Molding device for continuous casting equipped with agitator

Abstract

There is provided a molding device for continuous casting equipped with an agitator that reduces the amount of generated heat, is easy to carry out maintenance, is inexpensive, and is easy to use in practice. The molding device for continuous casting equipped with an agitator of the invention receives liquid-phase melt of a conductive material, and a solid-phase cast product is taken out from the molding device through the cooling of the melt. The molding device includes a casting mold and an agitator provided so as to correspond to the casting mold. The casting mold includes a casting space that includes an inlet and an outlet at a central portion of a substantially cylindrical side wall, and a magnetic field generation device receiving chamber that is formed in the side wall and is positioned outside the casting space. The casting mold receives the liquid-phase melt from the inlet into the casting space and discharges the solid-phase cast product from the outlet through the cooling in the casting space. The agitator includes a magnetic field generation device having an electrode unit that includes first and second electrodes supplying current to at least the liquid-phase melt present in the casting space, and a permanent magnet that applies a magnetic field to the liquid-phase melt. The magnetic field generation device is received in the magnetic field generation device receiving chamber of the casting mold, generates magnetic lines of force toward a center in a lateral direction, makes the magnetic lines of force pass through a part of the side wall of the casting mold and reach the casting space, and applies lateral magnetic lines of force, which cross the current, to the melt.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for casting nonferrous metal, the method comprising:
 shaping nonferrous metal by moving the nonferrous metal through a casting mold in a casting direction;   passing electrical current between a first electrode electrically connected to the shaped nonferrous metal at a first location and a second electrode electrically connected to the shaped nonferrous metal at a second location spaced apart from the first location; and   applying a magnetic field to a portion of the shaped nonferrous metal between the first location and the second location, wherein passing the electrical current and applying the magnetic field together agitate the portion of the shaped nonferrous metal between the first location and the second location.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 passing the electrical current includes passing direct current; and 
 passing the electrical current and applying the magnetic field together agitate the portion of the shaped nonferrous metal between the first location and the second location by causing the portion of the shaped nonferrous metal between the first location and the second location to rotate about an axis parallel to the casting direction. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 passing the electrical current includes passing alternating current; and 
 passing the electrical current and applying the magnetic field together agitate the portion of the shaped nonferrous metal between the first location and the second location by causing the portion of the shaped nonferrous metal between the first location and the second location to vibrate. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second location is spaced apart from the first location in the casting direction. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein applying the magnetic field includes applying the magnetic field via one or more permanent magnets. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein applying the magnetic field includes applying the magnetic field while the one or more permanent magnets are stationary. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein:
 the casting mold defines a casting space having a round cross-sectional shape in a plane perpendicular to the casting direction; 
 the one or more permanent magnets are disposed around the shaped nonferrous metal in a plane perpendicular to the casting direction; and 
 applying the magnetic field includes applying the magnetic field via one or more curved faces of the one or more permanent magnets. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5  wherein:
 the casting mold defines a casting space having a rectangular cross-sectional shape in a plane perpendicular to the casting direction; 
 the one or more permanent magnets are disposed around the shaped nonferrous metal in a plane perpendicular to the casting direction; and 
 applying the magnetic field includes applying the magnetic field via one or more straight faces of the one or more permanent magnets. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising adjusting a position of the one or more permanent magnets in the casting direction relative to the casting mold. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein applying the magnetic field includes applying the magnetic field such that the same poles horizontally oppose one another via the shaped nonferrous metal. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein applying the magnetic field includes applying the magnetic field such that field lines of the magnetic field cross the electrical current at right angles. 
     
     
         12 . A casting system, comprising:
 a casting mold configured to continuously shape nonferrous metal moving through the casting mold in a casting direction;   a first electrode positioned to be electrically connected to the shaped nonferrous metal at a first location;   a second electrode positioned to be electrically connected to the shaped nonferrous metal at a second location spaced apart from the first location;   a power supply configured to pass electrical current through a portion of the shaped nonferrous metal between the first location and the second location via the first electrode and the second electrode; and   a magnetic field generation device configured to apply a magnetic field to the portion of the shaped nonferrous metal between the first location and the second location.   
     
     
         13 . The casting system of  claim 12  wherein:
 the power supply is configured to pass direct current through the portion of the shaped nonferrous metal between the first location and the second location via the first electrode and the second electrode; and 
 the power supply and the magnetic field generation device are collectively configured to agitate the portion of the shaped nonferrous metal between the first location and the second location by causing the portion of the shaped nonferrous metal between the first location and the second location to rotate about an axis parallel to the casting direction. 
 
     
     
         14 . The casting system of  claim 12  wherein:
 the power supply is configured to pass alternating current through the portion of the shaped nonferrous metal between the first location and the second location via the first electrode and the second electrode; and 
 the power supply and the magnetic field generation device are collectively configured to agitate the portion of the shaped nonferrous metal between the first location and the second location by causing the portion of the shaped nonferrous metal between the first location and the second location to vibrate. 
 
     
     
         15 . The casting system of  claim 12  wherein the magnetic field generation device includes one or more permanent magnets though which the magnetic field generation device is configured to apply the magnetic field to the portion of the shaped nonferrous metal between the first location and the second location. 
     
     
         16 . The casting system of  claim 15  wherein:
 the casting mold defines a casting space having a round cross-sectional shape in a plane perpendicular to the casting direction; 
 the one or more permanent magnets are positioned to be disposed around the shaped nonferrous metal in a plane perpendicular to the casting direction; and 
 the one or more permanent magnets include one or more curved faces through which the magnetic field generation device is configured to apply the magnetic field to the portion of the shaped nonferrous metal between the first location and the second location. 
 
     
     
         17 . The casting system of  claim 15  wherein:
 the casting mold defines a casting space having a rectangular cross-sectional shape in a plane perpendicular to the casting direction; 
 the one or more permanent magnets are positioned to be disposed around the shaped nonferrous metal in a plane perpendicular to the casting direction; and 
 the one or more permanent magnets include one or more straight faces through which the magnetic field generation device is configured to apply the magnetic field to the portion of the shaped nonferrous metal between the first location and the second location. 
 
     
     
         18 . The casting system of  claim 15  wherein:
 an inner side of the one or more permanent magnets is magnetized to one of N and S poles; and 
 an outer side of the one or more permanent magnets is magnetized to the other of N and S poles such that the same poles horizontally oppose one another via the shaped nonferrous metal. 
 
     
     
         19 . The casting system of  claim 15  wherein the one or more permanent magnets are adjustably mounted to the casting mold such that a position of the one or more permanent magnets in the casting direction can be adjusted relative to the casting mold. 
     
     
         20 . The casting system of  claim 15  wherein:
 the casting mold includes a water jacket; and 
 the one or more permanent magnets are disposed within the water jacket.