Patent Description:
This application relates to belt casting systems, and, more particularly, to cooling pad assemblies for belt casting systems.

A metal product may be produced by continuous casting systems such as belt casting systems, rotating block casting systems, twin roll casting systems, etc. Belt casting systems generally include endless belts that are driven over rollers and/or other supports as desired, and each endless belt has a casting surface and a rear surface opposite from the casting surface. The belts define a casting cavity that is formed between confronting sections of the casting surfaces of the belts as the belts are driven in a casting direction. Molten metal is continuously introduced into an inlet end of the casting cavity via an injector or other feed device, and the metal is cooled as it passes through the casting cavity, to emerge as a continuous metal product of desired thickness. In particular, heat is withdrawn from the metal in the casting cavity by and through the casting surfaces so that the metal cools and produces a solid metal product having a thickness similar to the spacing between the casting surfaces. Side dams are usually provided between the casting surfaces at their extreme lateral edges to prevent loss of metal and to define the side edges of the casting cavity. The casting surfaces are continuously recirculated externally of the casting cavity from the outlet to the inlet so that they are continuously available for use.

The casting surfaces are generally actively cooled so that they are capable of withdrawing heat from the metal in the casting cavity and to provide the metal product with the desired properties. In some cases, the casting surfaces are cooled with a coolant, such as a cooling liquid or gas. For example, a continuous flow of cooling liquid (usually water containing appropriate additives) is applied to the rear surfaces of the recirculating endless belts in the regions where the belts confront each other to form the casting cavity so that heat is extracted from the casting cavity through the casting surfaces and the belts and is removed by the coolant. The coolant may then be withdrawn after it has provided the desired cooling effect. While such cooling systems may provide cooling, they have a limited ability to control the casting condition, and such cooling systems may have difficulty during the casting of thinner metal products and/or metals of a long freezing range to achieve good surface and internal quality as well as solidification within the mold.

<CIT> discloses a nozzle for a belt cooling and guiding apparatus. The nozzle includes a support surface for supporting a reverse surface of a casting belt. The support surface has a length corresponding to a width of the said belt, and an elongated continuous slot in said support surface has a length substantially the same as the length of the support surface for delivery of cooling liquid in the form of a continuous film having uniform thickness and velocity of flow along the slot. A drainage opening is further provided for removal of cooling liquid spaced from the continuous slot.

<CIT> discloses a method of continuously casting a metal slab by continuously introducing molten metal into an inlet of a casting cavity defined between spaced confronting casting surfaces advancing in a direction of casting, followed by providing the casting surfaces with an ability to remove heat from the molten metal in the casting cavity to cause the molten metal to solidify and thereby form a fully- or partially-solid metal slab within the casting cavity. The method further includes continuously discharging the metal slab from the casting cavity through an outlet of the casting cavity; and reducing the ability of at least one of the casting surfaces to remove heat from the metal in a region of the cavity spaced from both the inlet and the outlet and extending transversely to the direction of casting. The ability is reduced relative to the ability of the at least one casting surface to remove heat from immediately adjacent upstream and downstream regions of the casting cavity.

Embodiments covered by this patent are defined by the claims below, not this summary. This summary is a high-level overview of various embodiments and introduces some of the concepts that are further described in the Detailed Description section below. The subject matter should be understood by reference to appropriate portions of the entire specification of this patent, any or all drawings, and each claim.

In view of the problems mentioned above in state of the art cooling system, the present invention provides a cooling pad assembly in accordance with the subject matter of independent claim <NUM>. According to the present invention, a cooling pad assembly for a belt casting system includes an elongated nozzle assembly. The elongated nozzle assembly includes a base, a first insert, and a second insert. The base defines a receiving area, and the first insert and the second insert are each positionable within the receiving area. The first insert and the base together define a first elongated dispensing slot, and the second insert and the base together define a second elongated dispensing slot that is offset from the first elongated dispensing slot in a longitudinal direction. The cooling pad is configured to dispense a coolant through each of the first elongated dispensing slot and the second elongated dispensing slot. In various embodiments, first insert is independently adjustable relative to the second insert within the receiving area.

According to various embodiments, a cooling pad assembly for a belt casting system includes a nozzle arrangement having a plurality of multi-position nozzles that dispense a coolant. Each multi-position nozzle includes a stem and a cap that is rotatably and longitudinally movable along the stem between a base position and an offset position. The cap includes a dispensing end. In various embodiments, in the base position, the dispensing end is arranged in a cooling pad nozzle plane relative to a central plane of a casting cavity of the belt casting system, and, in the offset position, the dispensing end is offset by a distance from the cooling pad nozzle plane and away from the central plane.

According to some embodiments, a cooling pad assembly for a belt casting system includes a support assembly and a nozzle arrangement supported on the support assembly. The support assembly includes a chamber that stores a supply of a coolant, a plurality of supply passages in fluid communication with the chamber and extending in a vertical direction, and a plurality of drainage passages extending in the vertical direction. In various embodiments, each drainage passage of the plurality of drainage passages is longitudinally and laterally offset from an adjacent supply passage of the plurality of supply passages. The nozzle arrangement includes at least one dispensing aperture and at least one drainage aperture. In certain embodiments, the at least one dispensing aperture is in fluid communication with at least one supply passage of the plurality of supply passages, and the at least one drainage aperture is in fluid communication with at least one drainage passage of the plurality of drainage passages.

Various implementations described herein can include additional systems, methods, features, and advantages, which cannot necessarily be expressly disclosed herein but will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. It is intended that all such systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within the present disclosure and protected by the accompanying claims.

This description should not be interpreted as implying any particular order or arrangement among or between various steps or elements except when the order of individual steps or arrangement of elements is explicitly described. Directional references such as "longitudinal," "lateral," "vertical," "up," "down," "top," "bottom," "left," "right," "front," and "back," among others, are intended to refer to the orientation as illustrated and described in the figure (or figures) to which the components and directions are referencing.

As used herein, an "X" axis identifies the "pass line direction" that the process material (e.g., metal product) travels. The "X" axis may also be referred to as the longitudinal direction or the downstream direction The "Y" axis identifies the "cross-width direction" of the process material product. The "Y" axis is horizontally perpendicular to the pass line direction (or "X" axis), and may also be referred to as the transverse direction or the lateral direction. The "Z" axis identifies the direction perpendicular to the "X" axis and the "Y" axis. The "Z" axis defines the horizontal orientation of the "X-Y" plane, and may also be referred to as the vertical direction or the up/down direction.

