Funnel geometry of a mold for the continuous casting of metal

Abstract

A funnel geometry of a mold for the continuous casting of metal, wherein the mold has a pouring portion with cooled long side walls and short side walls, wherein the pouring portion becomes narrower in the shape of a funnel in the casting direction until it reaches the size of the cast strand. In the funnel portion the inner contour of the long side walls is constructed convexly along a straight line connecting the upper edge of the mold and the outlet of the pouring portion.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A mold for the continuous casting of metal comprising cooled long side walls and short side walls forming a pouring portion which narrows in the shape of a funnel in a casting direction toward a size of a cast strand, wherein the long side walls have inner contours, and wherein in the funnel-shaped pouring portion the inner contours of the long side walls have a convex shape along a straight line connecting an upper edge of the mold and an outlet of the funnel-shaped pouring portion.  
     
     
         2 . The mold according to  claim 1 , wherein in the funnel-shaped pouring portion the inner contours of the long side walls have a convex shape along a straight line connecting the upper edge of the mold and a beginning of a lower vertical portion.  
     
     
         3 . The mold according to  claim 1 , wherein in the funnel-shaped pouring portion the inner contours of the long side walls have a convex shape along a straight line connecting the upper edge of the mold and a lower edge of the mold.  
     
     
         4 . The mold according to  claim 3 , wherein the inner contours of the long side walls are not parallel.  
     
     
         5 . The mold according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner contours of the long side walls have over one or more partial portions thereof a circular arc-shaped, a polynomial or a trigonometrical configuration.  
     
     
         6 . The mold according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner contours of the long side walls have a constant curvature.  
     
     
         7 . The mold according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner contours of the long side walls have a changing curvature.  
     
     
         8 . The mold according to  claim 1 , wherein the convex inner contours of the long side walls has a circular arc-shape at a lower end thereof connected to a lower section having a steady configuration.  
     
     
         9 . The mold according to  claim 8 , wherein the lower steady section has parallel walls.  
     
     
         10 . A method of continuously casting metal in a mold having cooled long side walls and short side walls forming a pouring portion which narrows in the shape of a funnel in a casting direction toward a size of a cast strand, wherein the long side walls have inner contours, and wherein in the funnel-shaped pouring portion the inner contours of the long side walls have a convex shape along a straight line connecting an upper edge of the mold and an outlet of the funnel-shaped pouring portion, the method comprising casting a strand of peritectic carbon steels and austenitic stainless steels which have the tendency to be subject to extremely high shrinkage.