Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
A method of widening the width of a continuously cast strand, especially a steel strand, comprising the steps of: providing an adjustable continuous casting mold having a first pair of opposed small sides and a second pair of opposed long sides defining therebetween the mold compartment for the continuous casting of the strand; during a first stage, and while the casting operation is in progress, displacing at least one small side of the mold away from a starting position into an inclined displaced position by pivoting said one small side about its lower end region away from the strand; thereafter, during a second stage, substantially horizontally displacing said one small side away from and essentially parallel to the strand; then, during a third stage, bringing said one small side out of the horizontally displaced disposition into a terminal position, by pivoting said one small side about its upper end region; and selecting the displacement speed of the one small side which is effective during the second stage to be dependent upon the momentary casting speed in such a manner that there is ensured for contact of the cast metal at the entire, imbued surface of such side.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
197 words
A method of widening the width of a continuously cast strand, especially a steel strand, comprising the steps of: providing an adjustable continuous casting mold having a first pair of opposed small sides and a second pair of opposed long sides defining therebetween the mold compartment for the continuous casting of the strand; during a first stage, and while the casting operation is in progress, displacing at least one small side of the mold away from a starting position into an inclined displaced position by pivoting said one small side about its lower end region away from the strand; thereafter, during a second stage, substantially horizontally displacing said one small side away from and essentially parallel to the strand; then, during a third stage, bringing said one small side out of the horizontally displaced disposition into a terminal position, by pivoting said one small side about its upper end region; and selecting the displacement speed of the one small side which is effective during the second stage to be dependent upon the momentary casting speed in such a manner that there is ensured for contact of the cast metal at the entire, imbued surface of such side.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as defined in claim 1, further including the step of: selecting said displacement speed to be in the order of magnitude between about 10 mm/min and 50 mm/min.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method as defined in claim 1, further including the steps of: selecting the horizontal components of the pivotal speed of the upper end region and the lower end region of said one small side to be equal to the displacement speed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method as defined in claim 1, further including the steps of: carrying out the pivotal movement of said one small side during the first stage and the third stage at the same speeds, but intermittently.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method as defined in claim 1, further including the steps of: releasing a clamping action exerted by at least one of the long sides of the mold upon the short sides thereof, prior to initiation of the first stage operation, so as to enable movement of at least said one short side.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method as defined in claim 5, wherein: said one long side is displaced away from said short sides by an amount not exceeding about 0.5 mm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method as defined in claim 1, further including the steps of: maintaining the height of the molten bath in the mold and the withdrawal speed of the strand essentially constant during the first stage.