IMPROVEMENTS IN BELT CASTERS

In an apparatus for casting metal between a pair of heat-conductive belts (21) an array of closely spaced hexagonal-headed (50) support members are arranged behind each belt at the mould space. Each support member includes a restricted axial coolant jet passage and a film of coolant is maintained between each head and the adjacent belt, which is pulled against the support heads by maintaining subatmospheric pressure conditions in the region of the supports. Each support member is slidably mounted in a base and is forced towards the belt by a spring but a stop retains each support when the belt is removed. The close spacing of the hexagonal heads prevent their rotation in relation to each other but an individual support can be released by depressing the support head out of the plane of adjacent support heads and rotating the support through 60° to disengage it from its stop. The support can then be withdrawn axially.