Method and apparatus for bidirectional horizontal continuous casing

Abstract

A molten metal stream is fed downwardly, especially essentially vertically, into a double-ended, chilled horizontal mold where the molten metal is formed into two strands which are cooled and simultaneously bidirectionally withdrawn from opposed ends of the horizontal mold. The infed hot molten metal stream is deposited within the double-ended horizontal mold such that a so-to-speak hot wall forms at the immediate vicinity of the inflow region where the molten metal enters the horizontal mold. This hot wall precludes formation of a strand shell or skin which otherwise would undesirably interconnect the two formed strands, so that not only is the resistance to mold oscillation decreased, but the individual strands can be cleanly withdrawn from each side of the mold without the danger of undesired and uncontrolled interaction arising between the two withdrawn strands and without the need to have to rupture any such interconnecting strand shell or skin. A simple construction of bidirectional horizontal mold contemplates providing a mold inlet opening through which an immersible pouring tube extends from a separate tundish into the internal space of the double-ended horizontal mold, beneath the molten bath level or meniscus, such as to form the hot wall, escape of molten metal out of the inlet opening being precluded by the use of an electromagnetic seal which not only constrains the escape of metal but also may contribute to preventing undesirable strand shell formation at the inflow region of the molten metal to the mold.