Twin roll caster and method of control thereof

Abstract

Described herein is a twin roll caster including a pair of casting rolls arranged parallel to one another with a gap between the casting rolls and side dams parallel to one another forming a pool between the casting rolls and side dams. A side dam support is provided that applies a compression force on at least one of the side dams at a compression angle relative to the axis of the casting rolls.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A twin roll caster comprising:
 a pair of counter-rotatable casting rolls having casting surfaces laterally positioned to form a nip there between through which thin cast strip can be cast, and supporting a casting pool of molten metal on the casting surfaces above the nip;   a pair of side dams positioned to engage end portions of the casting rolls adjacent the nip to laterally confine said casting pool; and   a side dam support applying a compression force against at least one of said side dams at an upward angle between 15° and 45° relative to an axis of said casting rolls.   
     
     
         2 . The twin roll caster as claimed in  claim 1  where during operation said side dam is worn by said end surfaces of said casting rolls to form a slantwise groove in the side dam. 
     
     
         3 . The twin roll caster as claimed in  claim 2  where the slantwise groove is in the form of V-shaped arcuate grooves. 
     
     
         4 . The twin roll caster as claimed in  claim 1  where said side dam support comprises a lateral pushing apparatus for pushing said side dam against said end surfaces and a vertical pushing apparatus for adjusting the height of said lateral pushing apparatus and the lateral pushing apparatus and the vertical pushing apparatus are adapted to operate at the same time. 
     
     
         5 . The twin roll caster as claimed in  claim 4  further comprising in addition a control device adapted to control said vertical pushing device and said lateral pushing device to provide a target compression angle. 
     
     
         6 . The twin roll caster as claimed in  claim 1  where said side dam support comprises a slantwise pushing apparatus for pushing said side dam against said end surfaces of the casting roll at a target compression angle 
     
     
         7 . The twin roll caster as claimed in  claim 6  where said compression angle is dynamically controlled. 
     
     
         8 . A twin roll caster comprising:
 a pair of counter-rotatable casting rolls having casting surfaces laterally positioned to form a nip there between through which thin cast strip can be cast, and supporting a casting pool of molten metal on the casting surfaces above the nip;   a pair of side dams positioned to engage end portions of the casting rolls adjacent the nip to laterally confine said casting pool; and   a side dam support applying an angular compression force against each of said side dams at an upward angle between 15° and 45° relative to an axis of said casting rolls.   
     
     
         9 . The twin roll caster as claimed in  claim 8  where during operation each side dam is worn by opposite end surfaces of said casting rolls to form slantwise grooves in each side dam. 
     
     
         10 . The twin roll caster as claimed in  claim 9  where each slantwise groove is in the form of V-shaped arcuate grooves. 
     
     
         11 . The twin roll caster as claimed in  claim 8  where each said side dam support comprises a lateral pushing apparatus for pushing said side dam against said end surfaces and a vertical pushing apparatus for adjusting the height of said lateral pushing apparatus and the lateral pushing apparatus and the vertical pushing apparatus are adapted to operate at the same time. 
     
     
         12 . The twin roll caster as set claimed in  claim 11  further comprising in addition a control device adapted to control each said vertical pushing device and each said lateral pushing device to provide a target compression angle. 
     
     
         13 . The twin roll caster as claimed in  claim 8  where each said side dam support comprises a slantwise pushing apparatus for pushing said side dam against end surfaces of the casting roll at a target compression angle. 
     
     
         14 . The twin roll caster as claimed in  claim 13  where said compression angle is dynamically controlled.