Cooling apparatus for horizontal continuous casting of metals and alloys, particularly steels

Abstract

An aftercooler for a horizontal continuous casting system is comprised of a plurality of individual cooling elements adapted to be positioned in contact with the strand after it leaves the mold. Each of the cooling elements has a passage for the flow of a fluid cooling medium through it and either or both of the contact pressure of the element against the strand and the flow rate of cooling medium may be adjusted to control the rate of cooling to suit the solidification characteristics of the metal being cast. Preferably, a plurality of sets of cooling elements are sequentially disposed along the length of the strand immediately downstream of the mold, each of the sets being disposed circumferentially around the strand so as to cool it on all sides. Control of the contact pressure and cooling medium flow rate is effected by a computer which compares measured values of cooling medium temperatures and flow rates in the elements with stored data representing desired characteristics for the metal being cast. The computer controls D.C. stepping motors to adjust the contact pressure and valves to vary the flow rate to maintain the measured values substantially the same as the stored values.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.