Method and arrangement for removing a cooled strand from a continuous

Abstract

A continuous casting installation has a curved roller apron and a withdrawal and straightening unit. The latter has upper and lower rollers, and the upper rollers are vertically movable so that a gap may be formed between the same and a strand which extends into the withdrawal and straightening unit. A heating device is provided for the strand and may be moved from a position laterally of the withdrawal and straightening unit into the gap between the upper rollers and the strand when the upper rollers are raised. The heating device is preferably arranged in the region of the tangent point. When a strand cools to such an extent that the withdrawal and straightening unit can no longer bend it, as may occur in the event of a breakout, the upper rollers beyond the tangent point are raised. The strand is then driven forward until, by virtue of its curvature, it touches the raised upper rollers. Due to the curvature of the strand, the latter touches the raised upper rollers at a location spaced from the tangent point and a gap exists between the raised upper rollers and the strand over the span from this location to the tangent point. The heating device is inserted in the gap and the strand is heated at a selected location to a temperature such that its resistance to bending is lowered sufficiently for it to be bent by the withdrawal and straightening unit. The upper rollers are lowered and the strand is bent at the selected location. The preceding operations are repeated until the strand can be removed from the installation.