Abstract: A method of forming tailored cast blanks including determining at least one of a thickness pattern or profile pattern for a blank, generating a layout for a series of blanks having the determined thickness or profile pattern and casting a strip in accordance with the layout, including varying the caster width during casting of the strip.

Abstract: A molten metal mold and bottom block system, including apparatus and method embodiments, which may include a mold cavity framework with a first side, a second side opposite the first side, a third side, and a fourth side opposite the third side, each side including an inner surface and the inner surfaces defining a mold cavity, and wherein one or more of the sides are movably mounted relative to the second side, and are controllably moved during the casting. This system may also include embodiments wherein the castpart produced has a tapered form at one or both of the castpart ends. Aspects of this invention may be considered to be a castpart shrinkage management system or a castpart form or profile control system due to the advantage of increased controls of castpart form during the casting process.

Abstract: Equipment for the semi-continuous direct chill (DC) casting of sheet ingot or slabs of different dimensions, in particular for rolling purposes. The equipment includes a mold frame (2) with a pair of facing long side walls (3) and a pair of facing short end walls (4) where the walls define an upwardly open inlet for the supply of metal and a downwardly facing outlet. The outlet is provided with a starter block (6) on a movable support, which prior to each casting, closes the opening. The equipment includes a device for changing the mold dimensions where at least one end wall can be displaced to enable casting of different size ingots. The equipment further includes an arrangement for indirect and direct cooling of the metal during casting. The starter block is provided with short end walls (11) and long side walls (9). At least one short end wall is movable relative to the mold.

Abstract: Equipment for the semi-continuous direct chill (DC) casting of sheet ingot or slabs of different dimensions, in particular for rolling purposes, including a mold frame (2) with a pair of facing long side walls (3) and a pair of facing short end walls (4). The walls of the mold define an upwardly open inlet for the supply of metal and a downwardly facing outlet provided with a starter block (5) on a movable support which prior to each casting closes the opening. The equipment includes a device for changing the mold dimensions where at least one end wall can be displaced to enable casting of ingots with different sizes, and it further includes a device for indirect and direct cooling of the metal during casting. The equipment also includes apparatus for flexing the long side walls (3) of the mold, thereby enabling adjustment of the flexible middle part of the long side walls (3) inwardly or outwardly to adapt to the desired sheet ingot size, the desired casting speed and/or alloy composition.

Abstract: A molten metal mold and bottom block system, including apparatus and method embodiments, which may include a mold cavity framework with a first side, a second side opposite the first side, a third side, and a fourth side opposite the third side, each side including an inner surface and the inner surfaces defining a mold cavity, and wherein one or more of the sides are movably mounted relative to the second side, and are controllably moved during the casting. This system may also include embodiments wherein the castpart produced has a tapered form at one or both of the castpart ends. Aspects of this invention may be considered to be a castpart shrinkage management system or a castpart form or profile control system due to the advantage of increased controls of castpart form during the casting process.

Abstract: A continuous casting mold for the continuous casting of a metal strand, particularly a steel strand, comprising mutually opposing wide side walls and mutually opposing narrow side walls which are disposed in a clamped manner between the wide side walls and can be displaced along the wide side walls transversely to the casting direction and taper in a wedge-shaped manner in the casting direction, wherein the wide side walls comprise a funnel-shaped pouring region extending in the casting direction to the mold end, and wherein the narrow side walls are disposed in an exchangeable manner according to the thickness to be set for the metal strand to be cast, and wherein the positions of the narrow sides can be set by means of a narrow side adjustment system (7) having an upper and an lower adjustment device (8, 9) in relation to the center line (11) of the metal strand to be cast, characterized in that the narrow side adjustment system (7) comprises at least one control element (12, 13), which acts on the adjustme

Abstract: A steel slab caster having a mold with movable opposing mold faces, and methods of using the steel slab caster for casting steel slabs. The movable opposing mold faces may be laterally positioned with respect to each other in a predefined configuration. Molten steel may be introduced into the mold of the slab caster. The forces exerted by the molten metal on at least one of the opposing mold faces and/or the lateral positions of the opposing mold faces may be monitored during casting at locations on at least one of the movable mold faces. The position of the monitored mold face may be controlled during casting responsive to the monitored forces and/or monitored position.

