Claims
- 1. In an improved apparatus for the continuous casting of a metallic strand from a melt in which said apparatus is partly immersed, having a die of a refractory material in fluid communication with said melt, the die substantially defining a mold cavity through which mold cavity said strand is drawn, a thermally conductive coolerbody, surrounding at least a portion of said die to extract heat therefrom, and conduit means for passing a cooling fluid through said coolerbody, said coolerbody having a first end portion positioned below a second end portion, with only said first end portion encompassing said die, the improvement comprising:
- O-ring sealing means mounted in a recess of said coolerbody for containing said cooling fluid within said conduit means, said O-ring sealing means comprising:
- a resilient first O-ring surrounding said first end portion of said coolerbody;
- an annular positioning member secured to said coolerbody and surrounding said first O-ring in compressive engagement therewith;
- a resilient second O-ring surrounding said second end portion of said coolerbody; and
- a coupling member which receives said second end portion of said coolerbody and surrounds said second O-ring, in compressive engagement therewith;
- thermal barrier means within said coolerbody and between said mold cavity and said O-ring sealing means for maintaining the temperature of said O-ring sealing means at a level insufficient to damage said O-ring sealing means.
- 2. The improved apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said thermal barrier means comprises:
- means for circulating said cooling fluid in regions of said coolerbody between said O-rings and said die.
- 3. The improved apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means for circulating forms an extension of said conduit means.
- 4. The improved apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said thermal barrier means further comprises:
- means for providing air gaps, in addition to air gaps between the die and the strand created as a result of shrinkage of the strand, within said coolerbody in the region between said second O-ring and said mold cavity.
- 5. The improved apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said air gap providing means comprises:
- an annular shield fixed to said coupling member and protruding within a recess in said second end portion of said coolerbody so as to enclose said mold cavity, said annular shield having an outer diameter smaller than the dimensions of said recess and an inner diameter greater than the diameter of the enclosed mold cavity, thereby producing a first air gap between said mold cavity and said annular shield, and a second air gap between said coolerbody and said annular shield.
- 6. The improved apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said annular shield has a thermal conductivity less than that of said coolerbody.
- 7. The improved apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said recess has a shoulder portion opposing the lower end of said annular shield and spaced sufficiently closely thereto, whereby a vapor seal is formed by said lower end of said shield pressing against said shoulder upon thermal expansion of said shield during operation of the apparatus.
- 8. In an improved apparatus for the continuous casting of a metallic strand from a melt, having a die of a refractory material in fluid communication with said melt, said die substantially defining a mold cavity through which mold cavity said strand is drawn, a thermally conductive coolerbody having a first end portion positioned below a second end portion when said apparatus is immersed in said melt, with only said first end portion encompassing said die, and a conduit formed within said coolerbody for accommodating the flow of a cooling fluid therethrough, the improvement comprising:
- a resilient first O-ring surrounding said first end portion of said coolerbody adjacent said conduit;
- an annular positioning member secured to said coolerbody and surrounding said first O-ring, in compressive engagement therewith, thereby forming a first seal for containing said cooling fluid within said conduit; a first channel formed within said coolerbody intermediate said first O-ring and said die, said first channel intersecting said conduit whereby cooling fluid can circulate within said first channel;
- a resilient second O-ring surrounding said second end portion of said coolerbody, adjacent said conduit;
- a coupling member receiving said second end portion of said coolerbody and surrounding said second O-ring in compressive engagement therewith, thereby forming a second seal for containing said cooling fluid within said conduit;
- a second channel formed within said coolerbody intermediate said second O-ring and said mold cavity, said second channel intersecting said conduit whereby cooling fluid can circulate within said second channel; and
- an annular shield fixed to said coupling member and protruding within a recess in said second end portion of said coolerbody so as to enclose said mold cavity, said annular shield having an outer diameter smaller than the dimensions of said recess and an inner diameter greater than the diameter of said mold cavity, thereby producing a first air gap between said mold cavity and said annular shield, and a second air gap between said coolerbody and said annular shield,
- whereby the temperatures of said O-rings are maintained at a level insufficient to damage said O-rings.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of Ser. No. 228,549, dated Jan. 26, 1981, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (10)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
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1031936 |
Jul 1958 |
DEX |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
228549 |
Jan 1981 |
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