Abstract: A continuous heating furnace includes a furnace main body, a conveyance unit configured to convey a baking object W in the furnace main body, a plurality of heating sections heated by combustion, each having a first radiation surface configured to be heated by combustion and transfers heat to the baking object conveyed by the conveyance unit and arranged in the conveyance direction of the baking object in the furnace main body, and a cooling preheater having a second radiation surface configured to receive radiant heat from the baking object when being opposite to the baking object conveyed by the conveyance unit and a gas flow path configured to preheat a gas used for combustion in the heating section by the heat from the second radiation surface.

Abstract: A continuous heating furnace includes a furnace main body, a conveyance unit configured to convey a baking object W in the furnace main body, a plurality of heating sections heated by combustion, each having a first radiation surface configured to be heated by combustion and transfers heat to the baking object conveyed by the conveyance unit and arranged in the conveyance direction of the baking object in the furnace main body, and a cooling preheater having a second radiation surface configured to receive radiant heat from the baking object when being opposite to the baking object conveyed by the conveyance unit and a gas flow path configured to preheat a gas used for combustion in the heating section by the heat from the second radiation surface.

Abstract: A continuous annealing furnace for annealing steel strips that is a vertical-type annealing furnace is configured so that part of gas inside the furnace is drawn and introduced to a refiner disposed outside the furnace including an oxygen removing apparatus and a dehumidifying apparatus, oxygen and moisture contained in the gas are removed to lower the dew point of the gas, and the gas having a lowered dew point is put back into the furnace. At least one gas inlet through which gas is drawn from the furnace into the refiner is disposed in the vicinity of the entry side of the furnace at a distance of 6 m or less in the vertical direction and 3 m or less in the furnace-length direction from the steel-strip-introduction section located at the lower part of the heating zone.

Abstract: The invention discloses a process and apparatus for micro-treating an iron-based alloy including heating and immediately quenching to room temperature to produce high tensile iron-based alloy with varying thicknesses. The process may or may not be practiced with or without tension, under various controllable tensions in order to create desirable effects. The micro-treated iron-based alloy contains desirable bainite to increase its formability and tensile strength. The varying thickness of the iron-based alloys is desirable for different applications, such as forming automobile panels.

Abstract: Furnace for heat treating an annealing material, wherein the furnace comprises a sealable first furnace chamber designed to receiving and heat treating annealing material by thermal interaction of the annealing material with a heatable or coolable first annealing gas in the first furnace chamber, a first heat exchanger which is arranged in the first furnace chamber and which is designed for an exchange of heat between the first annealing gas and a transport fluid, wherein the first heat exchanger is arranged within a housing section of the first furnace chamber, which housing section confines the first annealing gas within the first furnace chamber, a sealable second furnace chamber which is designed for receiving and for heat treating annealing material by means of a thermal interaction of the annealing material with a heatable or coolable second annealing gas in the second furnace chamber, a second heat exchanger which is arranged in the second furnace chamber and which is designed for an exchange of heat b

Abstract: A method for controlling the atmosphere in a protective gas chamber for the continuous treatment of metal strips. A metal strip is guided into and out of the protective gas chamber via locks. At least one lock has at least two sealing elements for the metal strip which runs through it, with the result that a sealed chamber is formed between the two sealing elements. The gas pressure (P2, PD) is measured in the protective gas chamber and in the sealed chamber of the lock and the pressure (PD) in the sealed chamber is regulated, to be precise in such a way that, during operation, the differential pressure between the protective gas chamber and the sealed chamber is kept as far as possible to an optimum value.

Abstract: In a finish heat treatment method and finish heat treatment apparatus for an iron powder, a raw iron powder is placed on a continuous moving hearth and continuously charged into the apparatus. In the pretreatment zone, the raw iron powder is subjected to a pretreatment of heating the raw iron powder in an atmosphere of hydrogen gas and/or inert gas at 450 to 1100° C. In decarburization, deoxidation, and denitrification zones, the pretreated iron powder is subsequently subjected to at least two treatments of decarburization, deoxidation, and denitrification. In the pretreatment zone, a hydrogen gas and/or an inert gas serving as a pretreatment ambient gas is introduced separately from an ambient gas used in the at least two treatments is introduced from the upstream side of the pretreatment zone and released from the downstream side so as to flow in the same direction as a moving direction of the moving hearth.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for acting on the temperature of a travelling strip (4) by blowing gas or a water/gas mixture, whereby a plurality of jets of gas or a water/gas mixture, extending toward the surface of the strip and arranged in such a way that the impacts (24, 34) of the jets of gas or water/gas mixture on each surface of the strip are distributed at the nodes of a two-dimensional network, are sprayed onto each face of the strip. The impacts (24) of the jets on one face (A) are not opposite the impacts (34) of the jets on the other face (B), and the jets of gas or water/gas mixture come from tubular nozzles (23, 33) which are supplied by at least one distribution chamber (21, 31) and extend at a distance from the distribution chamber in such a way as to leave a free space for the flow of the returning gas or water/gas mixture parallel to the longitudinal direction of the strip and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the strip.

