CASTING WHEEL

摘要

A casting wheel (10) for use in filling ingot moulds (36) of an ingot mould line has a wheel member (12) comprising a hub (14) and a plurality of spouts (20). The wheel member (12) has a central region (18) and is mounted by the hub (14) for rotation on an axis of rotation. The spouts (20) are formed from sheet metal and are integral with the hub (14). The spouts (20) extend outwardly from the central region (18) in an angularly spaced array and each spout has an inlet end (23) adjacent the central region (18) and an outlet end (24) remote from the hub (14). The casting wheel (10) additionally comprises means for mounting the wheel member for rotation on the axis of rotation, a conveyor (34) on which a series of ingot moulds (36) are movable below the wheel member (12) along a mould line (36) extending transversely with respect to the axis, means for rotating the wheel member (12), means for advancing the conveyor (34) to move each mould (36) in turn to a filling position below a pouring position for spouts (20) of the wheel member (12), and molten metal feed means for supplying molten metal to the wheel member (12). The means for rotating the wheel member (12) and the means for advancing the conveyor (34) are operable in synchronism.