Abstract:
In melting and casting by a water-cooled crucible induction melting technique, a partition means is inserted on top portion of a melt, and a new raw material for is charged on an upper side of the partition means to continue the melting and casting. Therefore, the continuous casting can be kept while avoiding mixture of the melt on a lower side of with the melt on an upper side of the partition means. A partition plate or a partition plate with legs can be used as the partition means. When the present invention is applied to production of a silicon ingot used for a solar cell and the like, productivity is largely improved, which allows costs to be remarkably reduced in solar energy generation. Therefore, the present invention can widely be utilized as the method for casting a polycrystalline-silicon ingot for a solar cell.
Abstract:
A continuous steel casting system having a mold into which molten steel of different grades may be successively introduced and from which a casting continuously emerges. A grade separator device is provided that is positionable into the mold inlet opening immediately following completion of the introduction of a first grade of molten steel and before the introduction of a second grade for forming a separating barrier between the first and second grades of molten steel and for enhancing cooling and solidification at the juncture between the first and second grades of molten steel. The grade separator device comprises a plurality of elongated spaced apart steel separator plates arranged in a V configuration that permits limited flow through of the second grade of molten steel about the grade separator device and into limited intermixing relation with the first grade of molten steel for preventing the entrapment of gas bubbles about the separator device and for reducing the tendency of splattering of the second grade of molten metal when directed into the mold and onto the grade separator device.
Abstract:
Herein disclosed is a method for increasing the width of a cast piece during continuous operation. The method comprises stopping pouring a molten metal into a mold, inserting a frame including a pair of opposite side plate members into the mold so that the lower ends of the members are dipped in the molten metal, pouring the molten metal into a cavity defined by said frame, and withdrawing the cast piece together with said frame to obtain a cast piece having a desired width.
Abstract:
A method of enlarging width of a cast piece during continuous casting. It comprises stopping pouring a molten steel into a mold during continuous casting, positioning a supporting plate at the bottom of the mold without lowering the surface of the bath, moving a short wall of the mold, placing a cooling agent on the supporting plate inside the mold, pouring the molten steel into the mold to obtain a cast piece, and thereafter removing the supportng plate to withdraw the cast piece. An apparatus for placing the supporting plate such that it can move back and fore freely on the bottom of the moving short wall of the mold is provided. In order to smooth the movement of the short wall of the mold, a lubricating agent may be placed at a portion where the long walls contact the short wall of the mold, or holes or grooves for supplying lubricating agent may be provided on both ends of the short wall of the mold.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for connecting a new cast strip to a previously cast strip after a change in batch in a continuous casting plant necessitating temporarily closing a casting die outlet including opening the casting die outlet, casting a strip of metal from the die outlet to produce a cast metal strip, attaching a connecting means to a trailing end of the previously cast strip and thereafter connecting a forward end of the new cast strip to the connecting means for concurrent movement of both cast strips. The connecting means includes a hollow connecting cuff open at lower and upper ends, and the trailing end of the previously cast strip is pressed into the lower end of the cuff, and said forward end of the new cast strip is cast into the upper end of the cuff to connect said two cast strips.
Abstract:
A method of and apparatus for sequentially continuously casting molten steels of different compositional grades is provided using mechanical separators of particular configuration. Such separators or chill units have a geometric shape selected from the group of spheroids, ellipsoids, and polyhedra and can be easily used to shorten the time between pouring the different compositional grades as well as for improving product yield for the cast slab.
Abstract:
A method of enlarging the width of a continuously cast strand comprising partially immersing a metallic joint having an I-shaped transverse cross-section in the tail end of a firstly cast strand which is downwardly moving or stationary in a rectangular mold cavity defined by narrow and wide pairs of mold pieces, hold the joint in position until the tail end of the strand is solidified, outwardly moving the narrow mold pieces to define the desired enlarged width of the strand, filling the so-formed openings between the strand and walls of the mold pieces with a refractory material and then with a metallic cushioning material, restarting the continuous strand casting process.
Abstract:
Herein disclosed is a method and apparatus for changing the width of a cast piece during continuous operation. The method comprises stopping pouring a molten metal into a mold, inserting a frame including a pair of opposite side plate members into the mold so that the lower ends of the members are dipped in the molten metal, pouring the molten metal into a cavity defined by said frame, and withdrawing the cast piece together with said frame to obtain a cast piece having a desired width.
Abstract:
The cross section of a cast strand formed in a continuous casting mold, which has at least one shiftable wall, is changed by stopping the pouring of metal into one end of the mold and the withdrawal of a partially solidified strand from the other and allowing the strand and end portion remaining in the mold to cool enough to be self-supporting. An insert having its upper portion corresponding to the new cross-sectional area desired for the strand, and having its bottom portion conforming to the area of the original strand, is placed on the aforesaid strand end portion. If the new cross section is to be larger, the shiftable mold wall, or walls, are moved outward to receive an appropriate insert and to correspond to the new size defined by the upper portion of the insert. If the new cross section is to be smaller, an appropriate insert is placed on the strand end portion in the mold and sufficient metal is poured into the mold to partially fill the interior of the insert; then, when this additional metal has solidified enough to be self-supporting the strand is withdrawn slightly from mold and the shiftable wall, or walls, are moved inward against the upper portion of the insert to define the new strand size.