Continuous casting sealing method
AssigneeRTI International Metals, Inc.
InventorsMichael P. Jacques, Kuang-O Yu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A casting furnace for manufacturing a metal casting comprises an interior chamber and a secondary chamber through which the metal casting passes from the interior chamber into external atmosphere. A seal along the secondary chamber surrounds and seals against the metal casting to separate the interior chamber from the external atmosphere in a manner which allows for an extended period of continuous casting. A force producing mechanism typically forces the seal against the metal casting. Multiple seals may be used sequentially to increase the duration of the sealing capability and the continuous casting process.
Claims12
A furnace comprising:
- an interior chamber;
- a continuous casting mold within the interior chamber;
- a chamber wall defining a secondary chamber which communicates with the interior chamber and atmosphere external to the interior chamber;
- a metal casting pathway which extends from the interior chamber through the secondary chamber and is adapted to allow a metal casting to pass there through to the external atmosphere;
- a first seal surrounding the metal casting pathway along the secondary chamber;
- a first movable backing member;
- a first force producing mechanism operatively connected to the backing member for forcing the backing member against the seal and the seal toward the pathway so that the first force producing mechanism and backing member are adapted to force the seal against an outer periphery of the metal casting as the metal casting is passing through the secondary chamber via the pathway.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.