A Dummy Bar for Continuous Casting Plants

1,180,933. Continuous casting. URALSKY ZAVOD TYAZHELOGO MASHINOSTROENIA Im. S. ORDZHONIKIDZE. 14 April, 1967, No. 17195/67. Heading B3F. To allow its insertion from above into a continuous casting mould, a starter bar is of variable thickness for adjustment to the size of strand to be cast. The bar may consist of links each formed in two parts 4, 5, loosely interconnected by studs 9 and nuts 8 which limit the maximum bar-thickness, the parts 4 being hinged together by pins 6 which pass through interdigitating lugs a 1 , a 2 and b 1 , b 2 at their ends. A tube 7 extending between all the parts 4, 5 is inflated (after the bar has been inserted with its head in the mould) and the bar thickens to 51. Flexible strips 10 glued to the bar protect it and increase the grip of the withdrawal device of the plant. In another embodiment, the two parts (12, 13) of each link are urged apart by springs (14) to a distance determined by tie rods (16) adjusted by the eccentric ends of a spindle 15 in one part.