A method for casting longitudinal cast products including casting longitudinal cast products in a semi-continuous manner using a DC casting apparatus having a mold, wherein the mold has top and bottom openings and partially solidifies molten metal that enters into the mold via the top opening and outputs the cast product via the bottom opening, recording a thermal image of the cast product output via the bottom opening, determining at least three non-overlapping temperature ranges comprising a first, second and third, determining a peak temperature in the thermal image; comparing the peak temperature with the at least three temperature ranges; and performing operations depending on where the peak temperature falls within the at least three temperature ranges.

The present invention relates to a method, system, and apparatus for improving the efficiency of a continuous casting operation. A continuous casting mold component described herein includes: a mold wall substrate defining a groove proximate a bottom of the mold wall substrate; a graphite liner having a bottom edge defining a first angled surface and a top edge defining a second angled surface, where the bottom edge is received into the groove of the mold wall substrate; and a clamping element defining an angled clamping surface attached to the mold wall substrate with at least one fastener, where the bottom angled surface of the graphite liner is driven into the groove defined in the substrate in response to the angled clamping surface of the clamping element engaging the second angled surface of the graphite liner and the fastener pressing the clamping element toward the mold wall substrate.

The present invention relates to a method, system, and apparatus for improving the efficiency of a continuous casting operation. A continuous casting mold component described herein includes: a mold wall substrate defining a groove proximate a bottom of the mold wall substrate; a graphite liner having a bottom edge defining a first angled surface and a top edge defining a second angled surface, where the bottom edge is received into the groove of the mold wall substrate; and a clamping element defining an angled clamping surface attached to the mold wall substrate with at least one fastener, where the bottom angled surface of the graphite liner is driven into the groove defined in the substrate in response to the angled clamping surface of the clamping element engaging the second angled surface of the graphite liner and the fastener pressing the clamping element toward the mold wall substrate.

The invention provides a casting equipment (1) for casting melt (15) into a cast product (80) comprising a supply reservoir (10) for supplying the melt (15), a distribution reservoir (20), a casting apparatus (25) having a melt inlet connected to the distribution reservoir (20) for producing the cast product (80), a supply conduit (30) fluidly connecting the supply reservoir (10) and the distribution reservoir (20), an electromagnetic pump (35) provided on the supply conduit (30) and operable to generate a force in the melt (15) in the supply conduit (30), a level sensor (40) for measuring a level of the melt (15) in the distribution reservoir (20) and/or in the supply reservoir (10), a controller operably connected to the pump (35) and the level sensor (40), wherein the supply conduit (30) is sealed or sealable from a pressure of the atmosphere, wherein the controller is configured to control an operation of the pump (35) based on a level signal from the level sensor (40), and wherein, at least during a steady-state casting operation, the casting equipment is configured such that the supply conduit (30) defines a flow path that has a point that is higher than a surface of the melt in the supply reservoir (10) and/or the distribution reservoir (20), and the pump (35) is operated such that the metal level in the distribution reservoir (20) is at a predefined level such as to control a pressure of the melt (15) in the melt inlet of the casting apparatus (25).

A method and apparatus used to achieve alignment during mold assembly and accommodate thermal expansion comprising employing a compressible region and a modified interface dimension.

A method for casting longitudinal cast products including casting longitudinal cast products in a semi-continuous manner using a DC casting apparatus having a mold, wherein the mold has top and bottom openings and partially solidifies molten metal that enters into the mold via the top opening and outputs the cast product via the bottom opening, recording a thermal image of the cast product output via the bottom opening, determining at least three non-overlapping temperature ranges comprising a first, second and third, determining a peak temperature in the thermal image; comparing the peak temperature with the at least three temperature ranges; and performing operations depending on where the peak temperature falls within the at least three temperature ranges.

The invention provides a casting equipment (1) for casting melt (15) into a cast product (80) comprising a supply reservoir (10) for supplying the melt (15), a distribution reservoir (20), a casting apparatus (25) having a melt inlet connected to the distribution reservoir (20) for producing the cast product (80), a supply conduit (30) fluidly connecting the supply reservoir (10) and the distribution reservoir (20), an electromagnetic pump (35) provided on the supply conduit (30) and operable to generate a force in the melt (15) in the supply conduit (30), a level sensor (40) for measuring a level of the melt (15) in the distribution reservoir (20) and/or in the supply reservoir (10), a controller operably connected to the pump (35) and the level sensor (40), wherein the supply conduit (30) is sealed or sealable from a pressure of the atmosphere, wherein the controller is configured to control an operation of the pump (35) based on a level signal from the level sensor (40), and wherein, at least during a steady-state casting operation, the casting equipment is configured such that the supply conduit (30) defines a flow path that has a point that is higher than a surface of the melt in the supply reservoir (10) and/or the distribution reservoir (20), and the pump (35) is operated such that the metal level in the distribution reservoir (20) is at a predefined level such as to control a pressure of the melt (15) in the melt inlet of the casting apparatus (25).

The invention relates to a method for producing foundry ingots (1) from metal, in particular from steel, having a cross-sectional area of more than 0.1 m.sup.2, wherein liquid metal (2) is discharged into an ingot mold (15) open at the bottom either directly form a casting ladle (11) or via a tundish (12), and wherein, by a drawing piston (28), which is vertically movable in the direction of a longitudinal axis (5) of the foundry ingot (1) and on which the foundry ingot (1) is at least indirectly arranged, the at least partially solidified foundry ingot (1) is drawn from the ingot mold (15) in the direction of the longitudinal axis (5).

A transition plate for use in a direct chill (DC) casting system comprises a substantially annular body having an upper face and a lower face. At least a lower part of the body adjacent the lower face is made of a gas permeable refractory material, whereby gas can pass through the gas permeable refractory material and escape from the transition plate through at least the lower face.

The invention relates to a method for producing foundry ingots (1) from metal, in particular from steel, having a cross-sectional area of more than 0.1 m.sup.2, wherein liquid metal (2) is discharged into an ingot mold (15) open at the bottom either directly form a casting ladle (11) or via a tundish (12), and wherein, by a drawing piston (28), which is vertically movable in the direction of a longitudinal axis (5) of the foundry ingot (1) and on which the foundry ingot (1) is at least indirectly arranged, the at least partially solidified foundry ingot (1) is drawn from the ingot mold (15) in the direction of the longitudinal axis (5).