Abstract: This invention relates to the continuous annealing of moving steel strips. A rapid quenching between the annealing treatment and the overaging process is effected in an electrolytic pickling bath, in which the steel strip acts first as a cathode and thereafter as an anode. The current density applied to the steel strip acting as a cathode in the electrolytic pickling bath is regulated so as to control the amount of hydrogen developed on the strip surface and, concurrently, to control the quenching speed of said steel strip.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of and a walking beam furnace for the intermediate heating of pipes, or the like, in hot rolling mills, by means of a furnace located between the plug-mill and the sizing mill. According to the invention, in a forehearth (17) of the intermediate heating furnace, at the inlet side thereof, there is maintained a temperature which is lower than that at the outlet side, and which, anyway, is such that the hottest pipes will be cooled down and the coldest pipes will be heated up whereby, when exiting from said forehearth (17) of the furnace, the difference between the temperatures of the various pipes is zero or, at least, is small and, in any case, is smaller than that at the inlet, whereas in the successive chamber (18) of the furnace there is maintained such a temperature as to give the pipes the desired temperature when exiting from the furnace.

Abstract: The invention has for its object a radiant flat flame burner used particularly in reheating furnaces for siderurgical purposes, which comprises in combination:a combustion air swirling device consisting of fixed flat blades, fitted in the combustion air annular duct, and adapted for imparting to the combustion air a swirling motion;a fire port of ceramic material, composed of a substantially cylindrical rear portion and of an adjoined flaring fore portion, delimited by a wall having a profile in form of a sector of a circle and extending over an angle of 90.degree.;a liquid fuel atomizing nozzle, the liquid fuel atomizing nozzle being provided with a swirling device, which is adapted for imparting a swirling motion to the atomized liquid fuel.