Abstract: A converter comprising a container (2) defining a first axis (X); a support ring (3), coaxial to the container (2) and spaced therefrom, equipped with two diametrically opposite supporting pins (6), defining a second axis (Y) which is orthogonal to the first axis (X), adapted to allow the converter to be rotated about said second axis; suspension elements, connecting said container (2) to said support ring (3), restrained at a first end to the container (2) and at a second end to the support ring (3); in which said suspension elements comprise at least three first bars (7) arranged parallel to the first axis (X) and substantially equidistant from each other along said support ring; at least two second bars (8, 8?), each second bar (8, 8?) being orthogonal to said second axis (Y) and diametrically opposite with respect to the other second bar (8?, 8); at least one third bar (9) being arranged parallel to a first plane (X-Y) defined by said first axis (X) and second axis (Y); wherein all said bars are fixed-end

Abstract: A connection element able to be located between a part or neck of a rolling roll and a relative housing bushing as present in a chock for rolling stands, including a first external element and a second internal element, mating and coupled, wherein the second internal element has internally a seating at least partly truncated cone shaped for coupling with the neck of the rolling roll.

Abstract: A roller guiding system for thin strips (20) at a rolling system outlet which allows a safe guiding without take-off and consequent tipping/folding of the head of the strip and without cobbles even at high feeding speeds. The system of the invention prevents the strip from impacting or sliding on the upper containment devices (8) or on the rollers (4?) by its upwards or downwards movement, thus avoiding possible damages to the surface, such as scratches or lines. Furthermore, such a guiding system acts on the mechanical-aerodynamic phenomenon which causes instability in the head moving by making a self-centering guiding system which is thus suitable for improving the winding quality of the coil itself.

Abstract: A hot-rolling plant (50) for the production of metal strips comprising a roughing stand (2), a reheating furnace (3) or a maintenance tunnel for maintaining the temperature of the product, a pre-finishing mill train (4), comprising three or four stands, a finishing mill train (5), comprising two or three stands, for finishing the product, in which the work rolls of one stand are provided with their own motor drive, independent one from each other, so as to allow the peripheral speeds of both of said work rolls to be autonomously varied under rolling load.

Abstract: A template for centering the rollers at the foot of an ingot mold which allows a quick and accurate centering of said rollers, regardless of the operator's skill and experience. There is also described a corresponding method for centering the rollers at the foot of an ingot mold.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a bundle (11) of rolled bars, comprising bar conveying means (4), an inclined plane device (1) for forming a layer of bars and bar accumulation means (5), wherein the inclined plane device (1) comprises a plurality of support elements (2), arranged parallel to each another and defining a first plane inclined by an angle (a) with respect to a horizontal direction, and adapted to receive a predetermined number of bars defining the layer of bars on said first plane from said bar conveying means (4), handling means (60) for translating the inclined plane device (1) from a first maximum advancement position distal from the conveyor means (4) to a second maximum retraction position proximal to the conveyor means (4) to unload the layer of bars onto the accumulation means (5), at a speed such to prevent the bars resting on said supporting elements from being dragged.

Abstract: Process for the in-line thermal treatment of rolled rails which ensures to obtain a fine pearlitic structure which is uniform through a whole predetermined superficial thickness of the rail head. There is also disclosed a new device for the thermal treatment of rails in-line with a rolling system which, as compared to the known devices, is structurally much simpler, has a high sturdiness and requires less maintenance.

Abstract: Bottom electrode or anode for continuous direct current arc furnaces, provided with a cooling system which allows to improve the effectiveness of the cooling action of the bottom electrode, made in the shape of bimetallic billet, for the purpose of ensuring a sufficient height of the portion of said electrode which remains solid during the operation of the furnace, also when there is a very high electric load.

Abstract: Device for feeding metal into melting plant, in particular into melting furnace including hearth and lateral aperture. Device includes means to feed metal terminally associated with a connection conveyor including a loading plane and cooperating with translation and positioning means. Connection conveyor able to assume first position during continuous loading step, wherein its front terminal end is located substantially flush with the furnace internal wall through the aperture, to introduce metal inside the furnace; a second position distanced from the furnace wall during the step of tapping liquid metal from the furnace; and a third position while first loading the furnace, with the furnace switched off, wherein its loading plane front end is inside the furnace volume to be disposed in proximity to the distal internal wall opposite the furnace proximal internal wall, to unload and distribute a charge to cover at least part of the furnace bottom surface.

Abstract: A cooling tank for the thermal treatment of the head of rails, whose frame allows obtaining a stable and on average uniform flow of the cooling fluid which touches the head of the immersed rail along the entire tank, with the continuous exchange of the fluid so as to optimize the cooling speed of the head of the rail.

