Abstract: A device for inspecting a moving metal strip includes a first electromagnetic acoustic transducer having an ultrasonic wave emitter. The waves emitted from the emitter are emitted to be incident on a first edge of a surface of the strip, and the emitter is not in contact with the strip. A second electromagnetic acoustic transducer is provided and includes an ultrasonic wave receiver. The waves received emerging from an area of the strip surface toward the receiver, the receiver is not in contact with the strip. A processing unit is coupled to the second electromagnetic acoustic transducer to provide an inspection criterion using a signature of the ultrasonic waves measured. The area is located on the strip such that a wave path between the first edge of the strip and the area is aligned in a linear direction mainly transverse to the direction of movement of the strip.

Abstract: A machine for leveling a strip of material includes a fixed supporting frame; an upper leveling device and a lower leveling device, each leveling device forming a cassette with a plurality of separated rollers, rotatably mounted on a frame of a device for rotating the rollers connected to at least some of the rollers by an extender, each extender having one end provided with a removable coupling member with one end for rotating the roller, and a device for locking each removable coupling member by clamping. The clamping locking device includes a device configure for translating the removable coupling members in the direction of travel of the material, and in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A machine for leveling a strip of material contains a lower stationary back plate from which extends vertical beams located on either side of a longitudinal axis. A lower stationary leveling chassis and an upper leveling chassis are provided. Each chassis contains spaced apart rollers. An upper stationary back plate is rigidly secured to the upper end of each beam, and a moving coupling device couples the upper leveling chassis to the upper back plate. A device allows a vertical translational movement of the upper leveling chassis in relation to the upper stationary back plate between a rest position where the rollers of the upper leveling chassis are moved away from rollers of the lower leveling chassis and a leveling position where rollers of the upper leveling chassis are moved towards rollers of the lower leveling chassis and the strip is forced to travel along an undulating path.

Abstract: A spraying method and device for a plant for rolling a strip, the plant having at least one rolling stand. The device includes: a pair of working rolls between which the strip runs; a plane perpendicular to the running direction of the strip; at least one pair of supporting rolls for the working rolls; two pairs of bearing rolls, each of the pairs having the rolls thereof substantially symmetrically arranged on either side of the working rolls in a plane substantially parallel to the strip so as to transfer, to the working rolls, a force for maintaining the working rolls in a predetermined position relative to the supporting roll; a support for the bearing rolls in the form of two rows including a plurality of bearing rollers mounted side by side; one or more nozzle systems for spraying at least a portion of the strip and at least a portion of the rolls.

Abstract: A method and a device for controlling a thermal cycle of a weld joining one end of a first strip to an end of a second strip, suited to a joining machine of a strip treatment plant. The control device includes connections intended to connect the control device to a central automation system of the strip treatment plant and to the joining machine respectively, so as respectively to allow an exchange of at least one strip data item and an exchange of at least one operating data item. A computer is capable of computing, from the strip and operating data items, at least one thermal parameter of the weld. A weld control and characterization device is capable of controlling the welding as a function of the thermal parameter.

Abstract: The pickling of a continuously running steel strip and, more particularly, a pickling method, includes centralized control of all of the pickling operations. The invention further includes an apparatus for implementing the pickling process.

Abstract: A method and a device control the introduction of several metals into a cavity configured to melt the metals in the form of ingots. In particular, the method is configured to control the introduction of several metals into a cavity for melting the metals so as to dip-coat a steel strip with the metals in liquid metal form. Whereby a first metal is introduced in the form of at least a first ingot having a high content of the first metal and a second metal is introduced in the form of at least a second ingot formed as an alloy of the first metal and the second metal. The second metal content of the second ingot is chosen from a range of significant contents for ensuring an intended overall flow rate for combined melting of the ingots, the range of significant contents being chosen in a limited interval of sequentially increasing values so as to minimize differences between melting points of the ingots.

