Patent ID: 6026887
Filing Date: 2000-02-22
Classification: B22D

Abstract:
Apparatus for steering, for tensioning and for driving a revolving casting belt in a twin-belt-type continuous metal-casting machine wherein upper and lower flexible casting belts are revolved in respective upper and lower oval paths defining a moving-mold casting region between the upper and lower revolving casting belts, said moving-mold casting region extending from an entrance of the machine to an exit of the machine, said moving-mold casting region moving in a downstream direction from said entrance of the machine to said exit of the machine defining a casting plane P extending from the entrance to the exit of the machine and wherein said upper and lower revolving casting belts travel around respective upper and lower exit-pulley drums positioned near the exit of the machine, each exit pulley drum having a rotational axis with first and second journals concentric with the rotational axis and being at opposite ends of the exit pulley drum, said apparatus for steering, for tensioning and for driving a revolving casting belt comprising:a first steering assembly connected with a first journal for tilting an exit-pulley drum to an angle .theta. in a plane Y--Y which is generally perpendicular to the casting plane P for moving a first end of said exit-pulley drum away from said casting plane P while a second end of said exit-pulley drum remains proximate to the casting plane P when a belt requires steering in a first direction away from said first end;a second steering assembly connected with a second journal for tilting said exit-pulley drum to an angle .theta. in said plane Y--Y for moving the second end of said exit-pulley drum away from said casting plane P while the first end of said exit-pulley drum remains proximate to the casting plane P when said belt requires steering in a second direction away from said second end;a first tensioning assembly for applying a first force acting substantially parallel with said casting plane P in direction away from said entrance and being applied to said first journal for moving said first end of the exit-pulley drum away from the entrance in a direction substantially parallel with said casting plane P for tensioning said belt;a second tensioning assembly for applying a second force acting substantially parallel with said casting plane P in a direction away from said entrance and being applied to said second journal for moving said second end of the exit-pulley drum away from the entrance in a direction substantially parallel with said casting plane P for tensioning said belt; androtary drive means connected to a journal of said exit-pulley drum for rotating said exit-pulley drum for moving a casting belt in an oval path passing around said exit-pulley drum with said belt travelling along said moving-mold casting region in the downstream direction from the entrance to the exit.