Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the continuous casting of metals of the type according to which ultrasonic vibrations are applied to the wall of the ingot mould, characterized in that the vibrations comprise both a component which is oriented parallel to and a component which is oriented perpendicular to the axis of the ingot mould. This method is preferably implemented by applying at least one ultrasound emitter against a surface integral with one of the ends of the ingot mould and with an angle of inclination relative to the axis of the latter. The invention is principally applicable to the continuous casting of steel products of all sizes.

Abstract: The device for charging metalliferous materials 7 into a furnace 3 compri a charging tube 1, inside which are arranged supports 8 distributed over an entire non-straight section of this, for example similarly to the stairs of a flight of stairs descending towards the furnace. Passages are provided between the supports 8, and means 10 for the vibration of the supports are provided.The materials progressively descend on the supports 8 towards the furnace and are simultaneously preheated by the hot gases introduced into the tube, circulating through the materials and via the passages 9 and extracted via the outlet orifice 5.

Abstract: The invention has an X-ray emitting tube and a linear detector on opposite sides of a plane containing a strip to be measured and an electronic acquisition, measuring and control unit. A mask transversely moveable relative to the strip occludes radiation from the X-ray emitting tube which is not intercepted by the strip or which passes through the edge region of the strip. This device offers an improved degree of precision measurement near the edge of the strip.

Abstract: An electromagnetic process and apparatus for continuous casting of a thin strip of electrically conductive material on a cooled roll. The free surface of the material in the liquid state in the casting feed injector is subjected to the action of an alternating magnetic field generated by a single phase electrical current. The magnetic field can be generated by means of an inductor from tubular elements within which cooling water circulates.

Abstract: The metallurgical vessel, such as a direct-current arc furnace, comprises a metal housing (1) lined on its inside with refractory material (2), at least one electrode (3) passing through the bottom of the vessel and connected to a terminal of an electrical power supply, the electrode being fastened to the metal housing by a mechanical fastening arrangement and insulated electrically from the housing. A leaktight wall (20) surrounding the fastening zone of the electrode prevents a liquid flowing over the inner surface of the housing from coming into contact with the electrode fastening arrangement, and orifices (26) are provided for discharging the liquid collected out of the housing. The invention is particularly applicable to direct-current arc furnaces and prevents the molten lead originating from the scrap metal of the charge and infiltrating through the refractory from damaging the electrical insulation of the fastening of the electrode.

Abstract: According to this process: the position in respect of height of the "molten metal (2)/liquid slag (3)" interface (M) is continuously determined. Further the position of an isotherm (IS) located at the "liquid slag (3)/powder layer (4)" interface is continuously determined by automatically controlling the position of a thermocouple (8) on this isotherm and by measuring the displacements of this thermocouple.By comparing the position in respect of height of the molten metal/liquid slag interface (M) with the position in respect of height of the isotherm (IS), the thickness and thus the variations in thickness of the liquid slag are continuously deduced.

Abstract: Process for secondary cooling of a metal product continuously cast on a machine in which secondary cooling is divided into n staggered independent zones, within which the flow of cooling fluid varies according to the speed of the product. An undesired change in the surface temperature of the product at a point HD of the metallurgical length of the machine, such as the straightening point, due to a foreseen or foreseeable variation starting at the time t.sub.vo, in the casting speed, is compensated for by anticipation. A determination is made, by means of the casting speed, of the time t.sub.o at which commences, at the upper part of the ingot mold, the portion of product which, at the time tvo, will reach the point HD; a further determination is made of the times t.sub.1, . . . , t.sub.1, . . . , t.sub.n at which the portion commencing at t.sub.o will emerge from the zones 1, . . . . i. . . . ,n of the secondary cooling; and, from the time t.sub.

Abstract: In continuously casting thin metal products such as sheets or strips, molten metal is introduced into the gap between a rotating cooled main cylinder and a counterrotating roller spaced from the cylinder to form a gap corresponding to the thickness of the desired product. The metal, in cooling, forms solidifying skins on the respective rollers. The peripheral speed of the roller exceeds that of the cylinder by 2 to 20%. The resulting product is substantially free of the surface defects characteristic of prior art processes.

Abstract: A protective coating of iron and steel products is described, wherein an adherent and rough layer of scale is formed, on which is directly deposited a layer of a protective material. The qualities of the layer of scale result from the fact that the product is shaped hot and the speed of its cooling is controlled so that the resultant thickness of scale is less than a threshold of adherence characteristic of the material and of the temperature at the end of shaping. The layer of protective material is obtained by metallization with zinc or an alloy based on zinc. The invention is principally applicable to long iron and steel products, and in particular to reinforcing bars for concrete.

Abstract: Energetic cooling of the product is performed during continuous casting when, at the core, the product is in a phase of pasty solidification so that the differential thermal contraction between the mushy core and the already completely solidified outer shell produces a squeezing effect of the core by the shell. To this end, means for cooling the product are arranged on the casting machine at the end section of the metallurgical length. The process makes it possible to reduce, and even to avoid, the formation of inner cracks during cooling of the cast product which would lead to the presence of segregated areas in the axial zone. It is applied advantageously to the casting of steels reputed to be difficult to cast continuously, such as steels with a long solidification range whose carbon content is from 0.25 to 1.5%.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for feeding molten metal to the ingot mold (2) of an installation for the continuous casting of thin cogs (3). At least one jet (6) coming from a nozzle (8) connected to a distributor (4) feeds an ingot mold (2) in which the level of metal is regulated. The distributor (4) is movable vertically in order to keep the height of the jet (6) constant and horizontally in the direction of the largest dimension of the ingot mold in order to subject the jet (6) to an alternating lateral movement. The nozzle (8) and the casting tube (10) are protected by a liquified neutral gas circulating between the tube (10) and a sleeve (25) surrounding the tube (10).

