Apparatus for feeding a horizontal continuous casting mold

Claim 1

In combination, a continuous casting mould including a copper body defining an open ended mould cavity extending through the copper body between inlet and outlet ends thereof, the cross-sectional dimensions of the cavity being uniform along its length apart from a portion at the inlet end thereof which has enlarged cross-sectional dimensions as compared with the remainder of the cavity, means for cooling said mould adjacent said inlet, a one piece graphite feed tube defining a bore which has the same cross-sectional dimensions as said remainder of the cavity, a first end portion of the tube having external cross-sectional dimensions which are the same as those of the enlarged portion at the inlet end of the cavity, said first end portion of the tube projecting into said enlarged portion of the cavity with the outer surface of said first end portion abutting against surfaces of the body defining the enlarged portion in good heat transfer relationship therewith, and means for supplying molten metal to said feed tube and comprising a tundish including a side wall having an outlet opening therein, said tube having a second end portion, including an end wall projecting into said outlet opening and having a surface sealed to the wall of the tundish defining said outlet opening, and wherein the end wall of said second end portion and a portion of the tube defining the bore of said second end portion, and extending from the end wall of said second end portion of the tube a distance less than the entire length of the bore of the feed tube, are covered by a body of refractory material other than graphite.