Method and apparatus for separating different grades of steel in continuous casting systems

In a continuous steel casting system comprising a mold having an inlet opening into which molten steel of different grades may be selectively directed and a discharge end from which at least a partially solidified casting continuously emerges, means for selectively directing successive different grades of steel into the mold, a grade separator device for positioning into the mold inlet opening immediately following completion of the introduction of a first grade of molten steel into the mold and before the introduction of a second grade for forming a separating barrier between the first and second grades of molten steel and for enhancing cooling and solidification at the juncture between said first and second grades of molten steel, and said grade separator device having a generally V-shaped configuration with each leg of the V comprising a plurality of parallel spaced apart plates extending substantially the length of the mold opening so as to define a discontinuous construction that permits the limited flow of the second grade molten steel through the grade separator device into intermixing relation to the first grade of molten steel for preventing the entrapment of gas bubbles about the separator device and for reducing the tendency of splattering of the second grade of molten steel when directed into the mold and onto the grade separator device.

In a continuous metal casting system comprising a mold having an inlet opening into which molten metal of different grades may be selectively directed and a discharge end from which at least a partially solidified casting continuously emerges, means for selectively directing successive different grades of metal into the mold, a grade separator device for positioning into the mold inlet opening immediately following completion of the introduction of a first grade of molten metal into the mold and before the introduction of a second grade for forming a separating barrier between the first and second grades of molten metal and for enhancing cooling and solidification at the juncture between said first and second grades of molten metal, and said grade separator device having a discontinuous V-shaped construction that extends substantially the length of said mold opening and spans an overall width corresponding substantially to the width of the mold opening for permitting limited flow of the second grade of molten metal through the separator device for intermixing with the first grade of molten metal.

In a continuous metal casting system comprising a mold having an inlet opening into which molten metal of different grades may be selectively directed and a discharge end from which at least a partially solidified casting continuously emerges, means for selectively directing successive different grades of metal into the mold, a grade separator device for positioning into the mold inlet opening immediately following completion of the introduction of a first grade of molten metal into the mold and before the introduction of a second grade for forming a separating barrier between the first and second grades of molten metal and for enhancing cooling and solidification at the juncture between said first and second grades of molten metal, and said grade separator device including a pair of separator plates disposed in a V-shaped configuration with a downstream apex end thereof separated by a predetermined spacing and which extend substantially the length of said mold opening and together span an overall width corresponding substantially to the width of the mold opening.

In a method of continuously casting different grades of metal in a mold comprising the steps of introducing one grade of molten metal into the mold for forming a continuous casting, positioning a separator medium having a discontinuous V-shaped construction into the mold immediately following completion of the introduction of said first grade of molten metal into the mold and before the introduction of a second grade of molten metal for forming a separating barrier between the first and a subsequent introduction of a second grade of molten metal and for enhancing cooling and solidification at the juncture between said first and second grades of molten metal, and then introducing the second grade of molten metal into the mold on top of the separator medium while permitting limited flow of the second grade of molten metal through the separator medium and into limited intermixing relation with the first grade of molten metal for preventing the entrapment of gas bubbles about the separator medium and for reducing the tendency for splattering of the second grade of molten metal introduced into the mold and onto the separator medium.

In a method of continuously casting different grades of metal in a mold comprising the steps of introducing a first grade of molten metal into the mold for forming a continuous casting, immediately following completion of the introduction of said first grade of molten metal into the mold and before the introduction of a second grade of molten metal positioning a separating medium into the mold in the form of metal separator plates disposed in a V-shaped configuration with a spacing at a downstream apex end thereof for forming a separating barrier between the first and second grades of molten metal and for enhancing cooling and solidification at the juncture between said first and second grades of molten metal, and then introducing the second grade of molten metal into the mold on top of the separating medium while permitting limited flow of the second grade of molten metal through the spacing between said separator plates into intermixing relation with the first grade of molten metal for preventing the entrapment of gas bubbles about the separator medium and for reducing the tendency for splattering of the second grade of molten metal introduced into the mold and onto the separator medium.