GB1381166A - Direct chill continuous casting of ingots - Google Patents

Abstract

1381166 Continuous casting ALCAN RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT Ltd 25 Jan 1972 [27 Jan 1971] 3534/72 Heading B3F A continuous casting 12 (e.g. of Al), emerging from a horizontal or vertical mould 10, is cooled at a relatively low rate in a zone 28, extending from the mould to a position no more than a quarter of the casting width from the end of the molten core 26, by coolant applied to the surface (possibly at different vertical positions), whilst in a second zone 30 extending from that position, further coolant is applied at a higher rate to cause rapid cooling in the region surrounding the end of the core. In the first zone, coolant (water) may be applied from a jacket 15 around the mould. It may mix with air from a manifold 58, Fig. 2, to discharge as a mist of droplets. In either case, part of the water turns to steam on the casting and delays cooling. The cooling intensity is controlled by adjusting the air supply to the manifold 58 in the second embodiment. In another embodiment, the casting is lowered through water in a pit and in the second zone a water ring (like the ring 32 in Fig. 1) causes water to contact the casting surface, while steam forms a barrier around the casting in the first zone. A stream of water is delivered intermittently to the casting surface in the first zone in another arrangement, Fig. 3 (not shown). A timing device supplies air or water, at intervals, to holes (84) in a surface (75) over which cooling water flows and diverts the latter to a surface (81) which guides it against the surface of the casting emerging from the mould (64).