Abstract: A gas-jet cooling apparatus for a continuous annealing furnace apparatus includes a plurality of tubular pressure headers extending in a width direction of a steel strip and having a length that is larger than a width of the steel strip, wherein the pressure headers are arranged to face each of front and back surfaces of the steel strip along a longitudinal direction of the steel strip at a pitch L; and a plurality of nozzles protruding from the pressure headers, wherein the nozzles are arranged along the width direction of the steel strip at a pitch W and arranged along the longitudinal direction of the steel strip in a staggered manner.

Abstract: A shaped part with different microstructures is made by continuously conveying a succession of hardenable steel blanks having first and second regions through a furnace such that the blanks reach an outlet of the furnace each with both of the respective first and second regions heated to an austenitization temperature. Then the blanks are positioned with the second regions thereof in a chamber of a holding unit and the first regions outside the chamber, and, while holding the second regions in the chamber and the first regions outside the chamber the second regions are heated and maintained at the austenitization temperature and the first regions are cooled with air to a temperature at which their microstructures become ferritic-pearlitic. Thereafter the blanks are transferred from the holding unit to a press where they are hardened and finish shaped.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for cooling a metal strip (1), comprising at least two nozzle fields which are disposed opposite of each other with respect to the metal strip (1) conveyed continuously in its longitudinal direction and which comprise nozzles facing towards the respective strip surface and being attached to blowing boxes (3) for a cooling gas, and flow conduits (5) provided between the nozzles for discharging the cooling gas flows from the nozzles which are deflected on the surface of the strip.

Abstract: Continuous annealing equipment contains: a heating zone, a soaking zone, and a rapid cooling zone, the rapid cooling zone having gas jet cooling equipment and is provided with at least one pair of seal rolls at each of an inlet and an outlet thereof and bridle roll units each composed of two or more bridle rolls in front of and behind itself; the bridle roll unit behind the rapid cooling zone having two or more heating rolls each having an induction heater thereinside; and the heating roll having a winding angle of 100° or more per heating roll and 380° or more in total of all the heating rolls.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for cooling a metal strip (1), comprising at least two nozzle fields which are disposed opposite of each other with respect to the metal strip (1) conveyed continuously in its longitudinal direction and which comprise nozzles facing towards the respective strip surface and being attached to blowing boxes (3) for a cooling gas, and flow conduits (5) provided between the nozzles for discharging the cooling gas flows from the nozzles which are deflected on the surface of the strip.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for cooling long objects such as wires, tubes or rods. In order to provide improved cooling, provision is made of a nozzle region which has a diameter greater than the diameter of the object and contains a plurality of nozzles which blow a cooling gas at the object, and a cladding tube whose diameter is equal to or less than the diameter of the nozzle region.

Abstract: A gas jet cooling device in a continuous annealing furnace is equipped with: windboxes disposed in a cooling chamber on both sides of a steel strip, blowing a cooling gas toward the strip through nozzles to cool it; and a means of cooling the gas introduced from the cooling chamber and then supplying the cooled gas to the windboxes, wherein the distance between the tips of the nozzles and the strip is not more than ten times the diameter of the nozzles; and the length of each of the windboxes in the strip traveling direction is not more than two thirds of the width of the strip. The gas jet cooling device can cool the strip rapidly and uniformly even when the distance between the strip and the front face of each windbox is shorter and the size of a cooling chamber is smaller than the conventional ones.

Abstract: A device for treating rolled metal products obtained by continuous casting, such as bars, plates, structural shapes or the like, arranged in line with a rolling system, and comprising a cooling plate (9), an in-line cooling box (13), in-line pickling means (14), in-line quality control means (16) consisting of ultrasonic instruments or induced current instruments, a bundling and/or lashing area (15).

