TWIN-BELT CONTINUOUS CASTER WITH CONTAINMENT AND COOLING OF THE EXITING CAST PRODUCT FOR ENABLING HIGH-SPEED CASTING OF MOLTEN-CENTER PRODUCT

摘要

TWIN-BELT CONTINUOUS CASTER WITH CONTAINMENT AND COOLINGOF THE EXITING CAST PRODUCT FOR ENABLING HIGH-SPEEDCASTING OF MOLTEN-CENTER PRODUCTABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREIn continuously casting molten metal into cast product by a twin-beltmachine, it is desirable to achieve dramatic increases in speed (linear feetper minute) at which cast product exits the machine, particularly ininstallations where steel cast product is intended to feed a downstreamregular rolling mill (as distinct from a planetary mill) operating in tandemwith the twin-belt caster. Such high-speed casting produces product witha relatively thin shell and molten interior, and the shell tends to bulgeoutwardly due to metallostatic head pressure of the molten center. Anumber of cooperative features enable high-speed, twin-belt casting: (1)Each casting belt is slidably supported adjacent to the caster exit pulleyfor bulge control and enhanced cooling of cast product. (2) Lateral skewsteering of each belt provides an effective increase in moving mold lengthplus a continuity of heat transfer not obtained with prior art belt steeringapparatus. (3) the exiting slab is contained and supported downstreamfrom the casting machine to prevent bulging of he shell of the caseproduct, and (4) spray cooling is incorporated in the exit containmentapparatus for secondary cooling of cast product.