Abstract: The installation comprises a zone A for positioning a first sheet blank (2) to be welded, a zone B for bringing the two sheet blanks (2, 3) to be welded into edge to edge relation, a zone C for guiding, transferring and welding the two sheet blanks (2, 3), and a zone D for discharging the two welded sheet blanks (2, 3). The invention is applicable to installations for welding by means of a laser beam sheet blanks of different geometrical and/or different thicknesses, for example for the automobile industry.

Abstract: A method for deburring especially a steel strip (1) cut into slabs (1a) with the aid of an oxygen cutting torch (18) whose blast is perpendicular to one (2) of the principal faces of the strip (1). The method consists in directing, onto the principal face (3) of the strip (1) opposite the principal face (2) receiving the blast from the oxygen cutting torch (18) and in the zone for cutting up the strip (1), a blast of fluid which is inert with respect to the blast from the torch (18).

Abstract: The process is characterised according to the invention by the application to the metal surface, especially sheet metal, of a layer of a solution comprising a block copolymer made up of at least two blocks, the first consisting of a unit based on a siloxane monomer and the second consisting of a unit based on acrylic or vinyl monomers.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a process for separating silicic compounds from baths for cleaning steel substrates containing iron ions and silicic compounds, consisting of the following stages:a) a concentrated spent cleaning bath is cooled in a controlled manner to a temperature below 60.degree. C. so as to precipitate the silicic compounds,b) the cleaning bath is allowed to cool for at least 2 hours,c) the cleaning bath is reheated,d) the silicic compounds precipitated from the cleaning bath are separated off.

Abstract: A metallic or composite container (2) comprising a side forming a partly openable lid (4) having a fixed part in which an opening panel (16a) is delimited by a line of reduced strength (8), a connection zone (15) however remaining between the fixed part and the panel so that, by exerting on the panel a pressure in a direction toward the interior of the container, the line of reduced strength (8) is ruptured and the panel is swung toward the interior of the container about the connection zone (15). The fixed part of the lid is so shaped as to define a cavity extending toward the interior of the container, the cavity having a lateral wall (12) and a bottom wall in which the opening panel (16a) is at least partly formed.

Abstract: A roller comprises a thermocouple delivering a voltage signal which is converted by converting mechanism carried by the roller into a stabilized signal whose magnitude is independent of the resistance of the output circuit. The stabilized signal is transmitted to the fixed part of the measuring circuit by a device comprising slip rings and fixed collectors. The converting mechanisms are disposed in a case of the roller and provided with an air cooling device. The air is channelled in the case by annular supports and frames carrying the converting mechanism. Application in the measurement of the temperature of flat products travelling through a continuous annealing furnace.

Abstract: A roller is provided with at least one thermocouple for measuring the temperature of a product or sheet. The roller comprises a hollow cylindrical body whose outer surface cooperates by contact with the sheet. The thermocouple removably extends through a guide tube which extends inside the roller and is carried by supports. The end of the guide tube through which the hot junction of the thermocouple extends is fixed in a position perpendicular to the wall of cylindrical body. This end of the guide tube opens onto a blind hole provided in the wall of the cylindrical body where the hot junction of the thermocouple is received. Application in the measurement of the temperature of the sheet of an annealing furnace of a continuous treatment process.

Abstract: The subject of the present invention is a process for treating highly environmentally polluting residues such as for example residues derived from dry or wet filtration. The process consists in mixing the residues with a product containing iron oxide, in placing the mixture in a crucible, in protecting the crucible with insulating fibers, in putting the crucible in a microwave oven and in exposing the mixture to microwaves for a time of between 2 and 15 minutes at a temperature of between 1000.degree. and 1300.degree. C. in order to produce a dry fusion of the mixture and to obtain a solid material. The present invention is applicable to the reclaiming of sludge from the iron and steel industry.

Abstract: The present invention has as its subject a device for guiding and for transfer of at least two sheet metal blanks to be welded edge to edge.The device comprises, on the one hand, for each sheet metal blank, means (14a, 15a) for supporting the sheet metal blank along a horizontal reference plane and movable horizontally in the direction of a laser beam and means (14c, 15c) for vertical pressing of the sheet metal blank onto the support means and movable horizontally in synchronisation with the said support means for the movement by adherence of the sheet metal blanks and, on the other hand, means for maintaining in reference along a vertical plane the edge to be welded of one of the sheet metal blanks in the axis of the laser beam and means for placing under lateral pressure the edges to be welded of the two sheet metal blanks.

Abstract: Device (10) for igniting a moving bed of a mixture (12), in particular a mixture comprising iron ore and coke the combustion of which produces the agglomeration of the ore. The device comprises a hood (14) under which burners (16) are arranged and through which the mixture bed (12) travels. The burners (16) have axes oriented in directions substantially perpendicular to the surface of the mixture bed (12) and each burner (16) has a gas flow and an air flow which are individually adjustable, the burners being of the high-speed gas ejection type.

Abstract: The device includes a sealing element fixed to the door of a coke oven, the sealing element having an edge forming a junction with the frame of the door, and a channel disposed on the periphery of the sealing element. A sealing gas at a pressure higher than the pressure of the gaseous medium inside the oven flows into the channel. The open side of the channel faces the door frame so as to form a buffer zone of sealing gas sealing off leaks created when the sealing element expands. The channel further includes a plurality of compartments provided with distinct means for supplying the compartments with sealing gas, whereby it is possible to adjust the pressure of the sealing gas in accordance with the places where the leakages are largest.

