초록 ▼

Improved casting method and side dam apparatus for use in twin-belt continuous metal casting machines are described particularly adapted for casting rectangular copper bar providing a casting speed almost double that obtained in prior twin-belt machines and a damblock lifetime which is more than dou

Improved casting method and side dam apparatus for use in twin-belt continuous metal casting machines are described particularly adapted for casting rectangular copper bar providing a casting speed almost double that obtained in prior twin-belt machines and a damblock lifetime which is more than doubled, while producing a more homogeneous and symmetrical casting structure. The side dams are formed by stringing slotted damblocks along the entire length of a flexible metal strap, except for end portions of the strap. An end-to-end weld forms an endless strap loop of accurately predetermined length, and special damblocks having two mating interlocking halves are inserted into the remaining space along the strap, whereby all blocks are free to slide on the strap but with little cumulative space between blocks, which are preferably made of a bronze alloy presenting better resistance to heat cracking and higher heat conductivity than in previous damblocks. The damblocks are cooled by controlled liquid sprays in a chamber, their temperature after cooling is sensed, and then they have an insulative material applied thereto before re-entry into the machine.

대표청구항 ▼

The improved method of continuously castinG copper bar product in a twin-belt metal casting machine, wherein each of two side dams revolves in a loop passing through a casting zone from its input end to its output end between the front faces of a pair of thin, flexible, metal, revolving casting belt

The improved method of continuously castinG copper bar product in a twin-belt metal casting machine, wherein each of two side dams revolves in a loop passing through a casting zone from its input end to its output end between the front faces of a pair of thin, flexible, metal, revolving casting belts to define a moving mold extending through the casting zone wherein said side dams serve to define the opposed side surfaces of the moving mold and the loop of each travelling side dam returns from the output end to the input end of the casting zone along a return path which is located away from the casting zone, and wherein the cooling of the casting belts in the casting zone is accomplished by the application of high velocity liquid coolant to the two casting belts, said improved method comprising the steps of: providing a pair of side dams each having a plurality of bronze damblocks strung onto a flexible metal strap and in which said damblocks all have the same predetermined width and the same cross-sectional area and in which said damblocks have inner faces of bronze respectively facing inwardly toward the mold space for defining the opposed side surfaces of the mold space, spacing said pair of side dams apart by a distance between the inner bronze faces of the damblocks which is equal approximately to twice the width of the damblocks themselves for defining a moving mold space between said inner faces for casting a rectangular copper bar product for use in subsequent rolling to form copper rod and in which the area of the cast copper bar product is approximately equal to the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the two side dams as seen in cross section taken through the casting, providing a cooling chamber positioned on such return path at a location remote from the casting zone, passing the side dam through such cooling chamber during its return travel along said return path, liquid spray cooling the damblocks as each side dam passes through such chamber during its return travel for pre-cooling the bronze damblocks before they enter the casting zone, sensing the temperature of the damblocks of each side dam at a position remote from the casting zone during their return travel and after the damblocks have been pre-cooled and have excited from such cooling chamber, and controlling the spray cooling to pre-cool each damblock of both side dams to a temperature below 280°C. but above the boiling point of water, whereby the relatively cool bronze damblocks serve as heat sinks for providing a rapid cooling quenching of the opposite side surfaces of the cast rectangular copper bar product as well as serving to conduct heat from such side surfaces into the casting belts, thereby to produce symmetrical cooling of the top and bottom surfaces and of the two side surfaces of the rectangular copper bar to cast a rectangular copper bar product of symmetrical cast structure, being symmetrical both left-to-right and symmetrical top-to-bottom, in which the lines of intersecting crystal growth, if, present extend inwardly from the four corners of the cross section of said rectangular copper bar product at angles of approximately 45°from each of the two adjacent surfaces meeting at the respective corners, and which is advantageous for use in subsequent rolling to form quality copper rod.