Described herein is a cooling system for belt casting systems, including but not limited to twin belt casting systems. A twin belt casting system may generally include an upper carriage having a first endless belt and a lower carriage having a second endless belt. The upper carriage and the lower carriage together may define a casting cavity. The metal product produced by such systems may be various suitable metals, although such systems may be particularly suitable for metals including, but not limited to, aluminum and aluminum alloys.

In various embodiments, the cooling system may include at least one cooling pad assembly, and in certain embodiments, the cooling system includes at least two cooling pad assemblies. Each cooling pad assembly selectively provides a coolant to an internal surface of an endless belt (i.e., the surface opposite from the casting surface of the endless belt) such that the casting surface is actively cooled to withdraw heat from the metal in the casting cavity. In various aspects, each cooling pad assembly supplies the coolant to the internal rear surface of the endless belt in the region where the endless belt partially forms the casting cavity. Each cooling pad assembly is comprised of a number of cooling pad modules. Each cooling pad module may have any number of nozzle types, assemblies and configurations depending on its location and function in the overall cooling system. The cooling pad modules described herein generally include a first nozzle arrangement and a second nozzle arrangement.

In a twin belt casting system, each endless belt may have one or more cooling pad assemblies. In various embodiments, one cooling pad assembly may be an upper carriage cooling pad assembly that extracts heat from the top of the casting cavity, and another cooling pad assembly may be a lower carriage cooling pad assembly that extracts heat from the bottom of the casting cavity. In certain embodiments, each caster carriage cooling pad assembly defines its own cooling pad nozzle plane by the outer surface of the first nozzle arrangement facing the caster cavity. The outer surface of the second nozzle arrangement may be set such that one or more portions of the outer surface of the second nozzle arrangement are coplanar with the cooling pad nozzle plane or non-coplanar with cooling pad nozzle plane. In various embodiments, the upper carriage is vertically adjustable up and down to set the casting slab thickness, and it may also be tilted about the "Y" axis to either converge or diverge with respect to the lower carriage. As such, the cooling pad nozzle plane of the upper carriage may or may not be parallel to the cooling pad nozzle plane of the lower carriage during casting.

The first nozzle arrangement includes at least one elongated nozzle assembly. The elongated nozzle assembly includes a base, a first insert, and a second insert. The base defines a receiving area, and the first insert and the second insert are each positionable within the receiving area. In certain embodiments, the first insert and the base together form a first elongated dispensing slot, and the second insert and the base together form a second elongated dispensing slot that is offset from the first elongated dispensing slot. The first elongated dispensing slot may be parallel to the second elongated dispensing slot, although it need not be in other embodiments. In certain aspects, the first elongated dispensing slot and/or the second elongated dispensing slot may be perpendicular to the pass line direction, although they need not be in other embodiments. In various embodiments, each insert can be independently positioned and adjusted to fine tune a dimension of its elongated dispensing slot without influencing the other elongated dispensing slot in the same base. The first insert and the second insert together form an elongated drainage slot. There may be several linear nozzle assemblies mounted in any combination on any of the cooling pad modules to meet the process production objectives.

The second nozzle arrangement is downstream from the first nozzle arrangement in a pass line direction and includes a plurality of multi-position nozzles. Each multi-position nozzle includes a stem and a cap that is rotatably and longitudinally movable along the stem between a base position and an offset position. In the base position, a dispensing end of the cap is arranged in the cooling pad nozzle plane. In the offset position, the dispensing end is offset from the cooling pad nozzle plane. While two positions of the nozzles are discussed, in other embodiments, the nozzles may actuate over a range of heights and are not limited to two positions.

In some embodiments, each cap may be hexagonal, although in other embodiments, one or more caps of the second nozzle arrangement may have other shapes as desired. Each cap may include a dispensing orifice. In certain embodiments, the cap of each multi-position nozzle may include one or more pins that are axially and rotationally movable along a pair of grooved guideways in the stem to a first end or a second end of the grooved guideways. A vertical groove of the grooved guideways may provide a path for installing and removing the cap from the stem. When the cap is rotated to the first position, it is spring loaded into the base position, which may be a nominal operating position. In this position the surface of the dispensing end of the cap is coplanar with the outer surface of the elongated nozzle assembly and in the cooling pad nozzle plane. Rotating the cap to the second position places the cap in the depressed position, which may be a nominal non-operating position. In this position the surface of the dispensing end of the cap is offset away from the cooling pad nozzle plane and farther away from the internal surface of the endless belt. As mentioned, in other embodiments, the cap may be actuated over a range of heights that may include two or more positions. As such, the reference to the first position and the second position should not be considered limiting.

In various embodiments, one or more of the caps may include a position indicator that indicates whether a particular cap is in the base position or the offset position. In some embodiments, the position indicator may be a clipped tip or corner of the cap, although various other suitable types of position indicators may be utilized as desired. In one non-limiting embodiment, the position indicator may include two clipped tips or corners. In some embodiments, the position indicators may be aligned with the pins of the cap. In one non-limiting example, when the multi-position nozzle is in the base position, the position indicators may be in alignment with the pass line direction, and when the hexagonal nozzle is in the non-operating, depressed position, the position indicators may be rotated out of alignment with the pass line direction. In some embodiments, the position indicators may be rotated <NUM>° out of alignment with the pass line direction, although various other angles may be utilized in other embodiments. The position indicators in or out of alignment with the pass line direction may provide a caster operator with a quick visual indication of which nozzles are in the depressed, non-operating position, and which nozzles are in the base position.

According to various embodiments, each cooling pad module for a belt casting system includes a base. The base may have mounting surfaces for supporting the various cooling nozzle assembly types and optionally for other casting components, including but not limited to casting belt guidance components. The base also includes a plenum chamber configured to store a supply of a coolant, a plurality of supply passages in fluid communication with the plenum chamber and extending in a vertical direction, and a plurality of drainage passages extending in the vertical direction. In certain embodiments, each drainage passage of the plurality of drainage passages is longitudinally and laterally offset from an adjacent supply passage of the plurality of supply passages. In some embodiments, the coolant supply passages may be arranged in an intricate grid to uniformly direct coolant from the plenum chamber to the various nozzle assemblies which in turn project coolant to the internal surface of the cooling belt. The coolant drainage passages project vertically through the plenum chamber to the back side of the cooling pad module to direct the coolant away from the internal surface of the casting belt. In various aspects, at least one drainage passage is in fluid communication with the elongated drainage slot. In certain embodiments, the network of supply and return passages are offset from each other in an integrated matrix to optimize flow uniformity and minimize flow restrictions.

The cooling pad assemblies and modules described herein may improve the coolant flow regime during casting. In some cases, the supply chambers in the elongated nozzle assemblies have an increased volume that may improve the uniformity of the coolant flow. In addition, the drainage passages directing coolant away from the cooling belt may be enlarged and streamlined to reduce back pressure and eliminate or reduce the buildup of coolant in the vicinity of the linear nozzle drainage slot. In some embodiments, the elongated nozzle assembly of the first nozzle arrangement has improved modularity and allows for each elongated dispensing slot to be individually set up. It further allows for the individual inserts of the nozzle assemblies to be removed, set up, or re-installed (e.g., during maintenance) as desired. In various embodiments, the cooling pad modules have improved modularity and allows for different nozzle layouts as desired. As a non-limiting example, the cooling pad assembly may have a first arrangement of cooling pad modules with a nozzle layout for a first alloy being cast, and a second arrangement of cooling pad modules with another nozzle layout for a second alloy being cast. In various embodiments, the multi-position nozzles may be provided in arrangements that may allow for improved control of heat transfer across the width of the casting cavity by selectively controlling the nozzles that are in the base position or the non-operating, depressed position (and/or in other positions over a range of heights). For example, in some cases, the nozzles may be set up to reduce heat flux in a local area to control the temperature of the metal product locally across the width of the cast product. Such control may provide a more consistent and homogeneous product profile, particularly where additional heating and/or cooling of a local area is not required to achieve a cross width temperature uniformity. In certain embodiments, the multi-position nozzles of the second nozzle arrangement may allow for the effective cooling cavity length to be shortened from a fixed machine maximum length.

<FIG> illustrate a belt casting system <NUM> with cooling pad assemblies <NUM> according to various embodiments. The belt casting system <NUM> includes an upper endless belt 104A and a lower endless belt 104B. As shown in <FIG>, each endless belt 104A-B includes a casting surface <NUM> and a rear surface <NUM>, and the belts <NUM> are driven such that they rotate in a casting direction <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, a casting cavity <NUM> is defined in a region where the casting surfaces <NUM> are positioned close together and has a casting cavity plane <NUM>. The casting cavity <NUM> generally includes an inlet <NUM>, where molten metal is introduced from a trough <NUM> or other suitable device, and an outlet <NUM>, where the cast metal product exits. The belts 104A-B are respectively driven and supported by various suitable devices such that they rotate away from each other upon exiting outlet <NUM> of the casting cavity <NUM> and approach each other again at the inlet <NUM>. During a casting process, the molten metal may be continuously fed to the casting cavity <NUM>, and as the molten metal moves through the casting cavity <NUM> with the belts 104A-B, it is continuously cooled and solidified from the contact with the casting surfaces <NUM>. A solid, cast product of indefinite length may be continuously withdrawn from the outlet <NUM>. Upon exiting the outlet <NUM>, the metal product may be further processed as desired.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in various cases, a cooling pad assembly <NUM> may be provided for each of the endless belts 104A-B. <FIG> illustrates the cooling pad assembly <NUM> that is configured to cool the lower endless belt 104B during the casting process. As best illustrated in <FIG>, the cooling pad assembly <NUM> includes a support assembly <NUM> with a first nozzle arrangement <NUM> and a second nozzle arrangement <NUM> that is downstream from the first nozzle arrangement <NUM>. In various embodiments, and as will be discussed in greater detail below, the support assembly <NUM> may include one or more cooling pad modules (best illustrated in <FIG>). As best illustrated in <FIG>, and as will be discussed in greater detail below, the first nozzle arrangement <NUM> includes one or more elongated nozzle assemblies <NUM>, and the second nozzle arrangement <NUM> includes one or more multi-position nozzles <NUM>. The cooling pad assembly <NUM> is arranged such that during the casting process, the internal surface <NUM> of the particular endless belt (e.g., the endless belt 104B) passes in close proximity past the first nozzle arrangement <NUM> and the second nozzle arrangement <NUM>. As the endless belt passes over the first nozzle arrangement <NUM> and the second nozzle arrangement <NUM>, the cooling pad assembly <NUM> may dispense coolant from the first nozzle arrangement <NUM> and the second nozzle arrangement <NUM> and against the rear surface <NUM> to cool the endless belt and withdraw heat from the metal in the casting cavity <NUM>.

As best illustrated in <FIG>, the cooling pad assembly <NUM> supports both the first nozzle arrangement <NUM> and the second nozzle arrangement <NUM>. As best illustrated in <FIG>, in various examples, the cooling pad assembly <NUM> includes support assembly <NUM>, and the support assembly <NUM> may include a plurality of cooling pad modules (or segments) such that the longitudinal dimension of the cooling pad assembly <NUM> (i.e., the dimension extending in the casting direction <NUM>) is adjustable as desired, or may be fixed to different lengths. In certain aspects, the cooling pad assembly <NUM> includes at least a front module <NUM> and a back module <NUM>. The front module <NUM> may support elongated nozzle assemblies <NUM> of the first nozzle arrangement <NUM> and optionally supports at least some of the multi-position nozzles <NUM> of the second nozzle arrangement <NUM>. The back module <NUM> may support at least some of the multi-position nozzles <NUM> of the second nozzle arrangement <NUM>. In some examples, the cooling pad assembly <NUM> may include one or more intermediate modules <NUM> between the front module <NUM> and the back module <NUM>. In the example illustrated, the cooling pad assembly <NUM> includes three intermediate modules 132A-C. In other examples, the number of intermediate modules <NUM> may be omitted, or fewer or more intermediate modules may be included. The modules <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may be coupled through various suitable mechanisms as desired. In some cases, one or more modules <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may be in fluid communication with each other, although they need not be in other examples. In certain embodiments, each module <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may have a separate coolant feed such that coolant is individually supplied to each module <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> as desired.

The following description will be made with reference to the front module <NUM>, although the description is equally applicable to the intermediate module 132A-C and the back module <NUM> unless noted otherwise. As shown in <FIG>, the front module <NUM> includes base <NUM> having a plenum chamber <NUM>, a plurality of supply passages <NUM>, and a plurality of drainage passages <NUM>. The plenum chamber <NUM> functions as a distribution manifold to supply coolant to the nozzles of the module <NUM>. In some embodiment, the plenum chamber <NUM> may provide a uniform supply of coolant to all supply passages, although in other embodiments, the plenum chamber <NUM> need not provide a uniform supply of coolant to all passages, and the amount of coolant to any particular nozzle may be varied or adjusted as desired. Optionally, and as best illustrated in <FIG>, the plenum chamber <NUM> includes a side port <NUM> (optionally at both ends of the plenum chamber <NUM>), and a side cap <NUM> is removably attached to selectively enable or prevent access to the plenum chamber <NUM> through the side port(s) <NUM>. In various aspects, these removable side caps <NUM> and the side ports <NUM> may facilitate maintenance of the cooling pad assembly <NUM> by providing easy access to the plenum chamber <NUM>.

The supply passages <NUM> and the drainage passages <NUM> may each extend in a vertical direction. Each supply passage <NUM> is in fluid communication with the plenum chamber <NUM>. As discussed in detail below, each supply passage <NUM> is also in fluid communication with at least one dispensing aperture of the first nozzle arrangement <NUM> or the second nozzle arrangement <NUM> such that the coolant can flow from the plenum chamber <NUM>, through the supply passage(s) <NUM>, and out the dispensing aperture to cool the endless belt. The drainage passages <NUM> may receive and transport coolant after it has been dispensed and withdrawn through a drainage aperture of the nozzle arrangement (e.g., through a drainage slot of the first nozzle arrangement <NUM> or between adjacent multi-position nozzles <NUM> of the second nozzle arrangement <NUM>).

In some examples, each drainage passage <NUM> is laterally and longitudinally offset relative to an adjacent supply passage <NUM>, although they need not be in other examples. In certain aspects, and as best illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, at least the portion of the front section <NUM> that supports the first nozzle arrangement <NUM> has drainage passages <NUM> that are laterally and longitudinally offset from adjacent supply passages <NUM>. In various aspects, at least in the portion of the front section <NUM> that supports the first nozzle arrangement <NUM>, a transverse dimension (e.g., a diameter) of a supply passage <NUM> is less than a transverse dimension of a drainage passage <NUM>. In various examples, and as best illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, at least the portion of the front section <NUM> that supports the first nozzle arrangement <NUM> includes one or more drainage channels <NUM> extending in a longitudinal direction. In various aspects, the drainage channel(s) <NUM> may extend across at least a portion of the width of the first section <NUM>. As best illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, a particular drainage channel <NUM> may intersect two or more drainage passages <NUM> such that at least two drainage passages <NUM> are in fluid communication with each other. In certain aspects, the drainage channel(s) <NUM> may improve the removal of coolant and may allow for the coolant to be removed even if a particular drainage passage <NUM> is blocked or otherwise has an issue.

As best illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the first nozzle arrangement <NUM> includes one or more elongated nozzle assemblies <NUM>. In various aspects, the first nozzle arrangement <NUM> is supported on the first module <NUM> of the cooling pad assembly <NUM> such that the first nozzle arrangement <NUM> is closer to the inlet <NUM> of the casting cavity <NUM> than the second nozzle arrangement <NUM>, and the first nozzle arrangement <NUM> is the first nozzle arrangement to cool the endless belt <NUM> moving through the casting cavity <NUM>.

In the example illustrated, the cooling pad assembly <NUM> includes two elongated nozzle assemblies <NUM> where one elongated nozzle assembly <NUM> is downstream from the other elongated nozzle assembly <NUM>. Any number of elongated nozzle assemblies <NUM> may be utilized, including one nozzle assembly <NUM>, three nozzle assemblies <NUM>, four nozzle assemblies <NUM>, etc..

As best illustrated in <FIG>, each elongated nozzle assembly <NUM> includes a base <NUM>, a first insert <NUM>, and a second insert <NUM>. The base <NUM> defines a receiving area <NUM> and includes a plurality of dispensing apertures <NUM> and a plurality of drainage aperture <NUM>. When the elongated nozzle assembly <NUM> is assembled on the first cooling pad module <NUM> of the cooling pad assembly <NUM> the base <NUM> may be connected to the base <NUM> via various suitable mechanisms or devices as desired. In various embodiments, when the elongated nozzle assembly <NUM> is assembled on the first cooling pad module <NUM>, each dispensing aperture <NUM> is in fluid communication with a corresponding supply passage <NUM>, and each drainage aperture <NUM> is in fluid communication with at least one corresponding drainage passage <NUM>. Similar to the arrangement of drainage passages <NUM> and supply passages <NUM> on the support, on the base <NUM>, each dispensing aperture <NUM> may be laterally and longitudinally offset from an adjacent drainage aperture <NUM>. In various embodiments, and as best illustrated in <FIG>, the drainage apertures <NUM> may be positioned laterally between a first subset of the dispensing apertures <NUM> and a second subset of the dispensing apertures <NUM>, although they need not be in other examples. In certain aspects, a transverse dimension of a dispensing aperture <NUM> is less than a transverse dimension of a drainage aperture <NUM>, although it need not be in other embodiments.

The first insert <NUM> and the second insert <NUM> are each positionable within the receiving area <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the first insert <NUM> and the base <NUM> together define a first elongated dispensing slot <NUM> and a first dispensing chamber <NUM>, and the second insert <NUM> and the base <NUM> together define a second elongated dispensing slot <NUM> and a second dispensing chamber <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the first elongated dispensing slot <NUM> and/or the second elongated dispensing slot <NUM> may extend in a direction that is perpendicular to the process pass line direction; however, in other embodiments, the first elongated dispensing slot <NUM> and/or the second elongated dispensing slot <NUM> need not extend in the direction that is perpendicular to the process pass line direction. As one non-limiting example, the first elongated dispensing slot <NUM> and/or the second elongated dispensing slot <NUM> may extend at an obtuse angle or an acute angle (or any other angle) relative to the pass line direction. As another non-limiting example, the first elongated dispensing slot <NUM> and/or the second elongated dispensing slot <NUM> may be arranged such that the first elongated dispensing slot <NUM> and/or the second elongated dispensing slot <NUM> forms a chevron pattern or other suitable pattern as desired. In this example, the elongated nozzle assembly <NUM> may include the elongated dispensing slots <NUM>, <NUM> angled slightly and not perpendicular to the pass line direction. In another non-limiting example, the first elongated dispensing slot <NUM> and/or the second elongated dispensing slot <NUM> may be arranged as a set of parallel chevron segments made up from shorter linear nozzle segments, as a zig zag, and/or as a staggered style wave pattern in a direction perpendicular to the process pass line direction. Various other configurations of elongated nozzle assemblies may be utilized as desired.

In various examples, the first elongated dispensing slot <NUM> and the first dispensing chamber <NUM> are in fluid communication with the first subset of the dispensing apertures <NUM>, and the second elongated dispensing slot <NUM> and the second dispensing chamber <NUM> are in fluid communication with the second subset of the dispensing apertures <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, for example, the first insert <NUM> and the second insert <NUM> positioned within the receiving area <NUM> together define an elongated drainage slot <NUM> and a drainage chamber <NUM> that are in fluid communication with the drainage apertures <NUM>. In embodiments with more than one elongated nozzle assembly <NUM>, bases <NUM> of adjacent elongated nozzle assemblies <NUM> may also define a elongated drainage slot <NUM> and a drainage chamber <NUM> (see, e.g., <FIG>).

The first insert <NUM> and the second insert <NUM> are independently adjustable or moveable relative to each other. In other words, the first insert <NUM> can move relative to the second insert <NUM> and/or without requiring movement of the second insert <NUM>, and vice versa. In various embodiments, the first insert <NUM> and second insert <NUM> may be independently adjustable relative to each other such that a dimension of the first elongated dispensing slot <NUM> and the first dispensing chamber <NUM> can be independently set or adjusted relative to the second elongated dispensing slot <NUM> and the second dispensing chamber <NUM>. Similarly, the elongated drainage slot <NUM> and the drainage chamber <NUM> may be adjusted or set by adjusting the first insert <NUM>, the second insert <NUM>, or both the first insert <NUM> and the second insert <NUM>. The independent control of the dispensing slots and chambers of the elongated nozzle assembly <NUM> may allow for improved control of the coolant dispensed by the cooling pad <NUM> to provide a desired cooling profile. The independently adjustable first insert <NUM> and second insert <NUM> may also allow for maintenance and/or replacement of one of the inserts without requiring the removal and/or replacement of the other insert.

When the elongated nozzle assembly <NUM> of the first nozzle arrangement <NUM> is assembled on the first module <NUM> of the cooling pad assembly <NUM>, the first elongated dispensing slot <NUM>, the second elongated dispensing slot <NUM>, and the elongated drainage slot <NUM> are elongated in the transverse direction of the casting direction <NUM>, or are elongated across the width of the cooling pad assembly <NUM>. A single elongated nozzle assembly <NUM> may define the slots across the width of the cooling pad assembly <NUM> or a plurality of nozzle assemblies <NUM> may be arranged across the width of the cooling pad assembly <NUM> to form continuous slots. Each slot may extend fully or partially across the width of the particular endless belt <NUM> and face the internal surface <NUM>. In various examples, the first nozzle arrangement <NUM> with the elongated nozzle assembly (or assemblies) <NUM> is positioned immediately adjacent to the inlet <NUM> of the casting cavity <NUM> so that the coolant introduced through the elongated dispensing slots <NUM>, <NUM> is the first coolant to contact the rear surface <NUM> of the endless belt <NUM> as the endless belt <NUM> moves through the casting cavity <NUM> in the casting direction <NUM>. In various examples, the elongated dispensing slots <NUM>, <NUM> may each supply a uniform flow of the coolant to provide substantially uniform cooling to the endless belt <NUM> across the width of the endless belt <NUM>. As previously mentioned, the dimension of the elongated dispensing slots <NUM>, <NUM> may each be individually controlled, and the control of the slots may control the uniformity and amount of cooling that is provided by the coolant. After being dispensed through the elongated dispensing slots <NUM>, <NUM>, the coolant may drain through the elongated drainage slot <NUM>.

As best illustrated in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, the second nozzle arrangement <NUM> includes a plurality of multi-position nozzles <NUM>. In various aspects, the multi-position nozzles <NUM> may be supported on one or more of the first module <NUM>, the intermediate modules 132A-C, and/or the back module <NUM> of the cooling pad assembly <NUM> as desired. As best illustrated in <FIG>, the second nozzle arrangement <NUM> is supported downstream from the first nozzle arrangement <NUM> such that the second nozzle arrangement <NUM> supplies coolant on the endless belt <NUM> after the first nozzle arrangement <NUM>. Compared to the first nozzle arrangement <NUM>, which provides substantially uniform cooling across a width of the cooling pad assembly <NUM> (and thus across the width of the endless belt <NUM> passing across the cooling pad arrangement <NUM>), the second nozzle arrangement <NUM> may be controlled to provide various cooling profiles across the width of the endless belt <NUM>, including both uniform cooling and non-uniform cooling.

Referring to <FIG>, each multi-position nozzle <NUM> includes a cap <NUM> and a stem <NUM>. In various examples, a resilient member <NUM> may be provided on the stem <NUM> that is biased against the cap <NUM> and that locks the cap <NUM> in a particular position relative to the stem <NUM> (discussed below). The cap <NUM> includes a dispensing end <NUM> having a dispensing opening <NUM>. Optionally, a round tapered dish <NUM> may be provided at a center (or other suitable location) of the dispensing end <NUM>. Coolant may flow through the multi-position nozzle <NUM> and out the dispensing orifice <NUM> during the casting process. In various examples, the dispensing end <NUM> includes a plurality of edges <NUM> that form a hexagonal perimeter such that a surface <NUM> of the dispensing end <NUM> has a flat, hexagonal shape. In other embodiments, the dispensing end <NUM> may have various other shapes as desired.

As best illustrated in <FIG>, the stem <NUM> may include a pair of grooved guideways <NUM>. Each grooved guideway <NUM> includes a first end <NUM>, a second end <NUM>, and a vertical groove <NUM>. The cap <NUM> may include a pair of pins <NUM> that are rotationally and axially movable along the grooved guideways <NUM>. In various embodiments, the vertical grooves <NUM> may provide a path for installing and removing the cap <NUM> from the stem <NUM>. In various embodiments, the first end <NUM> and the second end <NUM> may be vertically offset above a bottom of the grooved guideway <NUM> such that the caps <NUM> may be locked with a particular end (e.g., the cap must be depressed to disengage the cap from a particular end). In certain embodiments, on grooved guideway <NUM>, a height of the first end <NUM> may be vertically offset from a height of the second end <NUM>. In certain embodiments, and as discussed in detail below, the pins <NUM> of the cap <NUM> engaged with the first ends <NUM> of the grooved guideways <NUM> may position the cap <NUM> in a base position, and the pins <NUM> of the cap <NUM> engaged with the second ends <NUM> of the grooved guideways <NUM> may position the cap <NUM> in the offset position. In some embodiments, the when the cap <NUM> is rotated such that the pins <NUM> engage the first end <NUM>, the cap <NUM> is spring loaded into the base position. Rotating the cap <NUM> such that the pins <NUM> engage the second end <NUM> may place the cap in the depressed, non-operating position. In certain embodiments, the cap <NUM> may be actuated over a range of heights that may include two or more positions. In such embodiments, the range of heights may be between the two positions shown in the figures, may be a range of heights that is broader than those illustrated, and/or may at least partially overlap the heights illustrated.

In some embodiments, the cap <NUM> may include a position indicator <NUM>. Any number of position indicators <NUM> may be utilized, and in the embodiment illustrated, the cap <NUM> has two position indicators <NUM>. The position indicator <NUM> may be various suitable visual indicators including, but not limited to, a particular color, pattern, edge profile, edge shape, or other suitable indicator as desired. In the embodiment illustrated, the position indicators <NUM> include corners at the intersection of two adjacent edges <NUM> that are clipped or rounded. In certain embodiments, the position indicators <NUM> are aligned with the pins <NUM> such that a position or orientation of the position indicators <NUM> indicates the orientation of the pins <NUM>. As discussed in detail below, the position indicator <NUM> may give a visual indication of a position of the cap <NUM> when assembled on the stem <NUM>. As a non-limiting example, and as discussed in detail below, the position indicator <NUM> may give a visual indication of the working position of the cap <NUM> on the stem <NUM> based on its orientation or arrangement of the position indicator <NUM> relative to the casting direction <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, for example, the cap <NUM> is rotatably and axially movable along a stem <NUM> such that a multi-position nozzle <NUM> may be in a base position (represented by multi-position nozzle 128B in <FIG>) or an offset position (represented by multi-position nozzle 128A in <FIG>). In various examples, in the offset position, the cap <NUM> is depressed, and the dispensing end <NUM> is offset by a distance <NUM> from a plane <NUM> defined by the dispensing end <NUM> in the base position and in a direction away from the cavity plane <NUM> (and as such away from the endless belt <NUM>). In certain embodiments, the distance <NUM> is from about <NUM> to about <NUM>. In one non-limiting example, the distance <NUM> is <NUM>.

In various embodiments, the cap <NUM> may be assembled with the stem <NUM> by engaging the pins <NUM> with the vertical grooves <NUM> of the grooved guideways <NUM>. Once the cap <NUM> is fully depressed to the bottom of this pair of vertical grooves <NUM>, the cap <NUM> it can be rotated in either direction such that the pins <NUM> engage the first ends <NUM> or the second ends <NUM> of the grooved guideways <NUM> such that the cap <NUM> is one of two positions. When the cap <NUM> is engaged with the first ends <NUM>, the cap <NUM> may be in the base position. In some cases, in this orientation, the position indicators <NUM> (which are aligned with the pins <NUM>) may be oriented in the pass line direction, which indicates that the surface <NUM> of the cap <NUM> is co-planar with the nozzle plane as defined by the linear nozzle surface. When the cap <NUM> is rotated in the opposite direction such that the pins <NUM> engage the second ends <NUM>, the cap <NUM> may be in the offset position. In this orientation, the position indicator <NUM> may be offset and/or otherwise not aligned with the pass line direction, which indicates that the cap <NUM> is in the depressed, non-operating position and is farther away from the internal surface of the endless casting belt <NUM>. This may provide a quick visual check on the status of the orientation and setup of a particular nozzle <NUM>.

In certain embodiments, a multi-position nozzle <NUM> is movable from the base position to the offset position by depressing the cap <NUM> to unlock the cap <NUM> such that the pins <NUM> are no longer engaged with the first ends <NUM>, and rotating the cap <NUM> by a predetermined angle and in a predetermined direction relative to the stem <NUM>. In various examples, rotating the cap <NUM> also includes axially moving the cap <NUM> along the stem <NUM>. In various examples, the predetermined angle is from greater than <NUM>° to <NUM>°. In one non-limiting example, the predetermined angle is <NUM>°. As one non-limiting example, to move the multi-position nozzle <NUM> from the base position to the offset position, the cap <NUM> may be rotated <NUM>° and in a clockwise direction relative to the stem <NUM>, and to move the multi-position nozzle <NUM> from the offset position to the base position, the cap <NUM> may be rotated <NUM>° and in a counter-clockwise direction relative to the stem.

Depending on the position of the multi-position nozzle <NUM>, the multi-position nozzle <NUM> may cause the endless belt <NUM> to have different levels of contact with the metal in the casting cavity <NUM> and thus different levels of heat transfer between the metal and the endless belt <NUM>. For example, the multi-position nozzle <NUM> in the base position (or the position closest to the cavity plane <NUM> and closest to the endless belt <NUM>) may provide the most contact between the endless belt <NUM> and the metal (and thus the most heat transfer). Conversely, the multi-position nozzle <NUM> in the offset position (or the position farthest from the cavity plane <NUM> and farthest from the endless belt <NUM>) may allow for the belt <NUM> to lose intimate contact with the metal (i.e., the belt <NUM> may be drawn away from the metal) and the heat transfer rate is diminished in the region with this nozzle.

In an arrangement of the multi-position nozzles <NUM>, such as across the width of the cooling pad assembly <NUM>, individual multi-position nozzles <NUM> may be selectively positioned in the base position and/or the offset position to provide a desired cooling profile. <FIG> illustrate non-limiting examples of arrangements of three multi-position nozzles 128D-F providing different cooling profiles. The arrangements <NUM> and <NUM>, are provided for illustrative purposes only, and various other arrangements of multi-position nozzles <NUM> may be utilized in the second nozzle arrangement <NUM>.

In the arrangement <NUM> of <FIG>, each of the nozzles 128D-F is in the same position (e.g., the base position) to provide uniform cooling across the arrangement <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the position indicators <NUM> may provide a visual indication that all of the nozzles 128D-F are in the same position because all of the position indicators <NUM> have the same orientation relative to the casting direction <NUM>. In the example of <FIG>, the position indicators <NUM> are all aligned to be substantially parallel to the casting direction <NUM>.

In the arrangement <NUM> of <FIG>, two of the nozzles (e.g., nozzles 128D and 128F) are in the same position (e.g., the base position) while one of the nozzles (e.g., nozzle 128E) is at a different position (e.g., the offset position) such that the arrangement <NUM> provides non-uniform cooling. In this example, the region corresponding to the nozzle 128E may provide reduced heat transfer relative to the other regions. As illustrated in <FIG>, the position indicators <NUM> provide a visual indication that the nozzle 128E is in a different position than that of the nozzles 128D and 128F because the position indicators <NUM> of the nozzle 128E are offset by <NUM>° and in a clockwise direction relative to the casting direction <NUM>.

A collection of exemplary embodiments are provided below, including at least some explicitly enumerated as "Illustrations" providing additional description of a variety of example embodiments in accordance with the concepts described herein. These illustrations are not meant to be mutually exclusive, exhaustive, or restrictive; and the disclosure not limited to these example illustrations but rather encompasses all possible modifications and variations within the scope of the issued claims and their equivalents.

Illustration <NUM>. A cooling pad assembly for a belt casting system, the cooling pad assembly comprising: an elongated nozzle assembly comprising: a base defining a receiving area; a first insert positionable within the receiving area, wherein the first insert and the base together define a first elongated dispensing slot; and a second insert positionable within the receiving area, wherein the second insert and the base together define a second elongated dispensing slot that is offset from the first elongated dispensing slot in a longitudinal direction, wherein the cooling pad is configured to dispense a coolant through each of the first elongated dispensing slot and the second elongated dispensing slot, and wherein the first insert is independently adjustable relative to the second insert within the receiving area.

Illustration <NUM>. The cooling pad assembly of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein the first insert and the second insert together define an elongated drainage slot between the first elongated dispensing slot and the second elongated dispensing slot in the longitudinal direction.

Illustration 2a. The cooling pad assembly of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein the first elongated dispensing slot is perpendicular to a process path line direction.

Illustration <NUM>. The cooling pad assembly of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein: the base defines a first plurality of dispensing apertures, a second plurality of dispensing aperture, and a plurality of drainage apertures; the plurality of drainage apertures are provided between the first plurality of dispensing apertures and the second plurality of dispensing apertures; and each drainage aperture of the plurality of drainage apertures is longitudinally offset from a corresponding dispensing aperture of the first plurality of dispensing apertures and from a corresponding dispensing aperture of the second plurality of dispensing apertures.

Illustration <NUM>. The cooling pad assembly of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein the first plurality of dispensing apertures are longitudinally aligned with the second plurality of dispensing apertures.

Illustration <NUM>. The cooling pad assembly of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein: the first insert and the second insert together define an elongated drainage slot between the first elongated dispensing slot and the second elongated dispensing slot in the lateral direction; the first insert comprises a plurality of first insert apertures that are in fluid communication with the first plurality of dispensing apertures; the second insert comprises a plurality of second insert apertures that are in fluid communication with the second plurality of dispensing apertures; and the elongated drainage slot is in fluid communication with the plurality of drainage apertures.

Illustration <NUM>. The cooling pad assembly v, further comprising a support assembly, wherein the elongated nozzle assembly is supported on the support assembly.

Illustration <NUM>. The cooling pad assembly of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein the elongated nozzle assembly is a first elongated nozzle assembly, and wherein the cooling pad further comprises a second elongated nozzle assembly supported on the support assembly downstream from the first elongated nozzle assembly.

Illustration <NUM>. The cooling pad assembly of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, further comprising a plurality of multi-position nozzles supported on the support assembly downstream from the elongated nozzle assembly, wherein each multi-position nozzle of the plurality of multi-position nozzles is movable between a base position and an offset position.

Illustration <NUM>. The cooling pad assembly of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein the first insert and the second insert together define an elongated drainage slot between the first elongated dispensing slot and the second elongated dispensing slot in the longitudinal direction, and wherein the support assembly comprises: a chamber configured to store a supply of the coolant; a plurality of supply passages in fluid communication with the chamber and extending in a vertical direction, wherein at least one supply passage of the plurality of supply passages is in fluid communication with the first elongated dispensing slot, and wherein at least one other supply passage of the plurality of supply passages is in fluid communication with the second elongated dispensing slot; and a plurality of drainage passages in fluid communication with the elongated drainage slot and extending in the vertical direction, wherein each drainage passage of the plurality of drainage passages is longitudinally and laterally offset from an adjacent supply passage of the plurality of supply passages.

Illustration <NUM>. The cooling pad assembly of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein the support further comprises a drainage channel extending in a horizontal direction and intersecting at least two drainage passages of the plurality of drainage passages such that the drainage channel and at least two drainage passages are in fluid communication.

Illustration <NUM>. A method of assembling the cooling pad assembly of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, the method comprising:
positioning the first insert within the receiving area and securing the first insert relative to the base such that the first elongated dispensing slot has a desired dimension; and positioning the second insert within the receiving area and securing the second insert relative to the base such that the second elongated dispensing slot has a desired dimension.

Illustration <NUM>. The method of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein positioning the second insert comprises positioning the second insert within the receiving area relative to the first insert such that an elongated drainage slot defined by the first insert and the second insert has a desired dimension.

Illustration <NUM>. A cooling pad assembly for a belt casting system, the cooling pad assembly comprising: a nozzle arrangement comprising a plurality of multi-position nozzles configured to dispense a coolant, wherein each multi-position nozzle comprises a stem and a cap that is rotatably and longitudinally movable along the stem between a base position and an offset position, wherein the cap comprises a dispensing end, and wherein: in the base position, the dispensing end is arranged in a cooling pad nozzle plane relative to a central plane of a casting cavity of the belt casting system; and in the offset position, the dispensing end is offset by a distance from the cooling pad nozzle plane and away from the central plane.

Illustration <NUM>. The cooling pad assembly of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein the distance is from <NUM> to <NUM>.

Illustration <NUM>. The cooling pad assembly of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein the distance is <NUM>.

Illustration <NUM>. The cooling pad assembly of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein the nozzle arrangement is a first nozzle arrangement, wherein the cooling pad further comprises a second nozzle arrangement upstream from the first nozzle arrangement and comprising an elongated nozzle assembly, the elongated nozzle assembly comprising: a base defining a receiving area; a first insert positionable within the receiving area, wherein the first insert and the base together define a first elongated dispensing slot; and a second insert positionable within the receiving area, wherein the second insert and the base together define a second elongated dispensing slot that is offset from the first elongated dispensing slot in a longitudinal direction, wherein the cooling pad is configured to dispense a coolant through each of the first elongated dispensing slot and the second elongated dispensing slot, and wherein the first insert is independently adjustable relative to the second insert within the receiving area.

Illustration <NUM>. The cooling pad assembly of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein the dispensing end of each multi-position nozzle comprises a plurality of edges forming a hexagonal perimeter and such that the dispensing end comprises a hexagonal face, and wherein an intersection of two edges of the plurality of edges comprises a position indicator.

Illustration <NUM>. The cooling pad assembly of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein across a width of the cooling pad that is transverse to a casting direction, at least one multi-position nozzle is in the base position and at least one multi-position nozzle is in the offset position.

Illustration <NUM>. A method of continuously casting a metal product with the cooling pad assembly of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, the method comprising: continuously introducing molten metal into an inlet of a casting cavity defined between spaced apart confronting casting surfaces advancing in a casting direction, wherein each casting surface is a first surface of an endless belt; continuously discharging the metal product from the casting cavity through an outlet of the casting cavity; and controlling the cooling pad such that at least one casting surface comprises a non-uniform heat transfer profile across a width of the at least one casting surface.

Illustration <NUM>. The method of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein controlling the cooling pad assembly comprises positioning at least one multi-position nozzle of the plurality of multi-position nozzles in the base position and at least one multi-position nozzle of the plurality of multi-position nozzles in the offset position relative to a surface of the endless belt opposite from the casting surface.

Illustration <NUM>. The method of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein controlling the cooling pad assembly comprises changing at least one multi-position nozzle of the plurality of multi-position nozzles from the base position to the offset position, and wherein changing the at least one multi-position nozzle comprises rotating the cap relative to the stem by a predetermined angle and vertically moving the cap along the stem.

Illustration <NUM>. The method of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein the predetermined angle is from greater than <NUM>° to <NUM>°.

Illustration <NUM>. The method of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein the predetermined angle is <NUM>°.

Illustration <NUM>. A cooling pad assembly for a belt casting system, the cooling pad assembly comprising: a support assembly comprising: a chamber configured to store a supply of a coolant; a plurality of supply passages in fluid communication with the chamber and extending in a vertical direction; and a plurality of drainage passages extending in the vertical direction, wherein each drainage passage of the plurality of drainage passages is longitudinally and laterally offset from an adjacent supply passage of the plurality of supply passages; and a nozzle arrangement supported on the support assembly and comprising at least one dispensing aperture and at least one drainage aperture, wherein the at least one dispensing aperture is in fluid communication with at least one supply passage of the plurality of supply passages, and wherein the at least one drainage aperture is in fluid communication with at least one drainage passage of the plurality of drainage passages.

Illustration <NUM>. The cooling pad assembly of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein the support assembly further comprises a drainage channel extending in a lateral direction and intersecting at least two drainage passages of the plurality of drainage passages such that the drainage channel and at least two drainage passages are in fluid communication and such that the at least one drainage aperture is in fluid communication with at least two drainage passages.

Illustration <NUM>. The cooling pad assembly of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein the nozzle arrangement is a first nozzle arrangement, and wherein the cooling pad further comprises a second nozzle arrangement downstream from the first nozzle arrangement, the second nozzle arrangement comprising a plurality of multi-position nozzles supported on the support assembly downstream from the first nozzle arrangement, wherein each multi-position nozzle of the plurality of multi-position nozzles is movable between a base position and an offset position.

Illustration <NUM>. The cooling pad assembly of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein the at least one dispensing aperture is a first elongated dispensing slot, wherein the at least one drainage aperture is an elongated drainage slot, wherein the nozzle arrangement further comprises an elongated nozzle assembly, the elongated nozzle assembly comprising: a base defining a receiving area; a first insert positionable within the receiving area, wherein the first insert and the base together define the first elongated dispensing slot; and a second insert positionable within the receiving area, wherein the second insert and the base together define a second elongated dispensing slot that is offset from the first elongated dispensing slot in a longitudinal direction, wherein the first insert and the second insert together define an elongated drainage slot between the first elongated dispensing slot and the second elongated dispensing slot in the longitudinal direction, wherein the cooling pad is configured to dispense a coolant through each of the first elongated dispensing slot and the second elongated dispensing slot, and wherein the first insert is independently adjustable relative to the second insert within the receiving area.

Illustration <NUM>. The cooling pad assembly of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein the support assembly further comprises a side port providing access to the chamber and a side cap configured to selectively seal the side port.

Illustration <NUM>. The cooling pad assembly of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein the support assembly is a first module, and wherein the support comprises a plurality of modules such that a length of the cooling pad assembly is adjustable.

Illustration <NUM>. The cooling pad assembly of any preceding or subsequent illustrations or combination of illustrations, wherein each module comprises a chamber, a plurality of supply passages, and a plurality of drainage passages.

Claim 1:
A cooling pad assembly (<NUM>) for a belt casting system (<NUM>), the cooling pad assembly (<NUM>) comprising:
an elongated nozzle assembly (<NUM>) comprising:
a base (<NUM>) defining a receiving area (<NUM>);
a first insert (<NUM>) positionable within the receiving area (<NUM>), wherein the first insert (<NUM>) and the base (<NUM>) together define a first elongated dispensing slot (<NUM>); and
a second insert (<NUM>) positionable within the receiving area (<NUM>), wherein the second insert (<NUM>) and the base (<NUM>) together define a second elongated dispensing slot (<NUM>) that is offset from the first elongated dispensing slot (<NUM>) in a longitudinal direction,
wherein the cooling pad assembly (<NUM>) is configured to dispense a coolant through each of the first elongated dispensing slot (<NUM>) and the second elongated dispensing slot (<NUM>), and
wherein the first insert (<NUM>) is independently adjustable relative to the second insert (<NUM>) within the receiving area (<NUM>).