Simple copper tube design for continuous casting process with enhanced rigidity

Abstract

A mold for use in a continuous caster is provided that includes a tubular structure having a plurality of wall structures. Each of the outer faces of the wall structures is configured to have reduced thicknesses centrally located between corners of the wall structures so as to provide rigidity to the tubular structure for handling thermal loads during a continuous casting process.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mold for use in a continuous caster, said mold comprising:
 a tubular quadrilateral structure having four walls joined at four corners, each of the walls having inner and outer faces configured to provide the walls with reduced thicknesses centrally located between the corners.   
     
     
         2 . The mold of  claim 1 , wherein the inner faces define a parallelogram. 
     
     
         3 . The mold of  claim 1 , wherein the outer faces are concave. 
     
     
         4 . A mold for use in a continuous caster comprising:
 a tubular structure that includes a plurality of wall structures, wherein each of the outer faces of the wall structures is configured to have reduced thicknesses centrally located between corners of the wall structures so as to provide rigidity to the tubular structure for handling thermal loads during a continuous casting process.   
     
     
         5 . The mold of  claim 4 , wherein the wall structures comprises four walls joined at four corners. 
     
     
         6 . The mold of  claim 4 , wherein the tubular structure comprises copper. 
     
     
         7 . The mold of  claim 4 , wherein the outer faces is defined by a concave configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The mold of  claim 8 , wherein the concave configuration is defined by an arc having a defined radius. 
     
     
         9 . The mold of  claim 8 , wherein the concave configuration is defined by an ellipse sector. 
     
     
         10 . The mold of  claim 8 , wherein the concave configuration is defined by a hexagon or octagon. 
     
     
         11 . The mold of  claim 8 , wherein the concave configuration is defined by a selected shape. 
     
     
         12 . The mold of  claim 4 , wherein the wall structures comprise plate structures. 
     
     
         13 . The mold of  claim 4 , wherein the concave configuration is applied on a selective region on the length of the mold. 
     
     
         14 . The mold of  claim 4 , wherein the tubular structure is formed by extrusion of copper or hydroforming. 
     
     
         15 . A method of producing a mold for use in a caster comprising:
 providing a tubular structure that includes a plurality of wall structures; and   arranging each of the outer faces of the wall structures to have reduced thicknesses centrally located between corners of the wall structures so as to provide rigidity to the tubular structure for handling thermal loads during a continuous casting process.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the wall structures comprises four walls joined at four corners. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the tubular structure comprises copper. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the outer faces is defined by a concave configuration. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the concave configuration is defined by an arc having a defined radius. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the concave configuration is defined by an ellipse sector. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the concave configuration is defined by a hexagon or octagon. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the concave configuration is defined by a selected shape. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the wall structures comprise plate structure. 
     
     
         24 . The mold of  claim 15 , wherein the concave configuration is applied on a selective region on the length of the mold. 
     
     
         25 . The mold of  claim 15 , wherein the tubular structure is formed by extrusion of copper or hydroforming.