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 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 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 metallurgical container of the type having a vessel having a bottom wall and an inner refractory lining includes a hearth bottom electrode extending through the bottom wall and the lining and including, in a superposed condition, a bar and a connector. The bar is flush with the surface of the refractory lining. The connector is fastened to a lower surface of the bar, is internally cooled, has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the bar, and is attached to the bar at its upper front face at a level within the thickness of the refractory lining. A ring is interlocked to the vessel wall, surrounds the connector, and has an upper face located below the bar so as to be capable of carrying the bar. In order to prevent liquid materials from penetrating by infiltration between the bar and the ring, the bar is prolonged or elongated toward the bottom wall by a skirt which surround the connector laterally. The invention is particularly applicable to direct current operated steel plant arc furnaces.

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 method relates to the operation of a D.C. electric-arc furnace provided with at least one bottom electrode including an elongated metal current-supply body passing through the hearth of the furnace and surrounded by a casing made of dense refractory substance, comprising at least one shell ring whose upper end comes into contact with the molten metal in the furnace. During restarting of the furnace after shut-downs, a free expendable annular part made of refractory material, of flattened general shape, is placed on the upper end of the shell ring, which part extends it upwards and is intended to come into contact with the molten metal instead of said shell ring. The method applies in particular to D.C. electric-arc furnaces for the manufacture of steel, and is intended to reduce wear on the refractory parts surrounding the bottom electrode.

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.

Abstract: Cleaning apparatus for a roll placed in contact with a metal strap moving longitudinally in an installation comprising a set of rotary-mounted superposed rolls between two stands of a fixed supporting cage and comprising at least one wiping tool (4) parallel to the axes of the rolls, a device (3) supporting the wiping tool mounted slidingly on straight guide rollers (24, 24') provided on a cradle (2) pivotably mounted on both stands (11) of the cage (1) around a pivot axis (20) parallel to the axes of the rolls.

Abstract: An expandable cylindrical chuck for a coiler, with at least one restricted position and one expanded position. The chuck has a longitudinal axis (1) and comprises a chuck body (3) with a nose (5) and a rear section (7) a tubular sheath (9), segments (11) movable crosswise with respect to the longitudinal axis (1), a control shaft (15) controlling the longitudinal displacement of the segments (11), closing bars (17) located parallel to the longitudinal axis (1) between and in contact with the segments, a pinching bar (23) and a driving shaft (2). The nose (5) and the rear section (7) of the chuck body (3) each comprise an annular surface (39, 41) ensuring tight contact between the chuck body (3) and the segments (11) and between the closing bars (17) and the pinching bar (23).