Directly Applying Liquid Coolant To Product Patents (Class 164/486)
  • Patent number: 11759851
    Abstract: A method for continuously casting steel capable of reducing center segregation that occurs in a slab. In a section in a continuous casting machine in a slab withdrawal direction, a section from a start point at which the average value of solid phase ratios along a thickness direction at a widthwise center of a slab is within a range of 0.4 or more and 0.8 or less to an end point at which the average value of solid phase ratios along the thickness direction at the widthwise center of the slab is greater than the average value of solid phase ratios at the start point and is 1.0 or less is set as a first section. The slab is cooled by water in the first section at a water flow rate per surface area of the slab within a range of 50 L/(m2×min) or more and 2,000 L/(m2×min) or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shuhei Irie, Satoshi Ueoka, Hirokazu Sugihara, Hiroyuki Fukuda, Norichika Aramaki, Akitoshi Matsui, Kenichi Osuka, Sho Kokufu
  • Patent number: 11440086
    Abstract: There is provided a method for producing a Cu—Ni—Sn alloy by a continuous casting method or a semi-continuous casting method, the method including pouring a molten Cu—Ni—Sn alloy from one end of a mold, both ends of which are open, and continuously drawing out the alloy as an ingot from the other end of the mold while solidifying a part of the alloy, the part being near the mold; and spraying mist-like liquid on the drawn-out ingot to cool the ingot, thereby making a cast product of the Cu—Ni—Sn alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kensuke Ishii
  • Patent number: 11413670
    Abstract: Provided is a cooling device, where a hot-finish-rolling mill includes a plurality of nozzles which spray cooling water toward one of or both of upper and lower surfaces of a hot-rolled steel sheet just after rolled by rolling stands, the nozzles are provided on the inside of the upper and lower guides or adjoining to the guides on a downstream side, and a nozzle spray distance changes depending on a position of the nozzle in a rolling direction, wherein a spray angle of the nozzle at a position whose nozzle spray distance is the largest is smaller than a spray angle of the nozzle at a position whose nozzle spray distance is the smallest, and the spray angle of the nozzle becomes the same or smaller as the nozzle spray distance becomes large.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Serizawa, Takayuki Murai, Yoshiaki Suematsu, Satoru Hayashi, Tomoya Nakao, Hiroshi Niitani
  • Patent number: 11123793
    Abstract: A coolant nozzle (1) for cooling a metal strand in a continuous casting installation has a mouthpiece (5), which is arranged at a nozzle outlet end (4) and through which liquid coolant (6) can emerge from the coolant nozzle (1). To allow a rapid buildup of pressure at the coolant nozzle (1), it provides a feed (8), which is formed as a tube-in-tube system (9) arranged upstream of the mouthpiece (5) in the direction of through-flow (7) and has a feed outlet end (10), through the first tube (11) in which control air (13) can be brought up to the feed outlet end (10) and through the second tube (12) of which the liquid coolant (6) can be fed to the mouthpiece (5) by way of the feed outlet end (10), and also provides a control valve (14), which is integrated in the feed (8), is arranged at the feed outlet end (10), can be actuated pneumatically by using the control air (13) and is intended for controlling the feed of the liquid coolant (6) into the mouthpiece (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Inventors: Lukasz Bilski, Markus Eckert, Thomas Fuernhammer, Reinhard Simon, Thomas Stepanek
  • Patent number: 10974316
    Abstract: A secondary cooling method and a secondary cooling device for a casting product casted in a continuous casting machine, the continuous casting machine including, in a secondary cooling zone below a mold, a plurality of pairs of support rolls that support the casting product from both sides of the casting product in a thickness direction, a cooling device being disposed between support rolls adjacent to each other along a casting direction of the continuous casting machine, the cooling device including a coolant pipe that supplies a coolant, and a coolant guide plate with a flat plate shape for spreading the coolant on the casting product, the coolant guide plate being disposed parallel to and spaced in a perpendicular direction from a surface of the casting product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki Kuwauchi, Hitoshi Funagane, Satoru Hayashi
  • Patent number: 10864576
    Abstract: An apparatus and a system including a casting pit; a mold including a reservoir and a cavity; a coolant feed operable to introduce a coolant to a periphery of a metal emerging from the mold cavity; an array of water vapor exhaust ports about at least the top periphery of the casting pit; a mechanism to introduce an inert fluid into the coolant feed. A method for a direct chill casting including, after detecting a bleed out, exhausting generated gas from the casting pit at a flow volume rate that is enhanced relative to a flow volume rate prior to detecting bleed out or run out; introducing an inert gas into the casting pit; and introducing an inert fluid into a coolant feed to the casting mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Almex USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravindra V. Tilak, Rodney W. Wirtz, Ronald M. Streigle
  • Patent number: 9745499
