Strip caster

Details Strip caster Strip caster

1994-12-21

1997-01-07

Lin, Kuang Y.

Metal founding

Means providing inert or reducing atmosphere

In continuous casting apparatus

164428, B27D 1100, B27D 1106

Patent

active

055907016

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to twin roll strip casters for continuously casting metal strip. In a caster of this type, molten metal is delivered into the nip between a pair of chilled casting rolls to form a casting pool in contact with the peripheral walls of the casting rolls. Two skins of metal solidify on the roll surfaces and these skins are brought together at the nip to form a solidified strip which issues continuously from the nip. The molten metal may be delivered to the nip between the rolls by means of a tundish and a metal delivery nozzle located immediately above the nip between the rolls.
It has previously been proposed to pressurise the casting pool surface in order to enhance heat transfer from the metal to the rolls. More specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 4,986,336 discloses an arrangement for pressurising the casting pool surface by forming a pressurising chamber between the rolls and the tundish by means of walls which curve downwardly from the tundish and are fitted at their lower edges with sliding seals to engage the casting rolls to seal the pressurising chamber. This patent also refers to a previous proposal to form a much larger pressurising chamber entirely surrounding the tundish.
One problem in the operation of apparatus with a casting pool pressurising chamber is that gas tends to escape from the chamber at the seals with the roll surfaces. In order to control the atmosphere above the casting pool expensive gases may be used, for example an inert gas such as argon, and such gas leakage may be very costly. The present invention provides an improved sealing arrangement by which it is possible to drastically reduce leakage of gas from the pressurising chamber.


DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided metal strip casting apparatus comprising: between the casting rolls to form a casting pool of molten metal in the nip; nip to confine the casting pool in the nip; to form a metal strip from metal in the pool and to pass that strip downwardly from the nip; pressurising of the casting pool surface and forming chamber seals with the casting rolls to each side of the nip; pressurising chamber such that gas escaping the pressurising chamber through said seals will enter the gas sealing chamber; at least as great as the pressure of the second gas in the sealing chamber.
Preferably the metal delivery means comprises a tundish disposed above the casting rolls and a metal delivery nozzle disposed beneath the tundish to receive molten metal from the tundish and to deliver it into the nip between the casting rolls,
The first chamber forming means may comprise a structure extending from the metal delivery means and comprising a pair of pressurising chamber side walls extending longitudinally of the rollers one to each side of the nip and pressuring chamber sealing means at lower margins of those side walls to form said chamber seals. Said structure may be extended from the metal delivery nozzle or from the tundish of the metal delivery means.
Preferably further the second chamber forming means comprises a pair of sealing chamber side walls extending longitudinally of the rolls outside the pressure chamber side walls and sealing chamber sealing means at lower margins of the sealing chamber side walls to form sealing chamber seals with the casting rolls,
The sealing chamber side walls may be connected to said structure defining the pressurising chamber side walls.


BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the invention may be more fully explained one particular embodiment will be described in some detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates a continuous strip caster constructed in accordance with the invention; and
FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-section through important components of the caster illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a further vertical cross-section through important components of the caster taken transverse to the section of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a view generally on the line 4--4 in FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a cross-s

REFERENCES:
patent: 4986336 (1991-01-01), Fukase et al.
Patent Abstracts of Japan, M-1183, p. 69, JP,A,3-198951.
Patent Abstracts of Japan, M-1008, p. 112, JP,A,2-133149.

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