Abstract: A molten metal mold and bottom block system, including apparatus and method embodiments, which may include a mold cavity framework with a first side, a second side opposite the first side, a third side, and a fourth side opposite the third side, each side including an inner surface and the inner surfaces defining a mold cavity, and wherein one or more of the sides are movably mounted relative to the second side, and are controllably moved during the casting. This system may also include embodiments wherein the castpart produced has a tapered form at one or both of the castpart ends. Aspects of this invention may be considered to be a castpart shrinkage management system or a castpart form or profile control system due to the advantage of increased controls of castpart form during the casting process.

Abstract: A steel slab caster having a mold with movable opposing mold faces, and methods of using the steel slab caster for casting steel slabs. The movable opposing mold faces may be laterally positioned with respect to each other in a predefined configuration. Molten steel may be introduced into the mold of the slab caster. The lateral positions and/or pressures of the opposing mold faces are monitored at two vertically spaced locations on at least one of the movable mold faces of the opposing mold faces as casting proceeds, and data is generated in response to the monitoring. The opposing movable mold faces may be adjusted in response to the generated data.

Abstract: A mold shorter side frame of a continuous casting mold is exchanged integrally as it is to enable on-line change of the thickness of the case piece. As the method, a concave portion for engaging a portion of the moving device and an attaching/detaching mechanism having a fixing jig for fixing the portion of the moving device are disposed at the back of the shorter side frame. Particularly, an attaching/detaching mechanism comprising a concave forming portion having a downwarded opening and a bolt screw passing from the back of the concave forming portion through at least a portion of said portion of the moving device is suitable.

Abstract: Start up method for initiating casting of metal strip in a twin roll caster comprising parallel casting rolls. A casting pool of molten metal is supported on the casting rolls and confined at the ends of the rolls by side closure plates and the rolls are rotated to deliver cast trip downwardly from the nip between them. One roll is continuously biased laterally toward the other roll either by spring biasing units or by hydraulic biasing units. On start up the gap between rolls is set so as to be less than the thickness of the strip to be cast and the rolls are rotated at such speed that on pouring of molten metal to initiate casting strip is produced to a thickness which is greater than the initial gap between the rolls thereby to cause the biased roll to move bodily away from the other roll to increase the gap between the rolls to accommodate the thickness of the cast strip. This allows initiation of casting without the need for introduction of a dummy bar between the rolls.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mold divider for fitting in a conventional slab mold (1) having laterally adjustable narrow-side parts for selective casting of several strands with changeable strand widths. The mold divider consists of a housing (3) fixedly securable relative to the mold (1), between the broad-side plates (2) and having bilaterally adjustable, in a broad-side direction of the mold (1), adjusting organs (4), with supporting plates (5) provided at their ends and with the narrow-side heat-exchanger plates (6) arranged thereon.

Abstract: A molten steel of a special steel or the like including a high-alloy steel is poured in a mold whose bottom portion is closed with a dummy head of a lift table. As the lift table is vertically moved down at a given casting speed, a casting whose lower end is supported by the dummy head is continuously pulled out from the bottom portion of the mold. As a pair of movable molds that constitute the mold are relatively moved away from each other in synchronism with the downward movement of the lift table, both widthwise side surfaces of the casting are provided with required tapering.

Abstract: A continuous casting mold for continuous casting of a steel billet. Opposite spaced apart wide side walls and opposite spaced apart narrow side walls between the wide side walls and clampable at the wide side walls and also displacable along the wide side walls transversely to the casting direction, the narrow side walls being narrow wedged-shaped in the casting direction. A funnel-shaped pouring-in region defined in the wide side walls. The wide side walls converge in the casting direction. The distance between the wide side walls at the mold end is constant over the entire width of the side walls allowing at least one of the wide side walls is supported to be displaceable and tiltable with respect to the other wide side wall by an adjusting device.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for pressing a side wall (1) of an installation for continuous casting of metal strips between two cooling drums with horizontal axes against the planar surfaces of the cylinders, comprising three thrust member connected to a mounting frame (3) maintained in a fixed position, exerting their action on the rear face of a plate (2) on the front face whereof is fixed the side wall (1) or on the rear face of the side wall (1), said action being oriented along a substantially horizontal direction (Oy) parallel to the axes of the drums and being exerted via means connecting each of said thrust members on said plate. Said connection means of a first thrust member enable a relative displacement in translation of said thrust A-4 member and of the plate (2) or of the side wall (1) being along a horizontal direction (Ox) a=parallel to the plane of the planar surfaces of the drums and along a vertical direction (Oz) parallel to the plane of the planar surfaces of the drums.