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to hexagonal boron nitride nanosheet/ceramic nanocomposite powder including surface-modified hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets which serve as a reinforcing agent for the matrix ceramic, and a method for producing the same, and a hexagonal boron nitride nanosheet/ceramic nanocomposite material including the hexagonal boron nitride nanosheet/ceramic nanocomposite powder and a method for producing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Soonhyung Hong, Bin Lee, Dongju Lee
  • Publication number: 20140374052
    Abstract: The subject matter of the invention is a device for the direct cooling of a mould for the vertical semicontinuous casting of rolling ingots or extrusion billets (3) with gradual quenching by double jet (4 and 5), the first at substantially 32° and second at substantially 22°, simultaneously and delivering substantially the same flow rates and speeds from a single liquid chamber (2). Another subject of the invention is a method using said device, with or without graphite insert (1) on the working faces and in association with various bottom block configurations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Philipe Jarry, Olivier Ribaud, Pierre-Yves Menet, Laurent Jouet Pastre, Emmanuel Waz, Aurèle Mariaux
  • Patent number: 8631854
    Abstract: With a continuous casting method for producing preliminary profiles, in particular double T preliminary profiles, the downwardly flowing cooling water is pushed out of the internal curve of the preliminary profile strand (3) via the profile flanges and discharged using water nozzles (21, 22) aligned substantially to the crossover from the bar (4) to the respective flange (5, 6) by means of the diverting water delivered via the water nozzles (21, 22). In this way the excessive cooling caused by downwardly running cooling water is largely avoided in the internal curve of the preliminary profile strand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: SMS Concast AG
    Inventors: Christian Dratva, Klaus Von Eynatten
  • Patent number: 8596335
    Abstract: A method for continuous casting from molten metal, where metal flows vertically downward from a mold and the metal strip is then guided vertically downward along a vertical strand guide, cooling as it moves. The strip is then deflected from the vertical direction to the horizontal direction. In the terminal area of the deflection of the strip into the horizontal direction or after the deflection into the horizontal direction, a mechanical deformation of the strip is carried out. The strip is cooled at a heat-transfer coefficient of 3,000 to 10,000 W/(m2 K) in a first section downstream of the mold and upstream of the mechanical deformation of the strip. In a second section, downstream of the cooling, the surface of the strip is heated to a temperature above Ac3 or Ar3 by heat equalization in the strip, after which the mechanical deformation is carried out in a third section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: SMS Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Uwe Plociennik, Jens Kempken, Peter Jonen, Ingo Schuster, Tilmann Böcher
  • Publication number: 20130248136
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for direct chill casting ingots with in-situ homogenization. Large particles of eutectic material may form in the solid ingot and the metal may exhibit macrosegregation of alloying components, especially when large ingots are cast in this way. This can be alleviated by applying a first liquid coolant to the ingot emerging from the mold, removing the first liquid coolant at a certain distance along the ingot by means of a wiper, and then applying a second liquid coolant to perform a quench at a greater distance along the ingot. The quench raises the level of the molten sump in the ingot, which helps to overcome the indicated problems, without affecting the desired temperature rebound of the ingot shell (usually at least 425° C. (797° F.)) for a time effective to cause in-situ homogenization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Inventors: Wayne J. FENTON, Jeff McDERMOTT, Robert Bruce Wagstaff
  • Patent number: 8522858
    Abstract: A method for continuous casting from molten metal, where metal flows vertically downward from a mold and metal strip is then guided vertically downward along a vertical strand guide, cooling as it moves. The strip is deflected from the vertical direction to the horizontal direction. In the terminal area of the deflection of the strip into the horizontal direction or after the deflection into the horizontal direction, a mechanical deformation of the strip is carried out. The strip is cooled at a heat-transfer coefficient of 3,000 to 10,000 W/(m2 K) in a first section downstream of the mold and upstream of mechanical deformation of the strip. In a second section, downstream of the cooling, the strip surface is heated to a temperature above Ac3 or Ar3 by heat equalization in the strip. The mechanical deformation is subsequently carried out in a third section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: SMS Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Uwe Plociennik, Jens Kempken, Peter Jonen, Ingo Schuster, Tilmann Böcher
  • Patent number: 8479802
    Abstract: Direct chill casting that allows for the continuous or serial introduction of an inert fluid into the coolant stream during casting while allowing for stoppage of the coolant flow and introduction of only inert fluid as the coolant in the event of a “bleed out” or “run out”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Almex USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravindra V. Tilak, Rodney W. Wirtz, Ronald M. Streigle
