Method and apparatus for controlling the flow of granular mold flux onto the top of a strand of steel being cast within a continuous casting mold

Abstract

Apparatus for controlling the flow of granular mold flux onto the top of a strand of steel being cast within a continuous casting mold. The apparatus includes a source of granular mold flux, and a transport apparatus interconnected with the source of granular mold flux and capable of moving the granular mold flux at varying rates onto the top of a strand of steel being cast within a continuous casting mold. A sensing apparatus is provided which is capable of determining a parameter of the mold flux on the top of the strand of steel being cast, which sensing apparatus may be a temperature sensor or a level sensor. A control is also provided which is responsive to the sensing apparatus to regulate the rate of flow of the granular mold flux onto the top strand of steel.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . Apparatus for controlling the flow of granular mold flux onto the top of a strand of steel being cast within a continuous casting mold comprising: 
 a source of granular mold flux;    transport apparatus interconnected with the source of granular mold flux and capable of moving the granular mold flux at varying rates onto the top of a strand of steel being cast within a continuous casting mold;    sensing apparatus capable of determining a parameter of the mold flux on the top of the strand of steel being cast; and    control responsive to the sensing apparatus to regulate the rate of flow of the granular mold flux onto the top of the strand of steel.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  for controlling the flow of granular mold flux onto the top of a strand of steel being cast within a continuous casting mold wherein the sensing apparatus includes a device for measuring the surface temperature of the mold flux upon the strand.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 2  for controlling the flow of granular mold flux onto the top of a strand of steel being cast within a continuous casting mold wherein the device for measuring the surface temperature is an infrared temperature sensor.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  for controlling the flow of granular mold flux onto the top of a strand of steel being cast within a continuous casting mold wherein the sensing apparatus includes a device for measuring the level of the flux upon the strand of steel being cast.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as set forth in claim  42  for controlling the flow of granular mold flux onto the top of a strand of steel being cast within a continuous casting mold wherein the device for measuring the level of the flux is a laser distance measurement device.