Process and apparatus for casting metal strip

A process of continuously casting metal strip, comprising:

• continuously injecting molten metal into a mould having at least one casting surface that is continuously recirculated through said mould, and removing a strip of solidified metal delivered from said mould, following cooling of said metal;
• continuously applying a layer of a parting agent uniformly to said at least one casting surface before said casting surface is contacted by said molten metal in said mould;
• and
• continuously removing all of said parting agent, and any detitus contained in said parting agent, from said at least one casting surface after said casting surface emerges from said mould but before said surface undergoes application of further parting agent prior to further contact with molten metal in said mould;
• wherein said parting agent and detritus is removed from said casting surface by spraying a jet of a cleaning liquid onto said casting surface, collecting and removing a mixture of cleaning liquid, parting agent and detritus thereby formed, and moving said casting surface after receiving said spray past a seal which wipes remaining liquid and solid from said surface;
• and wherein
• said mixture is collected by enclosing said spray in a hollow casing closely surrounding a moving part of said casting surface, removing air from an interior of said casing to prevent leakage of liquid between said casing and said casting surface and draining said mixture from an interior of said casing.

A process of continuously casting metal strip, comprising:

• forming a mould having at least one casting surface continuously recirculated through said mould;
• continuously injecting molten metal into said mould from an injector having a flexible tip containing a discharge outlet for said molten metal;
• and
• allowing said tip to conform to the shape of said casting surface.

A process of continuously casting metal strip, comprising:

• forming a casting mould between opposed rotating belts, each of which has a casting surface continuously recirculated through said mould;
• forming a layer of a parting agent on said casting surface;
• continuously injecting molten metal onto said casting surfaces carrying said layer of parting agent from an injector having a flexible tip containing a discharge outlet for said molten;
• maintaining said tip of said injector at a predetermined spacing from said casting surfaces to prevent flash back of metal between said tip and said casting surfaces while avoiding preturbations in said layers of parting agent on the casting surfaces that result in deterioration of surface appearances of strip formed by the process;
• and
• removing solidified metal strip delivered by said belts from said mould following cooling of said metal;
• and
• further comprising positioning spacers between said tip and said casting surfaces to maintain said predetermined spacing, said spacers comprising wire screens having interwoven wires orientated longitudinally and transversely to a casting direction of said casting surfaces, in which only the longitudinal wires project from upper and lower surfaces of the screens.

Apparatus for continuously casting metal strip, comprising:

• a mould for casting said metal strip, comprising at least one casting surface that, in use, is continuously recirculated through said mould;
• an injector for injecting molten metal into said mould;
• an applicator for applying a uniform layer of parting agent onto said casting surface prior to entry of said casting surface into said mould;
• and
• removal apparatus for substantially completely removing said parting agent, and any detritus contained therein, from said casting surface downstream of said mould but upstream of said applicator;
• said removal apparatus acting to prevent parting agent previously passed through said mould on said casting surface, and detritus contained therein, from contacting further molten metal injected into said mould;
• and
• wherein said injector has a flexible tip containing an outlet for said molten metal, said flexible tip conforming to the shape of said casting surface adjacent to said tip.

Apparatus for continuously casting metal strip, comprising:

• a mould for casting said metal strip, comprising at least one casting surface that, in use, is continuously recirculated through said mould;
• an injector for injecting molten metal into said mould;
• an applicator for applying a uniform layer of parting agent onto said casting surface prior to entry of said casting surface into said mould;
• and
• removal apparatus for substantially completely removing said parting agent, and any detritus contained therein, from said casting surface downstream of said mould but upstream of said applicator;
• said removal apparatus action to prevent parting agent previously passed through said mould on said casting surface, and detritus contained therein, from contacting further molten metal injected into said mould;
• and
• wherein said removal apparatus comprises a hollow casing facing said casting surface, a spray device in said casing orientated for spraying cleaning liquid onto said casting surface, a seal positioned at a trailing edge of said casing relative to a direction of movement of said casting surface for removing residual liquid and solid from said casting surface, air evacuation means for said casing for preventing leakage of liquid from said casing, and a drain for removing a mixture of cleaning liquid, parting agent and detritus from said casing.

Apparatus for continuously casting metal strip, which comprises:

• a pair of rotating opposed belts providing casting surfaces forming a metal mould between opposed runs of said belts;
• an injector for injecting molten metal from a discharge outlet onto the casting surfaces of said belts, said injector having a flexible tip containing a discharge outlet for said molten metal;
• and
• at least one spacer positioned between said tip of the injector and said casting surfaces for maintaining a predetermined spacing between said discharge outlet and said casting surfaces to prevent, in use, flashback of molten metal between said tip and said casting surfaces while avoiding perturbations in layers of said parting agent applied on the casting surfaces that result in deterioration of surface appearances of a strip of solidified metal produced by said apparatus;
• and
• wherein said at least one spacer comprises a wire screen having intersecting wires orientated longitudinally and transversely of a casting direction of said casting surface, in which only the longitudinal wires project from upper and lower surfaces of the screen.

Apparatus for continuously casting metal strip, which comprises:

• one or more continuously moving surfaces forming a metal mould;
• and
• an injector for delivering molten metal from a discharge outlet to said moving surfaces, said injector having a flexible tip containing an outlet for said molten metal;
• wherein said flexible tip conforms to the shape of said casting surface adjacent to said tip.