Abstract: A horizontal strip accumulator for metal strip includes a looper car which is moveable along a travel path at at least one swivel gate which is moveable, when the looper car is moved, by the looper car between a starting position and an end position. For moving the swivel gate, the looper car acts on an actuating element which is connected with the swivel gate through a four-gear mechanism with two swivels. The swivel gate is rotatably arranged on one swivel and the actuating element is rotatably arranged on the other swivel. The actuating element has spoke-shaped projections and the looper car has counter projections which engage between the spoke-shaped projections.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pig casting machine comprising at least one endless conveyor belt (2), on which pig casting molds (3) are fixed, for conveying pig casting molds from a casting station (4) to a pig removal station and vice versa, wherein each pig casting mold is filled with molten metal as it passes through the casting station with the mold cavity facing upwards, in addition to a device for cooling the pig casting molds before, during and/or after casting, wherein the pig casting molds are embodied having a thin wall. According to the invention, in order to increase output and to be able to cast heavy metals in such a pig casting machine, the pig casting molds (3, 112, 207) are designed to receive molten metal at a melting temperature above 1,000° C.

Abstract: A disadvantage of continuously casting thin metal strips in a continuous casting plant (1) wherein the casting strand (7) exits the mould (2) in a downward direction and is guided in a vertical strand guide (3) with the help of pairs of driver rolls (4, 5) for supporting and conveying the strand (7), is that the force with which the driver rolls (4, 5) are pressed against the strand (7) results in the unchecked rolling of the strand while it is still soft. The aim of the invention is to solve this problem. To that end, the driver rolls (4, 5) are pressed against the strand (7) with a variable pressure (P1, P2) which is regulated “on-line” in accordance with the thickness (d3, d4) of the strand (7), in such a way as to obtain and maintain a constant strand thickness.

Abstract: A direct-current arc furnace for producing steel has a smelting vessel with electrodes, tapping openings for the molten mass and slag, and a device for a direct removal of exhaust gases. The smelting vessel is extended upwardly by a central shaft for introducing melt-down material into the vessel. The extension of the central shaft forms a melt-down material column. A shaft suction device is provided as an extension of the shaft for removal of the exhaust gases during the smelting process. Adjacent to the shaft openings are provided in the upper part of the smelting vessel for receiving a vessel suction device for dust and/or gases resulting during the charging process of the melt-down material. The shaft suction device and the vessel suction device are connected to a common device and switching elements are provided for actuating only one suction device and/or adjusting a combination of the exhaust gas flows dependent on the charging and smelting process.

Abstract: A method of determining the friction between the strand shell and the mold during continuous casting with an oscillating mold includes measuring with the use of controlled double-acting hydraulic cylinders and with a predeterminable measuring frequency the pressures of always both chambers of all oscillating cylinders as well as the lifting positions of the pistons corresponding to these pressures, and by computing from these data the friction force acting at any point in time between the strand shell and the mold walls.

Abstract: A continuous casting mold for manufacturing slabs, particularly for manufacturing thin slabs includes water-cooled short side walls and long side walls, wherein a casting funnel is formed between the long side walls in an area where the long side walls extend parallel to each other and extend outwardly toward the two short side walls and cooling grooves are provided on the other outer or rearward sides of the long side walls. The rearward sides of the long side walls are each reinforced by a wall armor starting at a mold location below the lowest molten metal level, wherein the thickness of the wall armor decreases in the strand casting direction from a greatest thickness at the mold location below the lowest molten metal level.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling the temperature of a melt (10), preferably of a steel melt, in a distributing vessel (11), whereby the temperature of the melt is measured, the measured result is compared with a predetermined temperature range in the form of specified values, and as much heat is supplied or withdrawn from the melt such that the temperature remains inside said range. In order to control the melt temperature, a fireproof shaped part (20) which is closed on both sides and which is provided for accommodating a liquid cooled induction coil (1) is immersed in the melt (10). The transmission of heat is carried out by means of thermal conduction out of the wall of the shaped part (20) which is coupled to the induced electromagnetic field and/or by means of a direct coupling to the liquid melt (10).

