Process and device for melting and remelting metals in particle form into strands, especially into slabs

A process for melting and remelting metals in particle form, these metals being conveyed in the horizontal direction to a melting zone and melted by electron beam bombardment, whereupon the molten metal is fed to a continuous casting mould, from which the metal is drawn off in the form of a solidified strand, the process comprising the steps of:

• (a) scattering the metal particles from a horizontally displaceable conveying device substantially evenly over the horizontally positioned floor of a fusion ladle;
• (b) joining the particles together into a plate-shaped structure by means of the electron beam which momentarily melts the surfaces of these particles;
• (c) moving the floor of the fusion ladle into a position inclined relative to the horizontal;
• (d) guiding the electron beam upwards over the sloping, plate-shaped particle structure, the energy density of the beam being so distributed that the particle structure is firstly preheated in strips and fused directly thereafter;
• (e) simultaneously keeping the molten metal the lower part of the floor liquid by electron beam bombardment;
• (f) guiding the electron beam back downwards over the sloping floor of the fusion ladle while removing the molten metal;
• and
• (g) returning the floor of the fusion ladle to the horizontal starting position and again charging the fusion ladle with metal particles according to step (a).