Apparatus for meniscus coating a steel strip

Apparatus for meniscus coating at least one surface of a steel strip with metal, comprising:

• at least one horizontally disposed removable coating tray for containing coating metal,
• only one departure lip mounted on a side of said at least one coating tray,
• said departure lip including an upwardly inclined upper surface, a lower surface and a sharp terminal end,
• said terminal end defined by intersecting said upper and lower surfaces,
• said lower surface inclined downward and away from the strip immediately below said terminal end,
• said terminal end positioned adjacent to and transversely with but not intentionally in contact with the at least one surface of the strip,
• a furnace for melting make-up coating metal,
• means for delivering said molten make-up coating metal to said at least one coating tray,
• means for moving the strip transversely past said departure lip,
• a stabilizing roller positioned below said departure lip for guiding the strip past said departure lip,
• means for maintaining the level of said coating metal in said at least one coating tray,
• said level being controlled by said means for maintaining the level relative to an upper elevation of said departure lip so that an uninterrupted flow of said coating metal over said departure lip can be delivered to the at least one surface of the strip, and
• a jet nozzle positioned above said departure lip,
• said nozzle spaced from and transversely with the strip for controlling a thickness of
• said coating metal on the at least one surface of the strip.

Apparatus for meniscus coating both opposing surfaces of a steel strip with metal, comprising:

• a plurality of horizontally disposed removable coating trays for containing coating metal,
• said coating trays surrounded by a sealed chamber for containing a non-oxidizing atmosphere,
• two of said coating trays spaced apart from one another with one coating tray positioned on one side of the strip and the other coating tray positioned on the other side of the strip, each said coating tray including only one departure lip,
• each said departure lip including an upwardly inclined upper surface, a lower surface and a sharp terminal end,
• each said terminal end defined by intersecting said upper and lower surfaces,
• each said terminal end positioned adjacent to and transversely with but not intentionally in contact with the opposing surfaces,
• said lower surface inclined downwardly and away from the strip immediately below said terminal end,
• a furnace for melting make-up coating metal,
• means for delivering said molten make-up coating metal to said coating trays,
• means for moving the strip transversely past said departure lips,
• a stabilizing roller positioned below said departure lips for guiding the strip past said departure lips,
• means for maintaining the level of said coating metal in said coating trays,
• said level being controlled by said means for maintaining the level relative to an upper elevation of said departure lips so that an uninterrupted flow of said coating metal over said departure lips can be delivered to the opposing surfaces of the strip, and
• a pair of jet nozzles positioned above said departure lips,
• said nozzles spaced from and transversely with the opposing surfaces of the strip for controlling a thickness of said coating metal on each of the opposing surfaces of the strip.

Apparatus for meniscus coating at least one surface of a steel strip with metal, comprising:

• at least one horizontally disposed coating tray for containing coating metal,
• said at least one coating tray including a departure lip,
• said departure lip including an upwardly inclined upper surface, a lower surface and a sharp profiled terminal end,
• said profiled terminal end of said departure lip defined by intersecting said upper and lower surfaces,
• said profiled terminal end having a straight central portion and tapered edge portions,
• said profiled terminal end positioned adjacent to and transversely with but not intentionally in contact with the at least one surface of the strip,
• means for maintaining the temperature of said coating metal in said at least one coating tray above the melting point of said coating metal,
• means for moving the strip transversely past said departure lip, and means for maintaining the level of said coating metal in said at least one coating tray,
• said level being controlled by said means for maintaining the level relative to an upper elevation of said departure lip so that an uninterrupted flow of said coating metal can be delivered over said departure lip to the at least one surface of the strip.