Abstract: A levelling device for a strip of material contains a first cassette frame unit having a plurality of first levelling rollers with juxtaposed axes of rotation spaced by a first pitch substantially greater than a first diameter of the rollers, each of the rollers having one extremity coupled and driven individually by a motor torque transmission extender. A second cassette frame unit is interchangeable with the first cassette frame unit and contains a plurality of second levelling rollers with juxtaposed axes of rotation spaced by a second pitch substantially greater than the second diameter of the second rollers. A motor drive drives a plurality of motor torque transmission outputs to each of the extenders. The second cassette frame unit includes a torque distribution module disposed and coupled between one extremity of at least one of the extenders and at least two juxtaposed extremities of the second rollers.

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: A method and an installation are used for inspecting a surface of a coiled metal strip, wherein the coil to be inspected is unwound along a moving plane so as to cause at least part of the strip to move to a position for inspecting the surfaces. Accordingly, the method consists in moving the part of the strip to be inspected along a substantially vertical inspection plane, between an unwinding device and a winding device arranged on two vertically spaced apart levels on either side of an intermediate inspection level. Thus, the inspection is visually performed on both surfaces of the strip by an operator moving about on a floor at the intermediate inspection level.

Abstract: A joining machine for joining ends of successive strips in a strip treatment installation includes a device welding a first end of a strip to a second end of another strip, a first pair of symmetrical clamping jaws including a first upper and a first lower clamping jaw gripping the first end of a strip, a second pair of symmetrical clamping jaws including a second upper and a second lower clamping jaw gripping the second end of a strip, the clamping jaws holding and positioning the first end facing the second end for welding the ends together. At least two clamping jaws of the two pairs each include a part for contacting one of the ends to be welded to another end. The part has a geometry and at least one constituent material reducing a strength of eddy currents likely to be created in the clamping jaw by electromagnetic induction.

Abstract: A method and installation for inspecting a butt weld of transverse ends of metal strips held together between first and second jaws along the ends, include leaving an interstice between the jaws for passage of a first transmission channel of incident waves generating ultrasound waves on one surface of the first strip and enabling passage of a second transmission channel of waves emerging from the surface of the second strip. The incident waves of the first channel are generated using laser pulses in an operating state implementing a third channel of waves generated on the surface of the first strip, passing through the weld, and emerging in the second channel. Weld inspection characteristics are identified by analyzing the operating state related to the pulses and a measurement of a signature of a vibration state of the surface of the second strip upon emergence of the waves in the second channel.

Abstract: A device for rotating at least one mandrel coupled to a secondary reduction gear that can in turn be coupled to a primary reduction gear and supplies a torque to the mandrel. The primary reduction gear is driven by at least one driving motor, the primary and secondary reduction gears are mechanically similar and can be coupled via at least one torque transmission means rotated by the primary reduction gear along a rotation axis, the torque transmission means includes at least one coupling tube with two section ends. Furthermore, in the assembled configuration, the primary and secondary reduction gears define a unitary assembly integrally encapsulating the torque transmission means that can be removed from the unitary assembly in the permanent assembled configuration through an opening of the unitary assembly formed in at least one of the walls of the primary and secondary reduction gears opposite the section ends of the torque transmission means.

Abstract: A roll stand has two working rollers capable of gripping a strip to be rolled, two intermediate rollers, two bearing rollers, and at least one side bearing unit capable of laterally supporting the working rollers. At least one camber block for cambering the intermediate rollers is capable of vertical movement relative to the posts of the roll stand and of supporting the side bearing unit.

Abstract: A measuring method and a device are adapted for the positioning of a wheel for mash seam resistance welding in the butt-joining of steel strips on continuous processing lines. A rotary roller which is fastened to a movable frame is positioned in a measuring position that is vertically below a reference wheel. The reference wheel is lowered vertically to come into contact and bear on the rotary roller. A distance between an index on a measuring arm of the frame and an articulated column is repeatedly measured during the continuous lowering movement of the roller. The distance is compared with a distance threshold for each of the repeated measurements until the wheel reaches a first operating position where the distance equals a predefined distance threshold factor. The first operating position is recorded as a reference point in a system for the vertical movement of the reference wheel.

