# Patent

## Title
Twin-roll casting machine

## Abstract

Provided is a twin-roll casting machine capable of suppressing irregularities in crosswise thickness distribution of a strip. The twin-roll casting machine comprises chilled rolls, side weirs, and nozzle pieces. A plurality of openings for supply of molten metal to between the chilled rolls are formed alternately on portions of each of the nozzle pieces adjacent to the one and the other rolls, respectively, and are spaced apart from each other axially of the rolls.

## Background
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a twin-roll casting machine.
BACKGROUND ART
Known as one of techniques for directly producing a strip from molten metal is twin-roll continuous casting in which molten metal is supplied to between a pair of rotated rolls so as to deliver solidified metal in the form of strip.
FIGS. 1-3 show an example of a conventional twin-roll casting machine with a pair of chilled rolls 1a and 1b horizontally juxtaposed and a pair of side weirs 2a and 2b associated with the rolls 1a and 1b. 
The rolls 1a and 1b are constructed such that cooling water passes through insides of the rolls, a nip G between the rolls being controllable to be increased or decreased depending upon thickness of a strip 3 to be produced.
Velocity and direction of rotation of the rolls 1a and 1b are set such that the outer peripheries of the respective rolls move from above towards the nip G at the same velocity.
The one and the other side weirs 2a and 2b surface-contact one and the other ends of the rolls 1a and 1b, respectively. Nozzle pieces 4a and 4b for supply of molten metal are arranged in a space defined by the rolls 1a and 1b and side weirs 2a and 2b so as to be positioned just above the nip G (see, for example, Patent Literature 1).
The one and the other nozzle pieces 4a and 4b are supported to have a constant gap against the one and the other side weirs 2a and 2b, respectively.
Each of the nozzle pieces 4a and 4b has a top with an elongated nozzle trough 6 for reception of molten metal 5, and longitudinal side walls each with a plurality of openings 7 at portions of the walls adjacent to lower ends of the walls so as to supply the molten metal 5 from the nozzle trough 6 to between the rolls 1a and 1b, the openings 7 being spaced apart from each other axially of the roll 1a, 1b. Pouring of the molten metal 5 into the respective nozzle troughs 6 provides a molten metal pool 8 above the nip G and in contact with outer peripheries of the rolls 1a and 1b. 
As shown by arrows in FIG. 2(a), with respect to each of the nozzle pieces 4a and 4b, the openings 7 are formed symmetrically at the portions adjacent to the one and the other rolls 1a and 1b, respectively.
In the above-mentioned twin-roll casting machine, the molten metal pool 8 is formed and the rolls 1a and 1b are rotated with the cooling water passing through and cooling the rolls 1a and 1b, so that molten metal 5 is solidified on the outer peripheries of the rolls 1a and 1b into solidified shells 9 so as to deliver downward the strip 3 from the nip G.
In this case, loads are applied to necks of the respective rolls 1a and 1b in directions toward each other so as to make the produced strip 3 to have a targeted thickness.

