Patent GB-1108385-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to a continuous casting plant
IPC: B22D11/14
Filed: 1966-05-26
Abstract: 1,108,385. Continuous-casting machines. A.G. DER DILLINGER HUETTENWERKE and CONCAST A.G. 26 May, 1966 [26 May, 1965], No. 23730/66. Heading B3F. In a continuous-casting process, to save time between one casting and the next, a starter-bar head 14 (23, 52) is established in the mould 1 (20, 50) whilst the preceding casting is still being withdrawn from the plant, the starter-bar 18 (34), or a starter-bar section (56), Figs. 6, 7 (not shown), being coupled to the head as soon as the preceding casting has cleared the introduction point for the bar or bar section. As shown, as soon as the end of a casting leaves the mould 1, at least one side section 3 or 4 of a roller apron 2 for guiding the casting is swung to horizontal so that a head 14 on jacks 10 on a rack 9, can be pushed into the casting path as at 14<1> and raised into the mould for retention by withdrawable or shearable catches 16 until the starter-bar 18 is coupled to it. When the preceding casting is sufficiently clear, the starter-bar 18 is raised and coupled to the head 14. If the narrower sides of the casting are not guided as shown, then a withdrawal roller bed section is used to support the rack 9 instead of the rockable side sections 3, 4. The bar head 14 may be introduced from the top of the mould with a plastics sleeve to protect the latter. In a plant, Figs. 3-5 (not shown), in which a curved-axis mould (20) is held by hydraulic retainers (28) on a lever (21) for reciprocation by eccentric, as soon as the casting end has left the mould, the latter is replaced by a fresh mould with a previously sealed starter-bar head (23) or it is removed and fitted with a head before replacement. Instead of being lifted by crane, the mould may be mounted, for movement, on a carriage which carries part of the reciprocating mechanism. A chain starter-bar (34) may be inserted from the mould position into the roller apron (2), but as depicted it is introduced midway of the apron where withdrawal rolls (31), extra to the main withdrawal and straightening rolls (30), may be reversed to draw the bar (34) from a track (33) with movable extension (35) into the apron up to the head (23) in the mould (20). When casting, the pressure of the rolls (31) may be reduced when the straightening rolls (30) are operating. The starter-bar (34) is withdrawn, by a cable of haulage gear (36), from the rolls (30) on to the track (33) ready for reinsertion. In a further embodiment, Figs. 6, 7 (not shown), the starter bar (55) is divided into successive sections (56, 57) and when the head (52) has been lowered into the mould (50) and the preceding casting is clear, one section (56) is pushed on a truck (68) by means of pistons (70) into position against a one-sided roller apron (53) beneath the mould and the other section (57) is raised from a pit by a lift (60), to be gripped and raised by withdrawal rolls (54) (reversely rotated) to be coupled to the section (56). The whole bar (55) is then raised by the rolls to join to the head (52). A short length of the bar (55) may be coupled to the head (52) so the catches (51) may be located way below the mould. When casting, the starter-bar (55) is detached from the head, when the casting reaches the withdrawal rolls (54), and passes to a bending unit (not shown), and is lowered into a pit and the sections (56, 57) separated. The upper section (56) is then moved on to a truck (61) for translation before being lifted by crane cables to be lowered on to the truck (68) adjacent the apron (53) to await re-use.