Abstract: Equipment and a method for preheating a continuously moving steel strip, in particular before feeding the same into a continuous annealing or hot-dip galvanizing furnace, involves the continuous movement of the steel strip in a preheating chamber including a preheating circuit having at least one preheating tube, the inner surface of which is in contact with externally-recovered burnt gases (e.g. from the furnace). A portion of the outer surface of the preheating tube is disposed directly opposite a surface of the strip in order to provide a first preheating mode by irradiating heat onto the strip and the walls of the chamber, and a second preheating mode, mainly by convection, of a gas constituting a controlled atmosphere in the preheating chamber.

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: In a method to replace a pair of rolls of a rolling mill stand during a downtime period, worn rolls fitted with chocks are extracted from the mill stand and positioned on means of displacement that bear a pair of new rolls without chocks. The method sets the means of displacement in motion so that the worn rolls are aligned with a chock extraction device. The chock extraction device is used to remove the chocks from the worn rolls. The means of displacement are actuated so that new rolls are now aligned with the chock extraction device. The chock extraction device is used to reinstall, on the new rolls, the chocks. After the new rolls have been fitted with the chocks, the new rolls are inserted in the mill stand so that the downtime period is reduced and the number of chocks in service is likewise reduced.

Abstract: In a method for the spectral analysis of a metal coating layer deposited on the surface of a steel strip, the strip is moved along an arc of the outer surface of a rotating roller with a cylindrical wall guiding the strip by contact. An ablation laser beam is guided into an internal cavity of the cylindrical wall to be placed in optical incidence under a normal axis on the outer surface of the roller on a targeted contact point of the strip and the roller. The beam passes through the wall via a wall opening, which is transparent to the beam. A plasma spectral emission distribution from the laser ablation to the contact point is collected by optical feedback in the direction of the normal axis on the outer surface of the roller and through the opening in order to be guided towards a spectral measurement unit. The normal axis on the outer surface for the optical incidence and feedback is placed in synchronous rotation with the roller.

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 method and a device is provided for controlling the overlapping of leveling rollers in a planishing machine comprising two leveling trains each bearing a series of rollers with parallel axes. The method and device are particularly applicable to sheets and strip products of great thickness and high hardness requiring little roller overlap. The method is characterized in that it consists in measuring at least the overall value of the torques transmitted to the planishing rollers by the motors, in determining the actual value of the torques used for planishing the product, in comparing the determined value with the reference value of the torque provided by the presetting model and in acting on the members regulating the roller overlap to maintain the value of the thus determined torque at the reference value.

Abstract: A method and device for honing a metal strip of arbitrary width in continuous motion, allow honing of a suspended portion of at least one side of a metal strip, being free of artifacts and automated. The device includes a device for vertically positioning an abrasive element at the surface of the strip. A device for horizontally moving the abrasive element transversely to the motion of the strip can be coupled to the vertical-positioning device and moved back and forth from one edge of the strip to the other. A first device allows uniform pressure to be applied to press the abrasive element against the strip. The first device allows a uniform pressure to be applied to a suspended portion of the strip in motion and can be coupled to a second device allowing the pressure to be adjusted according to the longitudinal tension of the suspended portion of strip.

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 device for rotating at least one mandrel coupled to a secondary reduction gear that can in turn be coupled to a primary reduction gear and supplies a torque to the mandrel. The primary reduction gear is driven by at least one driving motor, the primary and secondary reduction gears are mechanically similar and can be coupled via at least one torque transmission means rotated by the primary reduction gear along a rotation axis, the torque transmission means includes at least one coupling tube with two section ends. Furthermore, in the assembled configuration, the primary and secondary reduction gears define a unitary assembly integrally encapsulating the torque transmission means that can be removed from the unitary assembly in the permanent assembled configuration through an opening of the unitary assembly formed in at least one of the walls of the primary and secondary reduction gears opposite the section ends of the torque transmission means.

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: A method and device for controlling the final thickness of a rolled product at a tandem rolling mill exit which make it possible to remove the cyclic defects of the product thickness variation. The method includes using at least one rolling stand provided with hydraulic adjustment devices located on the tandem rolling mill exit and in compensating the cyclic defects of the product thickness variation generated upstream through the entire rolling mill on the stand with the aid of an adjuster (R) coordinated with the frequency of defects. The method and device are suitable for tandem cold rolling mills producing metal strips. The thickness defects are detectable by a thickness sensor.

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.