Abstract: Method for managing the metal charge in a melting furnace includes at least a step of depositing metal materials to be melted in a storage zone, a step of picking up and loading the metal materials from the storage zone onto feeding device by loading device, and a feed step in which the feeding device feeds the materials toward the melting furnace. The deposit step provides to divide the storage zone into a plurality of specialized areas in each of which a differentiated type of the metal materials is deposited, and during the pick-up and loading step, a processing device controls and commands the actuation of the feeding device which picks up the types of materials from the specialized areas and load them onto the feeding device according to a desired modality and quantity.

Abstract: A method controls the section sizes of a rolled product in a segment of a rolling line between at least two rolling stands, wherein each is provided with its own drive members, in which at least a detector located between the two rolling stands detects a characteristic size of the rolled product. A control unit compares the characteristic size of the rolled product with a reference size and acts on said drive members in order to hold the rolled product in an optimal drawing condition. The method includes setting a predefined value of an electric quantity of at least one of the drive members, measuring the reference size, and verifying the characteristic size of the rolled product in transit. If a deviation is detected between the characteristic size and the reference size, returning the characteristic size of the rolled product to the reference size.

Abstract: Apparatus to detect a deformity in thickness of a tubular element. The apparatus comprises a plurality of sensors and is installed in at least a rolling stand, having at least three rolling rings, of a rolling train able to obtain said tubular element.

Abstract: A device to detect the level of liquid metal (M) in a casting apparatus includes a box-like structure associated in correspondence with an upper end of a crystallizer. The box-like structure has a peripheral cavity inside in which a device for the generation and detection of a variable magnetic field is disposed. The device for the generation and detection extends for a segment beyond an inner corner of the crystallizer so as to face directly into the open top of the crystallizer.

Abstract: Apparatus to detect a deformity in thickness of a tubular element. The apparatus comprises a plurality of sensors and is installed in at least a rolling stand, having at least three rolling rings, of a rolling train able to obtain said tubular element.

Abstract: Method for managing the metal charge in a melting furnace comprising at least a step of depositing metal materials to be melted in a storage zone, a step of picking up and loading the metal materials from the storage zone onto feed means by means of loading means, and a feed step in which the feed means feed the materials toward the melting furnace. The deposit step provides to divide the storage zone into a plurality of specialized areas in each of which a differentiated type of the metal materials is deposited, and during the pick-up and loading step, a processing device controls and commands the actuation of the loading means which pick up the types of materials from the specialized areas and load them onto the feed means according to a desired modality and quantity.

Abstract: A device to analyze and determine the movement characteristics of products moving in a determinate direction of feed (F) and emitting radiations, in particular products exiting from a casting line, comprises a camera to continuously acquire images of the product moving in the direction of feed (F) in at least two successive instants of time, and an electronic processing unit by means of which the comparison between at least two successive images acquired is carried out, using mathematical algorithms based on the image correlation principle, in order to determine the spatial displacement of the images and then the movement characteristics of the product moving in the direction of feed (F) are analyzed and determined.

Abstract: A method controls the section sizes of a rolled product in a segment of a rolling line between at least two rolling stands, wherein each is provided with its own drive members, in which at least a detector located between the two rolling stands detects a characteristic size of the rolled product. A control unit compares the characteristic size of the rolled product with a reference size and acts on said drive members in order to hold the rolled product in an optimal drawing condition. The method comprises setting a predefined value of an electric quantity of at least one of the drive members, measuring the reference size, and verifying the characteristic size of the rolled product in transit. If a deviation is detected between the characteristic size and the reference size, returning the characteristic size of the rolled product to the reference size.

Abstract: A device to detect the level of liquid metal (M) in a casting apparatus includes a box-like structure associated in correspondence with an upper end of a crystallizer. The box-like structure has a peripheral cavity inside in which a device for the generation and detection of a variable magnetic field is disposed. The device for the generation and detection extends for a segment beyond an inner corner of the crystallizer so as to face directly into the open top of the crystallizer.

Abstract: Thickness measurer for metal elements (11), comprising a source device (20), able to emit a bundle (F) of ionizing radiations, at a predetermined or predeterminable intensity, a receiver device (24), disposed on an opposite side with respect to the metal element (11) and suitable to detect the residual intensity of the bundle (F) of ionizing radiations. The measurer comprises a cooling device, associated with the source device (20). The cooling device comprises a heat pump element (30), to remove heat from the source device (20) so as to keep the source device (20) at a predetermined and controlled temperature. The thickness measurer also comprises detection means (46, 124) for the direct or indirect detection of the intensity, or the variation in intensity, of the bundle (F) emitted by the source device (20). The detection means (46, 124) is associated with the heat pump element (30), in order to keep the emission of the bundle (F) of ionizing radiations stable.

Abstract: A level detection device in casting equipment oscillating linearly, in a manner concordant with a substantially vertical direction of advance of molten steel in the casting equipment at a desired frequency of oscillation includes the device oscillating at the same frequency and disposed at a predetermined operating height. The device generates a continuous magnetic field, and the field generator is oriented transversely to the direction of advance of the steel in the casting equipment, so as to generate alternate induced currents in the molten steel. The device detects a variable induced magnetic field generated by and concatenated with said alternate induced currents, wherein the intensity of the variable induced magnetic field as detected is correlated to the level of the molten steel in the casting equipment with respect to the operating height.

