Continuous casting apparatus with strand support means

Claim 2

Apparatus for use in the continuous casting of a strand of metal having a substantially rectangular cross-sectional configuration, said apparatus comprising spaced apart support elements defining a path along which the strand passes as it cools, said support elements being arranged at the upstream end of said path to define a first cross-sectional configuration having longer sides inwardly arched toward each other and said support elements being arranged along said path to gradually diminish the severity of the arch of said longer sides, thereby allowing a gradual flattening of said strand toward a full rectangular configuration in the direction of the downstream end of said path.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said support elements comprise a plurality of spaced apart elongated strips.

Claim 4

AppAratus according to claim 2, wherein said elongated strips are supported by support elements extending transversely thereto at spaced apart locations along said path.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said strips are hollow and wherein means are provided to supply a coolant liquid to the interior of said strips.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said strips are provided with openings from their hollow interior to said cross-sectional configuration to direct coolant liquid against an element being supported by said strips.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said strips are parallel to each other and to said path.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said strips are arranged in criss-cross fashion to define a grid.

Claim 9

Apparatus for use in the casting of materials, said apparatus comprising a mold into which a molten material may be poured, said mold having a predetermined internal internal configuration, a support arrangement extending from said mold, said support arrangement comprising a plurality of spaced apart support elements arranged to brace a partially solidified casting from said mold and to hold said element in said predetermined configuration, said support elements including a plurality of spaced apart elongated grid strips extending from the mold and defining a path through which the casting passes, said support elements further including a series of edge rolls which engage and press inwardly along opposite edges of said strand as it passes along said path means for transferring said partially solidified casting from said mold to said support arrangement and means for causing gradual withdrawal of said support elements from said casting so that the internal pressure of the still molten portion of the material within the partially solidified casting will bulge it to a final predetermined configuration.

Claim 10

Apparatus for use in the casting of materials, said apparatus comprising a mold into which a molten material may be poured, said mold having a predetermined internal internal configuration, a support arrangement extending from said mold, said support arrangement comprising a plurality of spaced apart support elements arranged to brace a partially solidified casting from said mold and to hold said element in said predetermined configuration, said support elements including a plurality of spaced apart elongated grid strips extending from the mold and defining a path through which the casting passes, said support elements further including a series of edge rolls which engage and press inwardly along opposite edges of said strand as it passes along said path means for transferring said partially solidified casting from said mold to said support arrangement and means for causing gradual withdrawal of said support elements from said casting so that the internal pressure of the still molten portion of the material within the partially solidified casting will bulge it to a final predetermined configuration.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said mold has an open top into which molten material may be poured and an open bottom from which the material in partially solidified form may be withdrawn and wherein said support elements extend from said open bottom.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said support elements follow a path which extends downwardly from said mold and curves to the horizontal.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the support elements define, in the vicinity of the bottom of said mold, a cross-sectional configuration which is coincident with that of the bottom of said mold.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the cross-sectional configuration of the bottom of said mold is generally rectangular with the longer sides thereof being arched inwardly toward each other.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the cross-sectional configuration of the bottom of said mold is in the form of a polygon with various sides interconnected by corners, at least some of said sides being arched inwardly to provide a degree of self-support.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said support elements are arranged to push inwardly on the arched sides of said cross-sectional configuration in the vicinity of said mold and wherein said support elements thereafter pull back from the arched sides to allow bulging toward a flattening thereof.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said support elements further include a series of edge rolls which engage and press inwardly along opposite edges of a strand of cast material as it passes along a path extending from said mold.

Claim 18

Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said edge rolls on opposite sides of said path gradually spread apart along said path away from said mold.

Claim 19

Apparatus for forming an elongated slab of metal, said apparatus having a mold with an open top into which molten metal may be poured, means for cooling said mold so that the metal therein will partially solidify and form an outer shell surrounding a molten inner core, means for withdrawing the partially solidified metal continuouslY as an elongated strand from the bottom of the mold and for supporting said strand and maintaining same with a cross section having opposite sides which are arched inwardly, said last mentioned means comprising supporting elements which press inwardly on the arched sides at spaced apart locations, said support elements being configured to recede gradually away from the arched sides of the strand in the region where the shell thickens and the ferrostatic pressure of the molten inner core increases to cause bulging of the arched sides of the strand whereby the strand cross section is changed upon solidification to one suitable for further processing.

