System and method for continuous casting

A horizontal continuous casting apparatus for casting a metal strip, said apparatus comprising:

• a first belt carried by a first upstream pulley and a first downstream pulley;
• a second belt carried by a second upstream pulley and a second downstream pulley;
• and
• a mold region defined by a first mold support section arranged behind the first belt intermediate the first upstream pulley and the first downstream pulley, and a second mold support section arranged behind the second belt intermediate the second upstream pulley and the second downstream pulley, the first mold support section being positioned vertically above and spaced from the second mold support section;
• wherein the first mold support section and the second mold support section each includes a transition portion defining therebetween a first zone of the mold region, and a downstream portion defining therebetween a second zone of the mold region;
• wherein the first zone is configured to receive molten metal from a metal feeding device, and the second zone is configured to maintain contact with the metal strip as it cools;
• wherein the transition portion of each of the first mold support section and the second mold support section is located upstream from the second zone and has a radius that increases progressively at every point throughout its extent from an upstream end of the first zone to the second zone;
• and
• wherein the transition portion and the downstream portion of each of the first mold support section and the second mold support section define a continuous surface of the first mold support section and the second mold support section that directly support the first belt and the second belt, respectively.

A horizontal continuous casting apparatus for casting a metal strip, said apparatus comprising:

• a first mold section having a surface for supporting a first moving belt;
• a second mold section having a surface for supporting a second moving belt, the first mold section and first moving belt being arranged vertically above and spaced from the second mold section and the second moving belt;
• wherein the surface of each of the first mold section and the second mold section includes a transition portion configured to receive a horizontal stream of molten metal from a metal feeding device, and a downstream portion configured to maintain contact with the metal strip as it cools;
• wherein the transition portion is located upstream from the downstream portion and has a radius that increases progressively at every point along its entire extent from an upstream end of the transition portion to the downstream portion;
• wherein the surface of the first mold section and the second mold section, including the transition portion and the downstream portion of each of the first mold section and the second mold section, is a continuous surface that directly supports the first moving belt and the second moving belt, respectively.