Continuous casting plant

Abstract

There is disclosed a continuous casting machine for selectively casting a strand having slab cross section or at least two strands having smaller cross sections. It includes a plate mold surrounded by a support frame supporting the end walls and side walls, and further intermediate end walls provided between the end walls for casting at least two strands. In order to provide end walls that are insertable into the mold and positively connectable thereto with parts that project into the mold used for slab cross sectional formats being avoided, a hollow body carrying copper plates of the intermediate end walls is inserted between the copper plates of the side walls. A coolant flows through the hollow body, which is supported with its upper end on the side walls by supporting elements overlapping the side walls, and with its lower end is fixed by coolant supply and discharge piping. The coolant supply and discharge piping project from the support frame as far as into the hollow body, and extend transversely to the side walls and below the same. Each pipe is displaceable from the operating position projecting into the hollow body into a resting position releasing the hollow body. In a method of starting a continuous casting plant the intermediate end walls are removed from the mold prior to the onset of casting. A starter bar serving for strands having slab cross sections and including at least two starter bar heads is threaded through the mold from above into a strand guide arranged below the mold. Thereupon the intermediate end walls are inserted into the mold and fixed thereto.