Claim 20

Apparatus for forming an elongated slab of metal, said apparatus having a mold with an open top into which molten metal may be poured, means for cooling said mold so that the metal therein will partially solidify and form an outer shell surrounding a molten inner core, means for withdrawing the partially solidified metal continuouslY as an elongated strand from the bottom of the mold and for supporting said strand and maintaining same with a cross section having opposite sides which are arched inwardly, said last mentioned means comprising supporting elements which press inwardly on the arched sides at spaced apart locations, said support elements being configured to recede gradually away from the arched sides of the strand in the region where the shell thickens and the ferrostatic pressure of the molten inner core increases to cause bulging of the arched sides of the strand whereby the strand cross section is changed upon solidification to one suitable for further processing.

Claim 21

Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said support elements are arranged in the form of a grid.

Claim 22

Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said grid extends continuously along the path of strand movement.

Claim 23

Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said support elements are positioned at different spaced apart regions along the path of strand movement.

Claim 24

Apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said spaced apart regions are regions wherein the ferrostatic pressure within the strand exceeds the arch strength of the outer shell.

Claim 25

Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said support elements are in the form of roll elements.

Claim 26

Apparatus according to claim 17 further including means for withdrawing heat continuously from said strand so that the arched sides thereof will be self-supporting against internal ferrostatic pressure in the regions between the support elements.

Claim 27

Apparatus for use in the casting of materials, said apparatus comprising a mold having an open top into which a molten material may be poured and an open bottom from which the material in partially solidified form may be withdrawn, said mold having a predetermined internal configuration, a support arrangement extending from said mold, said support arrangement comprising a plurality of spaced apart support elements arranged to brace a partially solidified casting from said mold and to hold said element in said predetermined configuration, said support elements extending from said open bottom and defining in the vicinity of the bottom of the mold, a cross sectional configuration which is coincident with the bottom of the mold, said cross sectional configuration of the bottom of said mold being in the form of a polygon with various sides interconnected by corners, at least some of said sides being arched inwardly to provide a degree of self support, said support elements being arranged to push inwardly on the arched sides of said casting in the vicinity of said mold and to pull back from the sides to allow bulging toward a flattening thereof, means for transferring said partially solidified casting from said mold to said support arrangement and means for causing gradual withdrawal of said support elements from said casting so that the internal pressure of the still molten portion of the material within the partially solidified casting will bulge it to a final predetermined configuration.

Claim 28

Apparatus for use in the casting of materials, said apparatus comprising a mold having an open top into which a molten material may be poured and an open bottom from which the material in partially solidified form may be withdrawn, said mold having a predetermined internal configuration, a support arrangement extending from said mold, said support arrangement comprising a plurality of spaced apart support elements arranged to brace a partially solidified casting from said mold and to hold said element in said predetermined configuration, said support elements extending from said open bottom and defining in the vicinity of the bottom of the mold, a cross sectional configuration which is coincident with the bottom of the mold, said cross sectional configuration of the bottom of said mold being in the form of a polygon with various sides interconnected by corners, at least some of said sides being arched inwardly to provide a degree of self support, said support elements being arranged to push inwardly on the arched sides of said casting in the vicinity of said mold and to pull back from the sides to allow bulging toward a flattening thereof, means for transferring said partially solidified casting from said mold to said support arrangement and means for causing gradual withdrawal of said support elements from said casting so that the internal pressure of the still molten portion of the material within the partially solidified casting will bulge it to a final predetermined configuration.

Claim 29

Apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said support elements follow a path which extends downwardly from said mold and curves to the horizontal.

Claim 30

Apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the cross-sectional configuration of the bottom of said mold is generally rectangular with the longer sides thereof being arched inwardly toward each other.