Method and apparatus for determining the operating conditions in continuous metal casting machines of the type having a revolving endless casting belt

Claim 3

The method of determining the molten metal pool position in the input region of a contInuous metal casting machine as claimed in claim 1, including the steps of streamlining said heat sensing detectors to minimize the interference with the high velocity coolant flow; and continuously pressing said heat sensing detectors against the moving reverse, cooled surface of said casting belt.

Claim 4

The method of determining the molten metal pool position in the input region of a continuous casting machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the machine is of the twin belt type having an upper and lower belt and in which: said heat sensing detectors are positioned beneath the lower belt in bearing contact with the moving, reverse, liquid-cooled surface of the lower belt in respective positions to span the desired location of the upstream edge of the molten metal pool.

Claim 5

The method of determining the molten metal pool position in the input region of a continuous metal casting machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the machine is of the twin belt type having an upper and a lower belt and in which: said heat sensing detectors are positioned in bearing contact with the moving, reverse, liquid-cooled surface of the upper belt in respective positions to span the desired location of the edge of the molten surface meniscus of the pool in contact with the upper belt.

Claim 6

The method of determining the molten metal pool position in the input region of a continuous metal casting machine as claimed in claim 1, including the additional steps of positioning a second series of at least two heat sensing detectors in bearing contact with the moving reverse, cooled surface of the casting belt in laterally spaced relationship across the width of the belt and located immediately downstream from the desired range in pool position; and monitoring the responses of said detectors to change in the temperature of the moving reverse cooled surface of the belt at the respective lateral positions to determine the condition of the insulative belt coating immediately downstream from the molten metal pool while the casting machine is running and the position of the pool is being controlled to keep it within the desired predetermined range in operation.

Claim 7

The method of determining the molten metal pool position in the input region of a continuous metal casting machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is a grooved roll associated with the casting belt near the input region, including the steps of positioning at least one of said heat sensing detectors in a groove of said roll in bearing contact with the moving, reverse, liquid-cooled surface of the casting belt.

Claim 8

The method of determining the molten metal pool position in the input region of a continuous metal casting machine as claimed in claim 1, including the step of laterally staggering the positions of said detectors to present minimal interference to the high velocity flow of liquid coolant along the reverse surface of the casting belt.

Claim 11

The method of determining the operating conditions of a continuous metal casting machine as claimed in claim 8, including the steps of: predetermining the desired belt coating operating conditions at predetermined positions spaced across the width of the casting belt; and positioning said series of heat sensing detectors in bearing contact with the moving, reverse, liquid-cooled surface of the casting belt at said predetermined positions spaced across the width of the casting belt to monitor the belt coating conditions as molten metal is being cast.

Claim 12

The method of determining the operating conditions of a continuous metal casting machine as claimed in claim 8, including the steps of: predetermining the desired range in operating locations of the molten metal pool in the input region of the casting machine; and distributing said series of heat sensing detectors in positions relatively spaced upstream and downstream along the casting belt to span said desired range in operating positions of the molten metal pool, thereby to determine the location of the pool as the molten metal is being cast.

Claim 13

Apparatus for determining the operating conditions in a continuous metal casting machine of the type having at least one endless flexible revolving casting belt with a casting surface which engages the molten metal to be cast in a casting region as confined by the belt, said belt having a reverse, liquid-cooled surface along which is directed a substantially continuous high velocity flow of liquid coolant, and the casting surface of said belt being covered with a belt coating to insulate and protect the belt from the molten metal and to control the rate of cooling of the molten metal, said apparatus comprising: support means attached to the continuous metal casting machine near the casting region; a series of at least two heat sensing detectors mounted on said support means and located at spaced positions near said casting region; said support means holding detectors in bearing contact with the moving reverse, cooled surface of said casting belt near said casting region; said detectors being arranged to present minimal interference to the continuous high velocity flow of liquid coolant directed along the reverse belt surface; thermal insulation material associated with said heat sensing detectors for insulating them from the high velocity flow of liquid coolant rushing by; and monitor means connected to said heat sensing detectors to monitor the responses of said detectors to changes in the temperature of the moving reverse surface of the belt at the respective upstream-downstream positions thereof to determine the molten metal pool position.