Abstract: A device (10) for the in-line detection of surface defects of a rolled product (30) in a rolling stand (11, 111) comprises an inspection unit (19) having one or more coils (20, 21) able to generate and detect magnetic fields. The rolling-stand (11, 111) is provided with a support structure (28) supporting rolling means (12, 112) that are provided for effecting a roll-mill process on said product (30), a guide element (13) having a guide hole (14) defining a nominal rolling axis (X) and a support unit (15, 115), assembled on the support structure (28) and which is provided as a structural element of the rolling stand (11, 111) that supports said guide element (13). The inspection unit (19) is assembled on said support unit (15, 115), in order to be directly housed and integrated in the structural element already present in the rolling stand (11, 111).

Abstract: A device to analyze and determine the movement characteristics of products moving in a determinate direction of feed (F) and emitting radiations, in particular products exiting from a casting line, comprises a camera to continuously acquire images of the product moving in the direction of feed (F) in at least two successive instants of time, and an electronic processing unit by means of which the comparison between at least two successive images acquired is carried out, using mathematical algorithms based on the image correlation principle, in order to determine the spatial displacement of the images and then the movement characteristics of the product moving in the direction of feed (F) are analyzed and determined.

Abstract: Thickness measurer for metal elements (11), comprising a source device (20), able to emit a bundle (F) of ionizing radiations, at a predetermined or predeterminable intensity, a receiver device (24), disposed on an opposite side with respect to the metal element (11) and suitable to detect the residual intensity of the bundle (F) of ionizing radiations. The measurer comprises a cooling device, associated with the source device (20). The cooling device comprises a heat pump element (30), to remove heat from the source device (20) so as to keep the source device (20) at a predetermined and controlled temperature. The thickness measurer also comprises detection means (46, 124) for the direct or indirect detection of the intensity, or the variation in intensity, of the bundle (F) emitted by the source device (20). The detection means (46, 124) is associated with the heat pump element (30), in order to keep the emission of the bundle (F) of ionizing radiations stable.

Abstract: A device (10) for the in-line detection of surface defects of a rolled product (30) in a rolling stand (11, 111) comprises an inspection unit (19) having one or more coils (20, 21) able to generate and detect magnetic fields. The rolling-stand (11, 111) is provided with a support structure (28) supporting rolling means (12, 112) that are provided for effecting a roll-mill process on said product (30), a guide element (13) having a guide hole (14) defining a nominal rolling axis (X) and a support unit (15, 115), assembled on the support structure (28) and which is provided as a structural element of the rolling stand (11, 111) that supports said guide element (13). The inspection unit (19) is assembled on said support unit (15, 115), in order to be directly housed and integrated in the structural element already present in the rolling stand (11, 111).

Abstract: Device and method to control the straightness and torsions of a long product (11), comprising at least two profile-detection devices (12a, 12b, 12c), each presenting a visual field (13) that includes a perimeter segment (18a, 18b, 18c) of the section of the product (11). The detection devices are aligned along the product (11) and are oriented so as to detect homologous perimeter segments (18a, 18b, 18c) located on different planes. The device also comprises a command unit which receives and compares with each other the section images detected at the same instant by the detection devices (12a, 12b, 12c) and determines, according to this comparison, the lack of straightness and/or the presence of torsions in the product (11).

Abstract: Method and device to detect defects (11a, 11b, 11c) in the section shape of a product (10), wherein the following steps are provided: a step of constructing and memorizing a plurality of families of functions each of which describes a correlated type of defect (11a, 11b, 11c), or combination of defects which can be found in a product (10) observed in relation to the processing performed on the product (10); a step of dimensional measuring of the shadow cast by the product (10) when it is illuminated by a beam of light; a step of constructing a graphical representation relating to the development of the dimension of the shadow for a specific dimensional sector of the product (10); and a step of comparing the graphical representation of the functions memorized to identify the function which most resembles the representation obtained by the detection in order to classify the type, and to determine the entity, of the defect (11a, 11b, 11c) present in the section of the product (10).

Abstract: Device and method to control the straightness and torsions of a long product (11), comprising at least two profile-detection devices (12a, 12b, 12c), each presenting a visual field (13) that includes a perimeter segment (18a, 18b, 18c) of the section of the product (11). The detection devices are aligned along the product (11) and are oriented so as to detect homologous perimeter segments (18a, 18b, 18c) located on different planes. The device also comprises a command unit which receives and compares with each other the section images detected at the same instant by the detection devices (12a, 12b, 12c) and determines, according to this comparison, the lack of straightness and/or the presence of torsions in the product (11).

Abstract: Method and device to detect defects (11a, 11b, 11c) in the section shape of a product (10), wherein the following steps are provided:

Abstract: Device and method to measure the gap between substantially static elements with a variable reciprocal position, used to adjust the reciprocal position of said elements to obtain a desired transit gap, comprising visual recording means connected to a processor equipped with at least display means, said processor being suitable to receive the images filmed by said visual recording means and to automatically compare said images with at least a pre-selected sample mask substantially reproducing the desired gap to be obtained, said processor being suitable to display, in numerical form on appropriate interface windows, the dimensional discrepancies between the image relating to the actual transit gap defined by said elements as filmed by said means, and said pre-selected sample mask.