Abstract: According to this process and this device:a signal representing the derivative of the intensity of the current in the arc is sensed,the sensed signal is amplified,the amplified signal is directed simultaneously into two band pass filters (6, 7) respectively having a high frequency broad band (6) and having a narrow band centered on a low fundamental frequency (7),the signals emanating from the filters (6, 7) are transmitted to effective value extractors (8, 9),by means of a divider module (11) an energy signal is formulated, which is proportional to the ratio of the effective value of the signal emanating from the broad band filter (6) and the effective value of the signal emanating from the narrow band filter (7),and the proportional energy signal obtained is displayed on a scale (12), where it is expressed as a percentage, this percentage being indicative of the behaviour of the arc, signifying the formulation phase.

Abstract: A closing wall for the lateral end of a casting space of an installation for continuously casting between moving walls which comprises two confronting cooled moving walls (1,2). The closing wall comprises a front part (65) defining a front surface (63) facing toward the casting space and at least one lateral part (66) defining a lateral surface (64) in the extension of the surface of one of the two moving walls and connected to said front surface. The invention is also applicable to the continuous casting of thin metal products between rolls.

Abstract: The device comprises two parallel horizontal rolls (2a, 2b) delimiting therebetween an inserted volume for the liquid metal (1) to be cast, the ends of the volume being closed by plates (4) with a predetermined clearance between the latter and the surfaces of the rolls against which they are maintained. In order to maintain the clearance constant during successive castings, the plates (4) incorporate rolling members (7) bearing against the end surfaces of the rolls (2a, 2b) and projecting from surfaces of the plates (4) a distance equal to the desired clearance (e). The plates (4) are biased toward the rolls by springs (10) which bear against a frame (2). The rolling members (7) (rollers and/or balls) avoid any wear of the plates and this clearance is automatically maintained by the action of the springs (10) during the casting operations.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a specialized scanning system for sampling the metal includes an annular light source for omindirectionally illuminating the surface, a light regulator, and a matrix camera for forming a grey level image of the surface. The image is histogramed according to grey level. The first four statistical moments are calculated from the histogram. The moments are then used as a feature vector to identify the metal surface. If no match is found within the catalogued metal surfaces, allowing for predetermined tolerances for each moment, then the feature vector is catalogued for future recognition.

Abstract: Process for measuring the forces between the working rolls of a roll stand, in which several extended load cells (51, 52, 53) placed between the working rolls (13, 14) are aligned in a plane passing through the axes of these rolls and distributed symmetrically with respect to the central plane of the stand, a pressing force is exerted on the balances by adjusting systems (27, 28), the value of the forces exerted simultaneously on each load cell is read and the values of the resulting pressing forces are deduced. Preferably, a device comprising two half-shell shaped pieces of malleable material such as copper is used, and this holds the load cells in alignment and serves as a bearing plate which can be cold-rolled. The process is applied to the adjustment of the gauges of a roll stand for flat products and to the precise determination of the yield curves.

Abstract: A wall electrode for a D.C. powered electric arc furnace for the processing of metals in a liquid state, especially steel. The electrode is constituted mainly (a) by a metallic bar (4) one of whose ends comes into contact with the metallic bath (6), while a portion (7) of its other end extends to the exterior of the furnace; (b) by a sleeve (8) of thermally and electrically conductive material, energy-cooled by a flow of cooling fluid, surrounding the portion (7) of the other end of the bar at a distance therefrom; (c) by a nipple (9) of good electrically conductive material extending the aforementioned portion (7) of the other end of the bar; and (d) by a connection of the nipple and the sleeve to the same bar of an electrical supply.

Abstract: A method for implanting a tubular probe having a nose in a smelting furnace, the nose of the probe being temporarily closed off by a plug inserted therein, the plug including a substantially cylindrical body force fitted in the probe nose and an internal conduit extending through the plug. The method comprises implanting the probe into the smelting furnace; injecting a gas into the probe; controlling the flow rate of the injected gas until the probe nose has reached a required position; and regulating gas supplying pressure to keep the flow rate between a minimum value, under which furnace gas may penetrate into the probe, and a maximum value, above which the plug may be prematurely ejected. The plug may further include a head axially connected to the cylindrical body designed to cover the probe nose externally, and during the implanting step, the plug is placed on the probe so that an orifice of the internal conduit on an external face of the head is directed downwardly.

Abstract: This process for treating surfaces of products dip-coated in a bath of molten zinc and aluminum, and intended to be phosphated, involves pickling, preceding the phosphating, with a highly alkaline solution of high pH and containing zinc in solution. The process applies chiefly to products whose coating contains a high proportion of aluminum, particularly in the case of galvanized sheet metal, which it makes easier to phosphate. It is used for painted sheet metal for motor vehicles.

Abstract: A plug for a probe nose is produced in one piece having two contiguous parts. The first part is a substantially cylindrical body designed to be inserted in the probe nose such that it ensures tightness between the probe and the plug body. The second part is a substantially conical or semi-spherical head, co-axial to the body and provided at the level of its junction with the latter with a shoulder by which it can abut on the end of the probe. The plug comprises an inner through conduit which connects the surface of the head with the free front face of the body. This conduit authorizes the discharge of a protective gas introduced into the probe, and it is possible by controlling the flow of this gas to assess the difference of pressure exerted on each side of the plug and to adjust accordingly the pressure of the protective gas in order to prevent both the ejection of the plug and the penetration into the probe of hot gases from the furnace.