Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for electromagnetic stirring during a continuous casting process, especially for casting a billet and bloom of medium and high carbon steels. The method and apparatus provide a higher surface quality of the ingot, reduce the entrapping of nonmetallic inclusions into the ingot, and suppress issues regarding central segregation and central porosity. The method provides an improvement in the stirring process from the meniscus to the crater end—and relates to in-mold stirring and stirring in a zone of secondary cooling and up to the crater end. The in-mold stirring is geared towards the suppression of meniscus disturbance, for submerged casting, in particular, the reducing of helical and axial velocity components of the molten steel, the lowering of the initial solidification point to avoid the touching of a shell edge with the slag ring, and a decrease of oscillation marks.

Abstract: Device and corresponding method for the continuous casting of molten materials, comprising a vertical duct having the shape of a funnel made of refractory material for receiving molten material, and a second duct where the molten material is cooled off, the two ducts being set one on top of the other and being axially aligned. The molten material is injected into the channel, around a stretch of which electromagnetic means are set for generating magnetic forces on the molten material, the said means consisting of a plurality of windings of electrically conductive material and of a ferromagnetic core and may be electrically supplied to produce a magnetic flux along the direction of the channel, thus producing a set of forces acting on the molten material which are directed orthogonally with respect to the direction of the said magnetic flux so as to maintain detachment of the outer surface of the molten material from the walls of the channel.

Abstract: Continuous casting device and method with rollers for plane products such as strip (13) or sheet, comprising counter-rotating rollers (11) immersed in a receptacle (14) containing molten metal (15), said receptacle (14) including a bottom (114) and side walls (214), said rollers (11) being arranged parallel and adjacent to define a transit gap (12) through which the strip (13) to be produced is extracted, the device comprising holding elements (19) of the electromagnetic type arranged in cooperation with each of the ends of said rollers (11), said holding elements (19) having an inner edge, an outer edge and a curved shape suitable to surround, without contact, at least partly the surface of said rollers (11) immersed in said molten metal (15), said holding elements (19) comprising at least a coil (29) suitable to be passed through by an alternating current to generate a magnetic field in said molten metal (15) and generating currents induced therein in order to obtain the lateral confinement of said molten m

Abstract: Device and corresponding method for the continuous casting of molten materials, comprising a vertical duct having the shape of a funnel made of refractory material for receiving molten material, and a second duct where the molten material is cooled off, the two ducts being set one on top of the other and being axially aligned. The molten material is injected into the channel, around a stretch of which electromagnetic means are set for generating magnetic forces on the molten material, the said means consisting of a plurality of windings of electrically conductive material and of a ferromagnetic core and may be electrically supplied to produce a magnetic flux along the direction of the channel, thus producing a set of forces acting on the molten material which are directed orthogonally with respect to the direction of the said magnetic flux so as to maintain detachment of the outer surface of the molten material from the walls of the channel.

Abstract: In a continuous-casting plant which uses a tank made of refractory material set on top of the crystallizer for removing the meniscus and the supernatant layer of covering powders from the solidification area, around the said tank there are electromagnetic means designed to generate variable magnetic fields for slowing down and making uniform the disordered flow of liquid metal inside the said tank, whilst at the joint between the tank and the crystallizer, other electromagnetic means are set which are designed to generate a direct magnetic field so as to remove locally the liquid metal from the walls of the tank and of the crystallizer.

Abstract: A hot dip coating system comprises a bath of molten coating metal contained in a vessel having a strip passage opening located below the top surface of the bath. A metal strip is directed along a path extending through the strip passage opening and through the bath of molten coating metal, to coat the strip. An electromagnet is employed to prevent the escape of the bulk of the molten coating metal from the bath through the strip passage opening while permitting the strip to move along its path. Expedients are provided to reduce leakage of molten coating metal through the strip passage opening.

Abstract: Method for the electromagnetic stirring of the liquid metal (14) in direct current electric arc furnaces which include a hearth (35) defined by a floor (13) and by side walls (15), a central cathode (11) cooperating with anodes (12) arranged on the floor (13) of the furnace and fed by a main current (I.sub.0), wherein there is an electromagnetic system generating a magnetic field inside the liquid metal (14) whose vertical (B.sub.z) and radial (B.sub.r) components interact respectively with the radial (J.sub.r) and vertical (J.sub.z) components of the overall current present in the liquid metal (14). The method and device use a first electromagnetic system including at least a first winding (19) through which a current (I.sub.1) flows and operating from inside the floor (13) and the walls (15) of the hearth (35), and a second electromagnetic system generating a secondary induced current (I.sub.3), between adjacent anodes (12), which circulates through the liquid metal (14).

Abstract: Crystalliser for the continuous casting of billets, blooms, slabs and round bars, whether the crystalliser be of the plate type or substantially tubular, having cooled sidewalls (11) which include, in at least one longitudinal area, at least one perimeter area with electrical insulation elements (19) defining two electrically insulated ends, the sidewall of the crystalliser (10) included between the aforesaid two insulated ends having an electrical continuity, the ends being associated to electrical feed means (22) governed by a power supply system able to generate electromagnetic waves, defined and desired, interacting at least with the forming skin of the cast metal (12).

Abstract: Cooling system for electrodes (11) in D.C. electric arc furnaces, the electrodes (11) comprising a part (11a) subjected to the hot environment of the furnace, this part being made of graphite in the case of a cathode and of copper in the case of an anode, the part (11a) being associated with a metallic part (11b) by means of a joint (13) which includes inside itself a hollow (14), comprising at least in correspondence with the metallic part (11b) a cooling circuit (20) with at least a delivery channel (15), a return channel (16) and a heat exchanger (18), the circuit (20) using liquid metal as a cooling fluid, there also being included means for the forced circulation of the cooling fluid consisting of a hydromagnetic pump (17).

Abstract: Apparatus for electrochemically machining metal workpieces. An electrically conductive stationary support supports a metal workpiece to be electrochemically machined. An electrically conductive mobile support supports an electrode-tool and moves it toward the workpiece for machining and retracts it. A pair of electrical contacts are electrically connected to the stationary and mobile supports respectively. One of the contacts is mobile and moves with the mobile support axially through the other contact which is stationary. A given axial length of the mobile contact is non-conductive. This length can be determined to allow for the height of the workpieces machined. The non-conductive portion insures that the mobile contact is continuously guided on the stationary contact during its axial movement and that the contacts are in continuous slidable contact.