Abstract: A process and apparatus for electrolytically treating a surface, as for pickling, cleaning and/or degreasing a high-speed continuous metal strip. The strip to be treated is passed through a container holding an electrolyte and including strip electrodes disposed in confrontingly-spaced relation above and below the movement path of the strip. The electrodes are arranged along the movement path in serial adjacency so that each electrode is disposed immediately adjacent to an opposite polarity electrode along the path. Electrolyte is applied to the strip by a number of nozzle pairs, each pair being associated with and arranged on opposite sides of a respective electrode and acting on a region of the strip confrontingly opposite that electrode so as to prevent the electrolyte from entering gap regions defined between adjacent electrodes. This arrangement avoids short circuits through the electrolyte between adjacent, opposite charge electrodes.

Abstract: The invention refers to an equipment for surface treatment of continuously running strip particularly pickling equipment wherein the strip runs longitudinally through a horizontally arranged container receiving treatment liquid while being closed by means of a lid. For optimizing such equipment particularly for improving the quality of treatment and for minimizing the period of time needed for treatment it is suggested to provide within the container a separate treatment channel (4) which is closed through an intermediate cover (6) and receives treatment medium through nozzle bars (9) and (10).

Abstract: In an apparatus capable of drying metallic belts or strands of varying widths, a hot air blowing system is arranged such that the effective width of the hot-air flow is selectively adjusted according to the width of each belt intended to be dried. The otherwise present but now excess hot air produced when narrower belt widths are dried is then directed to the suction or inlet side of the air blower to thereby recover otherwise lost heated air. This recycled heated air is redirected back to the air blower to thereby conserve energy at the heat exchanger which is used to heat the air. The quantity of hot air passing per unit time corresponding to a decreased belt width may also be adjusted by means of a valve of the blower system, thereby lowering the heating energy needed to be supplied to the heat exchanger.