Abstract: An air knife device for regulating the thickness of a layer deposited on a strip at the output of a bath, comprising at least one nozzle defined by two lips spaced a small distance apart, the nozzle being supplied with pressurized fluid in order to blow at least one flat jet of fluid onto the strip. The device is associated with at least one fluid cushion stabilizer arranged on at least one side of the nozzle along one of its lips and comprising a substantially flat wall extending from this lip in a direction substantially parallel to the strip so as to define a thin, flat space between the wall and the strip. A fluid is introduced into this space for the formation of a fluid cushion which is able to stabilize the vibrations of the strip.

Abstract: An installation for treating metal strip comprising a pickling line made up of a series of tanks filled with a pickling solution heated to a certain temperature, and through which the metal strip is successively passed before passing into a cold rolling mill, each tank being associated with an arrangement for adjusting the temperature of the solution in the tank, according to its position in the line. The installation comprises at least one complementary heating arrangement associated with a regulation system for maintaining the solution at the desired temperature according to variations in overall energy conditions, and comprising a heat pump for recovering at least part of the heat needed from a cooking circuit of the cold rolling mill.

Abstract: A device for regulating the thickness of a metal deposit formed on a strip emerging from a galvanization bath, comprising at least one nozzle for blowing air provided between the opposite, narrowly spaced ends of two jars. The air knife forming slot is delimited by two flat, parallel faces defining the direction of the air blade, one of these faces being provided on a deformable lip extending inside a hollow provided at the end of a first jaw and being slidable along a flat retaining face substantially perpendicular to the direction of the air knife and deforming the flat face by the action of an arrangement to adjust the width of the slot.

Abstract: Energy efficient arc furnace suitable for continuous melting of ungraded scrap iron as found in the trade, and four or more meters in length. Its inner part includes a storage zone (4) located laterally of and above the hearth (1), and arranged so that a considerable volume of scrap iron can be stored there. A pusher (11) is arranged at the bottom of the side storage zone for the purpose of pushing the base of the pile (10) of scrap iron stored in the said zone towards the hearth. The upper portion of the storage zone is equipped with an opening (8) of the trap or door for feeding in cold scrap iron (13, 131), and the storage zone is connected to a conduit (6) for exhausting fumes so that these pass through it.

Abstract: Electric arc furnace, of the type having metallic walls (2) and an at least partly metallic roof (1), and provided with radiation detection apparatuses (8) for their controlled operation. Differential water circulation transducers (8) are positioned in the intrados of the metallic part (7) of the roof (1); they project with respect to the inner surface of the roof and their end faces (16) facing the interior of the furnace are concave.