Abstract: A molten steel of a special steel or the like including a high-alloy steel is poured in a mold whose bottom portion is closed with a dummy head of a lift table. As the lift table is vertically moved down at a given casting speed, a casting whose lower end is supported by the dummy head is continuously pulled out from the bottom portion of the mold. As a pair of movable molds that constitute the mold are relatively moved away from each other in synchronism with the downward movement of the lift table, both widthwise side surfaces of the casting are provided with required tapering.

Abstract: A mold cassette and method for continuously casting thin slabs. The cassette comprises a trough including a pair of vertically disposed, opposed broad walls and a pair of opposed narrow walls. The trough has an entry end for receiving molten material and an exit end for dispensing the material. The narrow walls are generally wider at the entry end than the exit end and are adapted for sealing engagement with the broad walls so as to prevent leakage of the material therebetween. At least one of the narrow walls is oriented at a selected tilt and adjustable at the tilt for changing the width of the slab during casting. Back edges of at least one of the adjustable narrow walls are relieved a region corresponding generally to the transition zone of the trough. This allows positioning of the narrow wall in a generally less than vertical plane during casting while maintaining the broad and narrow walls in sealing engagement with one another.

Abstract: An adjustable plate mold includes two broad-side walls and first and second narrow-side walls clampable between the two broad-side walls to define a size if a slab formable by the plate mold. A frame work includes cassette holders corresponding to the narrow-side walls. Actuating elements are inserted in the cassette holders and connected to the first and second narrow-side walls for moving the first and second side walls to change the size of the slab formable by the plate mold. The framework also includes a holding part for maintaining the narrow-side walls at a constant horizontal level relative to the cassette holders.

Abstract: A process for producing slabs in a continuous casting installation and a continuous casting mold, in particular for the continuous casting of steel slabs, having wide side walls and narrow side walls which delimit the slab mold cavity least one of the wide side walls movable transversely with respect to the mold axis and at least one of the narrow side walls, which can be clamped in between the wide side walls, displaceable transversely with respect to the mold axis in order to change the shape of the strand cross section by an adjustment drive acting in the horizontal direction. Each narrow side is composed of at least two wedge-shaped parts. Mutually facing contact surfaces extend over the entire length (height of the narrow side wall) of each part and the plane of the mutually touching surfaces faces in substantially the same direction as the corresponding wide side inner surfaces (51, 52) assigned to one another with a rotational angle of &ggr;=0 to 30°.

Abstract: The plate mold has water-cooled narrow side walls that can be clamped between broad side walls. The broad side walls have at least three adjacent and mutually independent cooling segments. The cooling segments are divided symmetrically relative to the central axis of the mold and have, in the region of the mold mouth, separate connections for the independent supply of a liquid coolant. The apparatus includes temperature sensors, an oscillation device, an actuator for adjusting the space between the narrow and broad side walls and a control device connected to the temperature sensors to control the oscillation device and the actuator.

Abstract: A continuous casting mold with two oppositely located short side walls and two oppositely located long side walls which extend past the short side walls, wherein at least one of the short side walls is moveable by an adjusting member toward or away from the other short side wall. The adjusting member is constructed in the form of two hydraulic cylinder units which can be actuated independently from each other, wherein each hydraulic cylinder unit has a cylinder and a piston which is adjustable relative to the cylinder in an adjusting direction.

Abstract: A casting apparatus is described for casting metal ingots of rectangular shape comprising a mould assembly mounted on a casting table. The mould assembly has a pair of opposed, outwardly curved long walls and a pair of opposed short walls defining a rectangular mould cavity. Both the opposed short walls and the opposed long walls are moveable to change the size of the cast ingot with the long walls being independently moveable from the short walls. Operative means are provided for simultaneously moving the opposed long walls symmetrically about the centre-line of the mould cavity in both inward and outward directions, and a vertically moveable bottom block is provided which is adapted to move downwardly and support a forming ingot.

