Apparatus for cooling a continuously cast strand incorporating coolant spray nozzles providing controlled spray pattern

Claim 2

A cooling system for cooling a continuously cast strand, especially a steel strand of essentially rectangular crosssectional configuration, comprising guide means for guiding a cast strand along a predetermined path of travel, at least one spray nozzle for producing a spray pattern of pressurized liquid coolant for impingement with the surface of the cast strand, said spray nozzle having inflow means for the pressurized liquid coolant and outflow means for the departure of said liquid coolant in the form of a spray pattern, said spray nozzle incorporating a nozzle body portion and means for closing the nozzle body portion at one end, means for connecting the opposite end of the nozzle body member with a supply infeed for the liquid coolant, said inflow means and outflow means of said spray nozzle providing respectively different flow directions for the liquid coolant, said outflow means incorporating means defining a substantially slotted outlet opening at said nozzle body member, said slotted outlet opening extending substantially transversely with respect to the lengthwise axis of the cast strand, said slotted outlet opening defining a discharge for the liquid coolant in the form of said spray pattern, said liquid coolant impinging the surface of the cast strand over an impingement area, to produce substantially uniform cooling of the cast strand over its transverse width dimension, and wherein the distribution of liquid coolant is substantially uniform across at least the major extent of said impingement area, said slotted outlet opening comprises a slot possessing a substantially rectangular configuration, said slot being bounded by faces extending substantially perpendicular to the lengthwise axis of the cast strand and the lengthwise axis of the nozzle body member and serving to control the thickness of the spray pattern and the impingement area for a given distance between said slotted outlet opening of the nozzle and the surface of the cast strand impinged by the spray pattern, said slotted outlet opening of said spray nozzle producing a spray pattern bounded by substantially straight parallel lines extending transversely across the strand surface.

Claim 3

The cooling system as defined in claim 1, wherein the cross-section of the slotted outlet opening is smaller than the cross-section of the inflow means.

Claim 4

The cooling system as defined in claim 1, wherein the means closing the one end of the nozzle body member comprises a displaceable plug which can be positionally adjusted in the direction of the lengthwise axis of the nozzle body member, and means for fixing the plug in desired adjusted position.

Claim 5

The cooling system as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for closing the one end of the nozzle body member incorporates a curved surface portion for contact with the liquid coolant.

Claim 6

The cooling system as defined in claim 1, wherein the means closing the one end of the nozzle body member comprises a plug, said nozzle body member and plug being movable relative to one another.

Claim 7

The cooling system as defined in claim 5, wherein said nozzle body member and plug are movable relative to one another in the direction of the lengthwise axis of the spray nozzle in order to regulate the spatial orientation of the spray pattern with respect to said guide means.

Claim 8

The cooling system as defined in claim 5, wherein said nozzle body member and plug are movable relative to one another in the direction of the lengthwise axis of the spray nozzle in order to adjust the distance between the means for closing the one end of the nozzle body member and the slotted outlet opening, to thereby influence the configuration and spatial orientation of the spray pattern emanating from the spray nozzle.

Claim 9

The cooling system as defined in claim 5, wherein said relatively movable nozzle body member and plug are rotatable relative to one another in order to control the spatial orientation of the spray pattern with respect to the transverse width dimension of the cast strand.

Claim 10

The cooling system as defined in claim 1, wherein the length of the slotted outlet opening for a given inner diameter of the nozzle body portion controls the spray angle of the spray pattern in a plane extending substantially transversely across the cast strand.

Claim 11

The cooling system as defined in claim 1, wherein the slotted outlet opening produces a spray pattern which is directed substantially radially with respect to an axial flow direction of the liquid coolant through the inflow means towards said ouTflow means.

Claim 12

The cooling system as defined in claim 1, wherein the spray nozzle possesses a spacing between the slotted outlet opening and the surface of the means closing the one end of the nozzle body member which comes into contact with the liquid coolant which is at least about one-half inch.

Claim 13

The cooling system as defined in claim 11, wherein the nozzle body member possesses an internal diameter in the range of about 0.6 inches to 1.60 inches, and a width of the slotted outlet opening in the range of 0.05 to 0.07 inches.

Claim 14

The cooling system as defined in claim 1, wherein said closing means comprises an adjustable member seated at said nozzle body member.

Claim 15

The cooling system as defined in claim 1, wherein said spray nozzle includes a plug member inserted in said nozzle body member.

Claim 16

The cooling system as defined in claim 14, wherein said nozzle body member possesses said slotted outlet opening and is rotatable relative to said plug to influence the spray pattern.

Claim 17

The cooling system as defined in claim 1, wherein said closing means is defined by a stationary end wall.

