Pivotally mounted starter bar in a continuous casting machine

Claim 2

In a continuous casting machine with a vertically reciprocable mold wherein molten metal partially solidifies and forms a cast strand the improvement comprising: a. an arm moveable along an arcuate path, b. a starter bar mounted to said arm; means to move said arm from a first position to a second position at which said starter bar cooperates with and closes said mold before molten metal is introduced thereinto to initiate said cast strands; d. means to move said arm and said starter bar from said second position toward said first position thereby withdrawing said cast strand from said mold; and e. means to disconnect said starter bar from said cast strand before said arm reaches said first position.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 wherein: a. said means includes, i. a segmental gear to which said arm is secured, and ii. means to pivot said segmental gear about an axis.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 1 wherein: a. said means includes; i. a trolley to which said arm is secured, said trolley having wheels that coact with ii. a fixed guide rail; and iii. means to move said trolley on said guide rail.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 1 wherein: a. said starter bar is pivotally mounted to said arm.

Claim 6

In a continuous casting machine including a vertically reciprocable mold wherein molten metal partially solidifies and forms a cast strand, the improvement comprising: a. a starter bar for closing said mold initially and for withdrawing said cast strand from the mold, said bar including i. a head end portion releasably connectable to said strand; b. an arcuate guide rail located in spaced relation to the path traversed by said cast strand after it leaves said mold; c. means connecting said starter bar to said guide rail for guiding said starter bar along an arcuate path defined by the said guide rail; d. means to move said starter bar along said path and into cooperative relation with said mold, and to withdraw said bar and casting from said mold; and e. means to diSconnect said head end portion from said cast strand.

Claim 7

In a continuous casting machine including a vertically reciprocable mold wherein molten metal partially solidifies and forms a cast strand, the improvement comprising: a. a starter bar for closing said mold initially and for withdrawing said cast strand from the mold, said bar including i. a head end portion releasably connectable to said strand; b. an arcuate guide rail located in spaced relation to the path traversed by said cast strand after it leaves said mold; c. means connecting said starter bar to said guide rail for guiding said starter bar along an arcuate path defined by the said guide rail; d. means to move said starter bar along said path and into cooperative relation with said mold, and to withdraw said bar and casting from said mold; and e. means to diSconnect said head end portion from said cast strand.

Claim 8

In a continuous casting machine including a vertically reciprocable mold wherein molten metal partially solidifies and forms a cast strand, the improvement comprising: a. a starter bar for closing said mold initially and for withdrawing said cast strand from said mold including: i. a head end portion having means adapted to releasably connect said starter bar to said cast strand, ii. a middle body portion secured to said head end portion, and iii. a lower end portion secured to said middle body portion; b. a guide rail secured in position adjacent the path traveled by said cast strand when it leaves said mold, said guide rail having a cam portion fused thereto; c. means connected to said lower end portion and coactive with said guide rail so that said head end portion follows a path determined by said guide rail; d. means to move said head end portion from an inoperative position into cooperative relation with said mold whereby said mold is closed at the bottom and molten metal is retained therein to initiate said cast strand; e. means to move said starter bar away from said mold whereby said starter bar withdraws said cast strand from said mold; and f. means to bring said means mounted to said lower end portion into coactive relation with said cam portion whereby said head end portion is released from said cast strand and said starting bar is disposed in said inoperative position.

Claim 9

In a continuous casting machine including a vertically reciprocable mold wherein molten metal partially solidifies and forms a cast strand, the improvement comprising: a. a starter bar for closing said mold initially and for withdrawing said cast strand from said mold including: i. a head end portion having means adapted to releasably connect said starter bar to said cast strand, ii. a middle body portion secured to said head end portion, and iii. a lower end portion secured to said middle body portion; b. a guide rail secured in position adjacent the path traveled by said cast strand when it leaves said mold, said guide rail having a cam portion fused thereto; c. means connected to said lower end portion and coactive with said guide rail so that said head end portion follows a path determined by said guide rail; d. means to move said head end portion from an inoperative position into cooperative relation with said mold whereby said mold is closed at the bottom and molten metal is retained therein to initiate said cast strand; e. means to move said starter bar away from said mold whereby said starter bar withdraws said cast strand from said mold; and f. means to bring said means mounted to said lower end portion into coactive relation with said cam portion whereby said head end portion is released from said cast strand and said starting bar is disposed in said inoperative position.

Claim 10

The invention of claim 6 wherein: a. said means connected to said lower end portion includes a plurality of rollers that cooperate with said guide rail.

Claim 11

The invention of claim 6 wherein: a. said means to move said head end portion includes: i. an arm pivotally attached to said starter bar, ii. a support to which said arm is pivotally attached, and iii. means to pivot said arm.

Claim 12

The invention of claim 8 wherein: a. said arm is telescopical; and b. said means to pivot the arm is a fluid actuated piston-cylinder assembly.