Abstract: A continuous casting mold assembly has four mold walls in the form of discrete plates. The mold walls are arranged with an edge face of each wall abutting a major face of an adjacent mold wall. To permit changes in taper, each of the mold walls is mounted for pivotal movement on two orthogonal axes. The mold walls are held together by springs which can be hydraulically relieved when the mold walls are to be adjusted. The mold walls tend to move away from one another following hydraulic relief of the springs, and such movements are limited by screws associated with the respective mold walls. The screws contact abutments when the mold walls have moved apart by distances large enough to allow pivoting of the walls but not large enough to permit molten material to leak between the walls.

Abstract: A continuous chain caster has upper and lower mold assemblies comprising endless belts and chains traveling at synchronized speeds. The mold assemblies meet to form a mold channel which is filled with molten metal from a headbox and feed tip. As the molten metal passes through the mold channel, the metal solidifies into the shape of the mold channel. Each belt is positioned outside the corresponding chain so that the smooth surface of the belt defines the surface of the mold channel thereby preventing the formation of fins between mold blocks which make up the chain, protecting the chain blocks, and neutralizing deformations in the chain blocks. The upper and lower blocks of the chains have protrusions at opposite ends which engage the opposing blocks to form the sides of the mold channel. By sliding the chains relative to each other, the width of the mold channel is adjustable.

Abstract: Adjustable continuous casting mold for manufacturing continuously cast ingots of different dimensions, having a mold frame with a pair of stationary facing side walls and a pair of facing end walls, where at least one end wall can be displaced and each side wall and end wall features a primary coolant chamber and, connected to the primary coolant chamber, a plurality of primary coolant channels for jetting coolant onto the ingot material. The displaceable end walls exhibit a secondary coolant chamber and, connected to the secondary coolant chamber, a plurality of secondary coolant channels for jetting additional coolant onto the continuously cast material, the secondary coolant channels being arranged such that the coolant emerging from them strikes the continuously cast material after, with respect to the direction of flow of the cast material, the coolant from the primary coolant channels.

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

Abstract: A continuous casting mold for casting a strand has side walls defining an open-ended mold cavity. In order to increase the casting speed while maintaining a simple mode of construction of the continuous casting mold, the latter has the following characteristic features: at least two oppositely arranged side walls are rigidly fixed relative to each other about a pour-in section of the mold cavity and have a conicity decreasing in the running direction of the strand and, in a run-out section of the mold cavity arranged to follow the pour-in section in the running direction of the strand, include side wall sections movable relative to the strand and pressable at the strand by pressing devices, which side wall sections are arranged at a slighter conicity than the slightest conicity of the side walls of the pour-in section of the mold cavity.

Abstract: A continuous casting mold for producing strands in the form of slabs, thin slabs, blooms, and billets resulting in highly reliable casting at casting speeds of up to 6 m/min. The cambered shape of the mold causes the strand to be centered during casting by the mold so that sideways movement of the strand shell toward one of the narrow sides (snaking) is suppressed or moderated. This symmetrical running of the strand shell box during casting in the mold results in a uniform symmetrical formation of the strand shell and its temperature field (isotherms), the withdrawal forces, and the loading of the strand shell in relation to the strand axis in the casting direction, even despite weaving of the strand in the region of the strand guide.

Abstract: A continuous casting mold includes a pair of opposed, spaced apart front and rear mold wall members and a pair of opposed, spaced apart side wall members arranged between the front and rear mold wall members. Each of the side wall members includes a pair of opposed side edges, the first side edge of the pair of edges being defined as that portion of the side wall member in contact with the adjacent front mold wall member and the other side being defined as that portion of the side wall member in contact with the adjacent rear mold wall member. Each lateral surface of the sidewall members defines a recess formed in each side edge for providing a clearance between a portion of each side edge and the adjacent mold wall member. Within each recess is disposed a linear bearing assembly which holds the front and side wall members at a predetermined distance and which absorbs clamping forces applied to the front and rear wall members.

Abstract: A method of continuously casting a variable flange beam blank for direct rolling as-cast into any finished beam within a beam family without the need for altering the as-cast geometry in a breakdown stand, roughing stand, or the like, prior to the direct finish rolling. The method includes a consideration of the cross-sectional areas of both the flange and the web of the beam.

