Patent ID: 8631853
Filing Date: 2014-01-21
Classification: B22D

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for continuously casting thin steel strip comprising: a pair of counter-rotatable casting rolls mounted in a roll cassette and having casting surfaces laterally positioned to form a nip there between through which thin cast strip can be cast, and on which a casting pool of molten metal can be formed supported on the casting surfaces above the nip in a casting position, an enclosure adapted to support a protective atmosphere immediately beneath the casting rolls in the casting position, an upper cover positioned below the casting rolls adapted to move between a closed position covering an upper portion of the enclosure maintaining the protective atmosphere in the enclosure in the closed position and a retracted position enabling cast strip to be cast downwardly from the nip between the casting rolls into the enclosure, and an apron positioned below the upper cover to initially guide the cast strip in the enclosure to production position.