  • Patent number: 8056610
    Abstract: A secondary cooling apparatus capable of gradually cooling cast thin pieces and a cast apparatus that uses it are provided. A comb tooth-shaped device is arranged inside a vessel of the secondary cooling apparatus; the cast thin pieces are piled on the comb tooth-shaped device; and crushed small pieces are placed thereon. After the cast thin pieces and the crushed small pieces are gradually cooled, the cast thin pieces are crushed by a pressing device. The crushed small pieces are rapidly cooled by being in contact with a surface of a bottom wall and side faces of cooling teeth. Nd-rich phases or R-rich phases can be annealed by the gradual cooling, and after the crushed small pieces are rapidly cooled to its oxidation temperature or below, the crushed small pieces can be taken out to the air atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Ulvac, Inc.
    Inventors: Youichi Hirose, Hiroshi Nagata
  • Patent number: 7905271
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (100) for carrying cooling water away from the narrow sides (210) of a slab (200) passed essentially vertically through a secondary cooling device after casting in a continuous casting installation. In order to prevent partial overcooling of the slab at its edges, the apparatus (100) according to the invention comprises a plurality of water drainage devices (110-n), which are arranged such that they are distributed in a vertical direction over the length of the narrow side of the slab. This plurality of water drainage devices (110-n) is carried by a vertically arranged collecting downpipe (120). The collecting downpipe additionally serves for collecting the cooling water that is drained by the plurality of water drainage devices (110-n) and carrying it away in a decentralized manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: SMS Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Schmitz, Axel Stavenow
  • Publication number: 20100270000
    Abstract: With a continuous casting method for producing preliminary profiles, in particular double T preliminary profiles, the downwardly flowing cooling water is pushed out of the internal curve of the preliminary profile strand (3) via the profile flanges and discharged using water nozzles (21, 22) aligned substantially to the crossover from the bar (4) to the respective flange (5, 6) by means of the diverting water delivered via the water nozzles (21, 22). In this way the excessive cooling caused by downwardly running cooling water is largely avoided in the internal curve of the preliminary profile strand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: SMS CONCAST AG
    Inventors: Christian DRATVA, Klaus Von Eynatten
  • Publication number: 20090000760
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mold for air-slip noncircular continuous casting and a casting method of aluminum alloy using the same. The mold of the present invention includes a mold body 20 having a noncircular through hole 10 which allows molten metal 80 to move therein; a porous graphite ring 70 provided on an inner circumference of the mold body 20 to supply gas and oil to a surface of the lowering molten metal 80 metal thereby solidifying the molten metal 80 into a billet; and a conveying plate 95 provided on the inner circumference of the mold body 20 on top of the graphite ring 70 to convey the molten metal 80 downward, wherein a cooling water chamber 60 is formed in the mold body 20 to store cooling water for cooling a surface of the billet, the cooling water chamber 60 being formed in the rear of the graphite ring 70, and a gas inlet 32 and an oil inlet 34 are connected to an upper end of the graphite ring 70 to respectively supply gas and oil into the graphite ring 70 through the mold body 20.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventors: Won Duck KANG, Byung Keun Lee, Gook Whan OH
  • Patent number: 7284593
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for collecting and evacuating run-off water from the inner arc of the strand guide (8) of a beam blank casting machine, according to which the cast strand (2) is solidified and the required dissipation of heat is achieved, among other things, by sprayed water, whereby run-off water can also collect on the inner arc of the strand (2). The run-off water is collected using a suction head (1). The run-off water that is collected in the suction head is fluidized using fluidizers or momentum inhibitors. The fluidized water is sucked off and the water-air mixture is split into water and air in a separation device. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out said method, comprising at least one suction device that is arranged or can be driven along the strand guide (8), said suction device having an attachable suction head (1) and being equipped with fluidizers. The suction device (4) is driven along the beam blank preliminary section (9) by means of manipulators (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: SMS Demag AG
    Inventors: Dirk Letzel, Josef Kockentiedt, Thomas Fest, Jürgen Friedrich, Adolf-Gustav Zajber
  • Patent number: 7040379
    Abstract: A method, and the related implementation device, for the regulation of strip temperature in a continuous metallic strip casting plant, wherein such temperature regulation begins on the strip whilst under the casting equipment and at a certain distance from it, and then continues along the roll path. The device provides that the rolls on which the strip is transported are fitted with a cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Danieli & C. Officine Meccaniche S,p.A.
