A method for the continuous casting of a metal strand in a continuous casting installation, in which, in a casting machine, the metal formed into a slab, with a still molten core, is brought out vertically from a mold, wherein, downstream of the mold in the conveying direction, the slab is made to move along a casting bow, through a number of casting bow segments, and is deflected into the horizontal, wherein each casting bow segment has a number of segment rollers, which are designed for coming into contact with the surface of the slab. In the region before the end of the casting machine, a number of segment rollers are lifted off from the surface of the slab, or are not installed in receptacles provided, and so the contact between the slab and the segment roller is interrupted or there is no contact.

A method for semi-continuous casting of a strand (1) of steel in a strand casting machine and a strand casting machine for such casting. The strand has little segregation of the center and porosity. Yet it is castable rapidly. The method steps are: at a casting start of the strand casting machine, pouring liquid steel into an open-ended mold (2). The mold is closed by a cold strand (6). The liquid steel forms, together with the cold strand, a completely solidified strand start (1a) and subsequently forms a semi-solidified strand (1b). Then extracting the semi-solidified strand (1b) from the open-ended mold (2). Supporting and guiding the semi-solidified strand (1b) in a strand guide (3). Cooling the semi-solidified strand (1b) by secondary cooling (4) at the casting end of the strand casting machine, ending the pouring of liquid steel into the open-ended mold (2) and forming a strand end (1c). Extracting the strand end (1c) from the open-ended mold (2). Ending the extraction such that the strand end (1c) lies outside the open-ended mold (2). Ending the secondary cooling (4). Controlling or regulating cooling of the semi-solidified strand (1b) until complete solidification of the strand (1) in a tertiary cooling zone (5) of the strand casting machine. The cooling effect is stronger at the strand start (1a) and decreases towards the strand end (1c). Discharging the strand (1) from the strand casting machine.

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).

Provided is vertical semi-continuous casting equipment including a guide device disposed under the mold to support the slab drawn from the plate, the guide device being configured to guide the descending of the slab. The guide device includes first and second guide parts including a plurality of guide rolls respectively disposed on both sides of a moving path of the plate under the mold to support the slab moving by the plate and guide the movement of the slab and a braking unit connected to each of the guide rolls to apply braking force to the guide roll that rotates by the movement of the slab. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the slab having the length longer than that of the slab in accordance with the related art may stably descend, the shaking of the slab may be prevented, and the casting speed may be stabilized.

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 method and a device for producing ingots from metal or metal alloy. The method and the device are suitable for producing ingots from nickel, titanium, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, zirconium, hafnium, or alloys thereof and alloys of the metals in continuous casting methods. The device has an ingot chamber, which is suitable for receiving multiple cast ingots and for allowing the ingots to cool in the ingot chamber. For this purpose, the ingots are arranged in the ingot chamber in a horizontally movable manner on ingot tube section.

A method for semi-continuous casting of a strand of steel in a strand casting machine and a strand casting machine that carries out the method, the method includes pouring liquid steel into a mold while closing off the mold by a bar to form a fully solidified strand start area followed by a partially solidified strand; extracting the partially solidified strand from the mold; supporting and guiding the partially solidified strand in the strand guide; at the end of the casting, ending the pouring of liquid steel into the mold and forming a strand end; extracting the strand end from the mold; ending the extraction of the strand end; ending the secondary cooling; providing controlled or regulated cooling of the partially solidified strand until full solidification of the strand; and discharging the strand from the strand casting machine.

A method and a device for producing ingots from metal or metal alloy. The method and the device are suitable for producing ingots from nickel, titanium, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, zirconium, hafnium, or alloys thereof and alloys with said metals in continuous casting methods. The device has an ingot chamber, which is suitable for receiving multiple cast ingots and for allowing the ingots to cool in the ingot chamber. For this purpose, the ingots are arranged in the ingot chamber in a horizontally movable manner on ingot holding means.

Provided is vertical semi-continuous casting equipment including a guide device disposed under the mold to support the slab drawn from the plate, the guide device being configured to guide the descending of the slab. The guide device includes first and second guide parts including a plurality of guide rolls respectively disposed on both sides of a moving path of the plate under the mold to support the slab moving by the plate and guide the movement of the slab and a braking unit connected to each of the guide rolls to apply braking force to the guide roll that rotates by the movement of the slab. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the slab having the length longer than that of the slab in accordance with the related art may stably descend, the shaking of the slab may be prevented, and the casting speed may be stabilized.

Guide roller including a bearing journal at each of two ends. Each bearing journal is provided with a plain bearing designed as a hollow journal, and can be connected to the coolant supply line to conduct coolant through the hollow journal into or out of the coolant channel. The plain bearing is lubricated by coolant conducted through the bearing journal. A roller assembly for a strand casting system is provided with a plurality of guide rollers. The guide rollers are arranged at an axial distance from each other along a strand produced by the strand casting system and are each rotatably supported in a respective bearing mount. Each bearing mount is arranged on at least one frame part in a preloaded manner The bearing mounts are supported on the frame parts so as to be self-setting by elastically pliable connecting structure.