Bottom block for direct chill casting
AssigneeOculatus LLC
InventorsRobert B. Wagstaff, Samuel R. Wagstaff, Brent M. Opdendries
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims15
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 less 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.
A bottom block for DC casting, comprising:
- an upper portion configured to interface with a DC casting mold;
- a lower portion configured to be supported by a DC casting apparatus for displacing the bottom block during casting;
- an inner wall having a first slope extending from the upper portion towards a center of the bottom block;
- and
- an inner surface that, together with the inner wall, defines a cavity of the bottom block for receiving molten metal, the inner surface comprising a central portion and a peripheral portion, the central portion at a first height and the peripheral portion at a second height, the first height greater than the second height.
A bottom block for DC casting, comprising:
- an upper surface defining a receiving volume configured to receive molten metal during casting;
- a first end along a first direction;
- a second end along a second direction opposite the first direction;
- and
- one or more removable segments configured to change a length of the bottom block in response to the one or more removable segments being inserted or removed from the bottom block, the one or more removable segments configured to be inserted perpendicular to the first direction between the first end and the second end.
A bottom block for DC casting, comprising:
- an upper portion configured to interface with a DC casting mold;
- a lower portion having a cross-sectional area that is less 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 bottom 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, wherein the external surface includes one or more protrusions extending horizontally from the bottom block;
- and
- an interior surface configured to receive molten metal for solidification.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.