Abstract: A device for producing a pure metal or an alloy of the pure metal via electrolytic reduction of an ore of the pure metal or of a substance containing an oxidized form of the pure metal includes: a cell equipped with an anode, a cathode, an electrolytic area comprising an electrolyte, and a removable cell closing system, the cathode having a coating non-adherent for an electrolytically deposited metal; and an electrically conductive metal sheet for extraction of a plate of the electrolytically deposited metal on the cathode, the metal sheet being arranged in the cell in a continuation of the cathode or partially overlapping the cathode, with mechanical and electrical contact at one end with the cathode and extending at least partly beyond the electrolytic area of the cell so as to allow simultaneous depositing of the pure metal on the cathode and on a portion of the metal sheet.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vapour generator for the deposition of a metal coating onto a substrate (7), preferably a steel strip, that comprises a vacuum chamber (6) in the form of a housing including a vapour deposition head or ejector (3) in tight communication via a supply duct (4) with at least one crucible (1) containing the coating metal in a liquid form and located outside the vacuum chamber (6), characterised in that the ejector (3) includes a longitudinal slot for the vapour outlet acting as a sonic throat and extending on the entire width of the substrate (7), a filtration medium or a charge loss member (3A) made of a sintered material being provided in the ejector immediately before said slot on the vapour path in order to equalise the flow speed of the vapour exiting the ejector (3) through the sonic throat.

Abstract: Equipment for manufacturing a metal strip coated by a process that includes vacuum-depositing a layer of an oxidizable metal or an oxidizable metal alloy on a metal strip precoated with zinc or with a zinc alloy, then coiling the coated metal strip, then oxidizing a surface of the metal strip coated with the oxidizable metal or oxidizable metal alloy and treating the oxidized wound coil with a static diffusion treatment to obtain a strip having a coating that includes, in an upper portion, a layer of an alloy formed by diffusion of the oxidizable metal or the oxidizable metal alloy in all or part of the zinc or zinc alloy layer. The equipment includes a device for galvanizing the metal strip, a vacuum deposition coating device, and a static heat treatment device operating in a controlled atmosphere.

Abstract: A station for localized surface treatment of an industrial workpiece to be treated includes: at least one treatment chamber having a cell or two half-cells, each cell or half-cell delimiting a tight space between walls of the cell or half-cell and a respective portion or face of the industrial workpiece, the cell or each half-cell having a wall having an opening for covering a corresponding portion or face of the industrial workpiece, the opening of the cell or half-cell being delimited by a continuous sealing gasket, the cell or each half-cell including positioning means, the at least one treatment chamber having a supply and emptying circuit; and a plurality of storage vats each containing a treatment fluid, the supply and emptying circuit connecting each storage vat to the at least one treatment chamber so as to supply the at least one treatment chamber with respective treatment fluids.

Abstract: A station for localized surface treatment of an industrial workpiece to be treated includes: at least one treatment chamber having a cell or two half-cells, each cell or half-cell delimiting a tight space between walls of the cell or half-cell and a respective portion or face of the industrial workpiece, the cell or each half-cell having a wall having an opening for covering a corresponding portion or face of the industrial workpiece, the opening of the cell or half-cell being delimited by a continuous sealing gasket, the cell or each half-cell including positioning means, the at least one treatment chamber having a supply and emptying circuit; and a plurality of storage vats each containing a treatment fluid, the supply and emptying circuit connecting each storage vat to the at least one treatment chamber so as to supply the at least one treatment chamber with respective treatment fluids.

Abstract: A method deposits a metal alloy coating on a substrate using a vacuum deposition facility. The facility is equipped with a vapour generator/mixer comprising a vacuum chamber enclosure provided with an inlet and an outlet for the substrate. The enclosure includes a vapour deposition head and an ejector is provided to create a jet of metal alloy vapour of sonic velocity towards the surface of the substrate and perpendicular thereto. The ejector is in sealed communication with a separate mixer device, which is itself connected upstream to at least two crucibles respectively, these containing different metals in liquid form, each crucible being connected to the mixer by its own pipe. The method uses a series of partitions to create alternating layers of metal vapours. The metal vapours enter the mixer inlet of the mixer at a velocity from 5 to 50 m/s to provide better homogeneity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vacuum deposition facility for depositing a metal alloy coating on a substrate (7), said facility being equipped with a vapour generator/mixer comprising a vacuum chamber (6) in the form of an enclosure provided with means for creating a vacuum state therein relative to the external environment and provided with means for the entry and exit of the substrate (7), while still being essentially sealed from the external environment, said enclosure including a vapour deposition head, called the injector (3), configured so as to create a jet of metal alloy vapour of sonic velocity towards the surface of the substrate (7) and perpendicular thereto, said ejector (3) being in sealed communication with a separate mixer device (14), which is itself connected upstream to at least two crucibles (11, 12) respectively, these containing different metals M1 and M2 in liquid form, each crucible (11, 12) being connected to the mixer (14) by its own pipe (4, 4?).

