Patents Assigned to Usinor
  • Patent number: 7032420
    Abstract: A method for real-time adjustment of a planisher for planishing metal strip. After a planished strip has been cut into a plate, the method includes measuring the plate at the output of the planisher outside a support zone, correcting the measurement so as to eliminate the influence due to self-weight of the plate, and correcting, as the case may be, the clamping of rollers located at the planer output so as to obtain a plate with a controlled curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Usinor
    Inventors: Jacques-Yves Bourgon, Olivier Guillard, Fabrice Tondo, Olivier Madelaine-Dupuich, Pierre Lemoine
  • Patent number: 7024904
    Abstract: A contour roll former capable of operating with different sets of pairs of roll forming heads depending on the type of extruded profile to be produced. The contour roll former includes pairs of heads mounted on carriages capable of sliding horizontally back and forth along a direction transverse to the forming line, so that it is possible to replace one set with another with minimum handling, requiring only horizontal movement of the carriages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Usinor
    Inventor: Philippe Maurice Jean Camille Dupas
  • Patent number: 6995838
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for automatic surface inspection of an unwinding strip to detect surface defects, comprising at least a camera (10) whereof the optical axis is directed towards the surface to be inspected and forming on said surface a transverse line of sight (L) and at least an illuminating system (15) whereof the incident rays (Ri) are directed towards the transverse tranline of sight and distributed over the entire length of said line. At each point of the transverse line of sight, the observation direction of the camera (10) forms with the specular reflected ray at said point a constant angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Usinor
    Inventors: Dominique Blanchard, Stéphane Auger
  • Patent number: 6993947
    Abstract: A metal measurement plate (5), having a size suitable for being placed between the set of upper rolls and the set of lower rolls of the leveler, has positioning means (60, 61, 62) for positioning it with respect to the rolls in the leveling direction, and strain gauges (51) for measuring elastic deformations of the plate during clamping on the leveler, said strain gauges being fastened to the plate so as to form several transverse rows of gauges (51 to 56) each located vertically in line with one of said rolls, on the opposite face of the plate with respect to said roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: USINOR SA
    Inventors: Fabrice Tondo, Jacques-Yves Bourgon, Dominique Bonnet, Christophe Noardo, Gilbert Petig, Pierre Vienot
  • Patent number: 6991688
    Abstract: A method for forming a zinc oxalate coating on the surface of a strip or sheet of metal covered with a zinc or zinc alloy coating other than zinc/iron coatings, with the aid of an aqueous solution consisting of oxalic acid having a concentration of between 5.10?3 and 0.1 mole/l, and at least one compound and/or ion of an oxidant zinc metal having a concentration of between 10?6 and 10?2 mole/l, and possibly a wetting agent. The inventive method enables sheet metal to be treated at very high speeds without using large amounts of oxidant. It facilitates management of treatment baths. The invention can be used in the lubrication of sheet metal, especially for die stamping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Usinor
    Inventors: Jacques Petitjean, Geneviève Klam
  • Patent number: 6939586
    Abstract: A process for the continuous dip-coating of a metal strip (1) in a tank (11) containing a liquid metal bath (12), in which process the metal strip (1) is made to run continuously through a duct (13), the lower part (13a) of which is immersed in the liquid metal bath (12) in order to define with the surface of the bath a liquid seal (14). A natural flow of the liquid metal from the surface of the liquid seal (14) is set up in two overflow compartments (25, 29) made in the duct (13) and each having an internal wall which extends the duct (13) in its lower part, and the level of liquid metal in the compartments is maintained at a level below the surface of the liquid seal (14). A plant for implementing the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Usinor
    Inventors: Didier Dauchelle, Hugues Baudin, Patrice Lucas, Laurent Gacher, Yves Prigent
  • Patent number: 6936307
    Abstract: A process for the continuous dip-coating of a metal strip (1) in a tank (11) containing a liquid metal bath (12), in which process the metal strip (1) is made to run continuously through a duct (13), the lower part (13a) of which is immersed in the liquid metal bath (12) in order to define with the surface of the said bath a seal (14). A natural flow of the liquid metal from the surface of the liquid seal is set up in an overflow compartment (25) made in the duct (13) and having an internal wall which extends the duct (13) in its lower part, and the level of liquid metal in the compartment (25) is maintained at a level below the surface of the liquid seal (14). Also, a plant for implementing the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Usinor
    Inventors: Didier Dauchelle, Hugues Baudin, Patrice Lucas, Laurent Gacher, Yves Prigent
  • Patent number: 6919302
