Spray Cooled Funnel Mold

Abstract

A funnel shaped mold for casting slabs of steel which is configured to be cooled by a fine spray of a cooling liquid on the outside of the mold.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A funnel mold system comprising:
 a funnel mold comprising:
 an upper end: 
 a lower end; 
 an interior comprising a funnel section proximate the upper end of the mold and a narrow face section adjacent to the funnel section and extending to the lower end of the mold: and 
 mold walls which enclose four sides of the interior section; and 
   a spray cooling system comprising:
 a plurality of liquid spray nozzles configured to spray cooling liquid on the entirety of the mold walls. 
   
     
     
         2 . The funnel mold as defined in  claim 1  wherein the spray nozzles are further configured to spray three to five times the volume of cooling liquid on the funnel wall than the remaining portions of the mold walls. 
     
     
         3 . The funnel mold as defined in  claim 1  wherein the liquid spray nozzles are configured to spray cooling liquid with a droplet size between 0.008 in. and 0.210 in. and a droplet density between 250 and 460 droplets per square inch. 
     
     
         4 . The funnel mold as defined in  claim 3  wherein the spray nozzles are further configured to spray three to five times the volume of cooling liquid on the funnel wall than the remaining portions of the mold walls.