Pulling-up-type continuous casting apparatus and pulling-up-type continuous casting method

Abstract

A pulling-up-type continuous casting apparatus that lets molten metal solidify while pulling up a drawing section for drawing the molten metal from a molten-metal surface of the molten metal held in a holding furnace, and thereby shapes the molten metal, includes means for applying a non-contact force to held molten metal, the held molten metal being molten metal that has been drawn from the molten-metal surface by the drawing section but has not solidified yet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pulling-up-type continuous casting apparatus that lets molten metal solidify while pulling up a drawing section for drawing the molten metal from a molten-metal surface of the molten metal held in a holding furnace, and thereby shapes the molten metal, comprising means for applying a non-contact force to held molten metal, the held molten metal being molten metal that has been drawn from the molten-metal surface by the drawing section but has not solidified yet. 
     
     
         2 . The pulling-up-type continuous casting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein an electromagnetic force is applied to the held molten metal. 
     
     
         3 . The pulling-up-type continuous casting apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the electromagnetic force applied to the held molten metal is applied in a direction perpendicular to a pulling-up direction of that held molten metal. 
     
     
         4 . The pulling-up-type continuous casting apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the electromagnetic force applied to the held molten metal is applied in the same direction as a pulling-up direction of that held molten metal. 
     
     
         5 . The pulling-up-type continuous casting apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising an electromagnetic force applying unit that defines a cross-sectional shape of a cast-metal article to be cast by applying the electromagnetic force to the held molten metal, wherein
 the electromagnetic force applying unit comprises:   a current output unit that feeds an electric current to the held molten metal; and   a magnetic field applying unit that applies a magnetic field to the held molten metal.   
     
     
         6 . The pulling-up-type continuous casting apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the magnetic field applying unit generates the magnetic field in a direction perpendicular to a pulling-up direction of the held molten metal and applies the generated magnetic field to the held molten metal. 
     
     
         7 . The pulling-up-type continuous casting apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the current output unit makes an electric current flow from the drawing section toward the molten metal held in the holding furnace through the held molten metal, or from the molten metal held in the holding furnace to the drawing section through the held molten metal. 
     
     
         8 . The pulling-up-type continuous casting apparatus according to  claim 4 , further comprising an electromagnetic force applying unit that defines a cross-sectional shape of a cast-metal article to be cast by applying the electromagnetic force to the held molten metal, wherein
 the electromagnetic force applying unit applies a magnetic field in a first direction perpendicular to a pulling-up direction of the held molten metal and a magnetic field in an opposite direction, to the held molten metal to be pulled up in an alternate manner.   
     
     
         9 . The pulling-up-type continuous casting apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the electromagnetic force applying unit comprises at least:   a pair of rotors disposed so as to be opposed to each other with the held molten metal interposed therebetween, the pair of rotors being configured to rotate in a pulling-up direction of the held molten metal; and   a pair of magnets disposed so as to surround peripheral surfaces of the pair of rotors, and   the pair of magnets have magnetic poles of different polarities respectively in an alternate manner along a circumferential direction of the pair of rotors.   
     
     
         10 . The pulling-up-type continuous casting apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the electromagnetic force applying unit comprises a plurality of pairs of electromagnets disposed so as to be opposed to each other with the held molten metal interposed therebetween along a pulling-up direction of the held molten metal, and   each of the plurality of pairs of electromagnets generates an alternate magnetic field of a different direction from that of an adjacent pair of electromagnets and applies the generated magnetic field to the held molten metal.   
     
     
         11 . The pulling-up-type continuous casting apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a shape defining member disposed in the vicinity of the molten-metal surface, the shape defining member being configured to define a cross-sectional shape of a cast-metal article to be cast by applying an external force to the held molten metal. 
     
     
         12 . A pulling-up-type continuous casting method for letting molten metal solidify while pulling up a drawing section for drawing the molten metal from a molten-metal surface of the molten metal held in a holding furnace, and thereby shaping the molten metal, comprising applying an electromagnetic force to held molten metal and thereby defining a cross-sectional shape of a cast-metal article to be cast, the held molten metal being molten metal that has been drawn from the molten-metal surface by the drawing section but has not solidified yet. 
     
     
         13 . The pulling-up-type continuous casting method according to  claim 12 , wherein an electromagnetic force is applied to the held molten metal by feeding an electric current to the held molten metal and applying a magnetic field to the held molten metal. 
     
     
         14 . The pulling-up-type continuous casting method according to  claim 13 , wherein a magnetic field is applied to the held molten metal in a direction perpendicular to a pulling-up direction of the held molten metal. 
     
     
         15 . The pulling-up-type continuous casting method according to  claim 13 , wherein an electric current is fed from the drawing section toward the molten metal held in the holding furnace through the held molten metal, or from the molten metal held in the holding furnace to the drawing section through the held molten metal. 
     
     
         16 . The pulling-up-type continuous casting method according to  claim 12 , wherein a magnetic field oriented in a first direction perpendicular to a pulling-up direction of the held molten metal and a magnetic field oriented in an opposite direction are applied to the held molten metal to be pulled up in an alternate manner. 
     
     
         17 . The pulling-up-type continuous casting method according to  claim 16 , wherein
 at least a pair of rotors and a pair of magnets are provided, the pair of rotors being disposed so as to be opposed to each other with the held molten metal interposed therebetween and configured to rotate in a pulling-up direction of the held molten metal,   the pair of magnets being disposed so as to surround peripheral surfaces of the pair of rotors, and   the pair of magnets have magnetic poles of different polarities respectively in an alternate manner along a circumferential direction of the pair of rotors.   
     
     
         18 . The pulling-up-type continuous casting method according to  claim 16 , wherein
 a plurality of pairs of electromagnets is provided, the plurality of pairs of electromagnets being disposed so as to be opposed to each other with the held molten metal interposed therebetween along a pulling-up direction of the held molten metal, and   each of the plurality of pairs of electromagnets generates an alternate magnetic field of a different direction from that of an adjacent pair of electromagnets and applies the generated magnetic field to the held molten metal.   
     
     
         19 . The pulling-up-type continuous casting method according to  claim 12 , wherein a shape defining member is further disposed in the vicinity of the molten-metal surface of the molten metal held by the holding furnace, the shape defining member being configured to define a cross-sectional shape of a cast-metal article to be cast by applying an external force to the held molten metal.