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US 4,926,930 AGranted
Process and machine for the continuous casting of a thin metal product
AssigneeClecim
InventorsPierre Gay, Robert Vatant
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process and machine for the continuous casting of thin steel products, in which the inner casting space (13) of the mold (1) is given a substantially spindle-shaped cross-section which forms a central part (17) of large thickness (L), making it possible to introduce a jet of molten metal under normal conditions, and having on its sides (18) a small thickness (1) corresponding to that of the product to be produced (53). In a thickness-reducing stand (2) directly at the exit of the mold (1), the central part (17) of the product is progressively flattened to a thickness (1) equal to that of the sides.
Claims13
A process for the continuous casting of thin metal products, comprising the steps of
- (a) pouring molten metal into an openended mold (1) having two wide walls (11) and two narrow walls (12) which are cooled, to form a flat product (5) which consists of a liquid core (51) surrounded by a solidified skin (52);
- (b) discharging said flat product through exit orifices (16) of the mold (1) and subsequently passing said product into a secondary cooling device (2, 3) equipped with means (4) for cooling and retaining at least the large faces of the product until complete solidification;
- (c) providing the wide walls (11) of the mold in a curved shape so that the cast product has a widened central part (55) narrowing in the form of a spindle to edges having a thickness equal to that of the thin product to be cast;
- flattening the central part (55) of the product (5) progressively to a thickness equal to that of the edges in a reducing stand (2) located immediately downstream of the exit orifice of the mold (1) and comprising two surfaces for respectively guiding and straightening the two large faces of the product, the profile of which is determined as a function of the casting speed, so as to exert a pressure uniformly distributed over the entire surface thereby causing and controlling, on each of the large faces, the symmetrical movements of two straightening zones from the edge towards the axis at a speed the respectively axial and radial components of which are substantially constant and synchronized with the casting speed, in order to carry out continuous straightening of the wide walls of the product, up to complete solidification.
1 more element
Apparatus for the continuous casting of thin metal products comprising, along a casting axis:
- (a) an open-ended mold (1) having two wide walls (11) and two narrow walls (12) delimiting an inner tubular space (13) symmetrical relative to a longitudinal plane of symmetry (P.sub.1) and to a transverse plane (P.sub.2) and having a lower exit orifice (16), said wide walls (11) comprising a curved central part (17) of inwardly concave form, extended laterally by means of two convex parts (19) connecting tangentially, on one side, to said concave central part (17) and, on the other side, to a plane end part (18) parallel to said longitudinal plane of symmetry (P.sub.1), said narrow walls (12) being inserted between said plane end parts (18) of said wide walls (11) and having a width (1) substantially equal to the thickness of a thin product to be cast;
- and
- (b) a secondary cooling device comprising a thickness-reducing stand (2) located immediately beneath said lower exit orifice (16) and equipped with retaining means (4) defining two substantially continuous guide surfaces for large faces of said product (5), delimiting an inner space (40) for passage of said product, having on its sides (48) a constant thickness (1) equal to that of sides (12) of said mold and, in its central part (47) a thickness (L) decreasing progressively in the casting direction between an inlet orifice (43) of a cross-section identical to that of said exit orifice (16) of said mold (1) and an exit orifice (44) of rectangular cross-section corresponding to that of the thin product (53) to be formed;
- p1 (c) said guide surfaces (4) comprising a curved central part of inwardly concave form, extended laterally by means of two convex parts (49) connecting tangentially, on a first side thereof, to said concave central part (47) and, on a second side thereof, to a plane end part (48) parallel to said longitudinal plane of symmetry (P.sub.1) and intersecting perpendicularly small faces (54) of said product (5), respectively, said concave central parts (47) and said convex connecting parts (49) being straightened progressively in said thickness-reducing stand (2) so as to be aligned with the plane end parts (48) at the outlet of said reducing stand (2).
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.