Patent ID: 6575226
Filing Date: 2003-06-10
Classification: B22D

Abstract:
A method for guiding travel of a revolving, flexible, heat-conductive casting belt in a continuous casting machine for continuous casting of metal, said method guiding travel of the revolving casting belt toward an entrance into a mold space in the machine comprising steps of:providing a multiplicity of stationary elements having spaced belt-supporting, belt-guiding, belt-path-defining working surfaces; positioning said stationary elements with their working surfaces being located on a geometric sector of a convex cylinder with said working surfaces facing outwardly relative to said convex cylinder; positioning such a flexible casting belt with its inner surface facing said working surfaces; applying tension to the positioned casting belt for pulling the inner surface of the casting belt against said working surfaces for conforming the inner surface of the positioned, tensioned, casting belt with said geometric sector of the convex cylinder; feeding pressurized air through at least one throttling passage for applying pressurized air in belt-levitating contact with the inner surface of the positioned, tensioned, and conforming casting belt for pressing the positioned, tensioned, and conforming casting belt outwardly relative to said convex cylinder for reducing force of the inner surface of the positioned, tensioned, conforming and levitated casting belt against said working surfaces in readiness for revolving the casting belt; and revolving the positioned, tensioned, conforming and levitated casting belt for guiding travel of the revolving casting belt toward the entrance into the mold space.