NON-ROTATING, LEVITATING, CYLINDRICAL AIR-PILLOW APPARATUS FOR STEERING AND GUIDING AN ENDLESS FLEXIBLE CASTING BELT INTO THE ENTRANCE OF A CONTINUOUS METAL-CASTING MACHINE

摘要

An apparatus for guiding a moving, flexible, tensed casting belt (30) on a continuous metal casting machine (20) along a substantially oval path. The continuous metal casting machine (20) having an entrance-end (22), an exit-end and a moving-mold casting region (M) extending from the entrance-end (22) to the exit-end. The apparatus includes a non-rotating fluid pillow structure (44) at the entrance end (22) of the machine (20). The fluid pillow structure (44) supports the mold-width of the casting belt (30). The apparatus includes two narrow shoulder-pulleys (50) at the entrance end (22) of the casting machine (20) which are adjacent to opposite sides of the entrance-end fluid-pillow structure (44). Each pulley (50) supports a portion of the belt (30) outside of the moving-mold casting region (M). Each pulley (50) guides the belt around the fluid-pillow structure (44) as the belt (30) revolves along its substantially oval path. The apparatus also facilitates the sealing, controlled-venting and recovery of pressurized fluids used to levitate the belt (30) about a fluid-pillow structure.