METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEMI-CONTINUOUS CASTING OF HOLLOW INGOTS AND PRODUCTS RESULTING THEREFROM

摘要

Methods and associated apparatus for semi-continuous casting of hollow ingotsare described. In one embodimenta method for the semi-continuous casting of a metallic hollow ingot isprovided. The method includes providing a mold comprisinga mold center having an inner pipe and an outer pipe arranged to form anannular space for a cooling media and an outer mold,circulating a cooling media in the annular space, feeding a source material tothe mold, heating the source material to produce amolten material, moving the mold center progressively downward relative to theouter mold, and solidifying the molten material toform a hollow ingot. Embodiments relating to an apparatus for semi-continuouscasting of hollow ingots, and products resultingfrom the semi-continuous casting of hollow ingots are also described.