Abstract: A method is provided to control the feed of a metal charge into an electric arc furnace having at least one electrode to generate an electric arc to melt metals. The method includes: a step of defining a “cover index CI” of the electric arc by the slag present above the liquid metal bath, in order to calculate which of the harmonics present in an electric feed quantity of the furnace are taken into consideration; a step of measuring the actual cover index CI value during a functioning cycle of the furnace; and a step of adjusting the speed of feed of the metal charge into the furnace based on the measured value of the cover index CI.

Abstract: A device to analyze and determine the movement characteristics of products moving in a determinate direction of feed (F) and emitting radiations, in particular products exiting from a casting line, comprises a camera to continuously acquire images of the product moving in the direction of feed (F) in at least two successive instants of time, and an electronic processing unit by means of which the comparison between at least two successive images acquired is carried out, using mathematical algorithms based on the image correlation principle, in order to determine the spatial displacement of the images and then the movement characteristics of the product moving in the direction of feed (F) are analyzed and determined.

Abstract: A method to cover the exposures of a bath of molten steel by elements of casting powder in an ingot mold of a plant for the continuous casting of steel, including a step of subdividing the ingot mold into a desired number of zones, with each of which a covering movement is associated, the zones being determined and identified in a manner coordinated with the position of the snorkel and of the edge of the ingot mold, and a step of automated execution of one or more covering movements by elements of which the casting powder is distributed in a selected one of the zones, which movements, repeated in sequence according to a desired program, are selected from a group including pouring movements and throwing movements, at least on the basis of the reciprocal position of each of the zones and the snorkel.

Abstract: Thickness measurer for metal elements (11), comprising a source device (20), able to emit a bundle (F) of ionizing radiations, at a predetermined or predeterminable intensity, a receiver device (24), disposed on an opposite side with respect to the metal element (11) and suitable to detect the residual intensity of the bundle (F) of ionizing radiations. The measurer comprises a cooling device, associated with the source device (20). The cooling device comprises a heat pump element (30), to remove heat from the source device (20) so as to keep the source device (20) at a predetermined and controlled temperature. The thickness measurer also comprises detection means (46, 124) for the direct or indirect detection of the intensity, or the variation in intensity, of the bundle (F) emitted by the source device (20). The detection means (46, 124) is associated with the heat pump element (30), in order to keep the emission of the bundle (F) of ionizing radiations stable.

Abstract: A device (10) for the in-line detection of surface defects of a rolled product (30) in a rolling stand (11, 111) comprises an inspection unit (19) having one or more coils (20, 21) able to generate and detect magnetic fields. The rolling-stand (11, 111) is provided with a support structure (28) supporting rolling means (12, 112) that are provided for effecting a roll-mill process on said product (30), a guide element (13) having a guide hole (14) defining a nominal rolling axis (X) and a support unit (15, 115), assembled on the support structure (28) and which is provided as a structural element of the rolling stand (11, 111) that supports said guide element (13). The inspection unit (19) is assembled on said support unit (15, 115), in order to be directly housed and integrated in the structural element already present in the rolling stand (11, 111).

Abstract: A method to cover the exposures of a bath of molten steel by elements of casting powder in an ingot mold of a plant for the continuous casting of steel, including a step of subdividing the ingot mold into a desired number of zones, with each of which a covering movement is associated, the zones being determined and identified in a manner coordinated with the position of the snorkel and of the edge of the ingot mold, and a step of automated execution of one or more covering movements by elements of which the casting powder is distributed in a selected one of the zones, which movements, repeated in sequence according to a desired program, are selected from a group including pouring movements and throwing movements, at least on the basis of the reciprocal position of each of the zones and the snorkel.

Abstract: Device and method to control the straightness and torsions of a long product (11), comprising at least two profile-detection devices (12a, 12b, 12c), each presenting a visual field (13) that includes a perimeter segment (18a, 18b, 18c) of the section of the product (11). The detection devices are aligned along the product (11) and are oriented so as to detect homologous perimeter segments (18a, 18b, 18c) located on different planes. The device also comprises a command unit which receives and compares with each other the section images detected at the same instant by the detection devices (12a, 12b, 12c) and determines, according to this comparison, the lack of straightness and/or the presence of torsions in the product (11).

Abstract: Method and device to detect defects (11a, 11b, 11c) in the section shape of a product (10), wherein the following steps are provided: a step of constructing and memorizing a plurality of families of functions each of which describes a correlated type of defect (11a, 11b, 11c), or combination of defects which can be found in a product (10) observed in relation to the processing performed on the product (10); a step of dimensional measuring of the shadow cast by the product (10) when it is illuminated by a beam of light; a step of constructing a graphical representation relating to the development of the dimension of the shadow for a specific dimensional sector of the product (10); and a step of comparing the graphical representation of the functions memorized to identify the function which most resembles the representation obtained by the detection in order to classify the type, and to determine the entity, of the defect (11a, 11b, 11c) present in the section of the product (10).

Abstract: Method and device to detect defects (11a, 11b, 11c) in the section shape of a product (10), wherein the following steps are provided: