Patent ID: 7503375

Claim:
In a continuous twin roll caster system, a side dam assembly comprising: an upper side dam portion of refractory material having a first portion capable of contacting molten metal and a second portion opposite the first portion having fastening portions capable of attaching said upper side dam portion to a side dam holder to hold the upper side dam portion in place during casting; a side dam holder having attachment portions capable of receiving and supporting said upper side dam portion at said fastening portions, without circumferentially exposed portions of said side dam holder extending substantially beyond said second portion of the upper side dam portion toward the first portion capable of contacting molten metal; a lower side dam portion being positioned below said upper side dam portion during casting such that a bottom surface of said upper side dam portion is adjacent a top surface of said lower side darn portion and is capable of moving relative to said top surface of said lower side dam portion, and where a stock for wear of said lower side dam portion is thicker than a stock for wear of said upper side dam portion; and force devices capable of independently urging said upper side dam portion and said lower side dam portion toward caster rolls of the continuous twin roll caster system during casting.