    Abstract: The invention concerns the use of an oil composition for temporarily protecting and lubricating metal surfaces, characterised in that said composition contains: at least 30% of at least a saturated or unsaturated C?18 fatty acid triglyceride (Compound A); 5 to 30% of at least a C?18 fatty acid triglyceride with oleic acid content of at least 60 wt. % (Compound B); 5 to 30% of at least an ester derived from condensation of a C1-C12, preferably, C1-C2 aliphatic alcohol, with a C?18 fatty acid (Compound C); and optionally 5 to 20% of at least an amide derived from condensation of a C?18 ?fatty acid, and a C2-C6 mono- di- or tri-alkanolamine (Compound D). The invention also concerns a corresponding oil composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Usinor
    Inventors: Philippe Legros, Jean-Luc Olive, Agnès Marchand
  • Patent number: 6914213
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for overlapping welding of two coated metal sheets (1, 2) with a beam of high energy density (11), characterized in that it consists in splitting the beam (11) into a first sub-beam (12) passing through both coated metal sheets (1, 2) and forming in said zone a first molten metal bath (18) and into a non-through second sub-beam (13) forming a second molten metal bath (19) whereof the depth is less than the thickness of the upper coated metal sheet (1) and overlapping at least part of the first molten metal bath (18) for promoting evacuation of vapour from the coating material and directing on the second molten metal bath (19) a neutral gas jet with high ejection speed to form at the surface of the second molten metal bath a sink (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Usinor
    Inventors: Philippe Alips, François Dubrulle, Gabriel Vergniez
  • Patent number: 6896747
    Abstract: Austenitic alloy for high-temperature strength with improved pourability and manufacturing, of which the composition comprises, in weight-%: 0.010%<carbon<0.04% 0%<nitrogen<0.01% silicon<2% 16%<nickel<19.9% manganese<8% 18.1%<chromium<21% 1.8%<titanium<3% molybdenum<3% copper<3% aluminum<1.5% boron<0.01% vanadium<2% sulfur<0.2% phosphorous<0.04% and possibly up to 0.5% of at least one element chosen from among yttrium, cerium, lanthanum and other rare earths, the remainder being iron and impurities resulting from manufacturing or deoxidizing, the said composition also satisfying the two following relationships: in relationship to the solidification mode: remainder a=eq. Nia?0.5×eq. Cra<3.60 where eq. Cra=Cr+0.7×Si+0.2×Mn+1.37×Mo+3×Ti+6×Al+4×V, and where eq. Nia=Ni+22×C+0.5×Cu, in relationship to the rate of residual ferrite: remainder b=eq. Nib?2×eq. Crb>?41 where eq. Crb=Cr+0.7×Si+1.37×Mo+3×Ti+6×Al+4×V, and where eq. Nib=Ni+22×C+0.5×Cu+0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Usinor
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Hauser, Christophe Bourgin
  • Publication number: 20050028898
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a siderurgical product made of carbon steel having a high copper content, according to which:—a liquid steel having the composition: 0.0005%?1%; O.5?Cu?10%; 0?Mn?2%; 0?Si?5% 0?Ti?0.5%; 0?Nb?0.5%; 0?Ni?5%; 0?Al?2%, the remainder being iron and impurities, is produced;—said liquid steel is poured directly in the form of a thin strip having a thickness of no more than 10 mm;—the strip is subjected to forced cooling and/or is surrounded by a non-oxidizing atmosphere while having a temperature of more than 1000? C.;—said thin strip is hot rolled at a reduction rate of at least 10%, the temperature at the end of the rolling process being such that all of the copper is still in a solid solution in the ferrite and/or austenite matrix;—and the strip is coiled. The invention also relates to a siderurgical product obtained according to said method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2003
    Publication date: February 10, 2005
    Applicant: Usinor
    Inventors: Nicolas Guelton, Michel Faral, Jean-Pierre Birat, Catherine Juckum
  • Patent number: 6852180
    Abstract: The invention relates to the iron and steel industry. More specifically, the invention describes the manufacture of steel strip intended to be converted into thin packaging, such as for drinks and preserved food.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Usinor
    Inventors: Michel Faral, Michel Guttmann, Jean-Hubert Schmitt, Catherine Juckum, Helene Regle
  • Patent number: 6843826
    Abstract: A vacuum treatment of cast metal in liquid form employing the steps of: introducing the cast metal in liquid form into a metallurgic ladle; filling the ladle until a guard height ranging between 0.4 and 0.6 m is reached; and treating the metal while bringing the atmosphere above the ladle under vacuum, and simultaneously stirring the cast metal by injecting helium into the base of the ladle during part of or the whole treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Usinor
    Inventors: François Stouvenot, Marc Burty, Jean-François Domgin, Pascal Gardin, Dominique Viale, Raymond Reitz, Frédéric Leclercq
  • Patent number: 6824672
    Abstract: An austenitic stainless steel with a composition comprising: at most 0.15% of C; 2% to 10% of Mn; at most 2% of Ni; at most 4% of Cu; 0.1% to 0.4% of N; 10% to 20% of Cr; at most 1% of Si; at most 3% of Mo; and at most 0.7% of Ti; is used to manufacture equipment, for example furnaces, reactors or ducts, or elements of this equipment, or to coat the internal walls of this equipment, said equipment being used to implement petrochemical processes conducted at temperatures of 350° C. to 1100° C. and in which coke can be formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignees: Institute Francais du Petrole, USINOR
