Ablative band for a casting machine

#This invention relates generally to metal founding, and more particularly to an improved method of and apparatus for casting molten metal in a continuous casting machine of the wheel-belt type.

#In known continuous casting systems, molten metal is flowed into a mold formed by enclosing an arcuate portion of the peripheral groove of a rotating casting wheel with a flexible endless metal belt. As the casting wheel rotates, a coolant is applied to the external surfaces of the wheel adjacent the peripheral groove and to the flexible belt to prevent excessive heating thereof and to achieve rapid solidification of the molten metal. As the cast metal travels between the rotating casting wheel and the circumferential belt, it solidifies and emerges from between the two surfaces as a continuous bar, ready to be rolled or otherwise worked. For the purposes of illustration, the present invention will be described with specific reference to its use in a continuous copper bar or a continuous aluminum bar casting operation such as just mentioned, but it is to be understood that the invention in its broader aspects may be utilized with other metals and other continuous casting processes that employ moveable casting surfaces.

#When continuously casting metals in machines of the above described type, it is highly advantageous to solidify the molten metal in as short a period of time as possible in order to maintain a high casting rate. Moreover, when casting metals containing alloying elements, rapid solidification is desired in order to maintain intermettalic compounds in solid solution and to limit the size of the particles that precipitate out of solution. However, the low cooling efficiency and non-uniformity of heat transfer inherent in the thick metal belts (0.060 inches or greater) of prior art casting machines preclude attainment of the high casting rates and metallurgical effects desired. This is especially so if the belt is fabricated of a material having a relatively low rate of heat transfer even though coolant is applied to the external belt surface in maximum practical pressure and volume.

#FIG. 1 is a schematic elevation view of one embodiment of a wheel-belt continuous casting machine in accordance with the present invention wherein a continuous strip of ablative material is supplied to the flexible belt from a dispenser immediately prior to introduction of molten metal to the mold.

#FIG. 2 is a schematic elevation view of another embodiment of a wheel-belt continuous casting machine according to the present invention wherein the ablative material is sprayed onto the casting belt immediately prior to the introduction of molten metal to the mold.

#FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of one embodiment of flexible belt construction suitable for use in the present invention.

#For purposes of illustration, the invention herein will be described as embodied in continuous casting apparatus and procedures of generally conventional types, for effecting the continuous casting of copper, aluminum, steel and their alloys in bar and rod forms. It should be understood that the invention described herein is used in conjunction with a reservoir of conventional type which is not shown for the sake of clarity.

#Referring now in detail to the drawings wherein like parts are designated by like reference numerals throughout, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a wheel-belt type continuous casting machine comprising a rotatably mounted casting wheel 10 and an endless belt 11 mounted for continuous movement around belt support wheels 12, 13, 14 and 15. The belt 11 and the casting wheel 10 are mutually disposed and arranged so that along a portion of their respective paths the belt 11 contacts the casting wheel by moving through a peripheral groove inscribed upon the surface of the casting wheel so as to define between them a casting mold having a mold inlet 16 and a mold outlet 17.

#Molten metal is supplied from a pour spout 18 to the mold inlet 16 of the casting mold. As the metal moves through the casting mold it solidifies into a continuous bar 19 which emerges from the mold outlet 17. To promote solidification, coolant means 20 and 21 are provided which impinge liquid coolant against the surface of the belt. Other cooling means (not shown) are arranged to supply coolant to the external peripheral groove surfaces. An arrangement of a belt cooling system which may be adapted to supply coolant to the wheel and belt of the present invention is more fully described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,596,702, which disclosure is incorporated herein by reference.