Impact pad for a continuous caster tundish

Abstract

An impact pad for eliminating surface turbulence in a continuous caster tundish, the impact pad having a base for receiving an incoming ladle stream, and one or more sidewalls extending in an upward direction along the periphery of the base. Each upward extending sidewall includes an inner surface having an undercut portion facing the incoming ladle stream. And, each undercut portion extends along the length of the inner surface, and comprises a shaped surface for receiving and reversing the direction of a fluid flow generated by the incoming ladle stream.

We claim: 
     
       1. An impact pad for reversing the direction of a fluid flow generated by an incoming liquid stream, said impact pad comprising: a base having a surface against which said liquid stream impacts, a peripheral top surface to expose said base, and a sidewall extending in an upward direction along the periphery of said base, said sidewall extending between said base and said peripheral top surface and including; a) a first end, a second end remote from said first end, and   b) an inner surface including an undercut extending continuously below said peripheral top surface.   
     
     
       2. The invention described in claim 1 wherein said sidewall extends along three sides of said base periphery. 
     
     
       3. The invention described in claim 1 wherein said peripheral top surface comprises a "C" shaped configuration. 
     
     
       4. The invention described in claim 1 wherein said undercut is a curvilinear surface. 
     
     
       5. The invention described in claim 4 wherein said curvilinear surface comprises a first arcuate surface below said peripheral top surface, a second arcuate surface tangent to said base surface against which said liquid strum impacts, and a transitional surface extending between said first arcuate surface and said second arcuate surface. 
     
     
       6. The invention described in claim 1 wherein said undercut is a planar surface below said peripheral top surface, said planar surface being sloped at an angle θ of between 45° and 75°. 
     
     
       7. An impact pad for reversing the direction of a fluid flow generated by an incoming liquid stream, said impact pad comprising: a base having a surface against which said liquid stream impacts, a first sidewall extending in an upward direction along a first edge of said base, and a second sidewall extending in an upward direction along a second edge of said base, said first sidewall and said second sidewall being opposite hand, and said first and said second sidewall each including; a) a first end, a second end remote from said first end, and a top surface, and   b) an inner surface including an undercut extending continuously below said top surface, said undercut including a curvilinear surface having a first arcuate surface below said top surface, a second arcuate surface tangent to said base surface against which said liquid stream impacts, and a transitional surface extending between said first and said second arcuate surfaces.   
     
     
       8. An impact pad for reversing the direction of a fluid flow generated by an incoming liquid stream, said impact pad comprising: a base having a surface against which said liquid stream impacts, a first sidewall extending in an upward direction along a first edge of said base, and a second sidewall extending in an upward direction along a second edge of said base, said first sidewall and said second sidewall being opposite hand, and said first and said second sidewall each including; a) a first end, a second end remote from said first end, and a top surface, and   b) an inner surface including an undercut extending continuously below said top surface, said undercut being a planar surface sloped at an angle θ of between 45° and 75°.   
     
     
       9. In a continuous caster tundish for containing a reservoir of molten metal having an asymmetrical fluid flow generated by an incoming ladle stream, the tundish including first end wall, a second end wall, sidewalls and a floor, said floor having one or more well blocks located near said first end wall, and said floor including a ladle stream impact area positioned proximate said second end wall, wherein the improvement comprises an impact pad for reversing the direction of said fluid flow generated by said incoming ladle stream comprising: a base having a surface against which said liquid stream impacts, a peripheral top surface to expose said base, and a sidewall extending in an upward direction along the periphery of said base, said sidewall extending between said base and said peripheral top surface and including; a) a first end, a second end remote from said first end, and   b) an inner surface including an undercut extending continuously below said peripheral top surface.   
     
     
       10. The invention described in claim 9 wherein said sidewall extends along three sides of said base periphery. 
     
     
       11. The invention described in claim 9 wherein said peripheral top surface comprises a "C" shaped configuration. 
     
     
       12. The invention described in claim 9 wherein said first end and said second end remote from said first end provide a fluid flow outlet, said outlet being located along said base portion adjacent the well blocks of the tundish. 
     
     
       13. The invention described in claim 9 wherein said undercut is a curvilinear surface. 
     
     
       14. The invention described in claim 13 wherein said curvilinear surface comprises a first arcuate surface below said peripheral top surface, a second arcuate surface remote from said first arcuate surface and tangent to said base surface against which said liquid stream impacts, and a transitional surface extending between said first arcuate surface and said second arcuate surface. 
     
     
       15. The invention described in claim 14 wherein a height "H" of said curvilinear surface is ≧ the inside diameter of said tubular ladle shroud. 
     
     
       16. The invention described in claim 9 wherein said undercut is a planar surface below said peripheral top surface, said planar surface being sloped at an angle θ of between 45° and 75°. 
     
     
       17. The invention described in claim 16 wherein a height "H" of said planar surface is ≧ the inside diameter of said tubular ladle shroud. 
     
     
       18. The invention described in claim 16 wherein said base surface against which said liquid stream impacts is sloped in a downward direction from said second tundish end wall toward said tundish floor. 
     
     
       19. In a continuous caster tundish for containing a reservoir of molten metal having a symmetrical fluid flow generated by an incoming ladle stream, the tundish including a first sidewall, a second sidewall, end walls and a floor, said floor having two or more well blocks spaced along the length thereof, and said floor including a ladle stream impact area positioned between adjacent well blocks, wherein the improvement comprises an impact pad for reversing the direction of said fluid flow generated by said incoming ladle stream comprising: a base having a surface against which said liquid stream impacts, a first sidewall extending in an upward direction along a first edge of said base, and a second sidewall extending in an upward direction along a second edge of said base, said first sidewall and said second sidewall being opposite hand, and said first and said second sidewall each including; a) a first end, a second end remote from said first end, and a top surface, and   b) an inner surface including an undercut extending continuously below said top surface, said undercut including a curvilinear surface having a first arcuate surface below said top surface, a second arcuate surface tangent to said base surface against which said liquid stream impacts, and a transitional surface extending between said first and said second arcuate surfaces.   
     
     
       20. The invention described in claim 19 wherein a height "H" of said curvilinear undercut is ≧ the inside diameter of said ladle shroud. 
     
     
       21. In a continuous caster tundish for containing a reservoir of molten metal having a symmetrical fluid flow generated by an incoming ladle stream, the tundish including a first sidewall, a second sidewall, end walls and a floor, said floor having two or more well blocks spaced along the length thereof, and said floor including a ladle stream impact area positioned between adjacent well blocks, wherein the improvement comprises an impact pad for reversing the direction of said fluid flow generated by said incoming ladle stream comprising: a base having a surface against which said liquid stream impacts, a first sidewall extending in an upward direction along a first edge of said base, and a second sidewall extending in an upward direction along a second edge of said base, said first sidewall and said second sidewall being opposite hand, and said first and said second sidewall each including; a) a first end, a second end remote from said first end, and a top surface, and   b) an inner surface including an undercut extending continuously below said top surface, said undercut being a planar surface sloped at an angle θ of between 45° and 75°.   
     
     
       22. The invention described in claim 20 wherein a height "H" of said curvilinear undercut is ≧ the inside diameter of said ladle shroud. .Iadd. 
     
     
       23.  An impact pad, comprising: a base having a surface against which an incoming ladle stream impacts and upon which the fluid thereof flows, a peripheral top surface to expose said base, and a side wall extending in an upward direction along the periphery of said base, said side wall extending between said base and said peripheral top surface and including an inner surface having an undercut extending continuously below said peripheral top surface so that the fluid flow of the ladle stream is forced into a reversed direction back toward the incoming ladle stream. .Iaddend..Iadd. 
     
     
       24.  The invention described in claim 23 wherein said undercut is a curvilinear surface. .Iaddend..Iadd.25. The invention described in claim 24 wherein said curvilinear surface comprises a first arcuate surface below said peripheral top surface, a second arcuate surface remote from said first arcuate surface and tangent to said base surface against which said incoming ladle stream impacts, and a transitional surface extending between said first arcuate surface and said second arcuate surface. .Iaddend..Iadd.26. The invention described in claim 23 wherein said undercut is a planar surface below said peripheral top surface, said planar surface being sloped at an angle φ of between 45° and 
     
     
        75°. .Iaddend..Iadd.27.  In a continuous caster tundish for containing a reservoir of molten metal having fluid flow generated by an incoming ladle stream, the tundish including a first end wall, a second end wall, sidewalls, and a floor, said floor including at least one well block for discharging molten metal from the continuous caster tundish, and the floor including an impact area to receive the incoming ladle stream, the impact area positioned proximate a shroud introducing the incoming ladle stream, wherein the improvement comprises an impact pad located in the impact area for reversing the direction of the fluid flow generated by the incoming ladle stream comprising: a base having a surface against which the incoming ladle stream impacts, a peripheral top surface to expose said base, and a sidewall extending in an upward direction along the periphery of said base, said sidewall extending between said base and said peripheral top surface and including an inner surface having an undercut extending continuously below said peripheral top surface so that fluid flow of the ladle stream is forced into a reversed direction back 
     
     
        toward the incoming ladle stream. .Iaddend..Iadd.28.  The invention described in claim 27 wherein said undercut is a curvilinear surface. .Iaddend..Iadd.29. The invention described in claim 28 wherein said curvilinear surface comprises a first arcuate surface below said peripheral top surface, a second arcuate surface remote from said fast arcuate surface and tangent to said base surface against which said incoming ladle stream impacts, and a transitional surface extending between said first arcuate surface and said second arcuate surface. .Iaddend..Iadd.30. The invention described in claim 29 wherein said shroud is tubular and the height "H" of said curvilinear surface is ≧ the 
     
     
        inside diameter of said shroud. .Iaddend..Iadd.31.  The invention described in claim 27 wherein said undercut is a planar surface below said peripheral top surface, said planar surface being sloped at an angle φ of between 45° and 75°. .Iaddend..Iadd.32. The invention described in claim 31 wherein said shroud is tubular and the height "H" of said planar surface is ≧ the inside diameter of said shroud. .Iaddend..Iadd.33. The invention described in claim 31 wherein said base surface against which said incoming ladle stream impacts is sloped in a downward direction from a tundish end wall toward said tundish floor. 
     
     
        .Iaddend..Iadd.34.  An impact pad for reversing the direction of fluid flow generated by an incoming ladle stream, said impact pad comprising: a base having a surface against which an incoming ladle stream impacts, a peripheral top surface to expose said base, and a sidewall extending in an upward direction along the periphery of said base, said sidewall extending between said base and said peripheral top surface and including an inner surface having an undercut for receiving and reversing the direction of a fluid flow generated by the incoming ladle stream. .Iaddend..Iadd.35. The impact pad of claim 34, wherein: 
     
     
       a) said undercut is arcuate. .Iaddend..Iadd.36.  The impact pad of claim 34, wherein: a) said undercut is planar. .Iadd.37. The impact pad of claim 34, wherein:     a) said sidewall extends partially about said base. .Iaddend..Iadd.38. The impact pad of claim 37, wherein:   a) said sidewall has first and second remote ends forming therebetween an opening through which the fluid flow may flow. .Iaddend..Iadd.39. The impact pad of claims 35 or 36, wherein:   a) said undercut extends along the length of said inner surface. .Iaddend..Iadd.40. The impact pad of claim 34, wherein:   a) said peripheral top surface is C-shaped in plan. .Iaddend..Iadd.41. The impact pad of claim 34, wherein:   a) said base is rectangular in plan, and   b) there are two sidewalls, each sidewall extending along an edge of said base and said sidewalls extending in parallel. .Iaddend..Iadd.42. An impact pad for reversing the direction of a fluid flow generated by an incoming ladle stream, said impact pad comprising: a base having a surface against which an incoming ladle stream impacts, a peripheral top surface to expose said base, and a sidewall extending from said base in an upward direction, said sidewall extending between said base and said peripheral top surface and including an inner surface having an undercut extending below said peripheral top surface for receiving and reversing the direction of a fluid flow generated by the incoming ladle stream.   
     
     
        .Iaddend..Iadd.43.  The impact pad of claim 42, wherein: a) said undercut is arcuate. .Iaddend..Iadd.44. The impact pad of claim 42, wherein:   a) said undercut is planar. .Iaddend..Iadd.45. The impact pad of claims 43 or 44, wherein:   a) said undercut extends along the length of said inner surface. .Iaddend..Iadd.46. The impact pad of claim 45, wherein:   a) said sidewall extends partially about said base. .Iaddend..Iadd.47. The impact pad of claim 46, wherein:   a) said sidewall is peripherally disposed about said base. .Iaddend.