Abstract: A strand pulling-off method for a metal strip cast in a curved continuous casting plant and a curved continuous casting plant, wherein the metal strip is initially pulled vertically from a casting mold using a curved entry segment driven with an entry speed. A curved shape is imparted to the metal strip in the curved entry segment such that the metal strip travels in a circular arc. The metal strip is straightened after reaching a horizontal strip travel direction using a curved exit segment driven with an exit speed and conveying the metal strip out of the curved exit segment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for disposing of a lubricant, preferably oil, of which a controlled supply is provided to a friction bearing, especially a roll neck bearing of a chock. Said lubricant flows into the bearing box and is disposed of below through a lubricant sump. According to said method, the lubricant which has collected in the sump is disposed of upwards with the aid of a vacuum. To this end, the bearing case (1) is configured with a discharge bore (10) which extends downwards into the lubricant sump (9), and is connected to the atmosphere via at least one ventilation bore (17) situated at the top end of the bearing, and an outlet line (15, 16). The discharge bore (10) has a pressure regulating valve (13) in a line (12) which is connected to a vacuum source (VQ). Said pressure regulating valve (13) has an interactive connection to a device for measuring the throughflow of air (14), said measuring device being located in the outlet line (15) of the ventilation bore (17).

Abstract: A method of measuring and regulating temperature and quantity of cooling water of a continuous casting mold flowing through water-coolable mold walls composed of copper plates, particularly mold walls which are independent of each other, wherein the cooling water temperature of a mold wall is measured at at least two locations in the area of the discharge openings of a copper plate and the corresponding water box. The flow velocity and the water pressure of the cooling system are adjusted in such a way that the lowest temperature in the area of the water discharge side or the water discharge opening of a copper plate is at the limit of the boiling temperature, and that for all higher temperatures a bubble evaporation at subcooled boiling of the cooling water is stimulated.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for minimizing the coil height of wire coils formed in a coil forming chamber, wherein individual wire windings are conveyed on a horizontal conveyor, the wire windings are allowed to drop at the end of the conveyor in an approximately vertically dropping movement, and the wire windings drop into the coil forming chamber so as to form the coil. The method includes the steps of placing the wire windings Nw from their drop line eccentrically relative to the axis of symmetry of the coil forming chamber, and adjusting an angle offset &Dgr;&phgr; between two successive windings in accordance with the number of wire windings which are placed per 360° in the coil forming chamber, wherein the adjustment is constant or variable, and wherein &Dgr;&phgr;=360°/Nw.

Abstract: A funnel geometry of a mold for the continuous casting of metal, wherein the mold has a pouring portion with cooled long side walls and short side walls, wherein the pouring portion becomes narrower in the shape of a funnel in the casting direction until it reaches the size of the cast strand. In the funnel portion the inner contour of the long side walls is constructed convexly along a straight line connecting the upper edge of the mold and the outlet of the pouring portion.

Abstract: A descaling device for hydromechanically descaling metal strip has a descaling spray arrangement with first and second spray nozzles arranged adjacent to one another in first and second spray nozzle rows transverse to the transport direction with several first and second spray nozzle rows successively arranged in the transport direction above a top side and underneath a bottom side of the metal strip. The first and second spray nozzles spray a high pressure water jet onto the top and bottom sides. First catch troughs are correlated with the first spray nozzles and catch water of the high pressure water jets of the first spray nozzles. The first spray nozzle rows together with the first catch troughs are pivotable about a pivot axis and vertically adjustable relative to the top side by a signal from a measuring device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an adjusting method for a roller section of a continuous casting machine which is provided with a section input side (6), a section output side (7) and a pair of roller carriers (1, 2) which each carry at least two rollers (3) extending over a supporting zone (4), with the roller carriers (1, 2) being mutually adjusted against one another by way of an adjusting unit arranged at the section input side (6) and at the section output side (7), with each adjusting unit being provided with two hydraulic cylinder units (8 to 11) arranged on either side of the supporting zone (4), characterized in that the hydraulic cylinder units (8 to 11) can be adjusted both in a position-controlled and pressure-controlled manner; the rollers (3) are placed in a position-controlled manner by the hydraulic cylinder units (8 to 11) against a metal billet (5) which is guided by the rollers (3); the hydraulic cylinder units (8 to 11) are changed over from position-controlled to pressure-controlled o