Abstract: A method for starting continuous slab casting capable of facilitating withdrawal of a dummy bar to start smooth continuous slab casting is provided at the start of casting of continuous slab casting, where lateral side plates 2 of the mold 10 are pinched by longitudinal side plates 1 of the mold and are adjustable in the slab width direction; where a dummy bar 4 is set at a desired level at the center in a width-variable, continuous casting mold; and clearances each between lateral side plates 2 and the dummy bar 4 are adjusted to 1-3 mm, while maintaining the lateral side plates 2 vertically, then sealing materials 5 are filled into the clearances; then molten steel is poured into the mold; and then the top ends of the lateral side plates 2 are made more apart outwardly, thereby giving a downwardly tapered profile to the lateral side plates 2, when no more poured molten steel is passed into the clearance between the formed solidified shell 6a and the plates 1 and 2, while withdrawing the dummy bar 4 downward

Abstract: A center alignment mechanism of a cavity thickness adjustable mold for continuous casting, comprises a guide mechanism which supports a spindle of a carriage device of each narrow face unit of the mold slidably in the wide face-wise directions of wide face units of the mold, and a driving mechanism which moves the guide mechanism in the narrow face-wise directions of the narrow face unit. The guide mechanism comprises a guide block in which the distal end portion of the spindle is slidably supported, a guide groove formed in the wide face units so as to support the guide block slidably in the narrow face-wise directions of the narrow face unit, a bracket in which the proximal end portion of the spindle is slidably supported, and another guide groove formed in the wide face units so as to support the bracket slidably in the narrow face-wise directions of the narrow face unit.

Abstract: A casting-thickness variable mold enabling the thickness of a casting to be quickly and easily changed in an on-line condition. The mold includes a stationary long-side frame, a movable long-side frame, and two sets of short-side frames provided at either end of a space between the long-side frames. Each set comprises a main short-side frame having a large width-determining dimension, and an auxiliary short-side frame having a small width-determining dimension. The main short-side frame is disposed on the side of the space contacting the stationary long-side frame, and is connected to a main short-side frame moving device comprising a short-side moving spindle and a spindle driver. The auxiliary short-side frame is disposed on the side of the space contacting the movable long-side frame, and is connected to an auxiliary short side frame moving device comprising a short-side moving rod and a rod-driving hydraulic cylinder.

Abstract: Lateral frames of the disclosed mold can be replaced easily and rapidly without disassembling a continuous casting machine, so as to improve the operational efficiency and to reduce the cost. The mold comprises a fixed longitudinal frame and a movable longitudinal frame which can be opened/closed by remote control, and a pair of fixed lateral frame members to which variable lateral frame members securely joined with lateral copper plates are detachably attached. A bracket provided on each of the variable lateral frame members is brought into engagement with a bracket receiving recess formed in each of the fixed lateral frame members in order to position the lower end portions of the lateral frame members. After that, the upper end portions of them are securely fixed by clamping means. Thus, the lateral frame members are integrally joined so that a mold cooling water supply/drain pipe and a spray water supply pipe for a foot shoe are connected to water conduits in the variable lateral frame member.

Abstract: A continuous casting mold for casting relatively thin slab comprises a pair of broad walls and a pair of narrow walls. The narrow walls are movable inwardly and outwardly with respect to the mold cavity to adjust the width of the slab being cast. The broad walls in an upper portion of the mold are spaced farther apart to permit introduction of molten metal into the mold. The broad walls in the lower portion of the mold are substantially parallel to each other. The narrow mold walls are adapted to sealingly engage the broad mold walls and are wider in the upper portion of the mold than in the lower portion. In one embodiment, a tilt angle of the lower portion of the narrow walls is independently adjustable from that of the upper portion of the narrow walls while in a second embodiment, each of the walls comprises independently angled top and bottom portions and provides a flat and smooth surface to the contained molten metal. Solidification in the upper portion of the mold is substantially prevented.

Abstract: A continuous casting apparatus includes two adjacent continuous casters each with relatively narrow end walls and relatively broad side walls, the end walls being clamped between the side walls. Mechanisms at either end move the respective end walls toward and away from each other, and may also change the slope of the end walls in order to accommodate shrinkage of the metal as it solidifies. The two casters are positioned in alignment and a single tundish is located above them but as close as possible, the tundish being capable of delivering molten metal into both casters simultaneously. The tundish covers and restricts access to the space separating the adjacent ends of the casters. The free end of each caster, however, is accessible, and its respective mechanism can be operated without inconvenience.

