Metal casting and rolling line

Abstract

A continuous casting and rolling line for casting, rolling, and otherwise preparing metal strip can produce distributable metal strip without requiring cold rolling or the use of a solution heat treatment line. A metal strip can be continuously cast from a continuous casting device and coiled into a metal coil, optionally after being subjected to post-casting quenching. This intermediate coil can be stored until ready for hot rolling. The as-cast metal strip can undergo reheating prior to hot rolling, either during coil storage or immediately prior to hot rolling. The heated metal strip can be cooled to a rolling temperature and hot rolled through one or more roll stands. The rolled metal strip can optionally be reheated and quenched prior to coiling for delivery. This final coiled metal strip can be of the desired gauge and have the desired physical characteristics for distribution to a manufacturing facility.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A metal processing system comprising:
 a continuous casting device for casting a metal strip, wherein the metal strip comprises aluminum or an aluminum alloy;   an inline heater downstream from the continuous casting device and configured to heat the metal strip;   a quenching device downstream from the inline heater configured to quench the metal strip;   a hot rolling stand downstream from the quenching device; and   a coiler downstream from the rolling stand configured to coil the metal strip from the rolling stand at a temperature from 50° C. to 400° C.   
     
     
         2 . The metal processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the quenching device is a first quenching device, and wherein the metal processing system further comprises a second quenching device, wherein the second quenching device is downstream from the hot rolling stand. 
     
     
         3 . The metal processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the inline heater is configured to heat the metal strip at a temperature from 500° C. to 570° C. for a duration of greater than 0 minutes and less than or equal to 10 minutes. 
     
     
         4 . The metal processing system of  claim 3 , wherein the duration is from 1 to 3 minutes. 
     
     
         5 . The metal processing system of  claim 3 , wherein the duration is less than 3 minutes. 
     
     
         6 . The metal processing system of  claim 1 , wherein coil of the metal strip is a final gauge of the metal strip. 
     
     
         7 . The metal processing system of  claim 6 , wherein the metal strip comprises an O temper. 
     
     
         8 . The metal processing of  claim 6 , wherein the metal strip comprises a T4 temper. 
     
     
         9 . A metal processing system comprising:
 a continuous casting device for casting a metal strip, wherein the metal strip comprises aluminum or an aluminum alloy;   a first inline heater downstream from the continuous casting device and configured to heat the metal strip;   a first quenching device downstream from the inline heater configured to quench the metal strip;   a hot rolling stand downstream from the quenching device;   a second quenching device downstream from the hot rolling stand configured to quench the metal strip; and   a second inline heater downstream from the hot rolling stand configured to heat the metal strip; and   a coiler downstream from the rolling stand configured to coil the metal strip.   
     
     
         10 . The metal processing system of  claim 9 , wherein the first inline heater is configured to heat the metal strip at a temperature from 500° C. to 570° C. for a duration of greater than 0 minutes and less than or equal to 10 minutes. 
     
     
         11 . The metal processing system of  claim 10 , wherein the duration is from 1 to 3 minutes. 
     
     
         12 . The metal processing system of  claim 10 , wherein the duration is less than 3 minutes. 
     
     
         13 . The metal processing system of  claim 9 , wherein coil of the metal strip is a final gauge of the metal strip. 
     
     
         14 . The metal processing system of  claim 13 , wherein the metal strip comprises an O temper. 
     
     
         15 . The metal processing system of  claim 13 , wherein the metal strip comprises a T4 temper. 
     
     
         16 . The metal processing system of  claim 9 , wherein the coiler is configured to coil the metal strip while the metal strip is at a temperature from 50° C. to 400° C.