Abstract: A handling machine for rails, arranged in line and immediately downstream of a rolling plant, which allows both to easily handle the rail for transferring it from the roller table to the thermal treatment zone, and to ensure an optimal gripping of the rail along its longitudinal extension, thus effectively contrasting its bending and variations while allowing a longitudinal movement of the rail caused by thermal shrinkage, thus avoiding damages both to the external surface of the rail and to the handlers. A rail handling process is also described, which optimizes moving, positioning along a roller table and maintaining the rail substantially rectilinear during the thermal treatment to which it is subjected.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for the dry removal of the scale from the surface of a metal product comprising at least one heating area that does not reduce the specific surface of the material to be treated and does not cause oxidation, at least one reducing area for performing the reaction between a specific reducing gas (normally hydrogen) and at least the scale, at least one cooling area for cooling the metal product, means for heating the metal product, means for heating the reducing gas, means for controlling the fluid dynamics of the boundary layer produced by the flow of said reducing gas over the surface of the metal product, means for removing the reaction products front the reducing gas after the reaction, means for cooling the metal product, and means for removing the reaction products from the treated surface of the metal product.

Abstract: A connection element able to be located between a part or neck of a rolling roll and a relative housing bushing as present in a chock for rolling stands, including a first external element and a second internal element, mating and coupled, wherein the second internal element has internally a seating at least partly truncated cone shaped for coupling with the neck of the rolling roll.

Abstract: Oscillating table for blooms or billets production plants, comprising pairs of bars, lying on at least one horizontal plane, which constitute the elastic support elements of the mold, thus permitting an optimal guidance of the oscillation thereof exclusively in the casting direction, said pairs of bars constituting a tie rod-strut system working in bending that confers to the table very high torsional and lateral stiffness. It allows a high precision in guiding mold thus consenting it wide oscillations in the axial casting direction only.

Abstract: A discharge device discharges liquid steel into a roller crystallizer for the continuous casting of thin strip. The discharge device reduces turbulence at the meniscus to a minimum so as to eliminate the relative defects on the cast strip by passing the steel between two crystallizer rollers. A relative casting process provides expedients for improving the steel feeding from a tundish to the crystallizer. Advantageously, the feeding of guided steel jet streams inside the nozzle, or delivery nozzle, eliminates the disturbance at the meniscus caused by the air bubbles which can form when free-falling jet streams come into contact with the air.

Abstract: A handling machine for handling rails, arranged in line immediately downstream of a rolling plant, which allows an optimal clamping of the rail along its longitudinal extension, thus effectively withstanding the deflection and its variations, while allowing a longitudinal movement of the rail caused by thermal shrinkage, thus avoiding damages both to the external surface of the rail and to the handlers. A process of handling the rail is also described, which optimizes moving, positioning along a roller table and maintaining the rail substantially rectilinear during the thermal treatment to which it is subjected.

Abstract: Compact plant for making steel bars and profiles with which, starting from the scrap, it is possible to obtain the finished product, for example bars with commercial length from 6 to 18 meters, pre-packed, packaged and ready for sale, with all the stations placed in line and operating continuously. All the stations are arranged in reduced spaces, thereby reducing both investment costs and plant management costs, and decreasing production times. Advantageously, the plant of the invention incorporates an extremely compact bar packaging apparatus which, through an innovative arrangement and innovative operating method of the components thereof, allows a further reduction in length.

Abstract: Plant for the continuous casting of thick slabs, blooms or other similar steel products comprising an ingot mold and a series of containment and guiding rollers placed in the area below the ingot mold on both sides of the cast product, i.e. on the intrados and extrados, respectively. The rollers are arranged on at least three longitudinal rows and all have an axial length shorter that the width of the cast product. The rollers of a central longitudinal row are advantageously staggered with respect to the lateral longitudinal row rollers in such a way as to reduce the surface of the bulges created due to the ferrostatic pressure existing in the liquid core of the product at ingot mold outlet. Furthermore, the pitch between the adjacent rollers is advantageously always of different values so as to not cause the buckling of the bulges with a single frequency.

Abstract: Oscillating table for thick slab production plants, comprising pairs of bars (8, 8?, 9, 9?), lying on at least one horizontal plane, which constitute the elastic support elements of the ingot mould (3), thus permitting an optimal guiding of the oscillation thereof exclusively in the casting direction (x), said pairs of bars (8, 8?, 9, 9?) constituting a tie rod-strut system working in bending that confers to the table very high torsional and lateral stiffness. It allows a high ingot mould (3) guiding precision thus consenting, for example, wide oscillations exclusively in the axial casting direction.

Abstract: A laying head for forming coils using continuous and substantially rectilinear rolled products such as rods or wire, having vibration damping means integrated in one of two rotor supports (3), preferably the one on the rolled product outlet side. Said means comprise a plurality of coils (6, 6?, 6?) arranged around the rotor (3), rotating about its axis (X), which generate a magnetic field actively controlled by a computer, the resultant force of which is perpendicular to the axis (X) and of a predetermined intensity so as to eliminate the inertial forces generated by the mass imbalances. Alternatively, the damping means incorporated in one of the supports are comprised of oil film bearings.