Abstract: A device for moving at least one cutting and welding arrangement able to cut, then weld a tail of a first metal strip to a head of a second metal strip, includes at least one first carriage holding at least one welding head. The first carriage is movable over a guide path following a first course across a transverse strip region. At least one second carriage is movable separately from the first carriage and holds a cutting head. The second carriage is movable on a guide path following a second course. The welding head is used exclusively for a welding mode, the second carriage is used exclusively for a cutting mode and the two carriages have parked positions on either side of the tail and head widths of the strips. A welding method which is associated with the device is also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for increasing the range of production of an installation for cold rolling of metallic strip, consisting of at least two rolling stands (L1, L2) operating in tandem. According to the invention, at least one (L1) of the rolling stands is equipped with means of converting the stand configuration, while keeping the same means (15, 16, 3, 3?) of applying the rolling force, in order to have at least two configurations available, each corresponding to one production range, and the configuration of said convertible stand L1 is selected to match the data of the product (M) to be rolled, thus allowing the production range to be increased.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting the vibrations of a roll stand (1) equipped with a hydraulic jack (6) as a device for adjusting the rolling rolls (4, 5). The hydraulic jack comprises a sensor (64) for measuring the position of the mobile portion relative to the fixed portion, this sensor supplying a digital signal (POS). In the method of the invention, the vibrations are detected by direct observation of the position signal (POS) and a comparison thereof relative to a spatio-temporal window (F) whose dimensions are determined as a function of the frequency to be detected. In accordance with the invention, it is possible to define different observation windows (F) suitable for the detection of different vibratory phenomena.

Abstract: A method of increasing control precision of a path of a product in a leveling machine including: a fixed support cage; two leveling assemblies with parallel rollers, which are placed above and below the strip respectively; devices necessary to adjust the interlocking of the rollers; a mechanism for measuring leveling forces at least of two sides of the machine; and a theoretical pre-setting model. The method directly measures at least one value for the spacing of the leveling rollers, which is compared to reference values, and uses the members for adjusting the position of the leveling rollers to maintain the measured values equal to the reference values. The method is particularly suitable for machines used to level flat metal products.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting the vibrations of a roll stand (1) equipped with a hydraulic jack (6) as a device for adjusting the rolling rolls (4, 5). The hydraulic jack comprises a sensor (64) for measuring the position of the mobile portion relative to the fixed portion, this sensor supplying a digital signal (POS). In the method of the invention, the vibrations are detected by direct observation of the position signal (POS) and a comparison thereof relative to a spatio-temporal window (F) whose dimensions are determined as a function of the frequency to be detected. In accordance with the invention, it is possible to define different observation windows (F) suitable for the detection of different vibratory phenomena.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for controlling the final thickness of a rolled product (B) at the outlet of a rolling mill including at least two roll stands (1–5) operating in tandem and associated with a general speed control system of the different stands, and to a device for controlling the reduction in thickness and in tension of the product (B) in each space (10–50) between two successive stands. According to the invention, the control device performs, in real time, dynamic balance, between the different stands (1–5), of the torques applied, in each stand, on the working rolls (T, T?), without any noticeable disturbance of the final thickness h5 of the product (B) at the outlet of the plant. The invention enables, in particular, to optimise the productivity of a tandem rolling mill, without any engine overloading risks.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for guiding a band-type product (1) especially a metal band, comprising at least two conical deflectors (2, 2?) arranged head to foot. According to the invention, each deflector (2, 2?) comprises a fixed base (3, 3?) whereon are mounted, in the manner of satellites, a plurality of rotating guiding rolls (4, 4?) forming the same angle (A) with an axis (30, 30?) of the deflector (2, 2?), and said deflectors (2, 2?) are oriented relative to the longitudinal running axis (10) of the band (1) so that the latter comprises successively, in the running direction, an upstream portion (1a) tangent and perpendicular to an input generatrix (5a) on a first deflector (2), a central portion (1b) tangent and perpendicular, upwardly to an output generatrix (5b) of the first deflector (2) and, downwardly, to an input generatrix (5?a) on the second deflector (2?) and a downstream portion (1c) tangent and perpendicular to an output generatrix (5?b) of the second deflector (2?).

Abstract: A plant which produces a metal band having a protective coating includes a series of treatment sections positioned one after another in a continuous line. The plant includes two coating sections, respectively, a galvanization section and a painting section, in which the metal band follows a running path having at least a vertical portion with a cooling or drying mechanism. The plant is positionable within a single building having a central tower with two abutting sections in which the coating section is provided and two halls in which are installed, respectively, a supply section and an exit section, each with horizontal accumulators.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of and a device for detecting the flatness of a metal band product at high temperature, using a measuring roll (1) having a cylindrical external face (13) comprising an angular contact sector with the band and a free sector. According to the invention, the roll (1) is cooled down forcibly by circulating a heat exchanging fluid along at least one portion of the free sector of the external face (13) of the roll (1) and one determines the parameters responsible for the cooling efficiency such as the opening angle (B) of cooling sector, the temperature and the circulation flow rate of the heat exchanging fluid, so that the external face (13) of the roll (1) is brought back, at each revolution, to a pre-set equilibrium temperature. The invention applies especially to the hot rolling of ferrous and non-ferrous metals.

Abstract: The object of the invention is a process for detecting latent flatness defects in a band product (2) applied under tensile load to an angular sector (A) of measuring roll (1) comprising a plurality of detection zones (4) spaced apart each comprising a transmission sensor (3), at each rotation, of a measurement signal having a value under load (i) which is compared, at each rotation, with a reference value, in order to assess, in each longitudinal zone of the band (2), information representative of the tensile load applied in this zone.

