Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
234 words
A method of changing the cross-sectional area of a continuously cast strand being cast in an open-ended, continuous casting mold which has at least one wall movable to a different selected position for defining a different cross-sectional area of the mold, comprising, stopping the pouring of metal into one end of the mold and the withdrawal of a cast strand from the other exit end so as to leave an end of the strand in the mold, letting said end of the strand solidify sufficiently to become self-supporting, moving said movable wall as required for an insert unit to be placed on said end of the strand and placing an insert unit on said end, said insert unit resting on said end of the strand and extending completely across the mold in directIon between opposite stationary walls thereof and having at least one part which defines a distance across the mold in the direction between said movable wall and a wall opposite thereto, said distance being the new width of the strand in the latter direction, there being openings through the insert unit opening onto said end of the strand, moving said movable wall for said insert unit to be engaged between the movable wall and the wall opposite thereto, and then resuming the pouring of metal into the mold and the withdrawal of a cast strand from the exit end of the mold.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
234 words
A method of changing the cross-sectional area of a continuously cast strand being cast in an open-ended, continuous casting mold which has at least one wall movable to a different selected position for defining a different cross-sectional area of the mold, comprising, stopping the pouring of metal into one end of the mold and the withdrawal of a cast strand from the other exit end so as to leave an end of the strand in the mold, letting said end of the strand solidify sufficiently to become self-supporting, moving said movable wall as required for an insert unit to be placed on said end of the strand and placing an insert unit on said end, said insert unit resting on said end of the strand and extending completely across the mold in directIon between opposite stationary walls thereof and having at least one part which defines a distance across the mold in the direction between said movable wall and a wall opposite thereto, said distance being the new width of the strand in the latter direction, there being openings through the insert unit opening onto said end of the strand, moving said movable wall for said insert unit to be engaged between the movable wall and the wall opposite thereto, and then resuming the pouring of metal into the mold and the withdrawal of a cast strand from the exit end of the mold.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 applied for increasing the cross-sectional area of said strand and including moving said movable wall outward from the mold for placing the insert unit on said end of the strand.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
148 words
The method of claim 1 applied for decreasing the cross-sectional area of the strand including placing the insert unit on the end of the strand within the mold, pouring sufficient metal into said insert unit to at least partially fill it and letting the latter metal cool until it is self-supporting, withdrawing the strand from the mold far enough for said end of the strand to be out of the mold and for the upper parts of opposite wall portions of the insert unit to remain within the mold to be engaged by the movable wall of the mold and the mold wall opposite thereto by moving the movable wall inward, moving the movable wall inward for the insert to be engaged as aforesaid, and then resuming the pouring of metal into the mold and the withdrawal of a cast strand from the exit end of the mold.