use with or in a metal casting mold. Aspects of the invention include a lubricant flow stop or plug which prevents or controls the flow of lubricant from the mold during non-casting times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Wagstaff, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy James Cooper, Brett Thielman
  • Patent number: 6808009
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for providing consistent lubricant and/or gas flow through multiple permeable perimeter walls in a casting mold table. One or more of the properties of the perimeter walls indicative of the lubricant flow or gas flow rates through the perimeter walls are predetermined and the sizing of the surface area of the delivery conduits providing the lubricant or the gas are determined based on a correlation to the properties related to the measured or estimated lubricant flow rate and/or measured or estimated gas flow rates through the perimeter walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Alcan International Limited
    Inventor: Michael K. Anderson
  • Publication number: 20040159419
    Abstract: A subject for the invention is to provide a method of continuous steel casting in which although an “immersion nozzle constituted of a refractory material comprising alumina as the main component” is used for continuous steel casting, this nozzle suffers little fusion loss and no alumina deposition thereon and a clean steel casting can be stably obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Inventors: Osamu Nomura, Akihiro Morita, Shigeki Uchida, Tomoaki Omoto, Wei Lin
  • Publication number: 20040069435
    Abstract: A lubrication control system for use with or in a metal casting mold. Aspects of the invention include a lubricant flow stop or plug which prevents or controls the flow of lubricant from the mold during non-casting times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventors: Timothy James Cooper, Brett Thielman
  • Publication number: 20030213577
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for providing consistent lubricant and/or gas flow through multiple permeable perimeter walls in a casting mold table. One or more of the properties of the perimeter walls indicative of the lubricant flow or gas flow rates through the perimeter walls are predetermined and the sizing of the surface area of the delivery conduits providing the lubricant or the gas are determined based on a correlation to the properties related to the measured or estimated lubricant flow rate and/or measured or estimated gas flow rates through the perimeter walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventor: Michael K. Anderson
  • Patent number: 6609557
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for providing consistent lubricant and/or gas flow through multiple permeable perimeter walls in a casting mold table. One or more of the properties of the perimeter walls indicative of the lubricant flow or gas flow rates through the perimeter walls are pre-determined and the sizing of the surface area of the delivery conduits providing the lubricant or the gas are determined based on a correlation to the properties related to the measured or estimated lubricant flow rate and/or measured or estimated gas flow rates through the perimeter walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Alcan International Limited
    Inventor: Michael K. Anderson
  • Patent number: 6568461
    Abstract: A process and a continuous casting installation for the production of thin slabs, preferably of steel with a predetermined solidification thickness of, e.g., 50 mm, in which an optimum surface quality and internal quality of the strand with minimal and predetermined solidification thickness and plant capacity, and accordingly minimal rolling effort, is achieved by a qualitative adjustment of casting and rolling in the region of the strand guide, oscillation of the casting mold by a hydraulically operated lifting platform, feeding of casting powder to the mold, and an immersion nozzle with a specific cross sectional area of flow relating to the process and continuous casting installation, resulting in a satisfactory supply of casting slag and bath movement in the cast surface compared with a standard slab with a thickness of 200 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Fritz-Peter Pleschiutschnigg
  • Patent number: 6520246
    Abstract: Device and corresponding method for the continuous casting of molten materials, comprising a vertical duct having the shape of a funnel made of refractory material for receiving molten material, and a second duct where the molten material is cooled off, the two ducts being set one on top of the other and being axially aligned. The molten material is injected into the channel, around a stretch of which electromagnetic means are set for generating magnetic forces on the molten material, the said means consisting of a plurality of windings of electrically conductive material and of a ferromagnetic core and may be electrically supplied to produce a magnetic flux along the direction of the channel, thus producing a set of forces acting on the molten material which are directed orthogonally with respect to the direction of the said magnetic flux so as to maintain detachment of the outer surface of the molten material from the walls of the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Danieli & C. Officine Meccaniche S.p.A.
    Inventors: Alfredo Poloni, Milorad Pavlicevic, Anatoly Kolesnichenko, Andrea Codutti
  • Patent number: 6446703
    Abstract: The present invention includes a method and apparatus for enhancing the quality of cast metal being cast in a continuous casting process. In particular, the method and apparatus of the present invention combines temperature and quality control sensing to achieve closed-loop control of the cooling of molten metal in a continuous caster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Nichols Aluminum-Golden, Inc.
