Feeding device for introducing molten steel into twin-belt casters and

Abstract

In order to be able to manipulate a feeding device with which molten steel is introduced into a twin-belt caster without ingress of air in preparation for the casting process and to carefully align the feeding device and the caster to the required extent, the feeding device includes a pouring body which is mounted in its own carriage so as to be rotatable about a horizontal pivot axis, and a separately movable tundish which is connected with the pouring body via a ball joint which forms the point of separation in that the ball socket of the ball joint and the ball pivot of the ball pivot are each respectively associated with either the tundish or the pouring body. The pouring body can be arrested in the manner of a rocker in different sloped positions and can be laterally displaced in a direction transverse to its longitudinal extent. The associated mode of operation of a feeding device equipped with a pouring body and tundish according to the apparatus of the invention comprises initially moving the spout of the pouring body between the mold walls of the twin-belt caster a few millimeters further than that corresponding to the casting position, thereafter moving the tundish in the direction toward the twin-belt caster and arresting the tundish in its casting position, and finally setting the pouring body back against the connecting surface of the tundish so as to establish an outwardly closed connection.