Abstract: The taper of narrow faces of a plate-type mold is controlled for the production of steel castings in slab form, wherein the plates of the mold are cooled by a liquid coolant and wherein the narrow faces can be adjusted between wide faces of the mold. Initially, the temperature of the coolant is measured at a coolant outlet of each plate of the mold. A cooling surface-related specific temperature value is then formed from each measured temperature. The specific temperature values of opposite plates are compared. The specific temperature values of each plate are compared with the specific temperature values of the adjoining plates. When a difference between the specific temperature values occurs, an adjustment value having a magnitude of the difference in values is applied to a drive of the narrow face which provides the lower temperature value, such that the taper of the narrow face is increased.

Abstract: A portable mold adjusting device allows for relatively precisely adjusting the mold cavity size of a slab caster mold during casting. The portable mold adjusting device includes a dolly to facilitate transport of the device to molds requiring an adjustment. A mechanical drive is secured to the dolly. A free end of the drive is provided with a coupling adapted to be coupled to the adjustment mechanism on an adjustable slab casting mold. The other end of the mechanical drive is directly coupled to a reversible electric motor. The mechanical drive is encoded to allow for relatively precise positioning of the adjustable mold walls.

Abstract: The width of a mold is controlled effectively to produce a slab having a desired and constant width associated therewith. More particularly, the speed of the output slab and the temperature of the molten metal contained within tundish are measured and the pressure exerted by the received molten metal within mold is determined. These measured and determined values are used to appropriately modify the width of the mold so as to produce a slab of constant width.

Abstract: This invention discloses a width-variable mold device to be used by placing a feed device for moving minor side members toward a movable direction and by varying steplessly the width of the mold within a certain range by means of the operation of the feed device, in a mold device formed in an approximately rectangular shape by both two mutually opposed major side members having slightly curved opposed surfaces so that their opposed interval may reach its maximum at the center portion and its minimum at both ends and two opposed minor side members bringing both side ends into contact with the opposed surfaces of the major side members and placing between the major side members, wherein the major side members and the minor side members are equipped with their water cooled jackets at their outside, each of the major side members is suspended and supported to the support tables at both sides so as to move each of the major side members toward the direction where their opposed interval varies, and at the same time

Abstract: A continuous casting mold includes two long side walls which are arranged opposite each other on support frames. For the purpose of adjusting the width of the mold, short side walls which can be moved toward each other are tightly clamped between the long side walls. Mechanical clamping elements which are in connection with hydraulic piston-cylinder units are provided for chucking the short side walls between the long side walls. The support frames with the long side walls are arranged in the continuous casting mold and are connected to the clamping elements in such a way that they can be moved toward each other as well as apart from each other.

Abstract: A continuous casting plant for casting beam blanks to be used in rolling section steel. The continuous casting plant includes a cooled mold and a strand guide arrangement following the mold. The mold has two side walls which each define a web surface, two expanding surfaces and two parallel adjusting surfaces. End rolls are adjustably mounted between the adjusting surfaces. The expanding surfaces of the mold are inclined at an angle of 20.degree. to 45.degree. relative to the plane of the web surface. Guide rollers are arranged in alignment with and following the web surfaces, the expanding surfaces and the adjusting surfaces of the mold. The adjustable end rolls are provided with sections which project into the mold space. Guide elements are arranged following the end walls, the guide elements being adjustable in the same direction.

Abstract: A horizontal continuous casting apparatus for metals, particularly steel, having a supply container in the metal outlet opening of which there is arranged a nozzle brick against which a separation ring rests in sealing manner, and having a continuous casting mold which is connected to the supply container and rests with the edge sides of its side walls in sealing manner against the separation ring. A reliable changing of the passage cross-section of the mold before, during and after the casting is possible in a structurally simple manner. The passage cross-section (A) of the continuous casting mold (30) is adjusted and displacement elements (40) are provided by means of which the position of the side walls (31 to 34) of the continuous casting mold (30) is adjusted. At least one side wall (31 to 34) is moveable parallel and transverse to the center line I of the outlet opening 11.

