Injector for casting metal strip

Abstract

Process and apparatus for continuous casting of metal strip in which a layer of liquid parting agent, and any solid detritus contained therein, is completely removed from a casting surface of a rotating belt after contact with the metal, and in which a new layer of liquid parting agent is applied to the casting surface thereafter and prior to renewed contact with the molten metal. The removal of used parting agent and the application of fresh helps to present the formation of surface blemishes and defects on the cast metal strip product. Such blemishes and defects can also be minimized by using an injector having a flexible tip used to inject the molten metal onto the casting surface and preferably one or more spacers to create a gap between the tip and the casting surface itself. The spacer is preferably a screen of wire strands orientated to minimize disruption of the new layer of liquid parting agent applied to the casting surface. By avoiding disruption of the new layer of liquid parting agent, surface blemishes on the cast product are minimized. The invention also relates to the molten metal injector having a flexible tip and optionally provided with spacer elements.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.