Abstract: A process for strand casting of steel in a cooled casting mold made to oscillate over a distance h at a frequency f, for manufacturing a product withdrawn from the mold at a casting speed V.sub.C, the metal being surmounted by alubrication product forming a liquid slag, the speed of descent of the casting mold being greater than the casting speed V.sub.C during a negative stripping time t.sub.N. The casting speed VC can be adjusted over a wide range to adapt to well-defined casting conditions without modifying the nature of the lubrication product, by acting in a combined way on the distance and frequency of oscillations according to the chosen casting speed, in such a way that the consumption rate Q of the lubrication product and the negative stripping time t.sub.N are both maintained at an optimum value that remains substantially constant over the entire speed adjustment range, irrespective of the casting speed V.sub.C.

Abstract: A rolling mill comprising at least two work rolls supported by chocks (4, 40) mounted so as to slide, with clearance, between two fixed guide faces (13a, 13b). Each chock (4, 40) is thrust laterally against the guide faces (13a, 13b) in order to take up the clearance when in service. Each chock (4, 40) is surrounded by two intermediate pieces (6a, 6b) mounted so as to slide without clearance along the corresponding guide faces (13a, 13b). These intermediate pieces are rigidly locked vertically with the chock (4) so as to move with it. Lateral thrustors (7) are interposed between at least one side of each chock (4) and the facing intermediate piece (6b) in order to push the chock back against the other intermediate piece (6a) and corresponding guide face (13a). The two guide faces (13a, 13'a) against which the two chocks (4, 4') of a roll (2) are pressed define a reference plane (P1) for the positioning of the axis of the roll (2) with the possibility of sliding parallel to that plane (P1).

Abstract: A process for the cold rolling of a metal strip between rollers of rolling stands arranged sequentially is provided, along with a plant for its implementation, wherein the process involves:analyzing, as a function of frequency, a signal from an inter-stand tension measurement sensor corresponding to a level of tension of the metal strip to determine periodic variations in the signal having frequencies corresponding to a speed of rotation of the pair of rollers in a downstream rolling stand and proportional to out-of-roundness defects present in the rollers of the downstream rolling stand; andcompensating for the out-of-roundness defects in the rollers in the downstream rolling stand by adjusting the clamping setting of the rollers in the downstream rolling stand in accordance with a compensation signal, produced by the means for compensating, that is proportional to the periodic variations.

Abstract: An imbricated roll planisher comprising, inside a fixed stand, two planishing systems each including a plurality of live planishing rolls with parallel axes, rotatably mounted in a supporting chassis and each associated with at least one row of support rollers, the assembly being pressed, on the side remote from the strip to be planished, against a resistant bearing beam. At least one of the planishing systems bears against the corresponding bearing beam via a set of hydraulic jacks distributed across the entire surface covered by the system, in parallel rows of at least two jacks, each row corresponding to one of the live planishing rolls. By individually adjusting the position and the pressure of the jacks of each of the rows, it becomes possible to determine the degree of imbrication and the distribution of the force applied on each of the live rolls, it being possible to make this adjustment even while the strip is feeding through.

Abstract: Coiler for winding a strip product, comprising a supporting frame (1) supported, on at least one side, by a hollow tubular shaft (2) rotating in at least one fixed bearing (21) centered about an axis (x'x) of rotation of the frame, at least two winding mandrels (3a, 3b) each mounted on an off-centered shaft of rotation (31), each mandrel shaft (31) being fitted into and locked in rotation with a tubular sleeve (5) supported by two spaced bearings (51) each mounted in a crown (52) fixed onto said rotating frame (1). At least two autonomous motors (6) provide rotational drive, respectively, for the two mandrels (3a, 3b), and each comprises a rotor (62) fitted over and locked in rotation with the tubular sleeve (5) and a stator (61) mounted on a side wall (53) extending between and attached to the crowns (52).

