Gas assisted nozzle for casting metallic strip directly from the melt
AssigneeAllied-Signal Inc.
InventorHoward H. Liebermann
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for casting rapidly solidified metallic strip includes a nozzle mechanism which has an orifice for directing a stream of molten metal onto a movable quench surface. An upstream constraint mechanism constrains an upstream portion of a melt puddle formed on the quench surface by molten metal from the molten metal stream. A side constraint mechanism constrains two, opposite side portions of the melt puddle, and a downstream constraint mechanism provides a selected gas pressure, constraining force against a downstream, top surface of the melt puddled.
Claims12
A method for casting metallic strip, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) directing a stream of molten metal from an orifice of a nozzle onto a movable quench surface to form a melt puddle, said stream being defined by an upstream surface and a downstream surface, in the direction of movement of said quench surface, and opposed side surfaces;
- (b) constraining the upstream and opposed side surfaces of said stream, with surfaces associated with the nozzle, to control at least a portion of the shape of the melt puddle;
- (c) metering molten metal flow from the orifice by constraining with gas pressure the downstream surface of the molten metal stream;
- and
- (d) solidifying metal from said melt puddle to produce a metallic strip.
An apparatus for casting metallic strip, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a movable quench surface for deposition thereon of molten metal for solidification into a strip;
- (b) a nozzle arranged relative to said quench surface and having an orifice defined therein for directing a stream of molten metal onto said quench surface, said nozzle comprising an upstream constraint surface for constraining an upstream portion of the molten metal stream to be deposited on said quench surface, and side constraint surfaces for constraining two, opposed side portions of molten metal stream to be deposited on said quench surface;
- and,
- (c) gas pressuring means arranged opposite said upstream constraint means for supplying gas under pressure to effect metering of molten metal flow from the orifice.
An apparatus for casting metallic strip, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a movable quench surface for deposition thereon of molten metal for solidification onto a strip;
- (b) a nozzle arranged relative to said quench surface and having an orifice defined therein for directing a stream of molten metal onto said quench surface;
- (c) a wall member associated with said nozzle adjacent an upstream portion of said orifice for constraining an upstream portion of the molten metal to be deposited on said quench surface;
- (d) side wall members associated with said nozzle means adjacent side portions of said orifice for constraining side portions of the molten metal to be deposited on said quench surface;
- and
- (e) gas pressuring means arranged opposite said upstream wall member for supplying gas under pressure to effect metering of molten metal flow from the orifice.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.