Automatic control of starting procedure in continuous casting

The height of the molten metal in a mould is monitored by a meter, which is used with a controller to alter the flow of molten metal into the mould. The meter is also used with a second controller to alter the r.p.m. of a motor driving the rolls employed to draw the cast billet out of the mould. The mould rests on load cells, which are connected via a transducer to an electronic unit measuring the speed of alteration of the extn. force employed to draw the billet out of the mould. The electronic unit feeds signals to an adder circuit, which also receives a desired value (Sref) for speed. The adder output is fed to a controller adjusting the speed of motor and/or a motor used to vibrate the mould.