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US 12,397,342 B2Granted
Bottom block for direct chill casting
AssigneeOculatus LLC
InventorsRobert B. Wagstaff, Samuel R. Wagstaff, Brent M. Opdendries
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A bottom block for use in direct chill (DC) casting that includes a flared base providing additional surface area for contact with coolant used in the DC casting process. The bottom block includes a first end that substantially fits within a DC mold while a second end has a larger cross-sectional area than the first end. A transition between the first end and the second end provides a surface for coolant to contact despite film boiling and air gaps between the ingot and the coolant.
Claims3
A bottom block for direct chill (DC) casting, comprising:
- a monolithic block defined by:
- an upper portion configured to interface with a DC casting mold;
- a lower portion having a cross-sectional area that is larger than a cross sectional area defined by a perimeter of the upper portion;
- an external surface that tapers from the upper portion to the lower portion, the external
- surface having a slope that increases a width of the monolithic block as the external surface extends from the upper portion to the lower portion, wherein the external surface is configured to receive cooling fluid from a DC casting apparatus, the slope of the external surface configured to maintain the cooling fluid in contact along a height of the external surface;
- and
- an interior surface configured to receive molten metal for solidification wherein the external surface comprises one or more protrusions extending horizontally from the bottom block.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.