Drawing billet from mould during continuous casting - using reciprocating clamp contg. spring-loaded gripper shoes

Device for drawing a billet out of a chilled mould during continuous casting, has a housing which travels along a path parallel with the billet axis and contains clamping shoes which grip the billet; the shoes have a working surface which matches the profile of the billet, and are mounted on the ends of spring-loaded tie rods. Each shoe contains a roller located between a bearing surface and a wedge forming a tapering gap; and a spring pushes the roller towards the narrow end of the gap. The shoes grip the billet when travelling in the drawing direction but are released when the housing travels in the reverse direction, the housing being reciprocated to draw the billet out of the mould. The shoes do not damage the surface of the cast billet and are released during the reverse motion of the housing without jamming and without delay.