    Inventors: Philippe Lecour, Xavier Longaygue, François Ropital, Laurent Antoni
  • Patent number: 6797078
    Abstract: Process for the production of a hot rolled metal strip of very high strength, usable for shaping and particularly for stamping, characterized in that a steel of the following weight composition: carbon, 0.12-0.25%; manganese, 1-2%; aluminum, 0.03-2.5%; silicon, 0.03-2%; chromium, 0.04-2%; phosphorus, 0.02-0.09%; sulfur optionally up to 0.01%; titanium up to 0.15%; niobium up to 0.15%; vanadium up to 0.15%; is subjected to: rolling at a temperature below 880° C.; a first short cooling, carried out over a time less than 10 seconds, a second controlled cooling with a cooling speed V ref1 comprised between 20° C./sec. and 150° C./sec., the temperature at the end of the second cooling being comprised between 700° C. and 750° C., holding at a temperature level, a third cooling, also controlled, whose speed is comprised between 20° C./sec. and 150° C./sec., the temperature at the end of the third cooling being comprised between 350° C. and 550° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Usinor
    Inventors: Christophe Issartel, Christian Marteau, Christian Giraud
  • Publication number: 20040118482
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating a metal surface by carboxylation before forming, said metal being selected from zinc, iron, aluminium, copper, lead and the alloys thereof as well as copper-coated, aluminium-coated, galvanised steels. Said method is carried out in oxidising conditions in relation to the metal by bringing said metal into contact with an aqueous, organic or hydro-organic bath comprising at least one organic acid in free form or in salt form. The inventive method is characterised in that: the organic acid is a saturated or unsaturated aliphatic monocarboxylic or dicarboxylic acid; the organic acid is in solution and/or emulsion in the bath at a concentration greater than 0.1 mole/litre; the pH of the bath is acid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Applicant: USINOR, ATOFINA
    Inventors: Jean Steinmetz, Herve Derule, Emeryc Valot
  • Patent number: 6739383
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for continuously casting an austenitic stainless steel strip with a thickness not more than 10 mm, directly from liquid metal, between two cooled horizontal rolls, characterised in that: said steel composition in weight proportions comprises: %C≦0.08%; %Si≦1; %P≦0.04; %Mn≦2; %Cr between 17 and 20; %Ni between 8 and 10.5; %S between 0.007 and 0.040; the rest being iron and the impurities resulting from preparation; the ratio Creq/Nieq ranges between 1.55 and 1.90 with: Creq(%)=%Cr+1.37 %Mo+1.5 %Si+2%Nb+3 %Ti; Nieq(%)=%Ni+0.31 %Mn+22 %C+14.2 %N+Cu; the surface of the rolls comprises contiguous dimples with more or less circular or elliptical cross-section, of diameter between 100 and 1500 &mgr;m and depth between 20 and 150 &mgr;m; the inerting gas surrounding the meniscus is a gas soluble in steel or a mixture of such gases, or consists of at least 50% by volume of such a gas or mixture of gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Usinor
    Inventors: Christian Marchionni, Frédéric Mazurier, Jean-Michel Damasse, Frédéric Descaves
  • Patent number: 6723943
    Abstract: Process for manufacturing metallic strip for packaging comprising strip steel covered on at least one of its faces with a coating containing a sub-layer of tin and an external film of polymer, according to which: on one hand, a layer of tin is deposited on at least one of the faces of the steel strip; and on the other, a layer of tin is vacuum-deposited on one face of at least one polymer film; then at least one polymer film covered with tin and the steel strip having at least one layer of tin are brought together in such a way that the face of at least one film of polymer covered with tin or tin base alloy will be across from one face of the steel strip having a layer of tin and injecting a flux between the said faces to clean the surfaces covered with tin; and at least one polymer film is welded on the face of the steel strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: USINOR
    Inventor: Daniel Fousse
  • Patent number: 6709372
    Abstract: Roller designated for the transfer of a metal strip within a continuous annealing furnace, consisting of a driving shaft encased in a collar which bears the strip, characterized in that at least the collar is manufactured of a composite material such as carbon-carbon fiber (CCF) or silicon carbide-silicon carbide (SiC—SiC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Usinor
    Inventor: Herve Dietsch
  • Patent number: 6693264
    Abstract: Gastight and vacuum-tight chamber intended to be used in a device for heating a product advancing inside the chamber by electromagnetic induction, characterized in that it comprises a gastight and vacuum-tight sheath made of an electrically insulating, gastight and vacuum-tight material, the inner faces of the sheath being protected by a heat shield consisting of a matrix of tiles made of a thermally insulating material and of a plurality of tubes cooled by the flow of a fluid, the latter being trapped in the matrix of tiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignees: Celes, Usinor
    Inventors: Marc Anderhuber, Jean-Philippe Chaignot, Claude Couffet, Jean Hellegouarc'h, Philippe Roehr, René Pierret, Patrick Hug, Jean-Camille Uring, Gérard Griffay, Alain Daubigny