    Inventors: Nuredin Kapaj, Francesco Drius, Andrea Bonera, Alfredo Poloni
  • Patent number: 6892794
    Abstract: The secondary cooling and the strand support are matched to the cooling state of a continuously cast strand cross section. The secondary cooling and support are reduced in dependence upon the solidification profile of the cast strand along the distance traveled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: SMS Demag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Adolf Zajber, Thomas Fest
  • Patent number: 6883584
    Abstract: A method for producing a steel beam blank includes continuously casting a steel beam blank strand and cooling the steel beam blank strand in a secondary cooling zone. The steel beam blank strand is guided in a vertical casting plane along a curved path having its web perpendicular to the vertical casting plane, so that each of the lateral flanges has an intrados flange tip and an extrados flange tip. The method further includes straightening the steel beam blank strand behind the secondary cooling zone. When being straightened, the intrados flange tips are selectively reheated between the secondary cooling and the straightening of the steel beam blank strand via an external energy supply focused on the intrados flange tips. In this manner, transverse cracks in the intrados flange tips may be reliably avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: ProfilARBED S.A.
    Inventors: Henri Grober, Boris Donnay, René Creutz, Pierre Michels, Marc Mertens, Charles Prum, Marc Klees, Nicolas Bonifas
  • Patent number: 6880616
    Abstract: A method and device for producing a strand of metal by means of a continuous-casting installation which has at least one cooling device for cooling the strand, the cooling device being assigned at least one reduction stand for reducing the thickness of the strand, the strand, during the thickness reduction, having a solidified skin and a liquid core. The cooling is set, by means of a temperature and solidification model, in such a manner that the solidification boundary between the solidified skin and the liquid core when the strand enters the reduction stand corresponds to a predetermined set solidification boundary between the solidified skin and the liquid core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas Kemna, Albrecht Sieber, Uwe Stürmer, Hans-Herbert Welker
  • Publication number: 20040226680
    Abstract: An in-line method of producing steel using a continuous caster includes forming a continuous strand of steel from the continuous caster and severing a slab from the continuous strand. An angle between a front face or a rear face of the slab and a line perpendicular to a top surface or a bottom surface of the slab is between about 10° and about 45°. Alternatively, the angle between the front face or the rear face and the line perpendicular to the top surface or the bottom surface is between about 15° and about 35° or between about 20° and about 25°. Primary scale is then removed from the slab with a descaler prior to rolling the slab to a desired thickness. A first waterjet descaler descales only one of the front and the rear faces and only one of the top and bottom surfaces, and a second waterjet descaler descales only the other of the front and the rear faces and only the other of the top and bottom surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Applicant: IPSCO STEEL INC.