Abstract: Process for producing a high-strength steel strip, in which liquid steel is cast in at least one continuous-casting machine with one or more strands to form a slab and, utilizing the casting heat, is conveyed through a furnace device, undergoes preliminary rolling in a preliminary rolling device and, in a final rolling device, is finishing-rolled to form a steel strip with the desired final thickness, and, in a continuous, endless or semi-endless process, the slab undergoes preliminary rolling in, essentially, the austenitic range in the preliminary device and, in the final rolling device, is rolled in the austenitic range or, in at least one stand of the final rolling device, is rolled in the two-phase austenitic-ferritic range, the austenitic or austenitic, ferritic rolled strip, after leaving the final rolling device, is cooled rapidly in order to obtain the desired structure.

Abstract: A device for treating rolled metal products obtained by continuous casting, such as bars, plates, structural shapes or the like, arranged in line with a rolling system, and comprising a cooling plate (9), an in-line cooling box (13), in-line pickling means (14), in-line quality control means (16) consisting of ultrasonic instruments or induced current instruments, a bundling and/or lashing area (15).

Abstract: A device for pickling or cleaning rolled steel strip which is moved in the form of loops through several pickling and cleaning containers arranged within a treatment line, wherein at least one strip side is subjected tot he action of a pickling or cleaning medium. For this purpose, squirting or spraying units are provided which can be switched on or off and/or are adjustable with regard to their spraying width and/or are operated with controllable squirting or spraying pressure and/or volume flow. Deflection rolls for deflecting the strip are arranged before and after the treatment line for deflecting the strip out of the horizontal strip running plane into an upright vertical strip running plane and vice versa, wherein the deflection rolls are elevated or slanted relative to the horizontal strip running plane.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dual-purpose installation for continuous annealing and hot dip plating to produce a continuously annealed steel sheet and a hot dip plated steel sheet by switching process routes in the single installation, and according to the present invention, by installing a bypass facility which leads a steel sheet from a continuous annealing furnace to a water quenching facility without it traveling through a plating pot and a plating facility in the a dual-purpose installation for continuous annealing and hot dip plating, it becomes possible to prevent the steel sheet coming out from the annealing furnace from being exposed to the outside atmosphere and being oxidized during the production of a continuously annealed product and to realize a less expensive dual-purpose installation for continuous annealing and hot dip plating.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the thermal tempering of at least parts of the cross section over the lengthwise extension of sequentially produced profiled rolling stock from the rolling heat.

Abstract: A pressure pad array is used to float glass sheets from a glass heating furnace to a ring mold in a press bending station. The pressure pads have transversely spaced, longitudinally-extending slotted nozzles angled towards one another to provide a static pressure area for floating the glass sheet. The slotted nozzles are aligned with the direction of glass sheet travel and the space between adjacent pressure pads is covered by a spacer baffle to generate additional static pressure flotation areas. The static pressure areas formed by the slotted nozzles generally produce uniform pressure profiles extending longitudinally and transversely against the sheet's underside to stably float the glass sheets on a heated gas cushion.

Abstract: The hydrostatic pressure differential existing in a column of fluent material conveyed through an excavated passage possessing a downward entrance run and upward return run facilitates hydrometallugical processing including metals recovery and treatment of ores. Conveyance of the fluent material through the passage is facilitated by appropriate means including a difference in elevation between the inlet and outlet and/or gaseous expansion applied proximate the bottom of the return run. Cooling of effluent proximate the outlet may be utilized consequent to application of heat during processing as in roasting ore. The passage is excavated through rock filly capable of containing the pressures anticipated and has an interior casing which seals the rock porosity. Iron reinforced concrete is recommended in appropriate wall thicknesses.

Abstract: Apparatus for the rolling and heat treatment of elongated metal product of relatively small cross section, such as rods and bars, is described in which the elements required for the conduct of a variety of heat treatments are arranged in in-line disposition whereby any of several heat treatment procedures can be performed on the product without need for transferring the product to remotely located heat treatment facilities. The methods of performing various heat treatments through use of the disclosed apparatus are also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for guiding bands in a suspended manner and for stabilizing bands, preferably wide metal bands, for the purpose of heat treating the same. In the device, the band is blown on both sides with the aid of suspended nozzle sections, and two respective radial ventilators with 360° spiral casings are arranged on the side walls of the device in the vicinity of both sides of the band. The intake openings of the radial ventilators point toward the middle of the device. The axes of the radial ventilators are vertical in relation to the side walls, and the radial ventilators are arranged in such a way that they deliver air into air delivery channels (6) of the length of at least one hydraulic diameter in a manner parallel to the longitudinal direction of the device, that is, in a direction of movement of the band. The air delivery channels (6) are adjacent to the upper casing (8) or the lower casing of the device via a side wall.