Abstract: Installation for planishing a metal strip moving in a longitudinal feed direction, comprising a fixed supporting stand having two vertical members, lower and upper resistant bearing beams and lower and upper planishing roll systems each comprising a row of parallel live rolls that bears upon a support chassis via at least one row of bearing rolls. At least one of the planishing systems bears upon the corresponding bearing beam via a set of adjustable actuators interposed between the chassis of the system and the resistant bearing beam, the actuators being distributed across the entire surface covered by the system. The system is associated with a device for individually adjusting the position of the bearing end of each actuator in relation to the bearing beam in order to adjust and maintain the position of the chassis and live rolls in relation to the corresponding rolls of the other system for the adjustment of the imbrication of the rolls.

Abstract: A process for planishing under traction a thin metal strip in an installation including a planisher comprising at least one bending unit with two planishing sets and a multi-roller leveling assembly comprising two rows of rollers. The imbrication of the planishing sets and the multi-roller leveling assembly and two tension blocks, respectively, are adjusted upside and downside to obtain a prescribed elongation of the strip. Flatness faults in the planisher are corrected by adjusting the through-speeds and imbrication of the planishing sets, such that the prescribed elongation for planishing is substantially attained by the time the strip leaves the planisher.

Abstract: An installation for pickling rolled metal strip in order to remove oxides formed thereon. The strip is fed horizontally through an acid solution bath over a series of deflecting rollers rotating about axes perpendicular to the feed direction of the strip and defining, within a single vessel, outward and return paths comprising at least three superposed sections, and walls dividing the vessel into at least two superposed treatment cells of a height which is low enough for the treatment liquid to be driven along by the feeding of the strip by pumping action.

Abstract: A device for cleaning or polishing a roll (4), mounted for rotation about an axis and comprising a cleaning roller (41) mounted for rotation on a support device comprising two parallel arms (15, 16) extending, respectively, between an inner end (15a, 16a) and an outer end (15b, 16b), and which can be moved between a position in which the roller (41) is applied against the roll (4) and a retracted position, and an arrangement for controlling the rotation of the roller (41) about its axis x'x. The outer ends (15b, 16b) of the two support arms (15, 16) are articulated about an axis y'y parallel to the axis of the roll (4) respectively on two fixed, aligned bearings (7, 7') which are simultaneously pivotable about the axis y'y in order to apply the roller (41) against the roll (4).

Abstract: A process for extrusion of a metal billet placed in a container delimiting a housing for the billet. One end of the container is closed by a closing bottom and the other end by a dummy block. Before extrusion, the billet is pre-compressed in order to apply it against the inner face of the housing. At the start of the pre-compression, a limited play is maintained between the closing bottom and the corresponding end of the container, preventing the container from approaching the closing bottom during pre-compression so as to allow evacuation of air contained between the billet and the inner housing face during expansion of the billet.

Abstract: The device comprises an element for progressively taking charge of the strand, having at least one movable jaw which can move between a first, open position for introducing the tip of the strand and a second, closed position for centering the strand.

Abstract: A direct current electric furnace for melting ferrous raw material, such a scrap iron, comprising a vessel (1) closed by a detachable cover (13), at least one consumable electrode (5) which passes through at least one opening (16) in the cover (13), at least one stationary electrode (5) positioned in the bottom (2) of the vessel (1), and comprising at least one source of direct current, the vessel being defined by a bottom (2) in the shape of a basin (21) and by a lateral wall (12). The height (H1) and the cross-section (S1) of the basin (21) are determined by the conditions of use, such that the basin (1) (21) can contain a prescribed quantity of molten metal, the height (H2) of the lateral wall (12) of the vessel (1) being such that the vessel (1) can accommodate a sufficient charge of scrap iron (7) to produce, in a single melting operation, the prescribed quantity of a molten metal.

Abstract: A water seal device for closing a tank containing a corrosive product, such as acid, closed by a cover having a side lip which is able to engage, on closing, in a U-shaped channel provided along the upper edge of the side wall. The channel is made up of monolithic shaped elements, each made from a natural rock of eruptive origin of the lava type, and arranged in sequence on the upper edge of the side wall. The invention applies particularly to installations for chemically pickling sheet metal.