Abstract: Safety confinement equipment for laser radiation includes a safety confinement enclosure having two laterally opposite openings through which at least one metal strip can pass, the enclosure including first and second jaw devices for clamping the strip disposed on a path of travel of the strip between the two openings, the jaws being transversely disposed at least over the width of the strip. A cutting or welding equipment head emits a beam of laser radiation to be confined, in which the beam can be moved transversely between a pair of jaws disposed opposite each other on one side of a surface of the strip. In the position in which the jaws clamp the strip, the engagement of the jaws on the surfaces of the strip induces the formation of a physical screen against the laser radiation, which prevents the radiation from passing through the two openings of the chamber.

Abstract: A device for turning over a flattening element having a plurality of spaced-apart cylinders rotatably mounted on a frame and a device for securing it to the turning-over device, includes two uprights extending vertically from a base. A supporting and securing device for the flattening element engages with the securing device of the flattening element. The supporting and securing device is disposed between the uprights. A device rotates the supporting and securing device about a horizontal axis between a first position in which, when the flattening element is connected to the turning-over device, the cylinders of the flattening element are oriented downward, and a second position in which, when the flattening element is connected to the turning-over device, the cylinders of the flattening element are oriented upward. Vertical translation drive devices vertically translate the supporting and securing device. Each vertical translation drive device is connected to one respective upright.

Abstract: A device for guiding a strip through a liquid contained in a tank, includes an immersed diverting roller, in particular a roller immersed in a bath of liquid metal such as zinc, mounted rotatably about an axis on two aligned supporting shafts extending through two respective side walls of the tank, and each rotating in a centering bearing positioned outside of the tank. Each bearing of one shaft of the roller includes two rotary supporting members mounted in a fixed housing and spaced apart from each other, namely an outer supporting member and an inner supporting member. The housing of the bearing is held against a support plane formed on the wall and perpendicular to the axis of a hole through which the shaft passes. The wall has measures for centering the housing on the axis.

Abstract: A method for guaranteeing the oxidation of a strip designed to prevent the selective oxidation of alloy elements of the steel in a continuous steel strip galvanizing annealing furnace having a pre-heating section and a hold section and provided only with radiant tubes. The oxidation of the strip is designed to prevent the selective oxidation of elements of the steel alloy. The novel method includes the following steps: installation of at least one modified tube capable of injection an oxidizing medium at least one point in the oven heating section and/or at least one point in the hold section and injection of the oxidizing medium by means of the modified tube(s), the oxidizing medium having a composition such that in the conditions of the temperature of the oxidizing medium and the steel strip and as a function of the chemical composition of the strip said medium has a dew point which guarantees an in-depth oxidation of the alloy elements of the steel strip.

Abstract: A disassembly apparatus and a method for changing at least one cylinder and/or a cluster of a laterally supported 6-high roll stand. The disassembly apparatus includes: a handling frame, including a positioning and moving device for moving and positioning same; a mobile shuttle capable of moving over the frame, wherein the shuttle includes an extraction device which can be moved by a moving member and which can disassemble the roll stand or assemble a cluster and/or a lateral supporting cylinder on it. The extraction device includes an upper crossbeam rigidly connected, via a movable strut, to a lower crossbeam. Each of the crossbeams have, at each of their ends, a movable gripping plate including at least one locking bolt. The gripping plates of a single crossbeam are configured to grip at least one cluster and/or at least one lateral supporting cylinder by actuating the locking bolt.

Abstract: A method for operating a continuous annealing or galvanizing line for a metal strip, uses a direct flame heating section with an upstream zone and a downstream zone. The direct flame heating section is followed by a radiant tube heating section. The metal strip is indirectly heated in the direct flame heating section. The heating of the metal strip is achieved in the upstream zone by combustion of a mixture of atmospheric air and fuel such that the temperature of the combustion gas is between 1250° C. and 1500° C., preferably close to 1350° C. and in the downstream zone, the heating of the metal strip is achieved by combustion of a superoxygenated substoichiometric mixture of air and fuel such that the temperature of the combustion gas achieved at the end of the upstream zone is maintained until the end of the downstream zone of the direct flame heating section.

