Hazelett Strip-casting Corporation

Dean A Boozan

Norman J Bergeron

R William Hazelett

Jerome B Allyn

Wojtek S Szczypiorski

S Richard Hazelett

John E Pennucci

Thomas S Graham

George Desorcie

Thomas E Brennan

Nedeltcho P Kandev

Method, system and apparatus for controllably heating copper alloy dam blocks in revolving edge dam chains in twinbelt continuous casters by induction heating of thermally-sprayed ferromagnetic layers bonded in shallow depressions in such blocks. High thermal conductivity of such blocks advantageously quickly conducts inductive heat from ferromagnetic layers into the blocks. For casting a slab of electrolytic anodes having aligned opposed protruding lugs, such chains include uniformly spaced lug-molding pocket blocks. Periodic induction heating of ferromagnetic layers on dam blocks of one chain or the other keeps pocket blocks aligned as revolving chains travel downstream along opposite sides of moving mold casting regions. Directly induction heating copper alloy dam blocks is very impractical. Therefore, ferromagnetic layers are thermally sprayed into depressions in blocks prior to assembling such chains. Pancake-type induction heaters inductively heat ferromagnetic layers of revolving dam blocks as they return toward a caster's entrance.

Method, system and apparatus for continually synchronizing travelling movement of two revolving edge dams in a continuous casting machine

Electrostatic application of a dusting of dry, electrostatically adherable, thermally insulative powder particles over a workface of a continuous metal-casting machine in which the mold surface or surfaces which provide the workface or workfaces revolve in a generally oval course. A dry dusting of protective powdery refractory material is applied to the workface after being entrained in an air stream and electrostatically charged by suitable electrostatic apparatus. The workface to be dusted is electrically grounded for attracting the charged powder particles for adhering them to the workface. The resultant coating formed by the dusting so deposited is remarkably uniform over a substantial area of the workface, a phenomenon explainable by mutual electrostatic repulsion of the dry powder particles being deposited. Continuously re-applied dusting over the workface during a continuous cast provides an immediately useful repair or replacement of dusting powder lost from the coating on the workface of a revolving mold surface during casting. The dusting may be removed at will by means of an air knife.

Method and apparatus for continuous casting of metal

Electrostatic application of a dusting of dry, self-adhering, thermally and electrically insulative powder particles over a work face of an endless, thin, flexible, water-cooled, metallic casting belt advantageous for use in a continuous metal-casting machine. A dry dusting of protective powdery refractory substance is applied to the belt after being rendered airborne and electrostatically charged by various embodiments of suitable electrostatic apparatus. The casting belt to be dusted is electrically grounded for attracting the charged powder particles for adhering them to the casting belt. The dusting so deposited is remarkably uniform over a substantial area, a phenomenon explainable by mutual electrostatic repulsion of the dry powder particles being deposited. Continuously re-applied dusting over the work face of an endless casting belt during a cast provides an immediately useful repair of lost dusting powder. The dusting may be removed at will by means of an air knife. Certain powders that are effectively soft afford high thermal insulativity for the metallic casting belt, and desirably they cause only minimal interference with further mechanical processing of a cast metallic product into which they might inadvertently become entrained.

Electrostatic application of insulative refractory dust or powder to

Laterally 'floating' thermal spray gun traversing apparatus and system for laterally tracking a revolving casting belt being thermal spray coated for applying uniformly spaced passes of thermal spraying on the revolving casting belt regardless of any lateral (edgewise) movements of the casting belt in either direction and regardless of any chamber in the edge of the belt. The thermal spray gun is traversed by a leadscrew and an adjustable speed drive for the leadscrew, both the leadscrew and its adjustable drive being carried by a frame mounted on a carriage freely movable along a trackway extending parallel to the axis of the leadscrew. A roller senses the lateral position of the edge of the revolving belt, and the carriage is moved by a source of motive power responsive to the sensed lateral position of the belt for causing the carriage together with the frame, leadscrew and leadscrew drive automatically to track the belt. This source of motive power is shown as a spring acting in a direction for urging the roller into contact with the edge of the revolving belt.

Laterally floating thermal spray gun traversing apparatus and system for

Machine for producing insulative and protective coatings on endless flexible metallic belts of continuous casting machines is described. The coating is applied to a revolving belt being supported and driven by pulleys in the machine. The coating is applied by thermally spraying a powdered mixture directly onto the roughened casting surface of the belt. The machine holds the revolving belt under tension and applies cooling to the rear (inner) surface of the revolving belt opposite to the region where the thermal spray gun is applying the coating to the belt.

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Waterville, VT, United States of America

Dean A Boozan