Abstract: An installation for the production of liquid metal by melting a charge of ferrous material, comprising at least one electric melting furnace consisting of a chamber closed by a removable roof and associated with consumable electrodes for melting the charge of ferrous material, at least one chamber for preheating the charge, and a main hot gas and flue gas removal circuit, equipped with a filtration device for removing pollutants. The preheating chamber is associated with one or more burners, and the gases produced in the chamber during preheating are sent to an auxiliary low-throughput treatment circuit equipped with an incineration chamber, and the flue gases produced in the furnace by the melting of the charge are sent directly to the main treatment circuit.

Abstract: The device includes a series of fixed and mobile guide tables that guide and progressively bend the strand.

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: The object of the invention is a processing installation, particularly a metal strip pickling installation, comprising a series of vats (2) filled with a pickling liquid (20), each vat (2) being separated from adjacent vats by two bulkheads. The upper portion of these bulkheads has a sill located above the level of the liquid (20) and which supports the strip (1). According to the invention, each sill (22) is fitted with a support part limited by a rounded, upwardly convex, contact face (4) on which a liquid recovery groove is provided. This liquid recovery groove extends along the upper part of the supporting part at right angles to the strip feed direction, and is extended, at at least one of its ends, by a return channel leading to the upstream vat (2a). The bottom (53) of the groove (5) and return channel (6) are downwardly inclined to allow the liquid recovered in the groove (5) to return naturally to the upstream vat (2a).

Abstract: A method to enter a metal slab (2) into a roll stand (10) and a rolling unit to enhance the entry of the slab into the roll gap (13) between the working cylinders (1, 1') of the rolling mill. At least one of the last rollers (45) of the table (3), located immediately upstream of the roll stand (10) in the direction of entry, is mounted for vertical movement with respect to the table (3) and is subject to a lifting load at least equal to the weight of the nose (22) of the slab (2) in such a manner that, at the end of its forward motion towards the roll stand, the said nose (22) is supported by the movable roller (45), which thus is applied perfectly against the lower surface (20) of the slab and is rotary-driven in the direction of entry so as to exert on the slab (2) a thrust load, which is added to the load exerted at least by the first driven roller ( 32) of the table (3) to enhance the introduction of the slab (2) into the roll gap (13).

Abstract: An installation for replacing live rolls in a rolling mill, comprising a drum which rotates about an axis parallel to the axes of the rolls in the tightening plane passing through these axes. The drum comprises at least two compartments, each symmetrical with respect to a median plane passing through the axis of rotation, and which can be placed, alternately, by rotating the drum, in a roll replacement position in front of the working zone of the mill stand. Each compartment has two pairs of guide rails which, in the roll replacement position of the corresponding compartment, are aligned, respectively, with two pairs of fixed rails in the stand. One of the compartments is vacant, while each of the other compartments holds in store a pair of live rolls, which have chocks bearing on the corresponding rails of the compartment. The drum is associated with a mechanism for transferring live rolls into the vacant compartment of the drum and replacement rolls into the working position in the stand.

Abstract: Installation for producing steel by melting scrap comprising an electric furnace (2') supplied with individual batches of scrap sequentially charged into the furnace after preheating in a preheating chamber (4) forming a batch container open at both ends and having a releasable bottom. The preheating chamber is mounted on a transporting device for movement between a first, preheating position, in which it is connected to a hot gas circulating circuit, and a second position in which it empties the batch of preheated scrap into the furnace. The lower portion of the side wall of the preheating chamber (4) forms a skirt (43) with a wide downwardly directed opening, and the chamber (4) is combined, in the preheating position, with a movable device (54) for sealably engaging the lower end (42) of the skirt (43) with a matching stationary base plate (3), whereby the skirt is sealed in the preheating position.