Clamping system for fastening a cooling unit to an encircling supporting element of a caterpillar-type casting machine, and method for fastening/releasing a cooling unit to/from an encircling supporting element of a caterpillar-type casting machine

A clamping system for fastening a cooling unit on a circulating supporting element of a caterpillar-type casting machine, the system comprising:

• the cooling unit and the circulating supporting element, wherein a depression is formed inside the supporting element,
• at least one connecting element having a longitudinal axis and which is pre-tensioned in a longitudinal direction by a spring, the connecting element being displaceably mounted in said depression in a direction of the longitudinal axis of the connecting element and accommodated together with the spring, and
• clamping means, by which the cooling unit is fastenable on the supporting element,
• and
• the clamping means is formed by a head provided on an upper end face of the connecting element and a recess, which is provided on or in the cooling unit and can be brought into interaction with the head,
• wherein the connecting element is pre-tensioned by the spring toward the supporting element and is thus transferred into a clamping position, in which the cooling unit, when the head of the connecting element is engaged with the recess provided on or in the cooling unit, is automatically clamped with the supporting element;
• and
• wherein a release unit is provided on or in the supporting element, the release unit enabling the connecting element to move against the spring pre-tension into a release position, in which a clearance results between the head of the connecting element and a surface forming the recess provided on or in the cooling unit, so that the cooling unit is removable from the supporting element.