Pulling-up-type continuous casting apparatus and pulling-up-type continuous casting method

Abstract

A pulling-up-type continuous casting apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a molten-metal holding furnace that holds molten metal, a shape defining member disposed in a vicinity of a molten-metal surface in the molten-metal holding furnace, the shape defining member being configured to define a cross-sectional shape of a cast-metal article to be cast as the held molten metal passes through the shape defining member, and an actuator that applies a pressure to the molten metal held in the molten-metal holding furnace and thereby makes the held molten metal pass through the shape defining member.

1 . A pulling-up-type continuous casting apparatus comprising:
 a holding furnace that holds molten metal;   a shape defining member disposed in a vicinity of a molten-metal surface of the molten metal, the shape defining member being configured to define a cross-sectional shape of a cast-metal article to be cast as the molten metal passes through the shape defining member; and   a pressurization device that applies a pressure to the molten metal held in the holding furnace and thereby makes the molten metal pass through the shape defining member.   
     
     
         2 . The pulling-up-type continuous casting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the pressurization device applies a pressure to the molten metal held in the holding furnace by moving the shape defining member into the molten metal held in the holding furnace. 
     
     
         3 . The pulling-up-type continuous casting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the pressurization device comprises:
 an enclosed vessel that hermetically encloses the molten metal held in the holding furnace; and   a pressurization unit that feeds a fluid into the enclosed vessel and thereby applies a pressure to the molten metal held in the holding furnace.   
     
     
         4 . The pulling-up-type continuous casting apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the pressurization device further comprises a stalk extending from the shape defining member to the molten-metal surface of the molten metal held in the holding furnace, and   the pressurization device applies a pressure to the molten metal held in the holding furnace and thereby makes the molten metal pass through the stalk and the shape defining member.   
     
     
         5 . The pulling-up-type continuous casting apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a drawing section that grasps and pulls up the cast-metal article and thereby draws the molten metal held in the holding furnace through the shape defining member, the cast-metal article being formed as the molten metal that has passed through the shape defining member solidifies. 
     
     
         6 . A pulling-up-type continuous casting method comprising:
 disposing a shape defining member in a vicinity of a molten-metal surface of molten metal held in a holding furnace, the shape defining member being configured to define a cross-sectional shape of a cast-metal article to be cast as the molten metal passes through the shape defining member; and   applying a pressure to the molten metal held in the holding furnace and thereby making the molten metal pass through the shape defining member.   
     
     
         7 . The pulling-up-type continuous casting method according to  claim 6 , wherein a pressure is applied to the molten metal held in the holding furnace by moving the shape defining member into the molten metal held in the holding furnace. 
     
     
         8 . The pulling-up-type continuous casting method according to  claim 6 , further comprising an enclosed vessel that hermetically encloses the molten metal held in the holding furnace,
 wherein the pressure is applied to the molten metal held in the holding furnace by feeding a fluid into the enclosed vessel.   
     
     
         9 . The pulling-up-type continuous casting method according to  claim 8 , further comprising a stalk extending from the shape defining member to the molten-metal surface of the molten metal held in the holding furnace, and
 the molten metal is made to pass through the stalk and the shape defining member by applying a pressure to the molten metal held in the holding furnace.   
     
     
         10 . The pulling-up-type continuous casting method according to  claim 6 , further comprising grasping and pulling up the cast-metal article and thereby drawing the molten metal held in the holding furnace through the shape defining member, the cast-metal article being formed as the molten metal that has passed through the shape defining member solidifies.