A crystallizer for continuous casting including a tubular body formed of a first and a second tubular element both monolithic each made in one single piece in a metal alloy and mounted coaxial, the first inside the second with radial play, one of the first and second tubular element being provided with one or more grooves opened towards the other tubular element; the first and second tubular element are mechanically coupled together, by plastic deformation by means of drawing between a die and a mandrel appropriately shaped, in such a manner to eliminate the radial play, so that the tubular body is monolithic and the grooves are radially closed, forming conduits in the tubular body configured to serve as cooling conduits and/or housing reinforcement bars.

A crystallizer for continuous casting including a tubular body formed of a first and a second tubular element both monolithic each made in one single piece in a metal alloy and mounted coaxial, the first inside the second with radial play, one of the first and second tubular element being provided with one or more grooves opened towards the other tubular element; the first and second tubular element are mechanically coupled together, by plastic deformation by means of drawing between a die and a mandrel appropriately shaped, in such a manner to eliminate the radial play, so that the tubular body is monolithic and the grooves are radially closed, forming conduits in the tubular body configured to serve as cooling conduits and/or housing reinforcement bars.

A crystallizer for continuous casting including a tubular body formed of a first and a second tubular element both monolithic each made in one single piece in a metal alloy and mounted coaxial, the first inside the second with radial play, one of the first and second tubular element being provided with one or more grooves opened towards the other tubular element; the first and second tubular element are mechanically coupled together, by plastic deformation by means of drawing between a die and a mandrel appropriately shaped, in such a manner to eliminate the radial play, so that the tubular body is monolithic and the grooves are radially closed, forming conduits in the tubular body configured to serve as cooling conduits and/or housing reinforcement bars.

A continuous casting and rolling apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention provides: a continuous caster for generating a steel sheet; a first rolling unit associated with the continuous caster; and a second rolling unit which is spaced apart in the outlet of the first rolling unit and comprises: a rolling mill for pressing down the steel sheet; and a cutter for cutting a portion of the steel sheet, wherein the cutter is spaced from the second rolling unit by a length corresponding to the length of the steel sheet discharged in an at least discontinuous rolling mode, and may comprise a cut withdrawal unit provided between the first rolling unit and the second rolling unit. In addition, a continuous casting and rolling method according to another embodiment of the present invention is a continuous casting and rolling method in which a continuous rolling mode and a discontinuous rolling mode are switched to and from each other, and may comprise: a continuous casting step for generating a steel sheet; a rolling step for pressing down the steel sheet to a rolling mill after the continuous casting step; and a cutting step for cutting the steel sheet between the continuous casting step and the rolling step in a discontinuous rolling mode, and cutting the steel sheet with a cutter provided by being spaced apart from the rolling mill at an interval corresponding to the length of the steel sheet being cut and discharged in an at least discontinuous rolling mode.

A continuous casting and rolling apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention provides: a continuous caster for generating a steel sheet; a first rolling unit associated with the continuous caster; and a second rolling unit which is spaced apart in the outlet of the first rolling unit and comprises: a rolling mill for pressing down the steel sheet; and a cutter for cutting a portion of the steel sheet, wherein the cutter is spaced from the second rolling unit by a length corresponding to the length of the steel sheet discharged in an at least discontinuous rolling mode, and may comprise a cut withdrawal unit provided between the first rolling unit and the second rolling unit. In addition, a continuous casting and rolling method according to another embodiment of the present invention is a continuous casting and rolling method in which a continuous rolling mode and a discontinuous rolling mode are switched to and from each other, and may comprise: a continuous casting step for generating a steel sheet; a rolling step for pressing down the steel sheet to a rolling mill after the continuous casting step; and a cutting step for cutting the steel sheet between the continuous casting step and the rolling step in a discontinuous rolling mode, and cutting the steel sheet with a cutter provided by being spaced apart from the rolling mill at an interval corresponding to the length of the steel sheet being cut and discharged in an at least discontinuous rolling mode.

An apparatus (100) and method for the production of elongated metal products such as bars, rods or the like: A rolling mill (10) with at least one rolling stand (5); a casting station (20) with at least a first casting line (2a) and at least a second casting line (2b), each line (2a, 2b) being operable to produce respective elongated intermediate products (b2a, b2b), such as billets; wherein at least the first casting line (2a) is directly aligned with the rolling mill (10), the first casting line (2a) being configured to feed the rolling mill (10) with a fully continuous casting strand or with cast elongated intermediate products; and the second casting line (2b) is not aligned with the rolling mill (10). A bidirectional transfer device (30) for transferring elongated intermediate products (b2b) of the second casting line (2b) alternatively in a first direction from the second casting line (2b) to the first casting line (2a) to align the elongated intermediate product (b2b) with the rolling mill (10) or in a second direction from the at least second casting line (2b) to a cooling bed (40).

An apparatus (100) and method for the production of elongated metal products such as bars, rods or the like: A rolling mill (10) with at least one rolling stand (5); a casting station (20) with at least a first casting line (2a) and at least a second casting line (2b), each line (2a, 2b) being operable to produce respective elongated intermediate products (b2a, b2b), such as billets; wherein at least the first casting line (2a) is directly aligned with the rolling mill (10), the first casting line (2a) being configured to feed the rolling mill (10) with a fully continuous casting strand or with cast elongated intermediate products; and the second casting line (2b) is not aligned with the rolling mill (10). A bidirectional transfer device (30) for transferring elongated intermediate products (b2b) of the second casting line (2b) alternatively in a first direction from the second casting line (2b) to the first casting line (2a) to align the elongated intermediate product (b2b) with the rolling mill (10) or in a second direction from the at least second casting line (2b) to a cooling bed (40).

To provide a continuous casting method according to which a slab difficult for surface cracking to appear can be manufactured, in a first water cooling step, the slab is cooled so that only a surface temperature of corner parts is below Ar.sub.3 point, in a first recuperation step, the slab is recuperated so that the surface temperature of all the slab including the corner parts is no less than the Ar.sub.3 point, in a second water cooing step, the slab is cooled so that the surface temperature of all the slab including the corner parts is below the Ar.sub.3 point, and in a second recuperation step, the slab is recuperated so that the surface temperature of only a portion of the slab other than the corner parts is no less than the Ar.sub.3 point.

To provide a continuous casting method according to which a slab difficult for surface cracking to appear can be manufactured, in a first water cooling step, the slab is cooled so that only a surface temperature of corner parts is below Ar.sub.3 point, in a first recuperation step, the slab is recuperated so that the surface temperature of all the slab including the corner parts is no less than the Ar.sub.3 point, in a second water cooing step, the slab is cooled so that the surface temperature of all the slab including the corner parts is below the Ar.sub.3 point, and in a second recuperation step, the slab is recuperated so that the surface temperature of only a portion of the slab other than the corner parts is no less than the Ar.sub.3 point.

To provide a continuous casting method according to which a slab difficult for surface cracking to appear can be manufactured, in a first water cooling step, the slab is cooled so that only a surface temperature of corner parts is below Ar.sub.3 point, in a first recuperation step, the slab is recuperated so that the surface temperature of all the slab including the corner parts is no less than the Ar.sub.3 point, in a second water cooing step, the slab is cooled so that the surface temperature of all the slab including the corner parts is below the Ar.sub.3 point, and in a second recuperation step, the slab is recuperated so that the surface temperature of only a portion of the slab other than the corner parts is no less than the Ar.sub.3 point.