Method and apparatus for continuously casting metal slab, strip or bar with partial thickness integral lugs projecting therefrom

摘要

Method and apparatus are described for continuously casting metal slab, strip or bar with integral lugs projecting therefrom. These lugs project from the edge of the cast product and lie in the casting plane, but they have a partial thickness as compared with the thickness of the product. Continuous wide slabs of unrefined copper or other electrolytically refinable metal having partial thickness lugs on both edges can be cut to form electrode plates for subsequent refining by suspending in an electrolytic bath. These partial thickness lugs serve as supports and provide electrical connection from the side rails of the electrolytic cell. Their partial thickness conserves metal and weight. In the continuous casting method and apparatus the revolving edge dams include special dam blocks defining partial thickness mold pockets for casting the integral lugs. Synchronization of lug positions along opposite edges of the cast product is maintained by controllably changing the relative temperatures of the revolving edge dams with respect to each other, for example, by relatively increasing the cooling of one of the revolving edge dams when it tends to lag the other, thereby relatively decreasing its length and increasing its rate of revolving, or, for example, by relatively decreasing the cooling of one when it tends to lead the other, thereby relatively increasing its length and decreasing its rate of revolving.