Claim 13

In a continuous casting machine including a vertically reciprocable mold wherein molten metal partially solidifies and forms a cast strand, the improvement comprising: a. a starter bar for closing said mold initially and for withdrawing said cast strand from said mold including; i. a head end portion having means adapted to releasably connect a starter bar to said cast strand, ii. a middle body portion secured to said head end portion, and iii. a lower end portion secured to said middle body portion; b. a guide rail secured in a position substantially parallel to he path traveled by said cast strand when it leaves said mold, said guide rail having a cam portion fixed thereto; c. a plurality of rollers mounted to said starter bar that cooperate with said guide rail and cam to support said starter bar so that said starting bar head end portion follows the path traversed by said cast strand; d. an arm pivotally attached to said starter bar and to a fixed support; e. means to pivot said arm about said fixed support whereby said arm moves said starter bar from a first inoperative position into cooperative relation with said mold to close the bottom thereof; f. means to pivot said arm about said fixed support whereby said arm withdraws said starter bar and said cast strand from said mold; and g. means to bring said rollers into cooperative relation with said cam portion whereby said starter bar disconnects from said strand and assumes an inoperative attitude in said first position

Claim 14

In a continuous casting machine including a vertically reciprocable mold wherein molten metal partially solidifies and forms a cast strand, the improvement comprising: a. a starter bar for closing said mold initially and for withdrawing said cast strand from said mold including; i. a head end portion having means adapted to releasably connect a starter bar to said cast strand, ii. a middle body portion secured to said head end portion, and iii. a lower end portion secured to said middle body portion; b. a guide rail secured in a position substantially parallel to he path traveled by said cast strand when it leaves said mold, said guide rail having a cam portion fixed thereto; c. a plurality of rollers mounted to said starter bar that cooperate with said guide rail and cam to support said starter bar so that said starting bar head end portion follows the path traversed by said cast strand; d. an arm pivotally attached to said starter bar and to a fixed support; e. means to pivot said arm about said fixed support whereby said arm moves said starter bar from a first inoperative position into cooperative relation with said mold to close the bottom thereof; f. means to pivot said arm about said fixed support whereby said arm withdraws said starter bar and said cast strand from said mold; and g. means to bring said rollers into cooperative relation with said cam portion whereby said starter bar disconnects from said strand and assumes an inoperative attitude in said first position

Claim 15

The invention of claim 10 wherein: a. said means to pivot said arm includes a fluid actuated piston-cylinder assembly that is pivotally connected to said arm and to said fixed support.

Claim 16

In a continuous casting machine with a vertically reciprocable mold wherein molten metal partially solidifies and forms a cast strand, the improvement comprising: a. a gear segment pIvotally mounted for movement about an axis located adjacent said mold, b. a starter bar mounted to said gear segment; c. a pinion coacting with said gear segment; d. means for actuating said pinion for pivoting said gear segment and moving said starter bar into said mold whereby the bottom thereof is closed and molten metal is retained therein to initiate said cast strand, and e. apparatus for withdrawing said cast strand from said mold and for disconnecting said starter bar from said cast strand.

Claim 17

In a continuous casting machine with a vertically reciprocable mold wherein molten metal partially solidifies and forms a cast strand, the improvement comprising: a. a gear segment pIvotally mounted for movement about an axis located adjacent said mold, b. a starter bar mounted to said gear segment; c. a pinion coacting with said gear segment; d. means for actuating said pinion for pivoting said gear segment and moving said starter bar into said mold whereby the bottom thereof is closed and molten metal is retained therein to initiate said cast strand, and e. apparatus for withdrawing said cast strand from said mold and for disconnecting said starter bar from said cast strand.

Claim 18

The invention of claim 12 wherein: a. said apparatus for withdrawing said cast strand from said mold and for disconnecting said starter bar from said cast strand comprising: i. a frame, ii. a first power-driven roller cantilever mounted and fixed to said frame, iii. a second power-driven roller cantilever mounted to a first unit pivoted to said frame above said first roller, iv. means to pivot an locate said second roller in spaced relation to said first roller whereby said first and second rollers coact with said cast strand, v. means to drive said first and second rollers whereby said cast strand is withdrawn from said mold, vi. a third roller fixed and cantilever mounted to said frame and disposed in spaced relation to said first and second rollers, vii. a fourth roller cantilever mounted to a second unit pivoted to said frame and disposed between said third and said first rollers, viii. means to pivot said fourth roller into engagement with said cast strand whereby said cast strand is disconnected from said starter bar which reacts with said third roller.

Claim 19

In a continuous casting machine with a vertically reciprocable mold wherein molten metal partially solidifies an forms a cast strand, the combination therewith comprising: a. an arm movable along an arcuate path, b. a starter bar mounted to said arm c. means to move said arm from a first position to a second position at which said starter bar cooperates with and closes said mold before molten metal is introduced thereinto to initiate said cast strand; and d. means to withdraw said starter bar and said cast strand from said mold, and i. a first pair of powered rollers one of which is pivotally mounted to a frame and the other of which is fixed to the frame, and with ii. a movable second roller that acts upon said cast strand to disconnect it from said starter bar.

Claim 20

In a continuous casting machine with a vertically reciprocable mold wherein molten metal partially solidifies an forms a cast strand, the combination therewith comprising: a. an arm movable along an arcuate path, b. a starter bar mounted to said arm c. means to move said arm from a first position to a second position at which said starter bar cooperates with and closes said mold before molten metal is introduced thereinto to initiate said cast strand; and d. means to withdraw said starter bar and said cast strand from said mold, and i. a first pair of powered rollers one of which is pivotally mounted to a frame and the other of which is fixed to the frame, and with ii. a movable second roller that acts upon said cast strand to disconnect it from said starter bar.