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for carrying out the annealing step of a galvannealing process in which strips and sheets, particularly of steel, are subjected after galvanizing to an annealing step by heating the coated material and subsequently holding at final annealing temperature, wherein, during annealing, the heating step is interrupted by at least one additional holding step and, thus, a stepwise increase of the temperature over time is adjusted.

Abstract: The invention relates to a Steckel hot rolling mill comprising at least one reversing roll stand (1) as well as coilers (6,7) which are positioned upstream and downstream and present torque-controlled drives. The aim of the invention is to improve such a hot rolling mill in such a way that it optimally counteracts variations in tension and/or mass flow caused by changes in process parameters and allows for high quality hot rolling, especially of very thin hot rolled strips. To this end the invention provides for a looper (8,9) to be positioned between both the coilers (6,7) and the reversible roll stand (1), which supplies actual values for adjusting tension and mass flow.

Abstract: A process for producing the oscillation of a continuous casting mold, especially with the use of a hydraulically driven lifting device. So that the heat transfer to the mold and the formation of the casting shell can be effectively controlled, it is proposed that, for any given strand withdrawal rate, the zero line of the mold oscillations relative to the position of the surface of the steel in the mold be moved upward and/or downward during the casting process. As a result of this measure, the quality of the cast product is effectively improved.

Abstract: A rotor winder and a method for operating the rotor winder, wherein the rotor winder has two rotors supported in a rotatable rotor with two winders which are driven independently from one another and are provided for successive continuous winding of hot strip. Each winder has a winder mandrel including several moveable segments for expanding the winder mandrel, wherein the segments are supported on axially moveable wedge-shaped gliding surfaces. The winders are moveable in cycles from an initial position into the coil transfer position by rotation of the rotor. A device is provided for guiding an incoming hot strip onto the winder mandrel of the winder positioned in the initial position and for holding the strip on the winder mandrel until a slip-free engagement of the strip is effected. The device for guiding and placing the incoming strip is arranged on a power-driven frame mounted so as to be moveable in a direction extending parallel to the axis of the winder.

Abstract: In a heat treatment method for producing boundary layer-hardened long products and flat products of unalloyed or low-alloy steel, the workpiece is cooled for producing a martensitic grain within a boundary layer of the workpiece by repeating several sequential cooling process steps. Each sequential cooling process step has a cooling phase, in which the workpiece is cooled to a temperature below a martensite starting temperature for martensitic conversion of only a portion of the boundary layer of the workpiece, and a temporal stress-relief phase for relieving stress within already formed martensitic grain areas and already formed martensite/austenite boundary areas. Subsequently, the workpiece is cooled at a cooling rate below a lower critical cooling rate for cooling the workpiece core.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement for operating a rotating starting shear operating in a start-stop operation on rolling stock travelling at different speeds in wire mills, light-section mills, medium plate mills and billet mills, wherein the shear, whose gear system is connected through a coupling to a drive motor, is accelerated from the position of rest to approximately rolling speed and, after the cut has been carried out, is stopped again. A gear machine is arranged between the gear unit of the shear and the drive motor, wherein torsion-proof couplings are arranged between the gear unit or the shear and the gear mechanism and between the gear mechanism and the drive motor.