Patent ID: 7100673

Claim:
A support device on a assembly ( 14 ) of a first and a second cooled casting rolls ( 11 , 11 ′) with a pair of plates ( 30 , 30 ′) abutted on each end of said pair of rolls ( 11 , 11 ′), working as a mould ( 10 ) for continuous metal strip casting, said first and second rolls ( 11 , 11 ′) having parallel axes (X,X′) and each of them being supported by at least one movable support element ( 17 , 17 ′, 19 , 19 ′) near to the axial ends, said movable support elements ( 17 , 17 ′, 19 , 19 ′) being suitable for allowing a mutual movement of approaching and distancing of said rolls ( 11 , 11 ′) of said pair, each movable support element ( 17 , 19 ) associated with the first roll ( 11 ) being connected to said assembly by means of its respective hydraulic actuator ( 18 , 18 ′) suitable for thrusting said first roll ( 11 ) in the direction of said second roll ( 11 ′) and suitable for thrusting each support element ( 17 , 17 ′) against an abutting end element ( 16 ), each movable support element ( 17 ′, 19 ′) associated with the second roll ( 11 ′) being connected to said assembly by a magnetostrictive actuator and a load cell suitable for making said second roll ( 11 ′) perform movements of mutual approaching and distancing from said first roll ( 11 ), wherein a bar of the magnetostrictive actuator is provided with a preloading system and between each movable support element ( 17 , 17 ′, 19 , 19 ′) and said assembly ( 14 ) there is provided at least one respective hydraulic bearing ( 13 , 13 ′) suitable for allowing sliding movement of each of said movable support elements ( 17 , 17 ′, 19 , 19 ′) with respect to said assembly ( 14 ).