Chill roll casting of continuous filament

In an apparatus for making metal filament including an annular chill roll rotably mounted around its axis and means for depositing molten metal onto the peripheral surface of the chill roll as it is being rotated, the improvement which comprises:

• a stationary housing surrounding the peripheral surface of the chill roll in an arc beginning at the vicinity of the point of deposition of the molten metal onto the chill roll and terminating at a predetermined point of stripping of the solid filament from the chill roll, and defining a gap between the peripheral surface of the chill roll and the interior of the housing, said housing including means providing a seal along the length of the housing between it and the chill roll to prevent excessive escape of fluid from the gap, and terminating in an outlet at the predetermined point of stripping of the solid filament from the chill roll for cocurrent discharge of the filament and the fluid;
• and means for introducing a fluid into the gap defined by the housing for passage through the gap in the direction of rotation of the chill roll, including at least one inlet port being angled in the direction of rotation of the chill roll to insure fluid flow in the direction of movement of the chill roll.