Equipment for continuous or semi-continuous casting of metal with improved metal filling arrangement

Abstract

An apparatus for continuous or semi-continuous low pressure casting of metal, in particular directly-cooled (DC) casting of extended objects such as a rods, bars or billets of aluminium. The apparatus includes a frame construction with at least one chill or mould having a mould cavity that is provided with an upwardly open inlet and an outlet with cooling means. The inlet of the mould is connected to a distribution chamber receiving liquid metal from a metal store such as a holding furnace via a metal supply channel or launder. A flexible launder section is provided between the launder and the metal distribution chamber whereby the frame construction with the moulds and distribution chamber can be raised and lowered to enable complete filling of metal to the moulds. Subsequently it is possible to control the metal level in each respective mould cavity in relation to the metal level in the launder and thereby controlling the low pressure casting.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.