System, apparatus, and method for direct chill casting venting

A method of venting casting gas from a direct chill casting mold comprising:

• supplying the direct chill casting mold with molten metal through a transition plate;
• supplying a casting gas through a casting surface of the direct chill casting mold;
• and
• venting the casting gas from a gas pocket in the transition plate, wherein the casting gas is vented through one or more vent holes defined in a gas pocket surface disposed at a periphery of the transition plate where the transition plate meets a wall of the direct chill casting mold, the gas pocket surface defining the casting gas pocket wherein venting the casting gas from the gas pocket in the transition plate is performed in response to a pressure of the casting gas in the gas pocket reaching a predetermined pressure.

A system for venting a direct chill casting mold comprising:

• a direct chill casting mold;
• a thimble through which molten metal is supplied to the direct chill casting mold;
• and
• a transition plate attached to the direct chill casting mold and into which the thimble is received, wherein the transition plate comprises a gas pocket surface and one or more vents disposed therein,
• wherein in response to molten metal filling the direct chill casting mold, casting gas is configured to vented through the one or more vents in the transition plate.