Abstract: A process for manufacturing a slag conditioning agent for steel desulfurization is shown in which a dried slag material Obtained from a secondary steelmaking process is mixed with quicklime particles. The quicklime particles react with moisture in the slag material to dry the slag material and produce a blend of slag material, hydrated lime and any unreacted quicklime. The blend is then sieved to separate out the hydrated lime. The retained dried fraction after sieving is then mixed with an Al2O3 mass fraction from which the slag conditioning agent can be collected. The slag conditioning agent has an equivalent mass ratio which is between 0.55 and 1.5.

Abstract: A method for characterizing a sample using spectral images of the sample. At least one volume of values of an observed parameter is generated from the images for a plurality of coordinates of the pixels of the images and a plurality of acquisitions. At least one set of input data from the volume is extracted, with the input data corresponding to the values of the parameter, for a pixel of given coordinates in various acquisitions, to which values at least one conversion function has been applied. The at least one neural network is trained using the input data in order to extract therefrom at least one feature of the sample to be characterized. The at least one feature extracted by the neural network is used to perform a classification of the input data into a plurality of classes, each class being representative of at least one feature of the sample.

Abstract: Process for manufacturing a slag conditioning agent for steel desulfurization wherein a dried slag material obtained from secondary steelmaking process is mixed with quicklime particles to produce a slag conditioning agent.

Abstract: A method operates a mobile readout system having at least one stationary consumption meter and a mobile readout receiver for reading out the consumption meter as the readout receiver moves past the consumption meter. A two-way communication takes place between the consumption meter and the readout receiver by using the consumption meter to transmit status information stored in the consumption meter, using the readout receiver to receive the status information, using the readout receiver to request additional information from the consumption meter by using a request command, and transmitting encrypted additional information from the consumption meter to the readout receiver. A readout receiver having a receiver for acquiring data from a plurality of spatially distributed consumption meters by using radio transmission according to the method is also provided.

Abstract: Process for dephosphorization of molten metal during a refining process using a lime composition in the form of compacted particles having a Shatter Test Index of less than 20%, leading to a refined metal reduced in phosphorus components to the extent that the refined metal reduced in phosphorus is showing a phosphorus content lower than 0.02 w % based on the total weight of the refined metal reduced in phosphorus.

Abstract: A method for characterizing a sample using spectral images of the sample. At least one volume of values of an observed parameter is generated from the images for a plurality of coordinates of the pixels of the images and a plurality of acquisitions. At least one set of input data from the volume is extracted, with the input data corresponding to the values of the parameter, for a pixel of given coordinates in various acquisitions, to which values at least one conversion function has been applied. The at least one neural network is trained using the input data in order to extract therefrom at least one feature of the sample to be characterized. The at least one feature extracted by the neural network is used to perform a classification of the input data into a plurality of classes, each class being representative of at least one feature of the sample.

Abstract: A method operates a mobile readout system having at least one stationary consumption meter and a mobile readout receiver for reading out the consumption meter as the readout receiver moves past the consumption meter. A two-way communication takes place between the consumption meter and the readout receiver by using the consumption meter to transmit status information stored in the consumption meter, using the readout receiver to receive the status information, using the readout receiver to request additional information from the consumption meter by using a request command, and transmitting encrypted additional information from the consumption meter to the readout receiver. A readout receiver having a receiver for acquiring data from a plurality of spatially distributed consumption meters by using radio transmission according to the method is also provided.

Abstract: Process for dephosphorization of molten metal during a refining process using a lime composition in the form of compacted particles having a Shatter Test Index of less than 20%, leading to a refined metal reduced in phosphorus components to the extent that the refined metal reduced in phosphorus is showing a phosphorus content lower than 0.02 w % based on the total weight of the refined metal reduced in phosphorus.

Abstract: The vacuum pump (10) comprises at least one rotor shaft (12) having a rotor section (14) with a rotor (16), a bearing section (18) with a bearing (20), and a shaft sealing system (22) that is axially situated between the rotor section (14) and the bearing section (18). The shaft sealing system (22) axially comprises, on the side of the rotor, a gas seal (32) and, on the side of the bearing, an oil seal (34). The shaft sealing system (22) additionally comprises, between the gas seal (32) and the oil seal (34), a separating chamber, which surrounds the rotor shaft (12) and is ventilated by at least one separating chamber ventilation duct (60, 62). This enables the pressure differential that decreases via the gas seal and t he pressure differential that decreases via the oil seal to be adjusted. An appropriate adjustment can prevent oil on the bearing side from passing through the oil seal toward the separating chamber.

Abstract: The invention concerns an ingot mould comprising in succession, in the direction for extracting the metallic product to be cast (7): a preheater (5) made of noncooled refractory material acting as reservoir for the melting metal to be cast and a standard cooled tubular metal element (6) for solidifying the metal. A slot (18) for injecting the shearing gas (for example Ar) is arranged between the preheater (5) and the metal clement (6) so as to emerge on the ingot mold internal periphery. The injection slot comprises means (17) for reducing the gas flow in each of the ingot mold angles, preferably formed by obstructing elements. The invention enables to reduce, even eliminate, defects encountered along the edges of the solidified cast products.

