Device for cooling the rod being formed in a machine for the continuous casting of metal rods of indefinite length

Claim 1

IN A MACHINE FOR THE CONTINUOUS CASTING OF MOLTEN METAL IN A CONTINUOUS ROD FORM HAVING A ROTATABLE CASTING WHEEL WITH A PERIPHERAL CASTING GROOVE THEREIN AND A MOVING ENDLESS BELT WHICH CASTING GROOVE THEREIN AND FINE AN ENCLOSED CASTING AREA WITH THE PERIPHERAL CASTING GROOVE EXTENDING OVER AN ARCUATE SEGMENTAL LENGTH OF THE TRAVEL OF THE ROTATING WHEEL, IN COMBINATION, THE MEANS FOR COOLING SAID METAL WITHIN A PREDETERMINED COOLING PORTION OF SAID SEGMENTAL LENGTH OF THE MOVING ENCLOSED CASTING AREA, INTO WHICH THE METAL ENTERS HARDENED TO A DEGREE THAT IT IS IN A COHESIVE CONDITION IN THE CASTING GROOVE AND WILL REMAIN IN THAT CONDITION SO THAT IT MAY BE SEPARATED SLIGHTLY FROM THE WALL OF THE CASTING GROOVE WITHOUT BREAKING, SAID MEANS COOLING INCLUDING APPARATUS COMPRISING SEPARATING MEANS FOR DISPLACING THE ENDLESS BELT RADIALLY AWAY FROM THE WHEEL AND CASTING GROOVE IN SAID PREDETERMINED COOLING PORTION TO AN EXTENT TO PROVIDE FOR SUFFICIENT SEPARATION OF CASTING WHEEL, BELL AND ROD AND PERMITTING THE ROD IN THE CASTING GROOVE TO BE POSITIONED RADIALLY AWAY FROM THE SAME IN SAID PREDETERMINED PORTION SO THAT A COOLING LIQUID MAY CONTACT AND COOL THE ROD AROUND ITS ENTIRE CROSS SECTIONAL PERIPHERY WHILE THE ROD IS STILL IN SAID CASTING GROOVE, AND INCLUDING ALSO LIQUID-IMPINGING MEANS FOR IMPINGING COOLING LIQUID DIRECTLY AGAINST THE OUTSIDE SURFACE OF THE ROD TO COOL THE ROD OVER ITS ENTIRE CROSSSECTION FOR THE LENGTH WHICH IS MAINTAINED DISPLACED FROM THE CASTING GROOVE OVER SAID PREDETERMINED PORTION OF THE ENCLOSED CASTING AREA IN THE MACHINE.