Claim 18

A cooling system for cooling a continuously cast strand, especially a steel strand of essentially rectangular cross-sectional configuration, comprising guide means for guiding a cast strand along a predetermined path of travel, at least one spray nozzle for producing a spray pattern of pressurized liquid coolant for impingement with the surface of the cast strand, said spray nozzle having inflow means for the pressurized liquid coolant and outflow means for the departure of said liquid coolant in the form of a spray pattern, said spray nozzle incorporating a nozzle body portion and means for closing the nozzle body portion at one end, means for connecting the opposite end of the nozzle body member with a supply infeed for the liquid coolant, said inflow means and outflow means of said spray nozzle providing respectively different flow directions for the liquid coolant, said outflow means incorporating means defining a substantially slotted outlet opening at said nozzle body member, said slotted outlet opening extending substantially transversely with respect to the lengthwise axis of the cast strand, said slotted outlet opening defining a discharge for the liquid coolant in the form of said spray pattern, said liquid coolant impinging the surface of the cast strand over an impingement area, to produce substantially uniform cooling of the cast strand over its transverse width dimension, and wherein the distribution of liquid coolant is substantially uniform across at least the major extent of said impingement area, said slotted outlet opening comprises a slot possessing a substantially rectangular configuration, said slot being bounded by faces extending substantially perpendicular to the lengthwise axis of the cast strand and the lengthwise axis of the nozzle body member and serving to control the thickness of the spray pattern and the impingement area for a given distance between said slotted outlet opening of the nozzle and the surface of the cast strand impinged by the spray pattern, said slotted outlet opening of said spray nozzle producing a spray pattern bounded by substantially straight parallel lines extending transversley across the strand surface, the means closing the one end of the nozzle body member comprises a plug, said nozzle body member and plug being movable relative to one another, said relatively movable nozzle body member and plug are rotatable relative to one another in order to control the spray angle of the spray pattern.

Claim 19

A cooling system for cooling a continuously cast strand, especially a steel strand of essentially rectangular cross-sectional configuration, comprising guide means for guiding a cast strand along a predetermined path of travel, at least one spray nozzle for producing a spray pattern of pressurized liquid coolant for impingement with the surface of the cast strand, said spray nozzle having inflow means for the pressurized liquid coolant and outflow means for the departure of said liquid coolant in the form of a spray pattern, said spray nozzle incorporating a nozzle body portion and means for closing the nozzle body portion at one end, means for connecting the opposite end of the nozzle body member with a supply infeed for the liquid coolant, said inflow means and outflow means of said spray nozzle providing respectively different flow directions for the liquid coolant, said outflow means incorporating means defining a substantially slotted outlet opening at said nozzle body member, said slotted outlet opening extending substantially transversely with respect to the lengthwise axis of the cast strand, said slotted outlet opening defining a discharge for the liquid coolant in the form of said spray pattern, said liquid coolant impinging the surface of the cast strand over an impingement area, to produce substantially uniform cooling of the cast strand over its transverse width dimension, and wherein the distribution of liquid coolant is substantially uniform across at least the major extent of said impingement area, said slotted outlet opening comprises a slot possessing a substantially rectangular configuration, said slot being bounded by faces extending substantially perpendicular to the lengthwise axis of the cast strand and the lengthwise axis of the nozzle body member and serving to control the thickness of the spray pattern and the impingement area for a given distance between said slotted outlet opening of the nozzle and the surface of the cast strand impinged by the spray pattern, said slotted outlet opening of said spray nozzle producing a spray pattern bounded by substantially straight parallel lines extending transversley across the strand surface, the means closing the one end of the nozzle body member comprises a plug, said nozzle body member and plug being movable relative to one another, said relatively movable nozzle body member and plug are rotatable relative to one another in order to control the spray angle of the spray pattern.

Claim 20

A cooling system for cooling a continuously cast strand, especially a steel strand of essentially rectangular cross-sectional configuration, comprising guide means for guiding a cast strand along a predetermined path of travel, at least one spray nozzle for producing a spray pattern of pressurized liquid coolant for impingement with the surface of the cast strand, said spRay nozzle having inflow means for the pressurized liquid coolant and outflow means for the departure of said liquid coolant in the form of a spray pattern, said spray nozzle incorporating a nozzle body portion and means for closing the nozzle body portion at one end, means for connecting the opposite end of the nozzle body member with a supply infeed for the liquid coolant, said inflow means and outflow means of said spray nozzle providing respectively different flow directions for the liquid coolant, said outflow means incorporating means defining a substantially slotted outlet opening at said nozzle body member, said slotted outlet opening extending substantially transversely with respect to the lengthwise axis of the cast strand, said slotted outlet opening defining a discharge for the liquid coolant in the form of said spray pattern, said slotted outlet opening of said spray nozzle being configured to produce a spray pattern bounded by substantially straight parallel lines extending transversely across the strand surface, said liquid coolant impinging the surface of the cast strand over an impingement area, to produce substantially uniform cooling of the cast strand over its transverse width dimension, and wherein the distribution of liquid coolant is substantially uniform across at least the major extent of said impingement area.

Claim 21

A cooling system for cooling a continuously cast strand, especially a steel strand of essentially rectangular cross-sectional configuration, comprising guide means for guiding a cast strand along a predetermined path of travel, at least one spray nozzle for producing a spray pattern of pressurized liquid coolant for impingement with the surface of the cast strand, said spRay nozzle having inflow means for the pressurized liquid coolant and outflow means for the departure of said liquid coolant in the form of a spray pattern, said spray nozzle incorporating a nozzle body portion and means for closing the nozzle body portion at one end, means for connecting the opposite end of the nozzle body member with a supply infeed for the liquid coolant, said inflow means and outflow means of said spray nozzle providing respectively different flow directions for the liquid coolant, said outflow means incorporating means defining a substantially slotted outlet opening at said nozzle body member, said slotted outlet opening extending substantially transversely with respect to the lengthwise axis of the cast strand, said slotted outlet opening defining a discharge for the liquid coolant in the form of said spray pattern, said slotted outlet opening of said spray nozzle being configured to produce a spray pattern bounded by substantially straight parallel lines extending transversely across the strand surface, said liquid coolant impinging the surface of the cast strand over an impingement area, to produce substantially uniform cooling of the cast strand over its transverse width dimension, and wherein the distribution of liquid coolant is substantially uniform across at least the major extent of said impingement area.