    Inventors: Rudolf Roder, Marcel Witschi
  • Patent number: 6386271
    Abstract: A method of continuous casting of a steel employs a mold power having a viscosity of 0.5-1.5 poise at 1,300° C. and a solidification temperature of 1,190-1,270° C., in which the mass ratio of CaO to SiO2 is 1.2-1.9, and casting is carried out under the following conditions: casting speed is 2.5-10 m/minute; mold oscillation stroke is 4-15 mm; and specific cooling intensity in secondary cooling of a slab is 1.0-5.0 liter/kg-steel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Kawamoto, Masahito Hanao, Hirohisa Kikuchi, Toshihiko Murakami, Masahiko Oka
  • Patent number: 6354364
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for cooling and coating a mold in a continuous caster. The cooling of the mold is controlled in at least one of the x- or y-directions. The coating of the mold is accomplished subsequent to the cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Nichols Aluminum-Golden, Inc.
    Inventors: Rudolf Roder, Marcel Witschi, Ernst Zürcher
  • Patent number: 6321828
    Abstract: A process and a continuous casting installation for the production of thin slabs, preferably of steel with a predetermined solidification thickness of, e.g., 50 mm, in which an optimum surface quality and internal quality of the strand with minimal and predetermined solidification thickness and plant capacity, and accordingly minimal rolling effort, is achieved by a qualitative adjustment of casting and rolling in the region of the strand guide, oscillation of the casting mold by a hydraulically operated lifting platform, feeding of casting powder to the mold, and an immersion nozzle with a specific cross sectional area of flow relating to the process and continuous casting installation, resulting in a satisfactory supply of casting slag and bath movement in the cast surface compared with a standard slab with a thickness of 200 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Fritz-Peter Pleschiutschnigg
  • Patent number: 6269862
    Abstract: A method for preparing a mould lubricant for use in direct chill casting of reactive metals, including magnesium, magnesium alloys, aluminum, and aluminum alloys, proceeds through combining a casting lubricant and a gaseous oxidation-inhibiting agent in a vessel external from the mold under vacuum conditions. The casting lubricant is selected from a variety of casting oils and casting greases. The gaseous oxidation-inhibiting agent is selected from a variety of inert gases, including sulfur hexafluoride (SF6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Cast Centre Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: Cheryl Richards, Stephen Ronald Peck, Phillip Wilmott Baker
  • Publication number: 20010009186
    Abstract: A method for cleaning and lubricating an injection sleeve and plunger tip during a fill and injection cycle in a cold chamber die casting machine, in which the plunger tip has an annular generally arcuate recess, lubricating nozzles, lubricating conduits and scrap exhaust conduits. Pressurized air is released into the recess during the injection cycle and debris is exhausted through the scrap exhaust conduits. Upon completion of the injection cycle, the release of pressurized air into the recess is terminated. A mixture of pressurized air and lubricant is released through the recess onto the injection sleeve during the withdrawal cycle. Upon completion of the withdrawal cycle, release of the mixture of pressurized air and lubricant into the recess is terminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Publication date: July 26, 2001
    Inventors: Guido Perrella, Jean Coronado
  • Patent number: 6202792
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for lubricating an edge dam in a twin-roll type strip casting machine are disclosed. A continuous uniform lubrication boundary layer is formed on the friction face between the casting rolls and the edge dam, so that the wear of the edge dam refractory material can be reduced, and that the friction faces of the casting roll can be protected, thereby improving the performance and the durability of the machine. The apparatus includes a lubricant spouting nozzle disposed adjacently to a friction face of the casting roll, and a lubricant supplying device for supplying a lubricant to the lubricant spouting nozzle so as to make the lubricant spouted and adhered on the friction face of the casting roll. Further a lubricant spreading roller is installed at a rear of the lubricant spouting nozzle, for pressing the lubricant onto the friction face of the casting roll with a certain pressure so as to make the lubricant clad on the friction face. The method includes the following steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignees: Pohang Iron & Steel Co., Ltd., Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technology