Abstract: A device for exchanging heat with a flat product moving in front of the device that includes a device for placing at least one plenum chamber under gaseous pressure, the plenum chamber having on a front face several blades forming a duct for the ejection of the gas towards a surface of the flat product, the blades being superimposed upon one another in the direction of movement of the flat product and constituting an outlet orifice for the gas extending in the direction of the width of the flat product. The plenum chamber has a width in the direction of the width of the flat product sufficient to allow the evacuation of the gas on both sides of the plenum chamber.

Abstract: In a method for producing fine wire, in particular, card wire, an optionally already treated wire blank is transformed by a heat treatment process into a drawable state, the wire blank is drawn to a drawn wire, and, subsequently, the drawn wire is subjected to a hardening and tempering process in order to obtain predetermined mechanical properties by passing the drawn wire through at least one of a furnace device and a cooling device having previously already been employed for performing the heat treatment process. The furnace device has a furnace chamber, receiving at least one wire portion, with a heat distribution block arranged in the area where the wire portion is received. The heat distribution block is designed to uniformly heat the wire portion. The cooling device has a fluidized chamber containing a flowable material. A fluid introduction arrangement is provided to introduce a fluidizing fluid into the fluidized chamber.

Abstract: Rapid-cooling oven, forming part of a plant comprising various treatment stations, especially stations for the heat treatment of products in strip form, through which a metal strip runs continuously, the rapid cooling being obtained by spraying onto the strip a jet of an atmosphere gas consisting of a nitrogen/hydrogen mixture having a hydrogen content which is greater than 15%, and preferably close to 50%, the atmosphere gas being recirculated using a circuit of recirculation ducts comprising compensators made in the form of a series of corrugations allowing all the ducts to expand, at least one fan and at least one gas/water exchanger, wherein a safety device is provided to prevent this ingress of air into the circuit for recirculating the cooling gas or any leak of the latter into the environment, in the event of a break in a corrugation of a compensator or in the case of a leak form the latter, said safety device being made in the form of a flexible membrane impermeable to the cooling gas, the said membra

Abstract: A device for continuously heat-treating continuously cast or formed metallic goods, particularly wire and the like. The device comprises a first annealing path in which the continuously formed metallic goods are guided by means of two contact rollers. The first and second contact rollers are arranged at first and second ends, respectively, of the first annealing path. Moreover, the first and second contact rollers are connected to a voltage source such that a current flows through the continuously formed metallic goods between the first and second contact rollers. The device further comprises a second annealing path similar to the first annealing path.

Abstract: A device for cooling a rolled product such as a steel strip moving in front of the device includes a box filled with a pressurized gas. The box comprises a plurality of fins forming pipes, each fin including at least one gas outlet orifice directed towards at least one surface of the rolled product. The orifices of each fin are aligned in the transverse direction of the rolled product. Each space between two adjacent fins has a depth in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the rolled product and a width in the longitudinal direction of the rolled product sufficient to enable evacuation of the gas without disrupting the exit of the gas from the adjacent fins.

Abstract: A laying head forms hot rolled steel rod into a continuous series of rings. The rings are received on a conveyor for transport in an overlapping pattern through at least one cooling zone. The ring density of the overlapping pattern is greater along edge regions of the conveyor as compared to the ring density at a central region of the conveyor. A gaseous coolant is directed upwardly through the overlapping ring pattern, and a screen or other like foraminous element retards the upward flow of gaseous coolant at the central region of the conveyor.

Abstract: In-line flat-rolled steel cleansing and finishing methods and apparatus are disclosed which enable flat-rolled steel, as supplied with surface areas contaminated with iron fines and other debris from gauge reduction operations, to be continuously processed in-line, free of interruptions for cleansing purposes. Continuous-strip methods and apparatus are disclosed which enable in-line continuous-strip cleansing in a manner which decreases iron fines carried by strip surfaces to a desired level while providing for continuous uniform cleansing. Carry-over of iron fines from the cleansing operations so decreases such that iron content of a coating means is decreased resulting in improved corrosion-protection coating. Diminishing iron content in a hot-dip galvanizing bath increases efficiency of aluminum additions and diminishes iron-aluminum dross.

