US 3,938,580 AGranted

Continuous metal casting plant with controlled band-tensioning

OwnerEnrico Doniniinventor

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Abstract

In a continuous metal casting plant which includes a casting wheel which has a peripheral groove, a metal endless band which winds partially about a portion of the circumference of the casting wheel so as to define a casting chamber for receiving molten metal and a crucible which is provided with nozzle for delivering the molten metal, the improvement being that the band is supported and tensioned by a pair of movable structures adapted to slide along a track, each structure having a shoulder and a plurality of rollers. One structure is fixedly secured to the track, and the other structure is movable by means of a piston actuated by sensitizers of the band via charge or load cells. The band is maintained pressed against the casting chamber of the wheel by means of two band presser means disposed on opposite sides of the wheel, each band presser means being mounted on an independently movable carriage which carries a multi-hinge arm and its associated pulley.

Claims11

Dependent claims

In a system for the continuous casting of elongated metal elements from hot molten metal, a combination comprising a casting wheel having an axis and a peripheral groove;

a metallic endless band entrained about a portion of the circumference of said wheel so as to overlie said groove in said portion and define a casting chamber therewith;
crucible means including a nozzle for admitting hot molten metal into said casting chamber;
band-tensioning means including a horizontal track and a pair of band-supporting members slidable on said track and each having roller means for entraining said band at locations spaced from said wheel, said band-tensioning means also having means for fixedly securing one of said members to said track and control means for moving the other of said members along said track, said control means including sensor means for sensing the tension of said band and piston means connected with said other member and cooperating with said sensor means to move said other member away from said one member and thereby maintain said band tensioned;
and a pair of band-presser means disposed on opposite sides of said axis for respectively pressing said band against the circumferential surface of said wheel, each of said band-presser means having a movable carriage, a multi-hinged arm and a pulley on said arm.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.