US3682233A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Continuous casting machine starting system
Assignee: Pennsylvania Engineering Corp
•
Filing: 1970-09-02
•
Granted: 1972-08-08
•
Expires: 1990-09-02
Abstract
Abstract An articulated starting bar is adapted for being driven from a high elevation storage position to a position where its head end closes the bottom of an elevated mold. A solidifying billet or strand is attached to and is withdrawn with the head end as the starting bar is withdrawn. After passing through a straightener roller mechanism, the head is detached and follows a horizontal path with the strand, but the starting bar is diverted in a vertically upward path for storage clear of the adverse conditions which prevail at the lower level. Power actuated means are provided for initiating advancing and retracting the starting bar to and from the straightener mechanism. Means are provided for positively latching the bar in its home position of storage.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph Rokop
- 👤 Geoffrey W Hughes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 01:36
CPC Classifications
B; B22; B22D; B22D11/00; B22D11/08; B22D11/081; B22D11/085
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
301 words
A starting system for a continuous strand casting machine that has a strand guide path extending substantially from adjacent a flow-through mold to a substantially horizontally oriented strand exit end, said starting system comprising: a. a flexible starting bar means having head and remote ends, b. reversible drive means selectively engageable with the starting bar means to advance it and its head end to registry with a flow-through mold and to retract it into its storage position out of the path followed by an exiting molded strand, c. starting bar guide means near said reversible drive means and having a strand exiting path and a starting bar path, said guide means being adapted to direct the starting bar means into a path for being advanced toward a mold and to divert the bar means out of and in a generally vertical direction above the strand exit path during retraction of said bar means, d. actuator means for translating said starting bar means bidirectionally for a limited distance independently of said drive means, said actuator means being a substantial distance above said strand exiting path and proximate to said remote end of said starting bar means when the bar means is near final storage position, e. coupling means adapted to selectively couple and uncouple said actuator means and said starting bar means, f. coupling operating means disposed in proximity with said coupling means, said operating means being adapted to uncouple said starting bar means after the bar means is advanced a predetermined distance toward a mold by said actuator means and to recouple said starting bar means when the bar means retracted a predetermined distance by said reversible drive means, said actuator means being adapted to translate said starting bar means to its final storage position when the bar means is recoupled.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
301 words
A starting system for a continuous strand casting machine that has a strand guide path extending substantially from adjacent a flow-through mold to a substantially horizontally oriented strand exit end, said starting system comprising: a. a flexible starting bar means having head and remote ends, b. reversible drive means selectively engageable with the starting bar means to advance it and its head end to registry with a flow-through mold and to retract it into its storage position out of the path followed by an exiting molded strand, c. starting bar guide means near said reversible drive means and having a strand exiting path and a starting bar path, said guide means being adapted to direct the starting bar means into a path for being advanced toward a mold and to divert the bar means out of and in a generally vertical direction above the strand exit path during retraction of said bar means, d. actuator means for translating said starting bar means bidirectionally for a limited distance independently of said drive means, said actuator means being a substantial distance above said strand exiting path and proximate to said remote end of said starting bar means when the bar means is near final storage position, e. coupling means adapted to selectively couple and uncouple said actuator means and said starting bar means, f. coupling operating means disposed in proximity with said coupling means, said operating means being adapted to uncouple said starting bar means after the bar means is advanced a predetermined distance toward a mold by said actuator means and to recouple said starting bar means when the bar means retracted a predetermined distance by said reversible drive means, said actuator means being adapted to translate said starting bar means to its final storage position when the bar means is recoupled.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
302 words
A starting system for a continuous strand casting machine that has a strand guide path extendIng substantially from adjacent a flow-through mold to a substantially horizontally oriented strand exit end, said starting system comprising: a. a flexible starting bar means having head and remote ends, b. reversible drive means selectively engageable with the starting bar means to advance it and its head end to registry with a flow-through mold and to retract it into its storage position out of the path followed by an exiting molded strand, c. starting bar guide means near said reversible drive means and having a strand exiting path and a starting bar path, said guide means being adapted to direct the starting bar means into a path for being advanced toward a mold and to divert the bar means out of and in a generally vertical direction above the strand exit path during retraction of said bar means, d. a powered actuator means having a rectilinearly actuable element which is adapted to be driven bidirectionally in parallelism with the path of the starting bar at an elevation remote from said strand exiting path, e. a latch arm means pivotally connected with said actuable element, f. latch arm engageable means on said starting bar near its remote end, g. first track means adapted to guide said latch arm means in one direction a predetermined distance under the influence of said actuable element whereupon the arm means may pivot out of the path of said arm engageable means and effect release of said starting bar means for advancement by said drive means, and h. a second track means adapted to guide said latch arm means into reengagement with said engageable means when the latch arm means is moved under influence of the starting bar means when it is retracting.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
