Vibrating ingot mold for continuous casting of metals

• US 4,662,427 A
• Filed: 09/26/1985
• Issued: 05/05/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Institut de Recherches de La Siderurgie Francaise
• Original Assignee: Irsid
• Inventors: Nogues, Michel, Larrecq, Michel
• Primary Examiner(s): Lin, Kuang Y.
• Application Number:
  US06/780,509
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• Field of Search: 164/478, 164/71.1, 164/416, 164/260
• US Class Current: 164/416
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 11/053 Means for oscillating the moulds

Abstract

A vibrating ingot mold for the continuous casting of metals, particularly of steel, comprising at least one ultrasonic transducer (8) mounted on the edge (20) of one end of the interal tubular element (14) of the mold, in an extension of that element, and oriented to transmit to that element the ultrasonic vibrations which it generates in a longitudinal direction, parallel or substantially parallel to the casting axis (A) in the mold. By reducing friction between the cast metal and the inner mold wall, the mold structure promotes lubrication and improves the quality of the surfaces of the cast products while reducing the danger of breakouts. It can be used with vertical, inclined, curved and horizontal continuous casting plants.

Claims

1. Vibrating ingot mold for the continuous casting of metals along a casting axis, of the type comprising at least one ultrasonic transducer (8) applied against a tubular internal element (14) of said mold contacting cast metal, said tubular element having an extension and said transducer being directly mounted on the edge (20) of one end of said tubular element in said extension thereof, and being oriented to transmit to said element ultrasonic vibrations generated by said transducer in a longitudinal direction at least substantially parallel to said casting axis (A) in said mold.

2. Vibrating ingot mold according to claim 1, wherein said transducer is a piezoelectric transducer comprising plates (9, 10) of piezoelectric material retained between a metallic transmitter mass (12) and a metallic balancing mass, one of said masses being formed by said tubular internal element (14) itself, one (10) of said plates abutting with one of its faces against said edge (20) of said element, said plates (9, 10) having substantially the same dimensions as said edge (20), and said metallic transmitter mass (12) having a transverse section with the same shape and dimensions as said edge.

3. Vibrating ingot mold according to claim 2, wherein the distance (D) between a free end of said transmitter mass (12) and a free end of said balancing mass (14) is such that D=k(λ

/2), where k is a whole number and λ

is the wavelength of said ultrasonic vibrations generated by said transducer (8).

4. Vibrating ingot mold according to claim 2, wherein the dimensions of said transmitter mass (12) are so selected that the distance (D'"'"') between a free end of said transmitter mass and a plane of a joint of said plates (9, 10) is such that D'"'"'=λ

/4+(η

'"'"'λ

)/2, where n'"'"' is equal to zero or a whole number and λ

represents the wavelength of ultrasonic vibrations generated by said transducer (8).