Abstract: An annealing installation for the continuous annealing of metal strip guided through the installation, includes an entrance chute 2, a first top roller chamber 3, a heating station 4, 5, 6, a cooling station 7, 8, a second top roller chamber 9 and a discharge chute 10 together delimiting an M-shaped meandering tunnel with four legs connected with each other via the two top roller chambers and a lower turning section. The entrance chute extends along the first one of the legs, the heating and the cooling stations extend along the second one of the legs, the lower turning section and the third one of the legs, and the discharge chute extends along the fourth one of the legs. Strip feeding and discharging means are provided for continuously guiding the strip as a free-hanging loop between the two top roller chambers through the heating and cooling stations during a process of annealing.

Abstract: Strip guiding device for guiding hot metal strip, comprising a frame, a support construction which is accommodated in the frame in such a manner that it can rotate about an axis, drive means for the stepwise rotation of the support construction in the frame, at least two supporting rolls which are rotatably and removably arranged in the support construction, insulating means which are connected to the support construction and are positioned between the supporting rolls, and cooling means for cooling each supporting roll, in which device the cooling means for each supporting roll comprise a cooling body which is connected to the support construction, each cooling body extending in the longitudinal direction of the associated supporting roll, externally delimiting this roll over part of the circumference, and being positioned at a distance from the support roll, each cooling body cooling the associated supporting roll as a result of direct radiation from the said roll.

Abstract: Strip guiding device for guiding hot metal strip, comprising a frame, a support construction which is accommodated in the frame in such a manner that it can rotate about an axis, drive means for the stepwise rotation of the support construction in the frame, at least two supporting rolls which are rotatably and removably arranged in the support construction, insulating means which are connected to the support construction and are positioned between the supporting rolls, and cooling means for cooling each supporting roll, in which device the cooling means for each supporting roll comprise a cooling body which is connected to the support construction, each cooling body extending in the longitudinal direction of the associated supporting roll, externally delimiting this roll over part of the circumference, and being positioned at a distance from the support roll, each cooling body cooling the associated supporting roll as a result of direct radiation from the said roll.

Abstract: The vertical annealing furnace for the continuous bright annealing of a metal strip guided through the furnace comprises: a vertically disposed muffle having a strip entry side and a strip exit side, the muffle having the freedom to expand in a longitudinal direction, and the muffle being disposed such that the strip entry side is situated at a top side of the muffle and the strip exit side is situated at an underside of the muffle; heating structure for externally heating the muffle; bearing structure for fixedly supporting the underside of the muffle such that it is delimited downwards in the longitudinal direction; an expansion section being provided on the top side of the muffle for taking up thermal expansion in the longitudinal direction of generally the entire muffle; and vertically movable support structure for exerting an upwardly directed support force on the muffle, the vertically movable support structure being connected to an upper part of the muffle.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for welding cylindrical elements headwise to one another, whereby the welding is achieved by subjecting the cylindrical parts during the welding operation to a radial pressure near the welding area, which radial pressure may be directed inwardly or outwardly, whereas the device employed comprises an elastic ring to be arranged around the parts to be welded, said ring being accommodated in a sleeve in which a conduit for the supply of pressurized medium to the space between the ring and the sleeve is arranged.

Abstract: Holder for a welding head for carrying out welds on the innerside of a substantially closed body, said holder being in the form of an elongated member, the end portion of which is provided with a holding member for the welding head adapted to pivot from an axial position to a radial position, and wherein means are provided for controlling said holding member.