Patents Assigned to Usinor
  • Patent number: 5082046
    Abstract: The surface of each roll (2, 3) has a knurling constituted by two series of parallel grooves (5, 6) which are inclined to the axis (XX) of the roll and joining up at the center of the latter so as to form a series of chevrons, the two grooves (5, 6) of each chevron downwardly converging when they are on the side of the roll (2, 3) in contact with the liquid metal. The device is completed by a cage for extracting the cast product at a speed slightly higher than the speed of rotation of the casting rolls (2, 3). This arrangement avoids the formation of longitudinal or transverse cracks on the surface of the cast thin metal strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1992
    Assignee: Usinor Sacilor
    Inventor: Philippe Blin
  • Patent number: 5080162
    Abstract: The device comprises two parallel and rotating rolls (3) separated by a casting space, and two lateral closure walls (4) applied in a leaktight manner against the ends of the rolls (3) and lined with insulating refractory lining (5). Each lateral wall (4) is of the "negative insert" type. Refractory leaktight gaskets (6), consisting of consumable flexible bands, are interposed between the front faces (3a) of the rolls and the lateral walls (4) and run, during casting, at the same speed as the rolls (3), by virtue of suitable entrainment elements. The gaskets (6), unwound from feed reels, prevent infiltration of molten metal between the front faces of the rolls (3) and the lateral walls (4) and thus reduce the risk of jamming of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1992
    Assignee: Usinor Sacilor
    Inventors: Philippe Blin, Jean-Piere Birat
  • Patent number: 5080163
    Abstract: This device comprises plates held against front faces (1a, 2a) of the rolls (1, 2) in order to close the ends of a casting space (3) delimited by the rolls; each front face (1a, 2a) of a roll is equipped with a flexible endless band (5, 5') bearing, on the one hand, on the roll at the junction of its front face (1a) and its cylindrical surface (1b) and, on the other hand, on the opposite face of the associated closing plate (4), in order to ensure the seal between the latter and the front faces of the rolls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1992
    Assignee: Usinor Sacilor
    Inventor: Philippe Blin
  • Patent number: 5058658
    Abstract: The casting installation is of the type in which the ingot mould is essentially constituted by two rolls (1, 1') which are energetically cooled, substantially horizontal and parallel and rotate in opposite directions, and two lateral closing plates (5), termed "side dams", each maintained in contact with an end of each roll. According to the invention, the rolls (1, 1') have end portions of frustoconical shape and the contact between the rolls and the side dams occurs between the lateral surfaces (4a) of these frustoconical end portions and surfaces (7) of the peripheral parts (9) of the side dams which match their shape. Preferably, the parts (9) of the side dams in contact with the rolls are of ceramic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1991
    Assignee: Usinor Sacilor
    Inventor: Jean-Bernard Veyret
  • Patent number: 4867848
    Abstract: An apparatus and process for producing coke in a vertical furnace having an upper part for preheating and devolitalizing raw ovoids of coal, an electrically heated median part for carbonizing and coking the ovoids and a lower part for partially cooling the coked ovoids by counter current flow of recycled product gases recovered from the upper part of the furnace. A cooling chamber is connected to the lower part of the furnace for further cooling the coked ovoids by countercurrent flow of a portion of the recycled product gases which are withdrawn after flowing through the partially cooled coked ovoids and introduced into the upper part of the furnace to prevent condensation of condensibles contained in the product gases. The median part of the furnace may be electrically heated by electrodes, induction coils or a combination of electrodes and induction coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: Usinor Aciers
    Inventors: Jean A. G. Cordier, Bernard E. A. Dussart, Pierre H. Rollot
  • Patent number: 4858675
    Abstract: The invention relates to the preparation of especially metallic or semi-metallic bands or sheets, particularly with a microcrystalline or amorphous structure. According to this process, an electrically conductive molten material is made to flow from a tank through a nozzle, to form a strip of substantially rectangular cross-section, which is subsequently solidified. According to the invention, the form of the strip of liquid material is stabilized, after it has been shaped and before solidification, as a result of a mechanical surface effect induced by an alternating magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Assignee: Union Siderurgique Du Nord Et De L'Est De La France (USINOR)
    Inventors: Claude Senillou, Remy de Framond, Marcel Garnier, Ali R. Yavari, Jean-Charles Joud
  • Patent number: 4852406
    Abstract: The apparatus includes excitation windings (5, 6, 7) for imparting to an elongate specimen (1) of ferromagnetic material longitudinal oscillations. A device (30) is provided for cutting off a power amplifier (21) of one (5) of the excitation windings, along with a device (28, 29, 30, 32, 33) for detecting and counting the damped oscillations, after the cutting off of the excitation, whose amplitude is greater than or equal to the initial amplitude of the oscillations multiplied by a coefficient so as to permit the determination of the coefficient of internal friction. The excitation winding are constituted by three coaxial cylindrical windings (5, 6, 7) disposed around the specimen (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1989
    Assignee: Usinor Aciers
    Inventors: Oliver Chrithian, Charles Brun
  • Patent number: 4833903
    Abstract: A sheet of metal of given thickness is press-formed to provide a part having a substantially constant thickness on a double action press. The sheet to be formed is disposed on a support. A first outer slide, or blank holder is applied on the peripheral portion of the sheet. A second central slide is applied on the central portion of the sheet. The peripheral portion of the sheet is formed while allowing it to slide under the blank holder, by displacing relative to said support at least one active part of the outer slide so as to compensate, in certain regions of the finished part, for excess areas of the sheet, for the given thickness of said sheet, relative to the volume of metal to be formed, and displacing simultaneously with the displacement of the part the central slide so as to shape angular volumes of the central portion of the sheet by application of the sheet against the surfaces of the central part of the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Assignee: Union Siderurgique du Nord et de l'est de la France (USINOR)
    Inventor: Gabriel de Smet
  • Patent number: 4813652
    Abstract: The process controls the cooling of a metal sheet so as to impart thereto a predetermined crystalline structure. The sheet to be cooled is passed through a case containing a mass of regularly renewed cooling fluid. The flow of the cooling fluid is controlled as a function of the inlet temperature of this fluid, in accordance with the thickness of the sheet to be cooled and the desired cooling rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: Union Siderurgique du Nord et de l'est de la France (Usinor)
    Inventors: Stephane Viannay, Jack Sebbah
  • Patent number: 4803864
    Abstract: The tunnel comprises a rigid metal framework (3), a U-shaped covering unit (5) and a raising means (12) for shifting the framework and the covering unit between a service position and an out of service position (3', 5'). The framework (3) includes parallel cross-members (10) and the covering unit is constituted by a smooth metal sheet covered with an insulation material. The covering unit (5) is connected under the metal framework (3) in the region of each of the cross-members (10) by a plurality of articulated suspension means (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1989
    Assignee: Usinor Aciers
    Inventors: Jean M. Brysbaert, Alain Vautrain
  • Patent number: 4779782
    Abstract: Guidance device for material traveling in strip form, especially for a sheet metal treatment plant, which includes a guidance roller (13) over which the strip (20) passes. This roller is carried by a movable structure (10) itself mounted on a fixed structure (1), so as to be capable of oscillating around an axis (Y--Y) contained in a median plane at right angles to the axis (X--X) of the roller, tangent to this roller and forming an angle of between 5.degree. and 30.degree. with the upstream length (21) of the strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1988
    Assignee: Usinor Chatillon
    Inventors: Jean Ricoux, Jacques Nesme, Michel Pabiou
  • Patent number: 4775392
    Abstract: The installation comprises mainly a reactor (1) for the gasification of powdered coal on a bath (2) of liquid iron, a cooling flue (9) constituting a boiler connecting the outlet of the reactor (1) to a vapor superheater (11) fed with vapor (26) issuing from the boiler, a dust-removing cyclone (13) connected to the outlet of the superheater (11), a thermal exchanger (14) connected to the outlet of the cyclone (13) in which a drying fluid (31, 32)is heated by thermal exchange with the combustible gas, a conditioning tower (16) connected to the outlet of the thermal exchanger, the conditioning tower being connected to a dry electrofilter (17) which feeds a storage gasometer (20) through a three-way valve (21). The heated drying fluid (32) and the vapor (28,30) issuing from the superheater (11) are employed in the installation for preparing and conveying the fuel and the comburent fed to the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1988
    Assignee: Union Siderurgique du Nord et de L'Est de la France (USINOR)
    Inventors: Jean Cordier, Marcel Lemaire
  • Patent number: 4770015
    Abstract: Process for press-forming sheet materials and in particular metal sheets on a double-action press of the type comprising a cushion (5) of an elastically yieldable material, the process comprising disposing the sheet on a support, applying a first outer slide (1) on the peripheral portion of the sheet (4), then applying a second central slide (10) on a central portion of the sheet, the process further comprising disposing the peripheral portion of the sheet on a lower blank holder (3) forming a tank for the cushion (5) and having an upper surface (6) for maintaining the sheet and located at a higher level than the level of the working surface (7) of the cushion (5), applying the first outer slide, which has a body (8) having a cross-section less than the lower blank holder (3) and includes on its periphery an upper blank holder (2) cooperative with the lower blank holder (3) for gripping the sheet (4), continuing the descent of the outer slide (1) against the cushion for turning up an edge portion (20) of the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1988
    Assignee: Usinor Aciers
    Inventor: Gabriel De Smet
  • Patent number: 4768755
