(57) Apparatus for continuously casting strip material is disclosed comprising a tundish
(10) having an internal cavity (12) for receiving and holding molten metal and an
orifice passage (14) defined between two spaced lips in the tundish through which
the molten metal is delivered from the cavity to a casting surface (16) located within
3.048mm (0.120 inch) of the orifice passage and movable past the orifice passage at
a speed of from 61 to 3048 metres (200 to 10,000 linear surface feet) per minute.
In the present invention at least one aperture (60) is provided through the tundish
(10) to a portion of the internal cavity (12) of the tundish (10) and a removable
plug (62) is disposed in the aperture (60). The aperture (60) must be large enough
to divert molten metal in the internal cavity (12) therethrough, and thereby reduce
the metallostatic head pressure at the orifice passage (14) below that pressure necessary
to cast strip material. A method of substantially instantaneously stopping a casting
operation is also disclosed comprising the step of selectively removing a plug (62)
from an appropriately sized aperture (60) in communication with a tundish cavity (12).
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