Novelis, Inc.

Daniel Godin

Rejean LeBlanc

Kevin Michael Gatenby

Edward S Luce

Eric Lees

Rejean Leblanc

Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide a casting apparatus for continuously casting a metal strip article (e.g. a twin-belt metal caster or a twin-block metal caster). The apparatus has a casting cavity defined between a pair of moving elongated opposed casting surfaces, and the casting cavity has an entrance and an exit aligned in a direction of casting. The casting cavity is also provided with a molten metal injector at its entrance, the injector having an internal metal channel including a downstream opening for introducing molten metal into the casting cavity, and a pair of side dams at each lateral side of the casting cavity for confining molten metal from the injector within the cavity. At least one of the side dams comprises an elongated element that is movable laterally relative to the direction of casting during a casting operation. The elongated element extends in the direction of casting from the injector longitudinally between the casting surfaces at least to a downstream position within the casting cavity where the metal adjacent the element is laterally self-supporting.

Continuous casting apparatus for casting strip of variable width

Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide a method of measuring the separation of moving confronting casting surfaces within a casting cavity of a casting apparatus. The method involves attaching at least one separation sensing device to a first one of a pair of confronting casting surfaces outside the casting cavity and then moving the casting surfaces to advance the sensing device(s) through the casting cavity while operating the device(s) to generate signals. The signals are monitored continuously or at regular intervals and converted to distance measurements representing separation of the surfaces at a plurality of positions through the casting cavity. Other exemplary embodiments provide apparatus for carrying out the method, and methods of measuring irregularities of casting belts or the like.

Method of and apparatus for measuring separation of casting surfaces

Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide a side dam for a continuous metal casting apparatus having elongated opposed casting surfaces forming a casting cavity. The side dam has an elongated upstream part and an elongated downstream part that are mutually laterally pivotable, and a smooth metal-contacting side surface extending continuously from an upstream end to a downstream end of the side dam. The surface has regions thereof formed on the upstream part and the downstream part. Mutual pivoting of the upstream part and the downstream part of the side dam enables the regions of the smooth metal-contacting side surface to be moved out of mutual coplanar alignment. The side dams can therefore be used to form either a convergent or divergent casting cavity to assists the casting procedure and to enhance the properties of the cast article.

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Trois Rivieres, Canada

Daniel Godin