GB1499809A - Method of and apparatus for continuously forming metal ro - Google Patents

Abstract

1499809 Making metal rod; continuous casting BICC Ltd 24 Jan 1975 [24 Jan 1974] 03415/74 Headings B3A and B3F Rod of metal, such as Cu or Ca alloy or Al or Al alloy, is continuously cast by cooling a stream of metal S (as by water jets in a chamber 5) whose cross-section (and also its speed) has been determined by forces in the metal set up by an alternating electromagnetic field established about the stream S; the resulting long casting passes between rollers 6 to be formed into rod for drawing down into wire and a relationship is maintained between the roll rotation speed and the speed of the stream. The generator 4 supplying an induction coil 3, around an outlet spout 2 from an alumina vessel 1 and inducing the magnetic field, may be coupled by a circuit 8 with a motor 7 driving the reducing rolls 6 so that adjustment of the field strength automatically adjusts the roll speed or vice-versa. The level in the vessel 1 may be kept constant by molten metal feed. The magnetic field compresses the stream S so that there is little or no contact with the wall of the spout 2 and the flow rate is controlled and may be kept constant. The field, or a separate field possibly also coupled to the roll motor, may brake the flow. The long casting may be reheated as it passes to the reducing rolls 6 from which it may pass to second reducing rolls 9 whose speed relationship to the first rolls 6 is maintained. The rod resulting is wound by a coiler 10.