Abstract: A method and a device measure a chemical composition of a liquid metal suitable for coating a steel strip. The method measures a chemical composition of a liquid metal suitable for coating a steel strip for which the liquid metal is formed continuously in a first cavity, and the composition of the liquid metal is measured on a direct measurement surface thereof, for which a specimen of the liquid metal reaching the measurement surface is heated to a chosen temperature so as to isolate principally iron-based impurities from the measurement surface. Several embodiments of devices suitable for implementing the method are also presented.

Abstract: A method and a device adjust the cooling of a steel strip in an annealing or galvanization phase. The device is suitable for the forced cooling of a steel strip continuously running in a plant adapted for the continuous annealing or the continuous tempering galvanization. The device has at least one exchange member for transferring the heat of the steel strip to cooling water and includes an outlet for the cooling water thus heated up. At least one cooling unit is provided and has a sealed enclosure connected to the outlet of the exchange member and includes at least one outlet to a Venturi effect device such as a vapor outlet ejector and in which the cooling water itself is subjected to a vacuum-vaporization cooling. An auxiliary outlet of the sealed enclosure is connected to an inlet of the exchange member.

Abstract: A method for changing rollers in a roll stand adapted for bearing at least one working roller for a continuously-running steel-strip roll mill, includes providing the stand as part of a plurality of roll stands disposed in series along the roll mill in a continuous running direction. A rolling standby function in a free clamping position of the roller(s) is allocated to at least one dedicated stand among the plurality of stands. Original setpoint values controlling an adjustment of the roller clamping are individually allocated to the other stands in an active rolling position. In the case of a roller change when passing into the free clamping position of the stand, the original setpoint value of the stand and the original setpoint values of the stands remaining in an active rolling position are redistributed individually among each of the stands, including the dedicated stand.

Abstract: A device for inspecting a moving metal strip includes a first electromagnetic acoustic transducer having an ultrasonic wave emitter. The waves emitted from the emitter are emitted to be incident on a first edge of a surface of the strip, and the emitter is not in contact with the strip. A second electromagnetic acoustic transducer is provided and includes an ultrasonic wave receiver. The waves received emerging from an area of the strip surface toward the receiver, the receiver is not in contact with the strip. A processing unit is coupled to the second electromagnetic acoustic transducer to provide an inspection criterion using a signature of the ultrasonic waves measured. The area is located on the strip such that a wave path between the first edge of the strip and the area is aligned in a linear direction mainly transverse to the direction of movement of the strip.

Abstract: A system for guiding a mobile carriage in a frame. The frame has three parallel linear-guiding tracks including a first track extending centrally on the frame and second and third tracks arranged laterally of the first track. The carriage has at least two axes of rotation. A first axis drives at least a first wheel in the first guiding track and a second axis drives at least a second wheel and at least a third wheel, respectively, in the second and third guiding tracks. The two axes of rotation are perpendicular. The description also relates to an associated method. A primary object is to enable the end of a mobile beam, such as a beam carrying a device for wiping a galvanizing product off a steel strip, to perform a guided movement with a high degree of freedom while minimizing mechanical stresses.

Abstract: An installation for the hardened galvanization of a continuously-moving rolled steel strip, includes a coating tank receiving a liquid metal mixture containing, for example, zinc and aluminum to be deposited on the strip which is immersed in the mixture. The liquid mixture is permanently circulated between the coating tank and a preparation device, in which the temperature of the liquid mixture is deliberately lowered in order to reduce an iron solubility threshold and is sufficiently high for initiating fusion of at least one ingot containing a zinc-aluminum Zn—Al alloy in a so-called fusion zone of the preparation device, in an amount necessary to compensate for the liquid mixture used for deposition on the strip. The installation includes a loop for circulating the liquid mixture that is thermally optimized.

Abstract: A device for the laser weld joining of sheet metal strips includes the following elements: a main frame, a laser welding unit including a laser beam generator for welding the sheet metal strips to be joined and a welding head, a clamping jaw unit supported by the frame and used to clamp the sheet metal strips, and a shearing unit for shearing the head and tails of the sheet metal strips to be joined. The shearing unit includes upper blades mounted to a blade holder and lower blades which can move in relation to the upper blades and which are designed to shear a strip, as well as a blade connecting structure fixed to the frame, the above-mentioned welding head being mobile between the blade holder and the lower blades.