Cast ingot position control process and apparatus
AssigneeInternational Telephone and Telegraph Corporation
InventorsJonathan A. Dantzig, Peter E. Sevier, Gary L. Ungarean
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process and apparatus for controlling the position of a cast ingot is provided so that unwanted distortions of the casting are substantially avoided. The instant process and apparatus also permit substantially uniform heat transfer about the casting periphery. A control system for maintaining the casting within a mold so that the casting outer periphery is substantially uniformly spaced from the mold inner wall comprises a casting supporting mechanism adjacent the mold exit and non-thermal position detectors.
Claims9
An apparatus for casting molten metal comprising:
- a mold surrounding said molten metal to effect heat transfer and thereby form a casting having an outer periphery;
- said mold having inner and outer walls, a thickness defined by said inner and outer walls, and an exit through which said casting passes;
- and
- means for maintaining said casting within said mold so that said casting outer periphery is substantially uniformly spaced from said inner wall, said maintaining means comprising:
- means for supporting said casting adjacent said mold exit;
- first non-thermal detecting means for measuring a first distance between a first point on said casting outer periphery and a first point on said inner wall of said mold and for generating a first signal indicative of said first sensed distance;
- second non-thermal detecting means for measuring a second distance between a second point on said casting outer periphery and a second point on said inner wall of said mold and for generating a second signal indicative of said second sensed distance area;
- said first and second non-thermal detecting means being located adjacent the exit of said mold and within the mold wall;
- means for comparing said first and second signals and for generating a control signal to operate said support means to position said casting so that said first and second distances are substantially equal, unwanted distortions of said casting are substantially avoided and substantially uniform heat transfer occurs about the casting periphery.
A process for casting molten metal comprising:
- providing a mold having inner and outer walls, a thickness defined by said inner and outer walls, a longitudinal axis, and an exit;
- surrounding said molten metal with said mold and forming a casting having an outer periphery by transferring heat away from said molten metal and through said mold;
- passing said casting through said exit;
- and
- maintaining said casting within said mold so that said casting outer periphery is substantially uniformly spaced from said inner wall, said step of maintaining comprising:
- providing means for supporting said casting adjacent said mold exit;
- providing first and second non-thermal detecting means adjacent the exit of said mold and within the mold wall;
- measuring a first distance between a first point on said casting outer periphery and a first point on said inner wall of said mold with said first non-thermal detecting means and generating a first signal indicative of said first sensed distance;
- measuring a second distance between a second point on said casting outer periphery and a second point on said inner wall of said mold with said second non-thermal detecting means and generating a second signal indicative of said second sensed distance;
- comparing said first and second signal and generating a control signal for operating said supporting means to position said casting so that said first and second distances are substantially equal, unwanted distortions of said casting are substantially avoided and substantially uniform heat transfer occurs about the casting periphery.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.