Abstract: Equipment for manufacturing a metal strip coated by a process that includes vacuum-depositing a layer of an oxidizable metal or an oxidizable metal alloy on a metal strip precoated with zinc or with a zinc alloy, then coiling the coated metal strip, then oxidizing a surface of the metal strip coated with the oxidizable metal or oxidizable metal alloy and treating the oxidized wound coil with a static diffusion treatment to obtain a strip having a coating that includes, in an upper portion, a layer of an alloy formed by diffusion of the oxidizable metal or the oxidizable metal alloy in all or part of the zinc or zinc alloy layer. The equipment includes a device for galvanizing the metal strip, a vacuum deposition coating device, and a static heat treatment device operating in a controlled atmosphere.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for coating a metal strip, in which a layer of an oxidizable metal or an oxidizable metal alloy or a metal oxide is vacuum-deposited on a metal strip precoated with zinc or with a zinc alloy, the coated metal strip is then coiled, and the wound coil undergoes a static diffusion treatment so as to obtain a strip having a coating that comprises, in the upper portion, a layer of an alloy formed by diffusion of the oxidizable metal or the oxidizable metal alloy in all or part of the zinc or zinc alloy layer, and also to equipment for implementing the process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a facility for the continuous vacuum deposition of a metal coating on a substrate in motion, comprising a vacuum deposition enclosure (24), at least one vapor jet deposition head (25,26) connected to an evaporator pot (9) designed to contain the coating metal in liquid form (11), through a vapor supply pipe (20) provided with a distribution valve (19), and a melting furnace (1) for said metal, said furnace being at atmospheric pressure, located below the lowest portion of the evaporator pot (9) and connected to the evaporator pot (9) by at least one automatic supply pipe (8) of the evaporator pot (9) provided with a supply pump (6) and by at least one liquid metal return pipe (8A,18) optionally provided with a valve (16,17), regulating means for the supply pump (6) further being present to regulate a determined liquid metal level in the evaporator pot (9), characterized in that it comprises, in each said supply and return pipes (8; 8A,18), a so-called heat valve area (7,13,15)

Abstract: The present invention relates to a facility for the continuous vacuum deposition of a metal coating on a substrate in motion, comprising a vacuum deposition enclosure (24), at least one vapor jet deposition head (25,26) connected to an evaporator pot (9) designed to contain the coating metal in liquid form (11), through a vapor supply pipe (20) provided with a distribution valve (19), and a melting furnace (1) for said metal, said furnace being at atmospheric pressure, located below the lowest portion of the evaporator pot (9) and connected to the evaporator pot (9) by at least one automatic supply pipe (8) of the evaporator pot (9) provided with a supply pump (6) and by at least one liquid metal return pipe (8A,18) optionally provided with a valve (16,17), regulating means for the supply pump (6) further being present to regulate a determined liquid metal level in the evaporator pot (9), characterized in that it comprises, in each said supply and return pipes (8; 8A,18), a so-called heat valve area (7,13,15)

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for coating a metal strip, in which a layer of an oxidizable metal or an oxidizable metal alloy or a metal oxide is vacuum-deposited on a metal strip precoated with zinc or with a zinc alloy, the coated metal strip is then coiled, and the wound coil undergoes a static diffusion treatment so as to obtain a strip having a coating that comprises, in the upper portion, a layer of an alloy formed by diffusion of the oxidizable metal or the oxidizable metal alloy in all or part of the zinc or zinc alloy layer, and also to equipment for implementing the process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vacuum deposition facility for depositing a metal alloy coating on a substrate (7), said facility being equipped with a vapour generator/mixer comprising a vacuum chamber (6) in the form of an enclosure provided with means for creating a vacuum state therein relative to the external environment and provided with means for the entry and exit of the substrate (7), while still being essentially sealed from the external environment, said enclosure including a vapour deposition head, called the injector (3), configured so as to create a jet of metal alloy vapour of sonic velocity towards the surface of the substrate (7) and perpendicular thereto, said ejector (3) being in sealed communication with a separate mixer device (14), which is itself connected upstream to at least two crucibles (11, 12) respectively, these containing different metals M1 and M2 in liquid form, each crucible (11, 12) being connected to the mixer (14) by its own pipe (4, 4?).

Abstract: The invention relates to a vapour generator for the deposition of a metal coating onto a substrate (7), preferably a steel strip, that comprises a vacuum chamber (6) in the form of a housing including a vapour deposition head or ejector (3) in tight communication via a supply duct (4) with at least one crucible (1) containing the coating metal in a liquid form and located outside the vacuum chamber (6), characterised in that the ejector (3) includes a longitudinal slot for the vapour outlet acting as a sonic throat and extending on the entire width of the substrate (7), a filtration medium or a charge loss member (3A) made of a sintered material being provided in the ejector immediately before said slot on the vapour path in order to equalise the flow speed of the vapour exiting the ejector (3) through the sonic throat.

Abstract: A safety device for a battery of electrical storage cells composed of modules connected in series each including a storage cell or a group of storage cells connected in parallel. A circuit individually short circuits a module if it should fail and maintains the electrical continuity between the other modules connected in series with it. An individual circuit includes a first shunt circuit connected to the terminals of a module and includes an energy consuming member in series with a switching member for applying a shunt to the terminals of the module via the consuming member if the voltage at the terminals of the module is greater than a particular upper voltage threshold value. The circuit short circuits the module if the voltage at the terminals of the module falls below a particular lower voltage threshold value.

Abstract: A safety device for a battery of electrical storage cells composed of modules connected in series each including a storage cell or a group of storage cells connected in parallel. A circuit individually short circuits a module if it should fail and maintains the electrical continuity between the other modules connected in series with it. An individual circuit includes a first shunt circuit connected to the terminals of a module and includes an energy consuming member in series with a switching member for applying a shunt to the terminals of the module via the consuming member if the voltage at the terminals of the module is greater than a particular upper voltage threshold value. The circuit short circuits the module if the voltage at the terminals of the module falls below a particular lower voltage threshold value.