Patent GB-1335102-A (GB)
Title: Continuous casting plant
IPC: B22D11/08
Filed: 1971-07-14
Abstract: 1335102 Continuous casting CONCAST AG 14 July 1971 [21 July 1970 2 Oct 1970] 33143/71 Heading B3F  At least two reciprocable moulds 3, 3<SP>1</SP>, Fig. 3, are each movable between a get-ready position 5 or 5<SP>1</SP> (although there may be a common getready position for both moulds) and a common casting position 4 with a tundish 2; each mould 3, 31 has its own portion 8, Fig. 1, (8<SP>1</SP>), of roller apron attached to it forming a unit 10, 10<SP>1</SP> (having at least one driven roller 11 or 12, Fig. 1, by which a dummy bar 18 is inserted at the getready position), the portion 8 when a unit is moved to the casting position, Fig. 1, forming with a fixed portion 9, a complete roller apron which has cooling means and along which the casting is withdrawn by means 7 (which also straightens the casting). A unit 10 or 10<SP>1</SP> may have its own drive means for mould reciprocation, driving hydraulic motors for driving and moving the driven rollers and lubricating the mould. When the dummy bar 18 has cleared the withdrawal unit 7 it is winched on to a tilted table 15 (chain lines, Fig. 1) and the bar head is detached from the casting by movement to the horizontal. A carriage 17 moved sideways of the plant on rails 27, Fig. 3, receives a fresh dummy bar (if a different sectional-sized casting is to be produced next) from a stockpile 28 or else it receives the bar 18 from the tilting table 15. The carriage and bar are aligned with a roller bed 20, Fig. 3, for the bar to be passed on to a tilting table 22 by which its end can be raised to the apron portion (8<SP>1</SP>) at the get-ready position 5 while casting still continues at the position 4. A device on the table 22 then introduces the bar into the portion (8<SP>1</SP>) and it is conveyed into the unit 10<SP>1</SP> by the rollers 11, 12 which have means for adjusting the spacing of opposed rollers. The bar may have means for holding itself in the unit 10<SP>1</SP> unless the plant is a horizontal type. The mould 3<SP>1</SP> and apron portion (8<SP>1</SP>) meanwhile, will have been adjusted to a new cross-section of casting if necessary. Tundishes 2, 2<SP>1</SP> are preheated by gas burners 32<SP>1</SP>, 32 before moving on rails 31 to position over a mould 3 or 31 to move with the unit 10 or 10<SP>1</SP> into the casting position 4. The units 10, 10<SP>1</SP> may be moved by crane, but, as shown, are borne, for sideways translation, by carriages 30, 30 on wheels 35. Each carriage bears a plate 33 to prevent opening of the plant floor. There may be a common getready position for both units. In another embodiment, Figs. 4, 5 (not shown), the units (10, 10<SP>1</SP>) are mounted on a common carriage (41) carrying a shield (46) which covers one get-ready position (5<SP>1</SP>) when the other (5) is in use. The tundishes (43, 43<SP>1</SP>) are swivellable about a common post from a preheating position to casting position (4). The apron portions (8) are suspended from horizontal pivots (51) on the carriage. A flame cutter (55) is mounted near the top of the fixed apron portion (9) to permit movement of the unit (10) or (10<SP>1</SP>) and the casting, if breakout should occur. An electromagnetic hoist (56, 57) is used to lift the dummy bar off the tilting table (15).  In a further embodiment, Figs. 6-9 (not shown), units (10, 10<SP>1</SP>) are mounted on turntable carriages (60, 60<SP>1</SP>) and there are separate casting positions so that there may be cast one strand or two strands simultaneously. A pair of tundishes (65, 65<SP>1</SP>) swivel about each turntable axis or there may be a common tundish for both units (10, 10<SP>1</SP>) of the turntable. The filling of the mould and bar withdrawal may begin in the get-ready position. Each turntable has electrically-driven reciprocators for the moulds and means for lubrication. The apron parts (8, 8<SP>1</SP>) have plates (70) for cooling the casting. Coolant for the moulds of a turntable is supplied through a fixed hub to a ring (92) rotated with the turntable so that in the get-ready position the coolant flow and supply pipes are shut-off. Similar cooling arrangements obtain for the other embodiments.