Abstract: A device for stepwise conveying of massive objects, includes a fixed series of laying stations spaced by a constant pitch and a mobile series of recovery stations spaced by the same pitch and arranged on a supporting beam that is movable vertically and longitudinally. The supporting beam rests on the floor by means of at least two actuators for level adjustment operated in a synchronous fashion and each associated with a device for sliding guiding of the supporting beam thereby enabling longitudinal displacement of the said beam in a forward direction in raised position and in a backward direction in lowered position.

Abstract: This invention relates to an installation for pickling a metal band by immersion through at least one bath (3) filled with a pickling liquid contained in a tank (1). According to the invention, each tank (1) is provided with at least one row of injection nozzles (5) distributed longitudinally and supplied with pressurized pickling liquid in order to make at least one series of liquid jets reaching inside the bath (3), whereas the said nozzles (5) are placed at different levels matching the shape of the curve followed by the band (2) in the tank (1) so that the liquid jet injected into the bath (3) by each nozzle (5) is directed straightforwardly to the portion (23) of the band (2) passing in front of the nozzle in question.

Abstract: The invention relates to a roll (1) for measuring the flatness of a band (M) comprising a tubular body (12) with a cylindrical external face (11) and a number of sensors each consisting of a feeler (2) mounted in a housing (3) provided in a recess in the thickness of the tubular body (12) and closed by a protection wall (50) whose deformations are measured by the feeler (2). According to the invention, each housing (3) is closed by a hollow piece in the shape of a lid (5) comprising a bottom made of an elastically deformable thin wall (50) and a peripheral part in the form of a bushing (53) encased without any clearance in the housing (3) and forming an embedding foot for the thin wall (50).

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for rolling a metal product by successive passes into at least one roll stand associated with a calculation unit comprising a computer and a mathematical model for adjusting the rolling load applied by the clamping means. According to the invention, before each pass, the computer associated with the mathematical model determines a predictable variation value of the flow stress of the metal corresponding to the deformation to be realized in the pass considered, while taking into account the evolution, during the rolling operation, of the microcrystalline structure of the metal making up the product to be rolled, and the rolling load to be applied in order to achieve the requested reduction in thickness is calculated before each pass according to the value thus predicted for the flow stress and the evolution of the microcrystalline during the rolling operation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for butting two metal bands (M1, M2) and a method for implementing such a machine. According to the invention, two successive bands (M1, M2) are welded according to either one of at least two different welding modes, for example flash butt welding and laser welding. To this effect, two clamping jaw assemblies are available, suitable respectively to each welding mode and, when changing welding mode, the first jaw assembly (2, 3, 2′, 3′) used previously for welding is removed from the machine (S) and replaced with the second jaw assembly (20, 30, 20′, 30′) suitable to the second welding mode. During this operation, the jaws remain spaced apart so that replacement can take place as the first band unwinds to an end, before the running has stopped.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for thermal control of the profile of a roll in a mill by spraying, over a cooled zone (4) of the roll (1), a series of jets of fluid (J), each forming an oblong impact surface (S). According to the invention, the distance (a) between the middle axes of the impact surfaces (S) is caused to vary in relation to the position of the said impact surfaces over the length of the cooled zone (4) so that the said zone comprises a central zone (41, 43) with a substantially constant pitch and whereas two transition zones (44) extend on either side of the central zone at least up to two edges (13) of the band (M) and in which the spacing between the middle axes of the impact surfaces (S) is reduced with respect to the constant pitch (a) of the central zone (41, 43).

Abstract: The invention aims at a method of producing a metal strip on a continuous treatment line comprising a de-scaling station coupled with a cold rolling section. According to the invention, in order to adapt to a change in the production constraints, such as a spool change, the rolling speed is caused to vary on a very wide range down to less than 1 m/min and the cold rolling operation is done between working rolls the diameter of which is so small that, on said whole wide speed variation range, the rolling strength to be applied remains compatible with the product thickness adjustment possibilities, taking the characteristics thereof into account.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for rolling a metal band in a continuous line installation with coupling of the pickling and cold rolling processes. According to the invention, the composition of the pickling fluid is determined to allow the running of the band in the bath at a minimum speed of a few metres per minute, and similar running speeds are maintained in the pickling and rolling sections, during the operating phases, whereas the rolling conditions are determined in order to maintain the requested quality of the band at a minimum rolling speed that may be as low as 1 metre per minute.

Abstract: The invention relates to an installation for welding metal bands comprising two retaining members (2, 2′) for the ends of both bands, mounted respectively on a fixed frame (1) and a mobile frame (1′), means for shearing both facing parallel edges (m1, m2) on the ends of both bands (M1, M2) and electric power supply means (3) for flash butt welding of the said bands. According to the invention, the electric power supply means of both bands comprise a direct current generator (3) connected to continuous modulation means (34) of the voltage applied between the retaining members (2, 2′) in relation to the sizes of the bands (M1, M2) in transversal section and according to the nature of the metals to be welded.

Abstract: The purpose of the invention is a device for closing a tank (1) containing a corrosive product closed by at least two successive lids (5) whose two longitudinal sides (6) engage, upon closing, into two corresponding gutters (7) of the tank (1) which are filled with water in order to constitute a tight seal, so-called ‘water seal’. According to the invention, at least one additional medial, also U-section, transversal gutter (12) is interposed between both longitudinal gutters (7) of the tank (1) at a sealing plane (P) between two successive lids (5) whose opposite transversal sides (8) engage into the said transversal gutter (12) in order to form a water seal on at least three sides of each lid.