Claim 14

Apparatus for determining the operating conditions in a continuous metal casting machine of the type having at least one endless flexible revolving casting belt with a casting surface which engages the molten metal to be cast in a casting region as confined by the belt, said belt having a reverse, liquid-cooled surface along which is directed a substantially continuous high velocity flow of liquid coolant, and the casting surface of said belt being covered with a belt coating to insulate and protect the belt from the molten metal and to control the rate of cooling of the molten metal, said apparatus comprising: support means attached to the continuous metal casting machine near the casting region; a series of at least two heat sensing detectors mounted on said support means and located at spaced positions near said casting region; said support means holding detectors in bearing contact with the moving reverse, cooled surface of said casting belt near said casting region; said detectors being arranged to present minimal interference to the continuous high velocity flow of liquid coolant directed along the reverse belt surface; thermal insulation material associated with said heat sensing detectors for insulating them from the high velocity flow of liquid coolant rushing by; and monitor means connected to said heat sensing detectors to monitor the responses of said detectors to changes in the temperature of the moving reverse surface of the belt at the respective upstream-downstream positions thereof to determine the molten metal pool position.

Claim 15

Apparatus for determining the operating conditions in a continuous metal casting machine as claimed in claim 11 in which, said heat sensing detectors each include a tip of material of high thermal conductivity; and said support means include spring means urging the tips of said heat sensing detectors firmly against the moving, reverse, liquid-cooled surface of the belt.

Claim 16

Apparatus for determining the operating conditions in a continuous metal casting machine as claimed in claim 12, in which said thermal insulation material is formed as a jacket surrounding said tip; and said jacket is streamlined with respect to the flow of high velocity coolant.

Claim 17

Apparatus for determining the operating conditions in a continuous metal casting machine as claimed in claim 11 in which said thermal insulation material is a jacket surrounding the heat sensing detector and formed of slippery material to minimize sliding friction against the reverse surface of the casting belt.

Claim 18

Apparatus for determining the operating conditions in a continuous metal casting machine as claimed in claim 11, wherein there is a molten metal pool at the input to the casting region and in which: said series of heat sensing detectors are located in relative upstream and downstream positions in relation to travel of the casting belt near the input to said casting region to span the desired location of the molten metal pool.

Claim 19

Apparatus for determining the molten metal pool position in a continuous metal casting machine as claimed in claim 15 wherein there is a grooved roll having lands thereon supporting the casting belt near the input to the casting region, in which: said support means include at least one finger extending between the lands on said roll; and at least one heat sensing detector positioned in a groove between the lands of said roll and being mounted on said finger.

Claim 20

Apparatus for determining the molten metal pool position in a continuous metal casting machine as claimed in claim 15, including a second series of at least two heat sensing detectors mounted on said support means and positioned in laterally spaced relation across the width of the belt immediately downstream from the pool position; said detectors being in bearing contact with the moving reverse, cooled surface of said casting belt; and monitor means connected to said second series of heat sensing detectors to monitor the responses of the detectors of the second series to changes in temperature of the moving reverse belt surface at the laterally spaced positions of said detectors for indicating the condition of the belt coating at said laterally spaced positions.

Claim 21

Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein each of said heat sensing detectors comprises: a thermal insulating jacket having a tip portion and a mounting portion, a heat conducting metal sleeve mounted in the tip portion of and protected by said insulating jacket, said sleeve having a closed heat conducting end which contacts the moving reverse surface of the belt, and a heat responsive, voltage generating element within said jacket in heat conducting relationship with said sleeve.

Claim 22

Apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein the mounting portion of each of said heat sensing detectors is slidably mounted in a tube, said tube being mounted on said support means, and an internal spring disposed within said tube urging the tip of the detector into firm contact with the moving reverse, cooled surface of the belt.

Claim 23

Apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein the tip portion of said jacket is streamlined to present minimal interference to the high velocity flow of liquid coolant directed along the reverse, cooled belt surface.

Claim 24

Apparatus as claimed in claim 18, in which said thermal insulating jacket is formed of a slippery material to minimize abrasion against the moving reverse surface of the casting belt.

Claim 25

Apparatus as claimed in claim 18 in which the tip portion of said thermal insulation jacket surrounds said heat conducting metal sleeve; and said voltage generating element is located within said sleeve adjacent to its closed end to insulate said voltage generating element from cooling effects of the high velocity flow of liquid coolant, while conducting heat from the reverse surface of the belt to said voltage generating element.

Claim 26

Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, in which: said support means extends across near the reverse surface of the casting belt; and said series of heat sensing detectors are mounted on said support means and are located at spaced positions across the width of the casting belt near the casting region for monitoring the condition of the belt coating as the molten metal is being cast.

Claim 27

Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said machine is a twin-belt casting machine having an upper and a lower casting belt, and in which: at least two series of heat sensing detectors are included; said support means being associated with both belts and holding a first series of said detectors in contact with the moving, reverse, liquid-cooled surface of the lower belt near the casting region; and said support holding a second series of said detectors in contact with the moving, reverse, liquid-cooled surface of the upper belt near the casting region, whereby the operating condition of both casting belts is monitored as the molten metal is being cast.