Horizontal electromagnetic casting of thin metal sheets

Patent · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:866574

Hull, John R ^[1]; Lari, Robert J ^[2]; Praeg, Walter F ^[3]; Turner, Larry R ^[4]

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1. Hinsdale, IL
2. Aurora, IL
3. Palos Park, IL
4. Naperville, IL

Thin metal sheets are cast by magnetically suspending molten metal deposited within a ferromagnetic yoke and between AC conducting coils and linearly displacing the magnetically levitated liquid metal while it is being cooled to form a solid metal sheet. Magnetic flux increases as the molten metal sheet moves downward and decreases as the molten metal sheet moves upward to stabilize the sheet and maintain it in equilibrium as it is linearly displaced and solidified by cooling gases. A conducting shield is electrically coupled to the molten metal sheet by means of either metal sheet engaging rollers or brushes on the solidified metal, and by means of an electrode in the vessel containing the molten metal thereby providing a return path for the eddy currents induced in the metal sheet by the AC coil generated magnetic flux. Variation in the geometry of the conducting shield allows the magnetic flux between the metal sheet and the conducting shield to be varied and the thickness in surface quality of the metal sheet to be controlled. Side guards provide lateral containment for the molten metal sheet and stabilize and shape the magnetic field while a leader sheet having electromagnetic characteristics similar to those of the metal sheet is used to start the casting process and precedes the molten metal sheet through the magnet and forms a continuous sheet therewith. The magnet may be either U-shaped with a single racetrack coil or may be rectangular with a pair of facing bedstead coils.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4741383
• OSTI ID: 866574
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

horizontal
electromagnetic
casting
metal
sheets
cast
magnetically
suspending
molten
deposited
ferromagnetic
yoke
conducting
coils
linearly
displacing
levitated
liquid
cooled
form
solid
sheet
magnetic
flux
increases
moves
downward
decreases
upward
stabilize
maintain
equilibrium
displaced
solidified
cooling
gases
shield
electrically
coupled
means
engaging
rollers
brushes
electrode
vessel
containing
providing
return
path
eddy
currents
induced
coil
generated
variation
geometry
allows
varied
thickness
surface
quality
controlled
guards
provide
lateral
containment
shape
field
leader
characteristics
similar
start
process
precedes
magnet
forms
continuous
therewith
u-shaped
single
racetrack
rectangular
pair
facing
bedstead
conducting shield
return path
cooling gas
continuous sheet
metal sheets
characteristics similar
eddy current
magnetic flux
molten metal
magnetic field
liquid metal
metal sheet
eddy currents
vessel containing
solid metal
magnetically levitated
metal deposited
casting process
electrically coupled
racetrack coil
sheet therewith
single racetrack
bedstead coils
levitated liquid
leader sheet
solidified metal
currents induced
surface quality
conducting coils
metal deposit
moves downward
moves upward
ferromagnetic yoke
facing bedstead
electromagnetic characteristics
magnetic characteristic
linearly displacing
cooling gases
suspending molten
horizontal electromagnetic
generated magnetic
electromagnetic casting
magnetically suspending
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