Abstract: A method for adjusting the casting width of a continuous metal, in particular steel, casting mold in which two displaceable end walls are clamped between two large side walls with a predetermined clamping force. Prior to making the adjustment the clamping force acting on the end walls is released and one large side wall is displaced away from the abutting end walls to form a gap between them so that the end walls can be moved to the desired position. They are then clamped again between the two side walls. To attain an optimum gap width between the end and side walls by taking the actual mold dimensions at the time of adjustment into consideration, the thermal expansion of the end walls in a direction parallel to the axis of the tie rods is measured during casting, or at least during the start-up period of the continuous casting process until it has reached its equilibrium state. The adjustment is the made by adding the desired, optimum gap width to the actual, measured expansion of the end walls.

Abstract: The mold for continuous casting of a rollable steel flanged billet having a web and two flanges used to make a steel beam or girder comprises two side walls extending over the web and the flanges and two end walls determining the thickness of the flanges positioned movably between the side walls. To provide a continuous casting mold in which the web length, the web thickness and the flange thickness can be independently varied, each of the side walls has a straight portion and an exteriorly directed bent out end portion angled relative to the straight portion, each of the end walls is positioned between a straight portion of one of the side walls and an adjacent opposing bent out end portion of the other of the side walls and at least one side wall is movable in the direction of its planar surface relative to the other side wall transverse to the casting direction.

Abstract: A width changing method in which the width of a slab under casting is changed by a movement of narrow face of a continuous casting mold by the operation of a horizontal driving device and a rotary driving device operable independently of the horizontal driving device. The period of width changing operation is divided into a forward taper changing period in which each narrow face is inclined toward the center of the mold and a rearward taper changing period in which each mold wall is inlcined away from the center of the mold. The acceleration of the horizontal movement of each narrow face is determined by means of allowable shell deformation resistance as a parameter for each period. Also is determined the angular velocity of the rotary device or the difference in velocity between the upper and lower ends of the narrow face. The width changing operation is conducted while maintaining the acceleration and the angular velocity or the velocity difference at constant levels in respective periods.

Abstract: A continuous casting mold has four walls each having a cooled surface and an end face. The walls are arranged so that the end face of each wall abuts the cooled surface of another wall. The cooled surfaces cooperate to define a casting passage of square or rectangular cross section. Two or more of the mold walls are shiftable transverse to the casting direction for the purpose of changing the dimensions of the casting passage. At least one of the shiftable walls is movable along a direction making an acute angle with the respective cooled surface.

Abstract: A mold for continuous casting is changed for changing the dimensions of the casting, by, selecting a casting speed during a change of the mold dimensions which is not lower than the one prior to the change; one or both small mold walls are tilted each about an axis below the low end of the respective wall, the mold wall is then parallel shifted, the shifting to begin before the final tilting is completed; thereafter the mold wall is tilted back about an axis coinciding with a surface level of molten material in the mold, the back tilting begins before the lateral shifting ends.

Abstract: Improved side wall plate members for an adjustable width, continuous casting mold. The adjustable width continuous casting mold is formed of a pair of opposed, spaced apart front and rear mold wall members and a pair of opposed, spaced apart side wall members with the side wall members clamped between the front and rear mold wall members. The improved side wall members of the present invention prevent scratching and wearing of the surfaces of the adjacent front and rear mold walls during mold width adjustment and also prevent twisting or tilting of the mold wall side members during such adjustment. Furthermore, the improved side wall members avoid the formation of flash producing gaps or spaces at the corners of the mold. Each sidewall member according to the present invention, includes, along its side edges, i.e., the edges in contact with the adjacent front and rear mold wall members, a bearing surface formed of a low friction, thermally stable, compressible, memory material.

Abstract: A continuous chain caster has upper and lower mold assemblies comprising endless belts and chains traveling at synchronized speeds. The mold assemblies meet to form a mold channel which is filled with molten metal from a headbox and feed tip. As the molten metal passes through the mold channel, the metal solidifies into the shape of the mold channel. Each belt is positioned outside the corresponding chain so that the smooth surface of the belt defines the surface of the mold channel thereby preventing the formation of fins between mold blocks which make up the chain, protecting the chain blocks, and neutralizing deformations in the chain blocks. The upper and lower blocks of the chains have protrusions at opposite ends which engage the opposing blocks to form the sides of the mold channel. By sliding the chains relative to each other, the width of the mold channel is adjustable.