Cooling system for a belt caster and associated methods

A method of casting molten metal into a metal product, said method comprising:

• providing a belt caster that defines a mold for casting said molten metal into said metal product, said caster including (i) a movable belt having a cooling surface and a casting surface and (ii) a cooling box having a first chamber, means for delivering a coolant from said first chamber to a second chamber defined by a cooling face of said cooling box and said cooling surface of said belt and a third chamber;
• passing said belt through a casting zone including, said mold;
• supplying said coolant from a coolant supply to said first chamber;
• delivering said coolant from said first chamber to said second chamber through said delivering means so that said coolant is applied to said cooling surface of said belt;
• introducing said coolant from said second chamber into said third chamber;
• removing said coolant from said third chamber;
• introducing said molten metal into said mold;
• and
• solidifying said molten metal in said mold into said metal product.

A belt caster including at least one movable belt having a cooling surface and a casting surface, said belt caster having a cooling system including a cooling box having (i) a first chamber for receiving said coolant from a coolant supply;

• (ii) means for delivering said coolant from said first chamber to a second chamber defined by a cooling face of said cooling box and said cooling surface of said belt;
• and (iii) a third chamber for receiving said coolant from said second chamber;
• said means for delivering said coolant from said first chamber to said second chamber includes:
• a plurality of supply tubes each having one end that receives said coolant from said first chamber and an opposite end;
• a manifold communicating with said opposite end of said supply tube to receive coolant from said supply tube;
• a plurality of nozzles, each including a nozzle opening, communicating with said manifold and disposed on said cooling face to deliver said coolant from said manifold into said second chamber;
• and
• a plurality of rollers arranged between said nozzles.