Method, system and apparatus for continually synchronizing travelling movement of two revolving edge dams in a continuous casting machine

A system for controllable induction heating of copper alloy dam blocks in first and second revolving edge dam chains of a twinbelt continuous casting machine, wherein said first and second edge dam chains include respective first and second multiplicities of copper alloy edge dam blocks, each of said edge dam blocks of said first and second multiplicities has a strap-receiving groove therein, and said respective first and second pluralities of edge dam blocks are strung on respective first and second flexible metal straps extending through said grooves, said system comprising:

• a shallow depression in a surface of each copper alloy edge dam block of said first and second multiplicities of edge dam blocks;
• said shallow depression covering at least about 50% of each said surface;
• a layer of ferromagnetic material in each shallow depression;
• first and second induction heaters positioned adjacent to the respective first and second edge dam chains in places where said chains are returning from an exit of the casting machine to an entrance thereof;
• said first and second induction heaters including first and second nonferrous slippery skid plates each having a low coefficient of sliding friction;
• said first and second skid plates being formed of electrically resistive material;
• said surfaces of the edge dam blocks having said layer of ferromagnetic material in said shallow depression being oriented for sliding contact with said skid plates;
• first and second edge-dam temperature sensors being positioned for sensing temperatures of the respective edge dam blocks of said first and second pluralities of edge dam blocks;
• first and second computer-controlled AC electrical power sources connected to the respective first and second induction heaters;
• and
• said first and second temperature sensors having control relationship with the respective first and second computer-controlled AC electrical power sources for controlling induction heating of the respective copper alloy dam blocks in the respective first and second edge dam chains.

Apparatus for controllable heating of copper alloy edge dam blocks in first and second revolving edge dam chains of a twinbelt continuous casting machine, wherein the first and second revolving edge dam chains travel from an exit of the machine to an entrance of the machine and the first and second revolving edge dam chains pass through respective first and second chambers during their travel from exit to entrance of the machine, wherein said first and second chambers include respective first and second liquid coolant spray manifolds having respective first and second pluralities of spray nozzles aimed at edge dam blocks passing through the respective chambers, wherein first and second temperature sensors are positioned for sensing temperatures of edge dam blocks in the respective first and second edge dam chains subsequent to passage of the edge dam blocks through the respective first and second chambers and prior to arrival of the edge dam blocks at the entrance of the machine;

• and wherein said first and second temperature sensors are in control relationship with respect to flow of liquid coolant into said first and second manifolds for controlling coolant sprays issuing from the respective first and second pluralities of spray nozzles, said apparatus comprising:
• first and second pancake-type induction heaters mounted in the respective first and second chambers;
• said first and second pancake-type induction heaters having respective first and second nonferrous slippery skid plates formed of electrically resistive material having a low coefficient of sliding friction;
• said first and second skid plates being positioned for sliding contact with top surfaces of the edge dam blocks of the respective first and second edge dam chains subsequent to passage of the edge dam blocks past the respective first and second spray nozzles;
• a layer of ferromagnetic material covering at least about 50% of the top surfaces of edge dam blocks in the respective first and second edge dam chains;
• first and second computer-controlled AC electrical power sources connected to the respective first and second pancake-type induction heaters for energizing the respective first and second pancake-type induction heaters;
• and
• said first and second temperature sensors are in control relationship with the respective first and second computer-controlled AC electrical power sources for controlling electrical energization of the respective first and second pancake-type induction heaters for controlling temperatures of the edge dam blocks subsequent to passage of the edge dam blocks past the respective first and second spray nozzles.