Extn. of continuously cast billet from cooled mould - via reciprocating housing using spring loaded clamp to move billet in only one direction

The extn. appts. uses a drive mechanism, e.g. a hydraulic cylinder, to reciprocate a housing horizontally; and the cast billet or slab rests on support rolls located in the housing. In the housing and above the billet is a pivot shaft, carrying a lever provided on its bottom end with a pivot mounting for a shoe pressed against the billet by a tension spring. The shoe is wedged against the billet during the forward stroke of the hydraulic cylinder; and the tension spring determines the amt. of play between the shoe and the billet during the reverse stroke of the hydraulic cylinder, i.e. when the billet is stationary. System-effects immediate release of the shoe during the reverse stroke of the hydraulic cylinder, so accurate transportation of the cast billet is obtd.