Abstract: A method and an apparatus for producing steels with predominantly high Cr content and/or ferro-alloys, wherein the metal charge is melted in a melting crucible, is alloyed, refined and reduced, and wherein process gases are simultaneously supplied through bottom nozzles. A melting crucible is used with a specific reaction volume of 0.4 to 1.5 m.sup.3 /t steel and the injection rates of the process gases are controlled in the range of 0.1 to 3.0 N m.sup.3 /t/min. The solid charge material is melted by an electric arc and air/nitrogen are injected simultaneously and, after forming a liquid sump, a gas mixture of oxygen and inert gas is injected. After adding slag-forming constituents and alloying agents, the oxygen throughput is increased and the power of the electric arc is reduced accordingly. The oxygen throughput is reduced in relation to the inert gas during refining and decarburization takes place as a result of increasing the electric arc with low chromium slag formation.

Abstract: A roller levelling machine for levelling a rolled section includes a section inlet for introducing the rolled section into the roller levelling machine and a plurality of bending rollers for levelling the rolled section. The roller levelling machine further includes at least one runout roller which is adjustable by an adjusting element for guiding the levelled rolled section. A position sensor device for determining the location of the rolled section is arranged following the runout roller at a predetermined distance from the runout roller. For transmitting the location, the position sensor device is connected to an adjusting control unit for the runout roller. The control unit is capable of determining from the determined location an adjusting signal for the adjusting element and transmitting the adjusting signal to the adjusting element. The adjusting element is configured to adjust the runout roller in accordance with the adjusting signal.

Abstract: A rolling plant for rolling all types of finished sections from flat blooms or preliminary sections with close to final dimensions, wherein the blooms or preliminary sections arrive from a continuous casting plant and may be stored in reheating furnaces arranged in front of the plant and/or may be maintained at rolling temperature. The rolling plant includes a compact rolling group with two universal stands arranged closely one behind the other and an edging stand arranged between the universal stands. A roughing group is arranged in front of and parallel offset to the compact rolling group, wherein the roughing group is composed of a group of a vertical stand, a horizontal stand and a universal stand arranged closely one behind the other.

Abstract: In an arrangement for heat treatment of steel wire, the wire, after emerging from a continuous wire rolling mill, is placed by a laying head onto a horizontal conveyor and is transported on the horizontal conveyor in the form of a row of successive and overlapping loops. The wire is subjected to surface treatment during the transport and is collected at the end of the conveyor by a loop collecting unit to form a wire coil and is transferred to a coil conveying unit. Behind the laying head, a second loop collecting unit which can be moved into and out of the conveying path of the horizontal conveyor is provided. The second loop collecting unit includes a coil conveyor with transfer units which can be operated as selected for transferring the wire coils to coil heating units or to coil cooling units.

Abstract: Metal billets trapped in the billet container of an indirect extrusion press are removed by indirect extrusion in the reverse direction until the billet size is reduced sufficiently for the residue to be expelled bodily from the container. The stem used to support the container-closing plug constitutes, or is replaced by a stem for effecting the reverse indirect extrusion.

Abstract: In roll housings for rolling mills, it is desirable to be able to separate the top and bottom halves of the housing so as to be able to change the rolls. When the top and bottom halves are reassembled, they must be held firmly together to ensure correct operation of the rolling mill. It is proposed to have hydraulically-tensionable tie bars which are fixed in the lower half of the housing, and which grip the top of the upper half of the housing. Hydraulic fluid is applied to produce the tension, and the fluid pressure achieved is maintained throughout rolling operation. Such tie bars will normally be provided at at least four corners of a roll housing, and a single hydraulic circuit will supply fluid to all the bars. In addition, hydraulically operated jacks can be used to pivot the tie bars into and out of position, and these jacks can be operated from the same hydraulic circuit.