    Inventors: Han Nam Cheong, Dong Kyun Choo, Tae Wook Kang
  • Patent number: 6158498
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Wagstaff, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Bruce Wagstaff
  • Patent number: 6145581
    Abstract: While an insufficient lubricating effect caused by lack of lubricant is prevented and also while contamination of molten metal and insertion of molten metal caused by excessive feed of lubricant are prevented, a lubricating effect can be provided and continuous casting can be conducted over a long period of time. Molten metal is poured into a molten metal pool formed by a pair of cooling drums and side dams. The thus poured molten metal is cooled and solidified on circumferential surfaces of the cooling drums, so that a strip can be produced. In the above continuous strip casting method, the side dam is composed in such a manner that a portion of the ceramic plate on the inlet side in the rotational direction of the cooling drum is chamfered, wherein the portion comes into contact with an end surface of the cooling drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Nippon Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohide Takeuchi, Tatsumi Saito, Kazuo Hamai, Kiyoshi Sawano, Masanobu Egashira
  • Patent number: 6125919
    Abstract: A mold powder for continuous steel casting, contains CaO, SiO.sub.2 and fluoride as the main components. The ratio by weight of CaO', represented by the following equation, to SiO.sub.2 is 0.9-2.8 and the CaF.sub.2 content is about 5-60 wt. %. The powder contains Na.sub.2 O in an amount of 0-25 wt. % and C in an amount of 0-10 wt. %.CaO'=T.CaO-F.times.(56/38)wherein T.CaO represents the total Ca content in the mold powder as converted to CaO(wt. %) and F represents the total F content in the mold powder(wt. %). The powder is used in a method for continuous steel casting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahito Hanao, Masayuki Kawamoto, Yoshinori Tanizawa, Seiji Kumakura
  • Patent number: 6070649
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for a metal melt, especially steel, into a vertically oscillating mold via a tundish or intermediate vessel provided with an immersion nozzle to generate endless strands, especially thin strands of steel wherein the intermediate vessel has an open first chamber and a closed second chamber. The metal melt is supplied from the casting ladle to the first open chamber. The second chamber is connected with a vacuum device. An immersion pipe, which projects into the mold and which can be vertically oscillated, is provided in the base of the second chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Urlau, Wolfgang Reichelt, Ewald Feuerstacke, Wolfgang Dohring
  • Patent number: 6059014
    Abstract: Method of casting steel strip in which molten steel solidifies as a shell on a chilled casting surface (100). The casting surface (100) has a texture (101) formed by a regular pattern of surface projections (103) and depressions (102) and the steel chemistry is selected to generate in the casting pool deoxidation products which form on the casting surface (100) a layer of less than 5 microns thickness a major proportion of which is liquid during cooling of the steel to below its liquidus temperature in the formation of said solidified shell. The substantially liquid layer suppresses the formation of surface defects in the solidifying metal surface due to early deposition of solid oxides on the casting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignees: Ishikawajima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., BHP Steel (JLA) Pty., Ltd.
    Inventor: Lazar Strezov
  • Patent number: 5954117
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for casting metal between two casting surfaces (8, 10), such as a roll caster, by feeding molten metal (16) into the caster. A fine, uniform layer of carbonaceous material (32) is applied to the exterior of the casting surface (28) upstream of a casting zone (2). Thereafter, the molten metal is solidified as it passes through the casting zone (Z), and the gauge of the solidified metal is reduced at least 10%. The cast sleet (12) of this invention exhibits a uniform surface appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Alcoa Aluminio Do Nordeste S.A.
    Inventor: Wilton D. Godinho
  • Patent number: 5941295
    Abstract: An improved continuous casting system and process involves the removal of mold flux from the outer surfaces of the cast strand after it is withdrawn from the continuous casting mold. This will increase the quality of the cast product, as well as reduce the production of corrosive steams and liquids that typically form as a byproduct of the mold flux downstream of the mold. It will also reduce costs that are associated with water treatment. In the preferred embodiment, the mold flux is loosened from the strand by the application of pressurized fluid, and the flux and excess fluid are then removed by suction. The removed flux is preferably dried and then stored in a collection space. Multiple collection spaces may be provided for storing different type of recovered flux. Also disclosed is a system and process of removing flux from the collection space and then premixing it in predetermined proportions with virgin mold flux for reintroduction to the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: AG Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: James Bernard Sears, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5934359
    Abstract: Method of casting steel strip in which molten steel solidifies as a shell on a chilled casting surface (100). The casting surface (100) has a texture (101) formed by a regular pattern of surface projections (103) and depressions (102) and the steel chemistry is selected to generate in the casting pool deoxidation products which form on the casting surface (100) a layer of less than 5 microns thickness a major proportion of which is liquid during cooling of the steel to below its liquidus temperature in the formation of said solidified shell. The substantially liquid layer suppresses the formation of surface defects in the solidifying metal surface due to early deposition of solid oxides on the casting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignees: Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Company Limited, BHP Steel (Jla) Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Lazar Strezov
  • Patent number: 5927377
    Abstract: Automatic and manual methods of wiping and applying a mold release solution to a rotary chill casting wheel, which eliminate the problems of improper manual application of mold release fluids and the inadequate cleaning of the casting wheel due to lateral and elliptical displacement of the rotating casting ring mold. The mold is wiped with a combination of felt pads during a casting run. The mold is lubricated with a mold release fluid from an atomizer assembly, which accurately deposits the lubricant fluid to encompass the entire casting surface of the rotary chill casting wheel surface while the casting wheel rotates, before introduction of the metal melt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Continuus Properzi S.P.A
    Inventors: Dennis K. Peters, Weston L. Wassell
  • Patent number: 5887647
    Abstract: The invention provides continuously-cast product free of ambient atmosphere contaminants and free of nonmetal solid entrapment. Methods and apparatus are provided for flow of molten metal from ladle to tundish to mold machine, free of contact with ambient atmosphere; and, tundish slag cover is removed, by discharge of a nonreactive gas to provide a selected limited surface area of tundish metal, which is free of slag cover, for insertion of a ladle shroud to deliver molten metal, free of entrapment of nonmetal slag cover, for continuous casting. Transitional casts, before clean metal is obtainable with each new ladle of molten metal, are eliminated; and the duration of uninterrupted continuous casting of clean metal is extended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Weirton Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Scott D. Melville, Richard E. Hauldren
  • Patent number: 5873405
    Abstract: A process and apparatus are described for direct chill casting. The apparatus comprises an open ended mould cavity formed by a casting surface with an upper and lower end. A refractory sleeve is located at the upper end of this mould cavity and has an inner diameter less than the inner diameter of the mould, whereby the sleeve forms an overhang with the mould cavity. This sleeve is adapted to receive molten metal. Below the lower end of the mould, means are provided for supplying coolant to chill the descending hot metal body thereby forming an ingot. A permeable wall element is disposed in the peripheral wall of the mould cavity below the overhang and this element has an inner wall forming part of the cavity. Means are provided for feeding gas into and through the permeable wall element to discharge through its inner wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Claude Carrier, Clark Howard Weaver
  • Patent number: 5823245
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Clecim
    Inventor: Manfred Wolf
  • Patent number: 5785112
    Abstract: Mold for continuously casting rolling slabs or extrusion billets where the mold is in the form of a hollow cylindrical body with a cylindrical mold interior, and an inlet and an outlet opening, and the mold comprises at least two closed, ring-shaped mold elements with a common concentric central axis, the mold axis, where a mold element, the inner sleeve, lies on the inside with respect to the mold axis and defines the sides of the cylindrical mold interior, and the other mold element, the supporting member, lies outside with respect to the central axis of the mold and accommodates the inner sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: Alusuisse Technology & Management Ltd.
    Inventors: Bertrand Carrupt, Maurice Constantin
  • Patent number: 5720336
    Abstract: Method for continuously casting metal strip of the kind in which molten metal is introduced into the nip between a pair of parallel casting rolls (16) via a metal delivery nozzle (19) disposed above the nip to create a casting pool (30) of molten metal supported on casting surfaces (16A) of the rolls immediately above the nip and the casting rolls (16) are rotated to deliver a solidified metal strip (20) downwardly from the nip. The casting surfaces (16A) are smooth so as to have an Arithmetic Mean Roughness Value (R.sub.a) of less than 5 microns and the casting pool contains material to form on each of the casting surfaces a thin layer interposed between the casting surface and the casting pool during metal solidification a major proportion of which layer is liquid during the metal solidification and the liquid of the layer has a wetting angle of less than 40.degree. on the casting surface. This promotes wetting of the smooth casting surfaces and increases heat flux during metal solidification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignees: Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Company Ltd., BHP Steel (JLA) Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Lazar Strezov
  • Patent number: 5682942
    Abstract: The subject of the invention is a method of lubricating a mold (1) for the continuous casting of a metal product (16), of the type including a vigorously-cooled vertically-oscillating metal tubular element (2) defining a passage (4) for the cast metal and intended to cause, in contact with its wall (3) in said passage, the solidification of said metal product, in which a lubricant in the liquid state is injected through said metal tubular element toward said metal product being solidified, wherein said injection is carried out at points distributed annularly at a single level of said tubular element, said level lying at a distance greater than 20 cm from the lowest level at which solidification of said product is able to be initiated, and in that the flow rate of said lubricant is sufficient to cause a fraction of said lubricant to rise up along said wall to the level at which solidification of said product is effectively initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignees: Unimetal Societe Francaise Des Aciers Longs, Ascometal, Centre De Recherches Metallurgiques-Centrum Voor Research in De Metallurgie, Sollac, Ugine Savoie, Societe Anonyme Des Forges et Acieries de Dilling
    Inventors: Eric Perrin, Jacques Spiquel, Jean-Marc Jolivet, Pierre Courbe, Paul Naveau
  • Patent number: 5678623
    Abstract: Casting equipment for continuous or semi-continuous direct chill casting of metals, in particular the casting of billets or ingots of aluminum, has a mold cavity (4) with an inlet (2) that is upwardly open, an intermediate, inwardly facing and heat insulated overhang or hot-top (8), and an outlet with a vertically movable supporting device (5). A slit (10) supplies water to cool the molted metal. The wall in the mold cavity is wholly or partly constituted by a permeable material, whereby oil and/or gas are supplied through the permeable material to form an oil and/or gas layer between the metal and the wall of the mold to prevent the metal from coming into direct contact with the wall of the mold. The oil and gas are supplied separately through two independent, and, by means of a sealing element (14) or the like, physically separated rings or wall elements (12, 13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: Norsk Hydro A.S.
    Inventors: Idar Kjetil Steen, Bjarne Heggset, Torstein S.ae butted.ther, Sverre Hanaset, Karl Ven.ang.s
  • Patent number: 5638893
    Abstract: The parting agent spray system is used with a roll casting machine to reduce the parting problems associated with releasing the casting-strip from the rolls. The parting system comprises a bank of self-cleaning spray nozzles for each of the upper roll and the lower roll of the caster. Each bank of nozzles is enclosed in its own individual housing which terminates proximal to the surface of the roll, and is movably located on a track. The housing is utilized to contain any excess graphite spray and prevent it from escaping from the area around the roll caster and contaminating the surrounding environment. The nozzles are grouped into zones, each zone connected to a parting agent solution source via an influent parting agent solution line, and connected to an air source via an air supply line for controlling the flow of the parting agent solution through each of the nozzles and atomizing the same, thus allowing the nozzles in each zone to be independently manipulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: FATA Hunter, Inc.
    Inventors: Subbiah Sankaran, Apparao Duvvuri
  • Patent number: 5636681
    Abstract: A layer of liquid parting agent, and any solid detritus contained therein, is completely removed from a casting surface of a rotating belt after contact with molten metal. A new layer of liquid parting agent is applied to the casting surface thereafter and prior to renewed contact with the molten metal. The removal of used parting agent and the application of fresh helps to prevent the formation of surface blemishes and defects on the cast metal strip product. Such blemishes and defects can also be minimized by using an injector having a flexible tip used to inject the molten metal onto the casting surface and preferably one or more spacers to create a gap between the tip and the casting surface itself. The spacer is preferably a screen of wire strands orientated to minimize disruption of the new layer of liquid parting agent applied to the casting surface. By avoiding disruption of the new layer of liquid parting agent, surface blemishes on the cast product are minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: John Sulzer, Olivo G. Sivilotti, Ronald R. Desrosiers