Device for guiding a metal strip on a gas cushion

Abstract

An apparatus is described for guiding a metal band ( 1 ) on a gas cushion with blowing boxes ( 4 ) which are disposed one after the other in the longitudinal direction ( 3 ) of the band and which comprise nozzle fields ( 5 ) which extend transversally to the longitudinal direction ( 3 ) of the band and comprise hole-type nozzles ( 6 ) distributed over the field surface area. In order to provide advantageous constructional conditions it is proposed that the nozzle fields ( 5 ) are provided with a convex basic shape through field sections ( 1, 3 ) which slope in at least one end section at either side transversally to the longitudinal direction of the band.

1 . An apparatus for guiding a metal band on a gas cushion with blowing boxes which are disposed one after the other in the longitudinal direction of the band and which comprise nozzle fields which extend transversally to the longitudinal direction of the band and comprise hole-type nozzles distributed over the field surface area, characterized in that the nozzle fields ( 5 ) are provided with a convex basic shape through field sections ( 1 ,  3 ) which slope in at least one end section at either side transversally to the longitudinal direction of the band.  
     
     
         2 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the field sections ( 2 ,  3 ) of the nozzle fields ( 5 ) slope increasingly downwardly to either side.  
     
     
         3 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 , characterized in that when providing nozzle fields ( 5 ) below and above the metal band ( 1 ) to be guided the upper nozzle fields ( 5 ) are provided with a concave basic shape which is adjusted to the convex basic shape of the lower nozzle fields ( 5 ).