Abstract: In this type of mold, a feed head (23) made of thermally insulating refractory fits on top of the cooled copper crystallizer (7) being internally aligned with it in order to define a passage for the cast metal, with interposition between the two of an insert (24) made of dense refractory having mechanical strength properties. This insert (24) consists of bars, each bar (29) being formed by a rigid assembly of aligned and juxtaposed contiguous elements (30) kept clamped against each other by a clamp incorporated into the bar, such as a cross-tie (31) associated with compression pads (33), and positioning and aligning the bar on the crystallizer (7) are provided and consist of a battery of spring pushers (38), which battery is associated with a positioning stop (39) on the crystallizer against which the bar (29) presses.

Abstract: The invention concerns the adjustment of the linear distribution of an injected shearing fluid, during casting, through a slot (20) provided in the cooled metal body (1)—refractory riser block (14) interface of an ingot mold for continuous metal casting charge and emerging along said ingot inner periphery, the latter being provided with clamping means for adjusting the slot thickness. The invention is characterized in that it consists in “cold” injecting through said slot (20) a regulating inflammable fluid, which is ignited on its exit from the slot, and in acting on the clamping means (25, 26, 28, 29) such that the height of the flames (39) coming out of the slot (20) is substantially constant along the whole ingot inner periphery. The invention provides the advantage of an accurate and lasting adjustment of the injected flow rate without requiring the adjustment of the injection slot thickness. The invention is applicable to continuous steel charge casting in particular.

Abstract: The continuous casting installation includes an ingot mould the walls (1) of which are formed by cooled metal walls (2) surmounted by a hot-top element (3) made of a heat insulating material. Holes for injecting a gas under pressure, such as a slot (10), lead into the ingot mould at least at the interface between the hot-top element and the metal wall. The insulation includes means (13 to 17), connected to the said holes, for supplying a gas or a gaseous mix with a thermal expansion capacity adjustable according to the composition of the cast metal alloy and the casting conditions. The adjustment of the thermal expansion capacity of the injected gas enables the adjustment of the heat flux density extracted from the cast metal in the zone where it starts to solidify.

Abstract: The mold includes a cooled copper body 4 on top of which sits a refractory feed head 9 which itself consists of two separate components--a thermally insulating upper bush 16 and a bottom annulus 17 made of a stronger and more compact refractory which is surrounded by a crimping ring 18 narrower than the annulus, so that an edge of the annulus extends beyond each side of the ring. As the lower inner edge of the bottom annulus becomes worn due to an erosive flow of molten metal, the working life of the annulus may be extended in two ways. First, the annulus may be removed between casting operations and its bottom surface may be faced. Second, after the facing operations have rendered the bottom surface flush with the crimping ring 18, the annulus may then be inverted so that the lower inner edge is replaced with the upper inner edge.

Abstract: This mold consists of a cooled mold body (1), made of copper or a copper alloy, on which sits a refractory feed head (2) and a purge slit (8) is made at the interface between said mold body and said feed head, via which a stream of a waste inert gas is injected around the internal perimeter of the mold. The slit is supplied via a plenum chamber (13) made within the mold, the plenum chamber being itself supplied with gas via inlets (12) which connect it to a pressurized-gas supply (20). The injection slit (8) is segmented around the mold perimeter with the aid of separating means (21) which also segment the plenum chamber into compartments (13', 13", etc.) which are juxtaposed around the perimeter of the mold so that an inlet (12) runs out into each compartment thus formed.

Abstract: A continuous casting mold for metals is provided that is formed of an assembly of four metallic plates (13, 14) which plates have channels in their respective interiors. The channels are vertically oriented and serve to pass a fluid which is being circulated for the purpose of cooling. Two or more of said plates (13, 14) each have one or more horizontal channels (6a, 6b) in the upper part of the plate, which channels serve for circulation of cooling fluid and are independent of the aforesaid vertical channels, wherewith the said vertical channels are terminated at a level below said upper part of the plate.

Abstract: The mold comprises a tubular metal component (4), made of copper or a copper alloy, cooled by water circulation against its external wall and intended to ensure that the cast metal undergoes peripheral solidification on contact with its internal wall, and an uncooled feed head (9) made of a thermally insulating refractory, intended to contain cast metal in the liquid state and sitting on top of the cooled metal component (4) and defining with it a continuous sizing passage for the cast metal. A horizontal metal annulus (16) cooled by internal circulation is added between the feed head (9) and the tubular component (4) and aligned with the internal wall of the latter.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a method of lubricating a mold (1) for the continuous casting of a metal product (16), of the type including a vigorously-cooled vertically-oscillating metal tubular element (2) defining a passage (4) for the cast metal and intended to cause, in contact with its wall (3) in said passage, the solidification of said metal product, in which a lubricant in the liquid state is injected through said metal tubular element toward said metal product being solidified, wherein said injection is carried out at points distributed annularly at a single level of said tubular element, said level lying at a distance greater than 20 cm from the lowest level at which solidification of said product is able to be initiated, and in that the flow rate of said lubricant is sufficient to cause a fraction of said lubricant to rise up along said wall to the level at which solidification of said product is effectively initiated.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a rotation gauge for a water meter register where the hydraulic part of the meter rotates a shaft whose revolutions are to be counted. At the other end of the shaft at least one magnet is driven by rotation by the shaft. Outside this hydraulic part, two flexible blade switches are mounted opposite the path of said magnet and connected to an electronic circuit which provides a register with metering pulses. The metering pulses are characterized by the fact that each of triggered by the closing of the first flexible blade switch and stopped by the closing of the second switch. The second switch is closed substantially in the middle of the period during which the first remains closed.