Patent ID: 9120147
Filing Date: 2015-09-01
Classification: B22D

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for continuously casting thin steel strip comprising: (a) a pair of counter-rotatable casting rolls having casting surfaces laterally positioned to form a nip there between through which a 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, the casting rolls mounted in a roll cassette, the roll cassette having wheels to support and move the roll cassette; (b) casting roll guides extending from a set up station to a transfer station at a different elevation than the set up station, and the casting roll guides extending from the transfer station to a casting position, such that the roll cassette can be moved from the set up station through the transfer station to the casting station on the casting roll guides; (c) the wheels of the roll cassette engaging the casting roll guides from the set up station to the casting position through the transfer station, where at the set up station the casting rolls are mounted in the roll cassette adapted for casting, at the transfer station the casting rolls mounted in the roll cassette are exchanged with other casting rolls mounted in another roll cassette, and in the casting position the casting rolls mounted in the roll cassette are operational for casting; (d) an enclosure positioned below the casting position with an upper cover, the upper cover moveable between a closed position to preserve a protective atmosphere of the enclosure when the casting rolls mounted in the roll cassette are not in the casting position and an open position when the casting rollers mounted in a roll cassette are in the casting position or approaching the casting position so the thin cast strip can pass through the upper cover; and any apron positioned below the upper cover to initially guide the cast strip in the enclosure.