    Inventors: Dennis R. Dixon, Andrew P. Goodman
  • Publication number: 20040194907
    Abstract: A method for producing a steel beam blank includes continuously casting a steel beam blank strand and cooling the steel beam blank strand in a secondary cooling zone. The steel beam blank strand is guided in a vertical casting plane along a curved path having its web perpendicular to the vertical casting plane, so that each of the lateral flanges has an intrados flange tip and an extrados flange tip. The method further includes straightening the steel beam blank strand behind the secondary cooling zone. When being straightened, the intrados flange tips are selectively reheated between the secondary cooling and the straightening of the steel beam blank strand via an external energy supply focused on the intrados flange tips. In this manner, transverse cracks in the intrados flange tips may be reliably avoided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventors: Henri Grober, Boris Donnay, Rene Creutz, Pierre Michels, Marc Mertens, Charles Prum, Marc Klees, Nicolas Bonifas
  • Publication number: 20040123973
    Abstract: Roll caster (11) produces thin steel strip (12) formed on casting surfaces (22A) of casting roll (22) that passes through first enclosure (37) adjacent casting roll surfaces (22A) and, optionally, thereafter second enclosure (61). Enclosure (37) and/or enclosure (61) may be fitted with spray nozzles (71,72) and/or (67, 68) operable to spray fine water mist adjacent strip (12) to produce hydrogen gas in enclosure (37) while tending to avoid liquid water contact with steel strip (12) and casting surfaces (22A). If hydrogen gas is produced only in enclosure (61), the two enclosures (37, 61) are interconnected so that gas can flow from enclosure (61) to enclosure (37). Enclosure (37) and, if present, enclosure (61) are sealed to maintain positive pressure and oxygen levels less than the surrounding atmosphere, and with the presence of hydrogen gas, reduce formation of scale on the strip in enclosure (37) and, if present, enclosure (61).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Walter N. Blejde, Andrew Glutz
  • Patent number: 6739384
    Abstract: A method for continuously casting grain oriented electrical steel is disclosed. This method utilizes a controlled rapid cooling step, such as one using a water spray, to control the grain orientation in the finished product. The product formed not only has the appropriate grain orientation but also has good physical properties, for example, minimized cracking. In this process, after a continuously cast electrical steel strip is formed, the strip undergoes an initial secondary cooling to from about 1150 to about 1250° C., and finally undergoes a rapid secondary cooling (for example, by water spray) at a rate of from about 65° C./second to about 150° C./second to a temperature of no greater than about 950° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: AK Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry W. Schoen, Robert S. Williams, Glenn S. Huppi
  • Publication number: 20040020632
    Abstract: A method and strand guide for supporting, guiding and cooling casting strands (1) made of steel, especially preliminary sections (2) for girders, which are cooled by injected water (29) and are drawn, serve to prevent cracks, especially surface cracks, from appearing in the microstructure by adapting the cooling conditions of the surface of the strand in the region of the secondary cooling, and serve to prevent undercooling of the strand shell, wherein in order to avoid an undesirable solidification structure on the upper flange edges or in other cross-sectional areas, the cooling and support of the beam blank format are so adapted to the solidification range that cooling and support are provided exclusively where a crater is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventors: Adolf Gustav Zajber, Dirk Letzel, Wilfried Milewski, Thomas Fest, Heinz-Dietrich Schneider, Lothar Fischer, Herbert Brotzki
  • Patent number: 6631753
    Abstract: A casting system and method for producing a metal casting is provided. The metal casting can comprise a fine-grain, homogeneous microstructure that is essentially oxide- and sulfide-free, segregation defect free, and essentially free of voids caused by air entrapped during solidification of the metal from a liquidus state to a solid state. The casting system can comprise an electroslag refining system; a nucleated casting system; and a cooling system that cools the metal casting so as to cool a liquidus portion of the metal casting. The metal casting is cooled in a manner sufficient to provide a microstructure that comprises a fine-grain, homogeneous microstructure that is essentially oxide- and sulfide-free, segregation defect free, and essentially free of voids caused by air entrapped during solidification from a liquidus state to a solid state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William Thomas Carter, Jr., Mark Gilbert Benz, Robert John Zabala, Bruce Alan Knudsen
  • Publication number: 20030178172
