US 12,030,114 B2 · Method of controlling the shape of an ingot head

Abstract

Systems and associated methods are provided for controlling the shape of an ingot head during formation. At the end of a cast, prior to forming the ingot head, chill bars or other cooling structure may be lowered into an ingot mold and define a reduced casting footprint for forming the ingot head. Supplemental molten metal may be fed into the reduced casting footprint, and the chill bars may be moved laterally towards the center of the ingot, further reducing the casting footprint. As additional molten metal fills the reduced mold footprint, the ingot may be lowered relative to the chill bars to further increase the height of the ingot head. Additional molten metal may be added until the desired shape of the ingot head is formed.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A method of ingot formation, the method comprising:

forming a base of an ingot by feeding molten metal into a mold that defines an initial casting footprint and by lowering a movable bottom relative to the mold to increase a height of the ingot;
moving at least one cooling structure at least in a vertical direction from an initial position into contact with the molten metal, wherein the at least one cooling structure is movable independent of the mold;
moving the at least one cooling structure at least in a horizontal direction within the initial casting footprint and along a top plane of the molten metal to produce a reduced casting footprint bounded at least in part by the at least one cooling structure, wherein the reduced casting footprint is smaller than the initial casting footprint;
and
feeding supplemental molten metal into the reduced casting footprint to form a narrowing shape in a head of the ingot.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method of controlling the shape of an ingot head

Life of this patent

Method of controlling the shape of an ingot head

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22