Apparatus to replace a guide unit in a continuous casting machine. A platform is positioned, during use, at the side of a casting line, and is provided with at least a first positioning zone of at least a first guide unit and at least a second positioning zone of at least a second guide unit. The platform is associated with a rotation device to take, on each occasion, the first positioning zone or the second positioning zone facing the side of the casting line. A movement device moves the second guide unit from a positioning zone outside the platform and, during use, in line with the casting line, to the second positioning zone of the platform and to move the first guide unit from the first positioning zone of the platform to the positioning zone outside the platform and, during use, in line with the casting line.

In the continuous steel casting method of the present invention, a gap between strand support rolls with a strand in a rectangular shape interposed therebetween is increased toward a downstream side in a casting direction to thereby bulge the strand having an unsolidified layer thereinside such that the thickness between long-side surfaces of the strand increases within the range of 0.1% or more and 10% or less of the thickness of the strand inside a mold. A portion of the strand in which the solid phase fraction in a central portion of the strand is within the range of 0.2 or more and less than 0.9 satisfies a prescribed total rolling reduction and a prescribed reduction gradient, and a portion of the strand in which the solid phase fraction is within the range of 0.9 or more satisfies a prescribed total rolling reduction and a prescribed reduction gradient.

A method for operating a casting/rolling system and to a corresponding system for casting and rolling an endless strand material. The casting/rolling system comprises a strand casting machine and a rolling train arranged downstream of the strand casting machine. The method has the following step: controlling the drive for the rollers of the first roller frame of the rolling train by means of a drive control in response to a target value specification of the pass sequence model. Furthermore, the drive of the at least one strand guiding roller is controlled by a strand guiding roller drive control in response to a target value specification of the strand casting machine drive model.

Method for the continuous casting of a product (P) along a curved casting line (18), provided with a crystallizer (11) having a tubular cavity (12) with a polygonal cross section defined by a determinate number of sides (n). The product (P) exiting from the crystallizer (11) is curved along the casting line (18) by support and curving rollers (19) and without the aid of lateral containing sectors of the cross section of the product (P).

A soft reduction device (1) of a round-section metal product, having liquid or partially liquid core, for reducing the thickness of said metal product coming from a continuous casting machine, the device comprising at least two soft reduction units (2, 3); in which said at least two soft reduction units (2, 3) are arranged in series; in which each soft reduction unit (2, 3) is provided with a group of only three rolls arranged at 120 from one another; and wherein the group of three rolls (7, 8, 9) of one soft reduction unit is offset by a predetermined angle with respect to the group of three rolls (10, 11, 12) of an adjacent soft reduction unit.

A continuous casting line, which has a mold for the output of a strand and a strand guide connected to the mold having a plurality of rollers arranged in pairs for transporting the strand in a conveying direction. One or more of the rollers can be engaged so that a thickness reduction of the strand occurs in the strand guide.

Provided is a roller assembly which includes: a supporter configured to rotatably support a roller disposed in a movement path of a to-be-treated material; a fixed shaft attached to a rear surface of the supporter and having at least a stretchable portion; a body attached to the rear surface side of the supporter so as to surround the fixed shaft; and a plunger attached so as to connect the body and the fixed shaft and formed so that at least a portion thereof advances and retreats with respect to the movement path, a casting device provided with the roller assembly, and a roller separating method, wherein the roller assembly is capable of separating the roller from the movement path during emergency.

Apparatus to replace a guide unit in a continuous casting machine. A platform is positioned, during use, at the side of a casting line, and is provided with at least a first positioning zone of at least a first guide unit and at least a second positioning zone of at least a second guide unit. The platform is associated with a rotation device to take, on each occasion, the first positioning zone or the second positioning zone facing the side of the casting line. A movement device moves the second guide unit from a positioning zone outside the platform and, during use, in line with the casting line, to the second positioning zone of the platform and to move the first guide unit from the first positioning zone of the platform to the positioning zone outside the platform and, during use, in line with the casting line.

An apparatus for the continuous casting of thin slabs, having a strand guide, which is arranged downstream of a permanent mold in the casting direction and which guides the strand output from the permanent mold along a first direction, having an adjoining bending/straightening region, which a mechanism for driving and bending the strand in a second direction, which differs from the first direction, having a cutting device, which cuts the strand into thin slabs, and having a first furnace, which is provided for temperature compensation in the strand, wherein the first furnace extends in an arched manner at least partially over the bending/straightening region and in part along the second direction.

Method for the continuous casting of a product (P) along a curved casting line (18), provided with a crystallizer (11) having a tubular cavity (12) with a polygonal cross section defined by a determinate number of sides (n). The product (P) exiting from the crystallizer (11) is curved along the casting line (18) by support and curving rollers (19) and without the aid of lateral containing sectors of the cross section of the product (P).