Abstract: Provided is a crystalliser holding device for billets, blooms and slabs production plants that has a high constructive simplicity, a significantly reduced overall weight and that reduces substantially to zero the need for maintenance. The crystalliser holding device of the invention, in addition to efficaciously guaranteeing the transfer toward the exterior of the heat of the liquid steel introduced into the tubular crystalliser contained therein, also provides a separate circuit for cooling the continuous ingot exiting the crystalliser and the rollers at the foot. It also permits an easy and rapid replacement in the oscillating table in which it is housed.

Abstract: A process and an ultracompact plant for the endless production of hot rolled steel strip comprising an ingot mold (15) that produces a very thin slab, having narrow sides with thickness in the range between 40 and 55 mm and a central swelling, at a speed in the range between 4 and 16 m/min. Such a slab, which displays a core in which the steel is still liquid, is passed through a vertical pre-rolling device (16) that reduces the thickness of the slab and flattens it. The solidified slab may thus be subjected to a first mild rolling by a conveyor (17) and, by forming a free curve, takes a horizontal position where it is subjected to a first surface descaling, a first rolling, a heating in an inductor (23), a second surface descaling and a series of reductions in a rolling mill (30) formed by at least two stands, by maintaining its temperature along the mill above the recrystallization point Ar3.

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: Process and ultracompact plant for continuous production of hot rolled steel strip comprising an ingot mould (15) which produces a very thin slab at a speed between 4 and 16 m/min, wherein the thickness of the narrow sides is between 15 and 50 mm with a central swelling. Such slab has a core in which the steel is still liquid; it is run through a vertical pre-rolling device (16) which reduces the thickness of the slab, flattening it. The solidified slab can thus undergo a first light rolling process using a pinch roll (17) and, by forming a free curve, it moves to a horizontal position where it can undergo a second light rolling process by another pinch roll (22?). A heating process (if required) includes an inductor (50). A superficial descaling process and a series of reductions in a rolling mill made up of at least three stands (20?, 20?, 20??) are provided maintaining a slab temperature along the train above the Ar3 recrystallization point.

Abstract: Ingot mold for casting ultra thin slabs to be used, for instance, in a manufacturing plant for the manufacture of metal strips, having two wide concave walls (11) in the center and two flat portions (12) parallel to the plane of symmetry X in the end zones connected by two convex connecting zones (13) wherein the ratio between the lengths d/l is between 10 and 60% and the ratio h/f is between 10% and 60%.

Abstract: A device (1) for forming rolled bar (3) bundles which allows to obtain perfectly tidy and super compact bundles, in which the bars (3) are perfectly aligned with one another without twisting, tangling or overlapping, both inside and outside the bundle, conferring an excellent shape and regular appearance to the same. A process for forming rolled bar bundles by using the aforesaid device is also described.

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: A laying head, for forming coils starting from continuous rolled products such as round bars or wire rods (10) comprising a rotating member (3) with an axis (X), rotationally fixed to the supporting structure (30) by means of bearings (4, 5). The end of the rotating member (3) is a bell-shaped element (6) on the surface of which are a series of grooves (18) that guide the rolled product (10), said grooves having the form of a spiral and being open towards the outside. The laying head (1) comprises a fixed containing and protecting bell element (15) enclosing a portion of the rotating bell element (6) and having a shape that is complementary thereto.

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 process and an ultracompact plant for the endless production of hot rolled steel strip comprising an ingot mould (15) that produces a very thin slab, having narrow sides with thickness in the range between 40 and 55 mm and a central swelling, at a speed in the range between 4 and 16 m/min. Such a slab, which displays a core in which the steel is still liquid, is passed through a vertical pre-rolling device (16) that reduces the thickness of the slab and flattens it. The solidified slab may thus be subjected to a first mild rolling by a conveyor (17) and, by forming a free curve, takes a horizontal position where it is subjected to a first surface descaling, a first rolling, a heating in an inductor (23), a second surface descaling and a series of reductions in a rolling mill (30) formed by at least two stands, by maintaining its temperature along the mill above the recrystallisation point Ar3.