    Abstract: A method for cooling a cast product in the essentially vertical continuous casting of metals, taking place in an upward direction, in particular in the continuous casting of wires, rods and tubes of non-ferrous metals, in which method the casting nozzle and primary cooler are at least partially inserted in the melt inside the furnace and the metal is cast through them, whereby the product to be cast is first cooled inside the casting nozzle as the primary cooling. In addition to primary cooling, the product to be cast (3, 3′) is cooled outside the furnace (1) walls at least in one another cooling stage by a jet (6) of cooling agent directed onto the surface of the product to be cast, in such a way that the passage of cooling agent into the melt within the furnace is prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: Markku Koivisto, Seppo Pietila
  • Publication number: 20030159794
    Abstract: A cooling arrangement for the rolling stand of a continuous casting system for heavy supports is provided with spraying nozzles which can be acted upon by cooling liquid and compressed air through supply pipes laid laterally in a longitudinal direction of the rolling stand. Only two supply pipes for cooling liquid and compressed air respectively are assigned to each side of the rolling stand. The supply pipes are laid parallel to one another and are equipped with connection flanges on which connection plates can be mounted in a simple manner and, in turn, are fixedly connected with spraying nozzles. This further development permits a simple mounting and demounting of the spraying nozzles and ensures a precise alignment of the spraying jets with respect to the billet to be processed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Applicant: Lechler GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Frick, Roman Haap, Albert Fecht
  • Patent number: 6557622
    Abstract: Surface defects in rolled steel are remedied by quenching a surface layer of the steel product downstream of the caster and upstream of the reheat furnace by transversely differentiated quenching to match the transverse temperature profile of the steel product. The flow rate of the quench spray is differentially adjustable across the width and optionally the length of the steel product. An array of spray nozzles controlled in transversely or longitudinally arranged groups provides the quench spray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: IPSCO Enterprises Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Frank, Jonathan Dorricott, Laurie E. Collins, Joseph D. Russo, Robert J. Boecker, Brian H. Wales
  • Publication number: 20030062147
    Abstract: A method for continuously casting grain oriented electrical steel is disclosed. This method utilizes a controlled rapid cooling step, such as one using a water spray, to control the grain orientation in the finished product. The product formed not only has the appropriate grain orientation but also has good physical properties, for example, minimized cracking. In this process, after a continuously cast electrical steel strip is formed, the strip undergoes an initial secondary cooling to from about 1150 to about 1250° C., and finally undergoes a rapid secondary cooling (for example, by water spray) at a rate of from about 65° C./second to about 150° C./second to a temperature of no greater than about 950° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Applicant: AK Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry W. Schoen, Robert S. Williams, Glenn S. Huppi
  • Publication number: 20030015309
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for continuously casting a metal strip. A casting pool of molten metal is formed, and a metal strip is solidified onto a casting surface. The temperature of the casting surface is maintained above a predetermined critical value. By maintaining the surface temperature above the predetermined critical value, either the heat transfer uniformity or the heat transfer capacity or both are improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Inventors: Dominique Bouchard, Jean-Paul Nadeau, Francois Hamel, Daniel Simard, Serge F. Turcotte
  • Patent number: 6508298
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for preventing undesirable intensive cooling particularly of the strip edge areas of a cast strand resulting from running water emerging from the bottom opening of a secondary cooling chamber, wherein high-energy spray jets of a deflection medium are produced and directed against the emerging running water transversely of the strip edge areas of the cast strand, such that the running water is deflected from the strip edge areas and is discharged through outlet openings of the secondary cooling chamber arranged on both sides of the cast strand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: SMS Demag AG
    Inventors: Norbert Vogl, Jürgen Friedrich, Hans Streubel, Joachim Schwellenbach, Axel Bekurts
  • Patent number: 6471796
    Abstract: In a continuous casting of a molten aluminum bearing alloy, a casting space is defined between substantially parallel opposed portions of a pair of traveling endless belts and the molten aluminum bearing alloy is supplied into the casting space to be continuously cast into the shape of a plate. A cooling rate AT during solidification of the aluminum bearing alloy is controlled so that the cooling rate &Dgr;T ranges between 3 and 6° C./sec. where &Dgr;T=(T−500) /t, T is a temperature when the casting of the aluminum bearing alloy starts, and t is a cooling time in sec. between start of casting and the time when the temperature of the aluminum bearing alloy decreases to 500° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Daido Metal Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihiko Kagohara, Masahito Fujita, Koichi Yamamoto, Takayuki Shibayama