    [Patent Literature 1] JP 2000-202590A


SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Technical Problems
However, with respect to each of the nozzle pieces 4a and 4b, symmetrical formation of the openings 7 at the portions adjacent to the one and the other rolls 1a and 1b brings about the molten metal 5 in the pool 8 flowing faster at the portions adjacent to the openings 7 than at the other portions, so that the molten metal 5 is difficult to cool on the outer peripheries of the rolls 1a and 1b adjacent to the openings 7.
Thus, as shown in FIG. 2(b), solidification of the shells 9 progresses (with thickness increased) on the outer peripheries of the rolls 1a and 1b at portions away from the openings 7 while solidification of the shells 9 is hard to progress on the outer peripheries of the rolls 1a and 1 at portions adjacent to the openings 7.
As a result, the strip 3 to be delivered from the rolls 1a and 1b is formed with ridges of the shells 9 with progressed solidification being brought together while unsolidified regions 10 remain at valleys between the adjacent ridges axially of the rolls 1a and 1b as shown in FIG. 2(c).
Thus, as shown in FIG. 2(d), the strip 3 completely contracted due to solidification has irregularities in crosswise thickness distribution with disadvantageous result that cracks may be produced.
The invention was made in view of the above and has its object to provide a twin-roll casting machine capable of suppressing irregularities in crosswise thickness distribution of a strip.
Solution to Problems
In order to attain the above object, in a first aspect of the invention, provided are a pair of chilled rolls, a pair of side weirs and a nozzle piece arranged in a space defined by said rolls and said side weirs, said nozzle piece being formed with a plurality of molten-metal delivery openings spaced apart from each other axially of the rolls at portions of the nozzle piece adjacent to one and the other rolls, respectively, said openings adjacent to the one roll being in antiphase to those adjacent to the other roll.
In a second aspect of the invention, provided are a pair of chilled rolls, a pair of side weirs and first and second nozzle pieces arranged in tandem axially of the rolls and in a space defined by said rolls and said side weirs, each of said first and second nozzle pieces being formed with a plurality of molten-metal delivery openings spaced apart from each other axially of the rolls at portions of the nozzle piece adjacent to one and the other of the rolls, respectively, said openings adjacent to the one roll being in antiphase to those adjacent to the other roll.
In a third aspect of the invention, the first nozzle piece is set to have smaller and greater molten-metal delivery ranges axially along the one and the other rolls, respectively, and the second nozzle piece is set to have greater and smaller molten-metal delivery ranges axially along the one and the other rolls, respectively.
In a fourth aspect of the invention, each of the openings has cross section elongated axially of the rolls.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
According to a twin-roll casting machine of the invention, the following excellent effects and advantages can be obtained.
(1) The openings of the nozzle piece adjacent to the one roll are in antiphase to those adjacent to the other roll, so that the solidified shells on the outer peripheries of the one and the other rolls can be brought together with ridges and valleys of the solidified shell on the outer periphery of the one roll being confronted to valleys and ridges of the solidified shell on the outer periphery of the other roll, respectively.

(2) Thus, the strip delivered from the rolls has tendency of being equalized with no irregularities in crosswise thickness distribution, cracks being prevented from being produced.

(3) When the first and second nozzle pieces are arranged in tandem and the first nozzle piece is set to have the smaller and larger molten-metal delivery ranges axially along the one and the other rolls, respectively, and the second nozzle piece is set to have the larger and smaller molten-metal delivery ranges axially along the one and the other rolls, respectively, then a ridge of the solidified shell on the outer periphery of the one roll at axially intermediate portion thereof is not confronted to a ridge of the solidified shell on the outer periphery of the other roll at axially intermediate portion thereof with an advantageous result that the strip delivered by the rolls has further equalized crosswise thickness distribution.




BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an example of a conventional twin-roll casting machine laterally of chilled rolls;
FIG. 2 is schematic views showing relationship between the nozzle pieces and cross-sectional shape of the strip in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing the twin-roll casting machine in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is schematic views showing relationship between the nozzle pieces and cross-sectional shape of the strip in an embodiment of a twin-roll casting machine according to the invention;
FIG. 5 is a partial plan view showing an example of a specific shape of the nozzle pieces in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a view looking in direction of arrows VI in FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a view looking in direction of arrows VII in FIG. 6; and
FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing nozzle pieces in a further embodiment of a twin-roll casting machine according to the invention.



REFERENCE SIGNS LIST


    1a chilled roll
    1b chilled roll
    2a side weir
    2a side weir
    5 molten metal
    11a nozzle piece
    11b nozzle piece
    13 opening


DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
Embodiments of the invention will be described in conjunction with the drawings.
FIGS. 4-7 show an embodiment of a twin-roll casting machine according to the invention with a pair of chilled rolls 1a and 1b horizontally juxtaposed, a pair of side weirs 2a and 2b associated with the rolls 1a and 1b, and nozzle pieces 11a and 11b. 
One 11a of the nozzle pieces is positioned just above the nip G and is supported to have a constant gap against one 2a of the side weirs, the other nozzle piece 11b being positioned just above the nip G and being supported to have a constant gas against the other side weir 2b. 
Each of the nozzle pieces 11a and 11b has a top with an elongated nozzle trough 12 for reception of molten metal 5, a plurality of openings 13 being on an inner bottom of the nozzle trough 12 and pass downwardly through the bottom, the openings 13 being dividedly arranged adjacent to the one and the other rolls 1a and 1b, respectively, and spaced apart from each other axially of the rolls 1a and 1b. 
As shown by arrows in FIG. 4(a), with respect to each of the nozzle pieces 11a and 11b, the openings 13 are formed alternately (in antiphase) at portions adjacent to the one and the other rolls 1a and 1b. 
As shown in FIG. 5, the openings 13 are substantially formed to be oval in cross section extending axially of the rolls 1a and 1b. 
A bottom of each of the nozzle pieces 11a and 11b has guides 14 which laterally guide the molten metal 5 flowing out from the respective openings 13 to outer peripheries of the rolls 1a and 1b, respectively, the guides extending throughout each of the nozzle pieces 11a and 11b (see FIGS. 6 and 7), so that pouring of the molten metal 5 into the nozzle troughs 12 brings about the molten metal pool 8 in contact with the outer peripheries of the rolls 1a and 1b. 
In the above-mentioned twin-roll casting machine, the molten metal pool 8 is formed and the rolls 1a and 1b are rotated with the cooling water passing through and cooling the rolls 1a and 1b, so that the molten metal 5 is solidified on the outer peripheries of the rolls 1a and 1b into solidified shell 9 so as to deliver downward the strip 3 from the nip G.
In this case, as shown in FIG. 4(a), with respect to each of the nozzle pieces 11a and 11b, the openings 13 formed adjacent to the one roll 1a are in antiphase to those adjacent to the other roll 1b so that the solidified shells 9 on the outer peripheries of the one and the other rolls 1a and 1b are brought together as shown in FIG. 4(c) with ridges of the shell 9 with progressed solidification on the outer periphery of the one roll 1a being confronted to valleys of the shell 9 with unprogressed solidification on the outer periphery of the other roll 1b and similarly with valleys of the shell 9 on the outer periphery of the one roll 1a being confronted to ridges of the shell 9 on the outer periphery of the other roll 1b, as shown in FIG. 4(b).
Thus, the unsolidified regions 10 between both the solidified shells 9 are decreased in comparison with those of the prior art shown in FIG. 2(c). The strip 3 completely contracted due to solidification has tendency of being equalized with no irregularities in crosswise thickness distribution as shown in FIG. 4(d), cracks being prevented from being produced.
FIG. 8 shows a further embodiment of a twin-roll casting machine according to the invention in which parts similar to those in FIGS. 4-7 are represented by the same reference numerals.
In this twin-roll casting machine, a pair of nozzle pieces 11a and 11b have opposed ends slanted to chilled rolls 1a and 1b, so that the nozzle piece 11a is shorter in length adjacent to the one roll 1a and is longer in length adjacent to the other roll 1b and the nozzle piece 11b is longer in length adjacent to the one roll 1a and is shorter in length adjacent to the other roll 1b. 
As shown by arrows, with respect to each of the nozzle pieces 11a and 11b, the openings 13 are formed alternately (in antiphase) at portions adjacent to the one and the other rolls 1a and 1b. 
Number of the openings 13 on the nozzle piece 11a adjacent to the roll 1a is less than that adjacent to the roll 1b; number of the openings 13 on the nozzle piece 11b adjacent to the roll 1b is less than that adjacent to the roll 1a. 
In other words, the nozzle piece 11a is set to have smaller and greater molten-metal delivery ranges axially along the one and the other rolls 1a and 1b, respectively. The nozzle piece 11b is set to have greater and smaller molten-metal delivery ranges axially along the one and the other rolls 1a and 1b, respectively. As a result, a gap S1 between the nozzle pieces 11a and 11b on the side of the one roll 1a is not confronted to a gap S2 between the nozzle pieces 11a and 11b on the side of the other roll 1b diametrically of the rolls 1a and 1b. 
Thus, a ridge of the solidified shell on the outer periphery of the one roll 1a at axially intermediate portion thereof is not confronted to a ridge of the solidified shell 9 on the outer periphery of the other roll 1b at axially intermediate portion thereof with an advantageous result that the strip 3 delivered by the roll 1a has further equalized crosswise thickness distribution (see FIG. 4 with respect to strip 3 and the solidified shells 9).
It is to be understood that a twin-roll casting machine of the invention is not limited to the above embodiments and that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
A twin-roll casting machine of the invention may be applied to production of strips of steel and other various metals.