302 words
A starting system for a continuous strand casting machine that has a strand guide path extendIng substantially from adjacent a flow-through mold to a substantially horizontally oriented strand exit end, said starting system comprising: a. a flexible starting bar means having head and remote ends, b. reversible drive means selectively engageable with the starting bar means to advance it and its head end to registry with a flow-through mold and to retract it into its storage position out of the path followed by an exiting molded strand, c. starting bar guide means near said reversible drive means and having a strand exiting path and a starting bar path, said guide means being adapted to direct the starting bar means into a path for being advanced toward a mold and to divert the bar means out of and in a generally vertical direction above the strand exit path during retraction of said bar means, d. a powered actuator means having a rectilinearly actuable element which is adapted to be driven bidirectionally in parallelism with the path of the starting bar at an elevation remote from said strand exiting path, e. a latch arm means pivotally connected with said actuable element, f. latch arm engageable means on said starting bar near its remote end, g. first track means adapted to guide said latch arm means in one direction a predetermined distance under the influence of said actuable element whereupon the arm means may pivot out of the path of said arm engageable means and effect release of said starting bar means for advancement by said drive means, and h. a second track means adapted to guide said latch arm means into reengagement with said engageable means when the latch arm means is moved under influence of the starting bar means when it is retracting.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
102 words
The invention set forth in claim 4 wherein: a. said pivotal latch arm means has rollers extending laterally therefrom, said rollers being spaced for running on said first and second track means, b. said first track means having a pivotal support and being biased in one direction, c. said latch means and rollers urging said first track means to pivot in opposition to said bias when the latch arm is influenced by said remote end of the retracting starting bar, whereby pivoting of said first track means enables the rollers to return from the second track means to the first track means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
284 words
A starting system for a continuous strand casting machine that is equipped with a flow-through mold and has a guide path extending from the mold to a horizontally oriented strand exit, said system including: a. a flexible starting bar means comprising pivotally connected links in series, b. head means detachably engaged with one end of the series of links, said flexible starting bar means being advanceable and retractable between positions where the head means engages with a mold and alternately where the starting bar means is out of the strand exit path and in storage position, c. storage track means on which the starting bar means runs principally vertically upwardly with respect to the strand exit path, and d. driving means for alternately advancing and retracting said flexible starting bar means over a major portion of its travel between mold engaging position and storage position, e. actuator means located remotely from and above the strand exiting path, f. automatic coupling means having two states in one of which said starting bar means is engaged with said actuator means and in the other of which said starting bar means is disengaged from the actuator means, the said actuator means further retracting said starting bar means a minor portion of its travel after it has completed the major portion of its travel and coupling means is in its engaged state, the said driving means advancing said starter bar means after said coupling means has transferred to its disengaged state, g. a guide means confluent with said storage track means and adapted to direct said starting bar means up the storage track means and to disconnect said head means so it mAy continue along the strand path.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
284 words
A starting system for a continuous strand casting machine that is equipped with a flow-through mold and has a guide path extending from the mold to a horizontally oriented strand exit, said system including: a. a flexible starting bar means comprising pivotally connected links in series, b. head means detachably engaged with one end of the series of links, said flexible starting bar means being advanceable and retractable between positions where the head means engages with a mold and alternately where the starting bar means is out of the strand exit path and in storage position, c. storage track means on which the starting bar means runs principally vertically upwardly with respect to the strand exit path, and d. driving means for alternately advancing and retracting said flexible starting bar means over a major portion of its travel between mold engaging position and storage position, e. actuator means located remotely from and above the strand exiting path, f. automatic coupling means having two states in one of which said starting bar means is engaged with said actuator means and in the other of which said starting bar means is disengaged from the actuator means, the said actuator means further retracting said starting bar means a minor portion of its travel after it has completed the major portion of its travel and coupling means is in its engaged state, the said driving means advancing said starter bar means after said coupling means has transferred to its disengaged state, g. a guide means confluent with said storage track means and adapted to direct said starting bar means up the storage track means and to disconnect said head means so it mAy continue along the strand path.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3277538A
Cited
US3324934A
Cited
US3351124A
Cited
US3344844A
Cited
US3464482A
Cited
US3446270A
Cited
US3426835A
Cited
US3495651A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-08 | 1976-02-07 | 1976-08-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-08 | 1980-02-07 | 1980-08-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-08 | 1984-02-07 | 1984-08-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |