Importance

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Abstract

An improved mold for a continuous casting process includes an outer wall that has a plenum chamber defined in an inner surface thereof and at least one passage for communicating the plenum chamber with an external coolant conduit. The mold further includes a liner that is secured to the inner surface of the outer wall. The liner has a number of slots defined in an inner wall thereof which, together with the outer wall, define a number of passages for transporting coolant to cool the liner during operation of the mold. Each of the slots has a radiused transition portion that is proximate to a location where the slot communicates with the plenum. The transition portion decreases in cross-section as the slot approaches the plenum. The mold further includes a velocity plate that is positioned between the plenum and the transition portion to limit an opening by which coolant may flow between the plenum and the transition portion. The velocity plate has a tapered cutout portion defined in a side thereof that faces the transition portion. The combined effect of the cutout portion and the transition portion is to define a flowpath that induces a substantially constant, elevated coolant flow velocity throughout the entire mold, prolonging the life of the mold. A method of retrofitting a mold to include a velocity plate is also disclosed.

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First Claim