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for in particular repairing the region of the pouring apertures of a blast-furnace which mainly comprises employing a support element (10) independent of the casing (3) and on which bear the blocks (17) of refractory material. The support element (10) is first of all positioned relative to these blocks and then fixed in the final position relative to the casing (3), after which there is welded around the support element (10) and to the casing a sheet of metal which provides the seal between the support element and the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1988
    Assignee: Union Siderurgique du Nord et de l'Est de la France (USINOR)
    Inventor: Pierre Rollet
  • Patent number: 4762653
    Abstract: The invention relates to the preparation of especially metallic or semi-metallic bands or sheets, particularly with a microcrystalline or amorphous structure.According to this process, an electrically conductive molten material is made to flow from a tank through a nozzle, to form a strip of substantially rectangular cross-section, which is subsequently solidified. According to the invention, the form of the strip of liquid material is stabilized, after it has been shaped and before solidification, as a result of a mechanical surface effect induced by an alternating magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1988
    Assignee: Union Siderurgique du nord et de l'Est de la France (USINOR)
    Inventors: Claude Senillou, Remy de Framond, Marcel Garnier, Ali R. Yavari, Jean-Charles Joud
  • Patent number: 4720310
    Abstract: The process controls the cooling of a metal sheet so as to impart thereto a predetermined crystalline structure. The sheet to be cooled is passed through a case containing a mass of regularly renewed cooling fluid. The flow of the cooling fluid is controlled as a function of the inlet temperature of this fluid, in accordance with the thickness of the sheet to be cooled and the desired cooling rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1988
    Assignee: Union Siderurgique du Nord et de l'est de la France (USINOR)
    Inventors: Stephane Viannay, Jack Sebbah
  • Patent number: 4699694
    Abstract: Process for regulating the quantity of metal electrolytically deposited on a continuously travelling band to be coated in a coating plant comprising a plurality of tanks filled with electrolyte. The process comprises determining experimental curves of the yield as a function of the strength of the supply current of each bridge of the plant, collecting (32) indications relating to the bridges in operation or out of operation, establishing analog values of the strength for each bridge and of the maximum strength of the current for all of the bridges, measuring the velocity of the travel of the band (37), establishing set values (39) relating to the quantity of metal to be deposited, measuring the total quantity of metal deposited by means of a gauge employing a periodic scanning, determining the lower and upper means of the quantity of metal measured by the gauge in each scan, and establishing a regulation model from the aforementioned data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1987
    Assignee: Usinor Aciers
    Inventors: Bernard Backelandt, Jean-Claude Gythiel, Daniel Piquet
  • Patent number: 4697273
    Abstract: The electrode structure, embedded in a refractory lining (1) covering the wall (2) of a vessel containing the bath (5) of metal, flush at one (4) of its ends with the inner surface of the refractory lining and projecting at its other end (6) out of the vessel, is of the type comprising an electrically conductive central core (3) extending through the wall (3) of the vessel and a cooling jacket (11) disposed around the central core (3) and in close contact therewith. The feature of the electrode structure is that the central core (3) is connected by its end (6) outside the vessel to an electric supply terminal (7), the zone of the central core (3) adjacent to the outer end (6) and in facing relation to the cooling jacket (11) being electrically insulated from the cooling jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1987
    Assignee: Union Siderurgique du Nord et de l'Est de la France (USINOR)
    Inventor: Jean Cordier
  • Patent number: 4672726
    Abstract: The machine removes burrs from slabs (1) issuing from a continuous casting plant and cut to length by an oxygen cutting. The machine is of the type having a rotor mounted horizontally in a frame and carrying on its periphery means for removing the burrs. The burr removing means are self-retractable hammers (8) whose head (10) describes an envelope which is rendered substantially tangent to the lower side of the slab (1) by means (40, 36) for moving the rotor (4) vertically in translation carried by the frame (21, 22). The rotor (4) is driven by a driving shaft (51) whose rotation is controlled in one direction or the other by a control device as a function of the detection (C1, C2, C3) of the passage of the head end or foot end of the slab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1987
    Assignee: Usinor Aciers
    Inventors: Gerard Delbecq, Jean-Pierre Markey, Bernard Marcq, Rene Val
  • Patent number: 4668285
    Abstract: This process and this installation permit taking samples of blast-furnace gas from a series of orifices (T1, T2 . . . ) located at different levels along a generatrix of the body of the blast-furnace. There are performed, in sequence, operations for preparing sampling lines, operations for the analysis of the gases in a device (G), and pressure measuring operations in a pressure sensor (P). These various operations are managed by a programmable automaton (A) and the data obtained are used in a computer (C) in accordance with an embodiment of the installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1987
    Assignee: Usinor
    Inventor: Jean-Louis Lebonvallet