Strip casting apparatus with improved side dam force control

Abstract

A method of casting a thin strip is disclosed. The method includes assembling a pair of side dams adjacent end portions of counter-rotating casting rolls through which a strip of metal can be cast to permit a casting pool of molten metal to be formed supported by the casting surfaces of the casting rolls, assembling an angular actuator connected to a side dam at an angle urging the side dam toward the casting pool with a hold down force component urging the side dam downwardly, assembling a metal delivery system above the casting rolls delivering molten metal to form a casting pool supported on the casting surfaces of the casting rolls above the nip and confined by the pair of side dams, and counter-rotating the casting rolls such that the casting surfaces of the casting rolls each travel inwardly to produce a cast strip downwardly from the nip.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of casting thin strip comprising the steps of:
 assembling a pair of counter-rotating casting rolls laterally forming a nip between circumferential casting surfaces of the rolls through which metal strip can be cast,   assembling a pair of side dams adjacent end portions of the casting roll to permit a casting pool of molten metal to be formed supported by the casting surfaces of the casting rolls,   assembling an angular actuator connected to a side dam at an angle between 0.5° and 20° to the axis of the casting rolls to urging the side dam toward the casting pool with a hold down force component urging the side dam downwardly   assembling a metal delivery system above the casting rolls delivering molten metal to form a casting pool supported on the casting surfaces of the casting rolls above the nip and confined by the pair of side dams, and   counter-rotating the casting rolls such that the casting surfaces of the casting rolls each travel inwardly toward the nip to produce a cast strip downwardly from the nip.   
     
     
         2 . The method of casting thin strip as claimed in  claim 1  where the angle of connection of the angular actuator to each side dam is between 0.5° and 10°. 
     
     
         3 . The method of casting thin strip as claimed in  claim 1  where the angle of connection of the angular actuator to each side dam is between 0.5° and 5°. 
     
     
         4 . The method of casting thin strip as claimed in  claim 1  where the angular actuator connected to each side dam through a swivel joint.