## Claims

1. A twin-roll casting machine, comprising:
a pair of chilled rolls,
a pair of side weirs, and
first and second nozzle pieces arranged in tandem axially along an axial direction of the rolls and in a space defined by said rolls and said side weirs,
each of said first and second nozzle pieces being formed with a plurality of molten-metal delivery openings, spaced apart from each other along the axial direction of the rolls, in a first surface of each of said first and second nozzle pieces that is adjacent to a first one of the rolls,
each of said first and second nozzle pieces being formed with a plurality of molten-metal delivery openings, spaced apart from each other along the axial direction of the rolls, in a second surface of each of said first and second nozzle pieces that is adjacent to a second one of the rolls,
said openings in the first surface being alternately positioned from said openings in the second surface in each respective first and second nozzle piece, said alternately positioned openings being at a same height relative to a nip between the rolls, and
said first and second nozzle pieces having opposed ends that are slanted to the rolls, so that in said first nozzle piece said first surface is shorter in length than said second surface, and in said second nozzle piece said first surface is longer in length than said second surface.

2. A twin-roll casting machine, comprising:
a pair of chilled rolls,
a pair of side weirs, and
first and second nozzle pieces arranged in tandem axially along an axial direction of the rolls and in a space defined by said rolls and said side weirs,
each of said first and second nozzle pieces being formed with a plurality of molten-metal delivery openings, spaced apart from each other along the axial direction of the rolls, in a first surface of each of said first and second nozzle pieces that is adjacent to a first one of the rolls,
each of said first and second nozzle pieces being formed with a plurality of molten-metal delivery openings, spaced apart from each other along the axial direction of the rolls, in a second surface of each of said first and second nozzle pieces that is adjacent to a second one of the rolls,
said openings in the first surface being alternately positioned from said openings in the second surface in each respective first and second nozzle piece, said alternately positioned openings being at a same height relative to a nip between the rolls,
said first and second nozzle pieces having opposed ends that are slanted to the rolls, so that in said first nozzle piece said first surface is shorter in length than said second surface, and in said second nozzle piece said first surface is longer in length than said second surface, and
each of the openings having a cross section that is elongated axially along the axial direction of the rolls.

3. A twin-roll casting machine, comprising:
a pair of chilled rolls,
a pair of side weirs, and
first and second nozzle pieces arranged in tandem axially along an axial direction of the rolls and in a space defined by said rolls and said side weirs,
each of said first and second nozzle pieces being formed with a plurality of molten-metal delivery openings, spaced apart from each other along the axial direction of the rolls, in a first surface of each of said first and second nozzle pieces that is adjacent to a first one of the rolls,
each of said first and second nozzle pieces being formed with a plurality of molten-metal delivery openings, spaced apart from each other along the axial direction of the rolls, in a second surface of each of said first and second nozzle pieces that is adjacent to a second one of the rolls,
said openings in the first surface being alternately positioned from said openings in the second surface in each respective first and second nozzle piece, and
said first and second nozzle pieces having opposed ends that are slanted to the rolls, so that in said first nozzle piece said first surface is shorter in length than said second surface, in said second nozzle piece said first surface is longer in length than said second surface, and a gap between the first surface of said first nozzle piece and the first surface of said second nozzle piece does not diametrically oppose a gap between the second surface of said first nozzle piece and the second surface of said second nozzle piece.