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: Means for conveying hot granular material from a loading zone to an arc melting furnace (3), comprising a horizontal trough (1), trough vibration generators that cause the granular material to move along the trough, a sluice gate (4) to regulate the material flow in the discharge zone and a sluice gate to regulate the material flow in correspondence with the loading zone. Separating baffles (5) are arranged inside the conveyor trough defining cells in which the granular material accumulates and considerably improving the effectiveness of the action of the gases that are forced through the granular bed, for instance to prevent oxidation of the hot DRI or to perform an additional reduction process.

Abstract: Control device for a stopper-rod to regulate the outflow of liquid metal through a calibrated hole of a pouring receptacle comprising motor means, suitable to operate lifting and lowering means (2) of the stopper (4) by means of first driving means (7) and second driving means (14, 14?), the latter being suitable to convert a rotating motion into a translational motion, wherein the second driving means are flexible longitudinal elements and are fixed at a first end thereof to lifting and lowering means and a second end thereof to an anchor element (9), integral with the first means.

Abstract: A bearing structure for a curved continuous casting machine includes a monolithic and integrated structure, made of metal sheet, substantially closed and self-bearing, having at the upper part a seating or base suitable for the assembly of an ingot mold and accommodating along the casting curve both the rolls for containing and guiding the cast product, and also at least part of a secondary cooling system.

Abstract: Coiling device (“R”) and relative method for a windable long, metal product (10). The device (“R”) comprises a mandrel (12) having a substantially circular transverse section and rotating around a horizontal, vertical or inclined axis, a containing element (13) to contain the metal product (10) arranged in correspondence with the mandrel (12) and substantially orthogonal to the axis, and at least a guide and containing device (15, 16) able to be driven between a first working position wherein it cooperates with the mandrel (12), and a second inactive position wherein it is arranged distant from the mandrel (12). The containing element (13) comprises an annular channel (14) made in proximity with an outer surface of the mandrel (12).

Abstract: Coiling method and device (“R”) for a long product (10). The device (“R”) comprises a mandrel (12) with a substantially cylindrical shape and rotating around its own axis, and a containing element (13) coaxial with the mandrel (12), rotating together therewith and defining a front wall (32) to contain the coil of product (10) to be formed. The containing element (13) comprises an annular channel (14) to clamp the leading end of the product (10) around the mandrel (12). The containing element (13) is mobile axially with respect to the mandrel (12) between a first position wherein the leading end of the product (10) is inserted, and a second position wherein the coil of product (10) is completed.

Abstract: A bar speed changing device (48) comprising a pair of upper rollers (55, 55?) and a pair of lower rollers (59, 59?). Said device receives a bar section with the rollers (55, 55?, 59, 59?) in the open position and rotating at a given speed. Upon leaving the device (48) said sections are fed into axially arranged peripheral seats (58) of rotating drum channels. Control devices calculate the speed at which the bar section must be released, upon completion of the braking action, according to the position that said section must occupy in one of said seats and on the basis of the bar-seat friction coefficient. When the rollers (55, 55?, 59, 59?) receive the bar, they turn at the calculated release speed. At a predefined moment, such to enable braking in the correct space and time, the four rollers close on the section and exert the braking action, exploiting the dynamic friction between the roller-section.

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 laying head, for forming coils starting from continuous rolled products such as round bars or wire rods (10) comprising a rotating member (3) with an axis (X), rotationally fixed to the supporting structure (30) by means of bearings (4, 5). The end of the rotating member (3) is a bell-shaped element (6) on the surface of which are a series of grooves (18) that guide the rolled product (10), said grooves having the form of a spiral and being open towards the outside. The laying head (1) comprises a fixed containing and protecting bell element (15) enclosing a portion of the rotating bell element (6) and having a shape that is complementary thereto.

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.