  • Patent number: 6470959
    Abstract: A process of casting a molten metal to form a cast metal strip ingot while controlling heat flux from the cast metal. The process comprises continuously supplying molten metal to a casting cavity formed between a pair of moving continuous casting surfaces that withdraw heat from the molten metal to cause metal solidification, and continuously withdrawing a resulting cast strip ingot from the casting cavity. A gas (e.g. air) containing water vapour substantially without liquid water (i.e. a moist gas) is supplied to the inlet of the casting cavity in a region containing the meniscus formed where the molten metal first contacts the casting surfaces. The moist gas has the effect of adjusting the heat withdrawal by the casting surfaces to minimize surface defects in the cast strip ingot and to avoid undesired distortion of the casting cavity. Furthermore, in those cases where a parting agent is applied to the casting surfaces, the amount of parting agent applied to the casting surfaces may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Ronald Roger Desrosiers, John Fitzsimon, André Larouche
  • Publication number: 20020153124
    Abstract: A twin roil caster (11) produces thin steel strip (12) which passes through a first enclosure (37) to a pinch roil stand (14) including pinch rolls (50) through which the strip passes into a second enclosure (61). The strip passes horizontally through enclosure (61) to an in-line hot rolling mill (16) which closes the exit end of enclosure (61) and hot rolls the strip as it exits that enclosure. Enclosures (37) and (61) are sealed against ingress of atmospheric air and both maintain oxygen levels less than the surrounding atmosphere to reduce formation of scale on the strip. The second chamber (61) is fitted with water spray nozzles (67, 68) operable to spray fine mist of water droplets onto the upper face of the strip as it passes through that enclosure thereby to generate steam producing a superatmospheric pressure within the enclosure preventing ingress of atmospheric air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Inventors: Andrew Glutz, Graham Minter
  • Patent number: 6427752
    Abstract: A casting system with auxiliary cooling onto a liquidus portion of the casting can produce a metal casting that comprises a fine-grain, homogeneous microstructure. The microstructure is essentially oxide- and sulfide-free, segregation defect free, and essentially free of voids caused by air entrapped during solidification of the metal from a liquidus state to a solid state. The casting system with auxiliary cooling onto a liquidus portion of the casting can comprises an electroslag refining system as a source of liquid metal; a nucleated casting system; and at least one cooling system that supplies coolant onto a liquidus portion of the casting. The liquidus portion of the casting is cooled in a manner sufficient to provide a casting microstructure that comprises a fine-grain, homogeneous microstructure that is essentially oxide- and sulfide-free, segregation defect free, and essentially free of voids caused by air entrapped during solidification from a liquidus state to a solid state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William Thomas Carter, Jr., Mark Gilbert Benz, Robert John Zabala, Bruce Alan Knudsen
  • Publication number: 20020096309
    Abstract: A gradient material molded body, obtained in continuous casting from at least one metal alloy solidified in an outer shell of the molded body, outside the thermodynamic equilibrium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Inventors: Manfred Heinritz, Heinz-Michael Zaoralek, Rainhard Laag, Jurgen Kruger, Horst Herbst
  • Patent number: 6321829
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironori Fujioka, Hiroshi Nakajima, Masahiro Kassai
  • Patent number: 6250370
    Abstract: Water-cooling slabs by dipping to yield steel sheets with a minimum of scabs and uneven gloss, with their larger faces upside and underside, by water injection at a flow rate of 10-150 L/m2·min perpendicular or oblique to the underside of the slabs, with the position of water injection 30-500 mm away from the underside of the slabs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Kawasaki Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Chikashi Tada, Yuji Miki
  • 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: 6024161
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironori Fujioka, Hiroshi Nakajima, Masahiro Kassai
  • Patent number: 5915457
    Abstract: A process for operating a continuous casting plant with a continuous casting machine that has a stationary mold and is connected via a roller table to an equalizing furnace. After establishment of the slab format at the mold outlet, at least the casting parameter of casting speed is set so that the slab, upon entry into the equalizing furnace, has the desired roll temperature of the hot strip to be produced, and the lowest point of the liquid pool is always located in the mouth region of the continuous casting machine. Measures are taken to influence the heat energy content of the slab after it leaves the continuous casting machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Fritz-Peter Pleschiutschnigg
  • Patent number: 5871040
