Apparatus for stirring and methods of stirring

A method of stirring, the method including:

• stirring molten metal at a first location using an electromagnetic stirrer unit that is moveably mounted on a stirrer support carriage;
• moving, via the stirrer support carriage, the stirrer unit from the first location to a second location;
• and
• stirring molten metal at the second location using the stirrer unit;
• where, while stirring the molten metal and the first and second location, at least a portion of the stirrer unit is positioned above a portion of the molten metal;
• and
• where:
• the stirrer unit is positioned in a transit position during movement of the stirrer unit from the first location to the second location;
• the stirrer unit is positioned in a use position while stirring molten metal at the first and second locations;
• and
• while in the use position the stirrer unit is spaced further from a longitudinal axis of the stirrer support carriage in both a vertical and horizontal direction than while in the transit position.

Apparatus for stirring a molten metal, the apparatus including:

• an electromagnetic stirrer unit;
• a stirrer support carriage which provides a moveable mounting for the stirrer unit and is configured to move the stirrer unit to a number of locations at which stirring is to be provided;
• wherein,
• the stirrer support carriage is configured to move the stirring unit between a first location and a second location selected from amongst the number of locations, the second location being different from the first location;
• and
• the stirrer unit is in a transit position during movement between the first location and the second location and the stirrer unit is in a use position at the first location and at the second location during stirring;
• while in the use position the stirrer unit is spaced further from a longitudinal axis of the stirrer support carriage in both a vertical and horizontal direction than while in the transit position.