Horizontal continuous casting apparatus

Abstract

In a horizontal continuous casting plant having a horizontally oriented discharge duct for conveying molten metal from a container to the casting mold, a closure assembly for selectively blocking the flow of molten metal is provided in the duct. The closure assembly comprises a stationary headplate and a vertically disposed slider plate, the latter movable across the headplate between positions blocking and unblocking the flow of metal. To prevent solidification of metal around the closure when in the blocked position, gas supply means are provided in the headplate and slider plate to create a flow of gas at the closure that inhibits solidification and keeps the molten metal from penetrating between the fixed and movable parts of the closure assembly. The gas supply means comprises a plurality of nozzle openings in either the headplate or slider plate or both, connected with a source of gaseous media, and oriented substantially tangentially of and at an angle to the juncture of the headplate and slider plate. To counteract the differential ferrostatic pressure over the vertical face of the slider plate, more nozzle openings are provided in the lower half of the closure member than in the upper half. Variations of the basic arrangement include a porous plug inserted in the slider plate, in place of the upper nozzle openings, for enabling a distributed gas flow over the upper portion of the plate surface and a circular recess in the slider plate with nozzle openings disposed about the periphery of the recess.