Continuous casting method for metallic strips

Claim 1

Apparatus for making continuous metal strip from the melt comprising, in combination: (a) a movable chill body providing a chill surface for deposition thereon of molten metal for solidification, said chill body being adapted to provide longitudinal movement of said chill surface at velocity of from about 100 to about 2000 meters per minute; (b) a reservoir for holding molten metal, said reservoir including heating means for maintaining the temperature of the metal above its melting point, said reservoir being in communication with (c) a slotted nozzle for depositing molten metal onto said chill surface, located in close proximity to said chill surface, having its slot arranged generally perpendicular to the direction of movement of the chill surface, said slot being defined by a pair of generally parallel lips, a first lip and a second lip numbered in direction of movement of the chill surface, wherein said slot has a width of from about 0.2 to about 1 millimeter, measured in direction of movement of the chill surface, wherein said first lip has a width at least equal to the width of said slot, and said second lip has a width of from about 1.5 to about 3 times the width of said slot, wherein the gap between the lips and the chill surface is from about 0.1 to about 1 times the width of said slot; and (d) means for effecting expulsion of the molten metal contained in said reservoir through said nozzle for deposition onto the moving chill surface.