Abstract: This process in which the used bath is recycled after concentration at (1) by elimination of water at (2), followed by a treatment for recovering iron oxides at (10), is characterized in that it comprises carrying out a tangential microfiltration at (5) of the concentrated bath so as to separate therefrom the silicon compounds in the non-ionic form and thereby concentrate them, and recirculating the major part of the fraction of this bath (11-17) containing these concentrated silicon compounds so as to promote the precipitation of the non-ionic compounds of the silicon.

Abstract: The steel having improved deep-drawing properties is characterized in that it contains carbon in a proportion of less than 0.015%, manganese in a proportion of from 0.15 to 0.25%, sulfur in a proportion of less than 0.012% and aluminum in a proportion of less than 0.04%.This steel is intended for the production of thin sheet metal intended for deep-drawing, in accordance with a process comprising, in particular, the following operations:production, in a converter, of a steel having the above composition;hot-rolling entirely in the austenitic region;winding at a temperature higher than 650.degree. C.;continuous annealing, after cold-rolling, at a temperature below 700.degree. C.

Abstract: The subject of the present invention is a method of spot resistance welding at least two metal pieces (1, 2). The method consists in pressing the pieces (1, 2) between two electrodes (3, 4), in determining the overall resistance between the electrodes (3, 4), and the contact resistances of each electrode (3, 4) with the piece (1, 2) with which it is in contact, in calculating the contact resistance between the said pieces by the difference between the overall resistance and the sum of the resistances of each piece and of the piece-electrode contact resistances, in determining the actual intensity of the electric welding current, and in adjusting the various welding parameters for the said pieces (1, 2) in order to maintain a constant optimal intensity of the electric welding current.The subject of the present invention is also a welding electrode for implementing the method.

Abstract: The subject of the present invention is a support ejection device for a stream-protector tube (5), located between the pouring ladle (1) and the tundish (3) of molten metal of a continuous-casting installation.The device comprises a support member (20) of the protector tube (5) connected to a manipulator (12) intended to bring the protector tube (5) underneath the pouring ladle (1) and the pouring ladle (1) is equipped with means for temporary joining with the said protector tube, such as a nozzle providing a seal. The support member (20) comprises a first element (21) integral with the protector tube (5) and a second element (23) integral with the manipulator (12) and automatic means for mutually locking and unlocking the elements (21, 23), permitting the ejection of the stream-protector tube (5) from the pouring ladle (1) in the event of mishaps during casting.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of acetic anhydride, characterized in that a gas containing essentially CO, at a pressure of at least 1 MPa, is reacted with methyl formate in the presence ofa) a rhodium-based catalyst,b) two iodine-containing promoters of different kind, successively ionic and covalent, andc) an N-substituted cyclic amide as solvent.

Abstract: The object of the invention is a process for the preparation of methyl acetate starting from the methyl formate, characterized in that methyl formate is converted at a temperature of 170.degree. to 220.degree. C. in the presence of:a) a catalyst based on rhodium,b) an iodine-containing promoter selected from among the alkaline, alkaline earth, phosphonium or ammonium iodides and the mixtures of covalent compounds of iodine supplemented with a phosphine or a tertiary amine.c) a solvent selected from a cyclic N-alkyl amide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for lining a distributor for continuous casting of metals, in particular steel, according to which the layer of refractory wear lining is placed in position in aqueous form, characterized in that the said refractory wear lining is composed of raw natural dolomite or raw natural calcite or of a mixture of these two materials, in that its particle size is between 0 and 5 mm, in that a binder, in proportions of 0.5 to 5% by weight, and an inorganic or organic plasticiser, in proportions of 0.2 to 3% by weight, are incorporated in this lining and in that the decarbonization of this lining is carried out after it has been placed in position, during the drying and the calcining thereof.The invention also relates to a distributor lined in this way and to the refractory lining itself.

Abstract: A built-up ingot mold for the continuous casting of metal has four cooled plates (2, 3) delimiting between them a cavity (4). The corners of the cavity are cut by bevels (9) and each pair of opposite plates bear on corresponding bearing faces (8) of the plates (2) of the other pair of opposite plates. The plates (2, 3) can be tightened against one another by tightening devices (10) acting approximately perpendicularly to the bearing faces (8). The bevel (9) of each corner of the cavity (4) is formed by the hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle, the sides forming the right angle of which are each located in a plane formed by an inner wall of one of the adjacent plates (2, 3) and have a length greater than 30 mm.

Abstract: The installation comprises a set of radial type cells (25a, 25b). The electrical supply of the strip (16) to be coated constituting the cathode is ensured by way of two electrically conducting deflector rollers (20) each mounted rotatably about an axle parallel to the axle of the drum (8) of the electrolysis cell. The deflector rollers (20) are arranged at least in part below the upper level of the drum (8) close to its outer surface. Two support rollers (21a, 21b) associated with each of the deflector rollers ensure the holding of the strip against the deflector roller over a substantial part of its periphery and as far as a zone close to the part of the outer surface of the drum (8) which is submerged in the electrolytic liquid (2). The invention applies in particular to the electrogalvanizing of a steel sheet.