Continuous casting apparatus with removable mold

A continuous casting apparatus mold table supports a plate that in turn supports a mold extending through both. The table has opposite side walls extending above the plate, with each side wall supporting a shaft extending lengthwise of it between it and the plate and carrying lugs that overlap the adjacent marginal portion of the plate to clamp it on the table when the shaft is turned in the right direction and locked against reverse rotation. When the shafts are released, the plate and mold can be lifted past the lugs and removed from the table.

In continuous casting apparatus a mold that is open at both top and bottom 
is supported by a mold table, to which it is bolted. Molten metal is 
poured into the top of the mold from a tundish, and a strand of partially 
solidified metal leaves the lower end of the mold continuously and then is 
cooled to completely solidify it as it moves along. It becomes necessary 
at times to replace the mold, such as after a break out of metal. In the 
past, it has required a considerble amount of time to remove the mold from 
the table and to replace it with another mold. Of course, to do this, it 
is first necessary to stop the flow of molten metal into the mold. When 
metal is being poured from the same tundish into two or more molds 
simultaneously, taking one mold out of service has required stopping the 
delivery of metal to the tundish and thus to the rest of the molds, 
thereby greatly reducing production. 
It is among the objects of this invention to provide continuous casting 
apparatus, in which a mold can be quickly and easily removed when 
necessary and replaced, and in which this can be done without the other 
molds fed from the same tundish being out of service very long.

Referring to the drawings, a frame 1 is rigidly mounted on a lower beam 2 
and a pair of upper beams 3. Between the upper portions of the side walls 
of this frame a mold table 4 with a flat top is rigidly mounted between 
side walls 5 that have downwardly extending legs 6 supported in such a 
manner that the table can be oscillated by a revolving eccentric 7 (FIG. 
1), as is customary practice. The two side walls 5 extend above the table, 
which is provided with a more or less central opening 8 through it. 
Between this opening and the operator's end of the table it also is 
provided with a pair of holes, from which pipes 9 extend downwardly for 
delivering water to a water-cooled continuous casting mold 10 and for 
returning the water for cooling and recirculation. 
The mold, of conventional water-jacketed construction, has its lower end 
portion rigidly mounted in an opening through a plate 14 that is narrower 
than the table, on which the plate is seated. This opening is above the 
large table opening 8 and the mold can extend down through the table a 
short distance if desired. The plate also is provided with holes 
registering with the water pipe holes in the table, and the lower ends of 
short pipes 15 that are connected with the water jacket of the mold are 
secured to the plate so that water can flow into, through and out of the 
water jacket. 
It is a feature of this invention that extending lengthwise of each side 
wall 5 of the table, between that wall and the mold-supporting plate 14, 
there is a shaft 16. This shaft is rotatably and slidably mounted in 
bearing members 17 secured to the side wall. These bearing members do not 
overlie the adjacent edge of the plate. Rigidly mounted on each shaft is 
at least one lug, but preferably two lugs 18, which do overlap the 
adjacent marginal portion of the plate, against which they are pressed 
when the shaft is turned in the right direction. The shaft can be turned 
by an arm 19 rigidly mounted on the end of the shaft at the operator's end 
of the table. The arm extends upwardly beside the adjacent side wall, and 
a hand screw 20 is threaded in the wall and engages the upper part of the 
arm. By tightening the screw against the arm, the lugs are pressed down on 
the plate to clamp it firmly on the table. 
OPERATION 
When it becomes desirable or necessary to remove the mold, the hand screws 
are loosened to release the pressure of the lugs against the mold plate 
and then the shafts are pulled by arms 19 to move the lugs lengthwise of 
side walls 5 a predetermined distance to a mold-release position. In this 
new or release position, the lugs are located directly above notches 21 
formed in the marginal portions of the plate. Consequently, the plate can 
be lifted past the lugs in order to remove the mold from the table. 
The plate can be lifted in various ways, but preferably by a fork-lift 
truck that can project its fork beneath the upper flange 22 of the mold, 
or beneath lugs on the side of the mold, and then lift it and the plate 
far enough to clear the rest of the apparatus. Then the truck can back 
away with the mold, deposit it where desired, pick up a new mold and plate 
and move them to mold table 4. Following this operation the shafts 16 are 
pushed back to their original positions and the hand screws are tightened 
against arms 19 to turn the shafts to press lugs 18 down over the mold 
plate and thereby clamp it on the table. The entire operation of removing 
one mold and replacing it with another requires only a few minutes and 
very little effort, so the casting line is out of service a much shorter 
length of time than heretofore. 
If desired, and if there is sufficient space between the edges of the mold 
plate and side walls 5 of the oscillating unit to permit the lugs to be 
swung upwardly far enough to allow the plate to be lifted past them, the 
edges of the plate will not need to be provided with notches and the 
rotatable shafts will not have to slide lengthwise in their supporting 
bearings. 
According to the provisions of the patent statutes, we have explained the 
principle of our invention and have illustrated and described what we now 
consider to represent its best embodiment. However, we desire to have it 
understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention 
may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.