Apparatus and method for work hardening an endless belt for use in a belt caster
AssigneeLarex A.G.
InventorWilhelm F. Lauener
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An endless belt work hardening apparatus including a pair of rotatable supporting rolls, a work roll disposed between the supporting rolls and a pair of tension rolls having disposed therebetween the work roll. The endless belt is positioned in the apparatus so that the tension rolls and the work roll engage the inner major surface of the endless belt and the supporting rolls engage against the outer major surface of the endless belt. The tension rolls are moved away from each other and the supporting rolls are rotated to reduce the thickness of the endless belt and work harden the endless belt. Associated methods of work hardening an endless belt for use in a belt caster and manufacturing an endless belt for use in a belt caster are also disclosed.
Claims21
An endless belt work hardening apparatus for an endless belt having a thickness, an outer major surface and an inner major surface, said endless belt for use in a belt caster for casting molten metal into a metal product, said apparatus comprising:
- a pair of rotatable supporting rolls;
- a work roll disposed between said supporting rolls;
- and
- a pair of movable tension rolls having disposed therebetween said work roll, said endless belt being positioned in said apparatus so that said tension rolls and said work roll engage against said inner major surface of said endless belt and said supporting rolls engage against said outer major surface of said endless belt so that when said endless belt is moved through said apparatus, said thickness of said endless belt is reduced.
A method of work hardening an endless belt having a thickness, an outer major surface and an inner major surface, said endless belt for use in a belt caster for casting molten metal into a metal product, said method comprising moving said endless belt through a pair of rotating supporting rolls, a work roll disposed between said supporting rolls and a pair of movable tension rolls having disposed therebetween said work roll so that said tension rolls and said work roll can engage against said inner major surface of said endless belt and so that said supporting rolls can engage against said outer major surface of said endless belt, said endless belt being reduced in thickness as it moves between said supporting rolls and said work roll.
A method of manufacturing an endless belt having a thickness, an outer major surface and an inner major surface, said endless belt for use in a belt caster for casting molten metal into a metal product, said method comprising:
- providing a metal strip having a pair of ends;
- joining said ends to form an endless belt;
- and
- subsequently work hardening said endless belt by moving said endless belt through a pair of rotating supporting rolls, a work roll disposed between said supporting rolls and a pair of movable tension rolls having disposed therebetween said work roll so that said tension rolls and said work roll can engage against said inner major surface of said endless belt and so that said supporting rolls can engage against said outer major surface of said endless belt, said endless belt being reduced in thickness as it moves between said supporting rolls and said work roll.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.