Mold for continuous casting of metal strands

Abstract

A mold for semi-continuous casting of metal strands from liquid metal, comprising a mold body provided with at least one mold cavity. The at least one mold cavity comprises a liquid metal inlet defined by a nozzle plate; an insert defining a perimeter wall intended to be in contact with the metal leaving said liquid metal inlet; a mold outlet; a plurality of spray nozzles for spraying cooling fluid onto the metal strand, the spray nozzles being preferably provided in the insert. The mold body is provided with a channel for cooling fluid. The insert is removable and is made from a metallic material. The mold is useful for casting aluminium strands.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A mold for semi-continuous casting of metal strands from liquid metal, the mold comprising:
 a mold body having a channel for cooling fluid and at least one mold cavity that includes:
 a liquid metal inlet defined by a nozzle plate, 
 a removable insert defining a perimeter wall for contact with the liquid metal leaving the liquid metal inlet, the removable insert being formed of a metallic material selected from the group formed by aluminium, aluminium alloys, copper, and copper alloys, 
 a mold outlet, and 
 a plurality of spray nozzles provided in the removable insert for spraying cooling fluid onto the metal strands. 
   
     
     
         22 . The mold of  claim 21 , wherein the mold body further has a removable front plate. 
     
     
         23 . The mold of  claim 22 , wherein the channel is arranged in the mold body or is adjacent to the mold body. 
     
     
         24 . The mold of  claim 23 , wherein the mold body, the removable insert, and the front plate define a waterbox that forms the channel. 
     
     
         25 . The mold of  claim 24 , wherein the channel is arranged:
 in the mold body, or   between the mold body and the removable insert, or   between the mold body, the removable insert, and the removable front plate.   
     
     
         26 . The mold of  claim 25 , further comprising a removable insert clamping plate fixed onto the front plate to clamp the removable insert against the nozzle plate. 
     
     
         27 . The mold of  claim 26 , wherein the removable insert is clamped between the nozzle plate using a nozzle clamping plate, and the mold body using an insert clamping plate. 
     
     
         28 . The mold of  claim 27 , wherein the nozzle plate is formed from a non-metallic inorganic material. 
     
     
         29 . The mold of  claim 28 , further comprising at least one conduit provided in the removable insert, the at least one conduit being in fluid connection with a connection interface for a lubricant fluid. 
     
     
         30 . The mold of  claim 29 , wherein the at least one conduit is operable to admit the lubricant fluid between the removable insert and the nozzle plate. 
     
     
         31 . The mold of  claim 30 , wherein the at least one mold cavity comprises a plurality of mold cavities. 
     
     
         32 . The mold of  claim 31 , wherein the waterbox extends substantially over the entire mold. 
     
     
         33 . The mold of  claim 32 , wherein each mold cavity is provided with means for oil pressure adjustment and/or oil throughput. 
     
     
         34 . Use of the mold of  claim 21  for casting of metal strands with a non-circular cross-section, the metal strands being formed as foundry ingots. 
     
     
         35 . The use of  claim 34 , further comprising a plurality of mold cavities arranged in a row, for horizontal casting of the metal strands. 
     
     
         36 . The use of  claim 35 , wherein the metal strands are cast in aluminium or aluminum alloys. 
     
     
         37 . The use of  claim 35 , wherein during casting:
 cooling fluid is circulated in the cooling channels and/or the waterbox, and/or   cooling fluid is sprayed onto the metal strand emerging from the mold outlet using the spray nozzles, and/or   lubricant fluid is admitted through the conduits on the surface of the metal strand.   
     
     
         38 . A method of maintaining or repairing the mold of  claim 21 , the method comprising:
 removing the insert clamping plate to remove the removable insert for maintenance, repair, or replacement;   installing a new removable insert or a renovated removable insert; and   reinstalling and fastening the insert clamping plate.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising:
 before removing the insert clamping plate, unlocking fixation means of the insert clamping plate;   after removing the insert clamping plate, cleaning accessible surfaces of the mold cavity;   wherein installing the new removable insert or the renovated removable insert comprises installing the new removable insert or the renovated removable insert and an O-ring;   wherein reinstalling and fastening the insert clamping plate comprises reinstalling the insert clamping plate and then fastening the fixation means to fix the insert clamping plate in position.   
     
     
         40 . A method for changing the nozzle plate of the mold of  claim 21 , the method comprising:
 unlocking fixation means of the nozzle clamping plate;   removing the nozzle clamping plate;   removing the nozzle plate;   installing a new nozzle plate or a renovated nozzle plate;   reinstalling the nozzle clamping plate; and   fixing the nozzle clamping plate in position by fastening the fixation means.