Apparatus for and process of direct casting of metal strip

Process for direct casting of molten metal to form strip by solidification of molten metal on a moving chill surface using a vessel having a floor, spaced sidewalls, an inlet, and an outlet extending between the sidewalls, comprising:

• positioning the vessel with the outlet adjacent the chill surface;
• providing a source of molten metal to be cast;
• withdrawing an inlet stream of molten metal from the source and flowing the inlet stream into the vessel through the inlet;
• dividing the inlet stream into a first stream and a second stream;
• diverting the first stream in a direction toward one sidewall of the vessel;
• diverting the second stream in a direction toward the other sidewall of the vessel;
• diffusing the first stream and the second stream;
• intermixing the diffused streams to form a composite stream;
• and
• diffusing the composite stream to provide an outlet stream of substantially uniform thickness extending throughout the width of the outlet.

A tundish for use in direct casting of molten metal on a chill surface of predetermined width comprising:

• means for providing a source of molten metal;
• means for withdrawing an inlet stream of molten metal from the source and for dividing the inlet stream into a first divided stream and a second divided stream;
• means for oppositely diverging the first divided stream and the second divided stream;
• means for diffusing the first divided stream and the second divided stream;
• means for combining the diffused streams to form a composite stream;
• and
• means for flowing the composite stream in a direction toward the chill surface.

A tundish for use in direct casting of molten metal to form strip by solidification of molten metal on a moving chill surface, comprising:

• a vessel including a floor, first and second opposed sidewalls, and an outlet having a transverse discharge surface for flowing a stream of molten metal onto the moving chill surface;
• means providing a source of molten metal to be cast;
• central baffle means,
• inlet means for directing a flow of molten metal from the source into the vessel in a direction to impinge on said central baffle means to be divided into a first stream and a second stream;
• first diverting wall means positioned in the path of flow of the first stream to divert the first stream in the direction of said outlet;
• second diverting wall means positioned in the path of flow of the second stream to divert the second stream in the direction of said outlet;
• means for diffusing and combining the first and the second diverted streams to form a composite, diffused stream flowing toward said outlet;
• and
• means for diffusing the composite stream to form an outlet stream of substantially uniform depth and velocity throughout its width.

Apparatus for use in direct casting of metal strip from molten metal deposited on a moving chill surface comprising:

• a tundish having a floor and an open top, opposed upwardly extending sidewalls, an end wall, and an open outlet opposite said end wall, said open outlet extending substantially the full width of the tundish between said sidewalls;
• an inlet for providing a flow of molten metal into the tundish from a source of molten metal;
• divider means within the tundish for dividing the flow of molten metal into a plurality of separate streams and for diverting one of said separate streams in a direction toward each sidewall and for recombining the divided streams into a composite stream flowing toward said outlet, and
• first diffuser means for diffusing the composite stream at a point between said dividing means and said outlet to provide molten metal of substantially uniform temperature across the width of the tundish at the outlet.

A process for direct casting of molten metal to form strip by solidification of molten metal on a moving chill surface using a vessel having a floor, spaced sidewalls, an inlet, and an outlet extending between the sidewalls, the process comprising the steps of:

• positioning the vessel with the outlet adjacent the chill surface;
• providing a source of molten metal to be cast;
• flowing molten metal from the source into the vessel through the inlet;
• dividing the flow of molten metal entering the vessel into a plurality of streams;
• diverting one of said plurality of streams in a direction toward each sidewall of the vessel;
• diffusing said plurality of streams and recombining the diffused streams to form a composite stream of substantially uniform depth extending throughout the width of the vessel;
• and
• flowing the recombined composite stream to the outlet to contact the chill surface.

In an apparatus for direct casting of metal strip from molten metal by solidifying molten metal on a moving chill surface, including a vessel having a floor, spaced sidewalls, and an outlet extending between the sidewalls and positioned adjacent the moving chill surface, the chill surface having a transverse dimension greater than that of the vessel and extending outwardly from the outlet on each side of the vessel, the improvement comprising:

• a source of molten metal to be cast;
• inlet means providing a flow of molten metal from the source into the vessel;
• means for flowing the molten metal through the vessel to the outlet in a stream of substantially uniform depth at the outlet;
• and
• heating means operable to apply heat to the chill surface in the area outboard of the outlet at each side of the vessel to thereby prevent excessive cooling of the molten metal adjacent the side edges of the strip being formed whereby a strip of more uniform thickness is produced.