    Abstract: In producing thin slabs by continuous casting, a method is developed in which internal defects are reduced to improve a production yield. Narrow sides of cast slabs are cooled in a controlled manner to produce cast slabs having a projection in a center of each of the narrow sides to a height of 5-10 mm above the level of the edge portions, and squeeze reduction with a reduction of 10-45% is carried out while an unsolidified portion of the narrow sides of the slab is within 50-80% of the thickness of the cast slab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sadamichi Kaseda, Kazuo Okamura, Sei Hiraki, Takashi Kanazawa, Seiji Kumakura, Akihiro Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 5836377
    Abstract: A process for cooling molten steel, in particular by continuous casting of hoop-steel. At least part of the molten mass that leaves a metallurgical vessel through a metal nozzle solidifies when contacting a cooling surface. A gaseous stream that forms a reducing atmosphere is directed onto the surface of the freely accessible liquid hoop-steel immediately after it leaves the metal nozzle and the surface of the hoop-steel is exposed to this gaseous atmosphere at least until it is completely solidified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Reichelt, Ulrich Urlau, Paul Freier, Karl-Heinz Spitzer
  • Patent number: 5720335
    Abstract: To suppress generation of scales on surfaces of a strip and to reduce the amount of non-oxidising gas consumed in the casting of strip in a twin roll caster there is provided downstream apparatus comprising pinch rolls 17a and 17b for pinching a strip 4 continuously cast by a pair of casting rolls 1a and 1b, a coiler 8 for coiling the strip 4 delivered from the pinch rolls 17a and 17b, an upstream chamber 19 for enclosing a travelling path of the strip 4 from the casting rolls 1a and 1b to the pinch rolls 17a and 17b, a downstream chamber 24 for enclosing a travelling path of the strip 4 from the pinch rolls 17a and 17b to a position before the coiler, a shutter on an end of the downstream chamber closer to the coiler and a gas supply source for supplying non-oxidising and reducing gases to the upstream and downstream chambers 19 and 24 and quenching means within the downstream chamber to cool the strip so that it leaves the chamber at a temperature of 300.degree. C. or below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignees: Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Company Limited, BHP Steel (JLA) Pty. Ltd.
    Inventors: Shiro Osada, Heijo Kato, Hisahiko Fukase, Kengo Ishige, Massoud Assefpour-Dezfully
  • Patent number: 5705077
    Abstract: A method of treating water to inhibit the formation of fluoride salt scale is disclosed. The method is particularly effective at inhibiting the formation and deposition of fluoride containing salts in spray water cooling systems such as steel casting systems. The method comprises introducing into the aqueous system a polyepoxysuccinic acid of the general formula: ##STR1## where n ranges from about 2 to about 11, M is hydrogen or a water soluble cation such as Na.sup.+, NH.sub.4.sup.+ or K.sup.+ and R is hydrogen, C.sub.1-4 alkyl or C.sub.1-4 substituted alkyl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: BetzDearborn Inc.
    Inventor: Jennifer J. Robertson
  • Patent number: 5634512
    Abstract: Method for thermal surface treatment in line in a continuous casting machine associated with furnaces to heat hot-charge blooms, the method being applied to fine-grain structural steels and being suitable to obviate the precipitation of compounds of aluminum, vanadium, niobium and the like and to eliminate or at least to reduce greatly the surface faults due to tension, the method being carried out in a continuous casting line comprising at least a mould (13), a secondary cooling chamber (14), an extraction and straightening assembly (15) and a shearing assembly (17), the method being applied in cooperation with the extraction and straightening assembly (15) and including an intense, concentrated cooling of the surface of a bloom (19) passing through by applying a cooling fluid under pressure, which is water-based and is sprayed by a plurality of sprayer nozzles (18), the cooling being adapted to the dimensions of the bloom (19) and being such as to produce a surface temperature between about 400.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Danieli & C. Officine Meccaniche SpA
    Inventors: Bruno Bombardelli, Cristiano Tercelli
  • Patent number: 5630467
    Abstract: Guide roller units are made movable back and forth in the direction of thickness of a slab, allowing slab lagging covers to be inserted to and withdrawn from gaps formed between the guide roller units and the slab. Depending on the casting speed, those ones of the guide roller units and the slab lagging covers which are in proper positions are replaced from one to the other for selective use so that the respective lengths of a cooling zone and a heat keeping zone are adjusted to control the cooling rate of the slab in a positive manner. The slab temperature can be kept at a value capable of carrying out rolling regardless of change in the casting speed depending on variations in the amount of molten steel supplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasutsugu Yoshimura, Mituru Onose, Kenji Horii, Koichi Seki, Tadashi Nishino, Hironori Shimogama, Chukichi Hanzawa