Equipment for continuous casting operation

Abstract

Equipment for a continuous casting operation includes a closed chamber having first and second connecting holes, a furnace unit disposed in the chamber, a horizontal casting apparatus connected to the first connecting hole and including at least one first die having a first passage connected to the melting furnace, a first drawing unit disposed downstream of the horizontal casting apparatus, an upcast casting apparatus disposed above the chamber and connected to the second connecting hole, and a second drawing unit disposed downstream of the upcast casting apparatus. The upcast casting apparatus includes at least one second die having a second passage connected to the melting furnace. With the equipment, either horizontal casting or upcasting may be performed.

1 . Equipment for a continuous casting operation, comprising:
 a closed chamber having first and second connecting holes;   a furnace unit disposed in said chamber for melting solid metal into molten metal;   a horizontal casting apparatus connected to said first connecting hole, and including at least one first die having a first passage connected to said melting furnace to form a casting;   a first drawing unit disposed downstream of said horizontal casting apparatus;   an upcast casting apparatus disposed above said chamber and connected to said second connecting hole, and including at least one second die having a second passage connected to with said melting furnace to form a casting; and   a second drawing unit disposed downstream of said upcast casting apparatus.   
   
   
       2 . The equipment of  claim 1 , further comprising a first collecting unit disposed downstream of said first drawing unit to collect the casting either from said first die or from said second die. 
   
   
       3 . The equipment of  claim 2 , wherein said first collecting unit includes a first platform, and at least one first coiler and at least one first runout table supported by said first platform. 
   
   
       4 . The equipment of  claim 3 , wherein said first platform is movable relative to said chamber between a first position, where said first coiler is aligned with said first drawing unit, and a second position, where said first runout table is aligned with said first drawing unit. 
   
   
       5 . The equipment of  claim 1 , further comprising a first collecting unit disposed downstream of said first drawing unit to collect the casting from said first die, and a second collecting unit disposed downstream of said second drawing unit to collect the casting from said second die. 
   
   
       6 . The equipment of  claim 5 , wherein said first collecting unit includes a first platform, and at least one first coiler and at least one first runout table supported by said first platform, said second collecting unit including a second platform, and at least one second coiler and at least one second runout table supported by said second platform. 
   
   
       7 . The equipment of  claim 6 , wherein said first platform is movable relative to said horizontal casting apparatus between a first position, where said first coiler is aligned with said first drawing unit, and a second position, where said first runout table is aligned with said first drawing unit, said second platform being movable relative to said upcast casting apparatus between a third position, where said second coiler is aligned with said second drawing unit, and a fourth position, where said second runout table is aligned with said second drawing unit.