Abstract: A system for heat treating a rolled strip of Al--Mg--Si alloy includes a primary heating zone for solution treating the strip at 480.degree. C. or higher, a first cooling zone for cooling the strip at a rate of at least 100.degree. C./min. to 100.degree. C. or lower, a secondary heating zone for heating the strip to 120.degree.-250.degree. C. within 10 minutes for thereby adjusting a proof stress of 70-120 N/mm.sup.2 directly or after holding for 10 minutes or less, a coiler for winding the strip into a coil at 140.degree. C. or lower, and a unit for holding the coil at 50.degree.-140.degree. C. for at least 3 hours. The process from solution treatment to winding is continuous as well as from winding to stabilizing treatment. The strip has improved formability and bake hardenability and a minimized secular change at room temperature.

Abstract: A strip floater, heat treat furnace is provided with a plenum housing defining a plenum chamber which is positioned within a refractory lined furnace enclosure. The plenum chamber contains i) a fan housing holding a recirculation fan, ii) a header and pressure pad arrangement for heating and floating strip passing through the furnace, and iii) a recirculation duct for collecting and refreshing spent furnace atmosphere. The entire furnace atmosphere circulation loop from the fan housing through the header and pressure pads and back to the fan housing from the return duct after strip impingement is thus closed and sealed thereby preventing refractory fibre and foreign matter entrainment in the gas streams impinging the strip while improving the temperature control of the furnace atmosphere and strip.

Abstract: In the furnace a plurality of floaters are arranged in series in a direction in which the metal strip is transferred. The strip is fed through the furnace, floated by these floaters. A test floater is installed along the strip transfer pathway. The height of the strip floated by the test floater is detected by a float sensor. The gas pressure of the test floater detected when the test floater floats the strip to an appropriate height is reflected on the gas pressures of the in-furnace floaters. As a result, the in-furnace floaters float the strip to the appropriate height.

Abstract: Method of continuous heat-treatment of metal strips, wherein the strip which is to be heat-treated passes through a furnace which is thermally isolated and in a protective atmosphere, consisting of heating, holding and cooling sections; the said strip is guided by a plurality of return rolls situated in the upper and lower parts of the said sections and thus forms a plurality of lengths and they pass in front of cooling and traditional heating (generally produced by a radiation source or using naked flames), and induction means, the latter are placed upstream of at least one traditional heating section and are used combined and simultaneously with the other heating means in order to compensate for the variations in the heat-treatment parameters.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooling hot ceramic articles from above and below with steam and water.

Abstract: A device (100) for the heat treatment of at least one metal wire (1), chaterized by passing the wire (1) within at least one pair of thermal transfer plates (2, 2a, 2b) between two grooves (8, 8a, 8b) made in the two plates (2, 2a, 2b) of each of said pairs, the distance (E) between the plates being variable, the wire (1) being directly in contact with a gas (11) which is practically without forced ventilation and is disposed between the grooves (8, 8a, 8b).

Abstract: During thermal treatment of continuously moving metal bands more heat is supplied over a part of a treatment path to edge regions of the band per surface unit than to the center region of the band. This prevents formation of a wavy shape in the edge regions of the metal band which is advantageous for a further treatment.

Abstract: A pressure pad comprises a plenum chamber, adapted to be conneceted to a pressurized-fluid supply means, having a pair of parallel slit nozzles formed in a top wall, and the chamber is arranged underneath a path of a strip. The plenum chamber is provided with holes in the top wall and at least two obstructions on the top wall. The holes are arranged on imaginary lines that extend between the nozzles on both sides of the top wall and central portions thereof point to adjacent edges of the path. Each of the obstructions comprises at least one obstructing wall arranged on either side of one of the imaginary lines. The lines may have V-, Arch- or Bracket-shaped configurations.

Abstract: A blackening treating furnace includes a soot generation burner for blowing an incomplete combustion flame toward a surface of a cold-rolled stainless steel strip moving continuously through the furnace. A pair of secondary air nozzles installed at positions enclosing the incomplete combustion flame blow secondary air toward the surface of the stainless steel strip in directions perpendicular thereto or in directions slightly inclined toward the middle of the incomplete combustion flame. A flame guide air nozzle is installed between the pair of secondary air nozzles and an exhaust duct for drawing and discharging the combustion reaction flame of the incomplete combustion flame and secondary air along the direction of movement of the stainless steel strip. The flame guide air nozzle injects flame guide air toward the combustion reaction flame in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the stainless steel strip or in a direction inclined thereto.

Abstract: An improved pressure pad is provided for stably floating thin metal strip while heat treating the strip. The pressure pad includes an oval pad housing which is slitted adjacent the strip. An elliptical plenum chamber is disposed within the pad housing with a portion thereof spanning the slit and forming with the slit margins a leading and a trailing slot jet nozzle. Opposing jet streams of gaseous medium exit the slot jet nozzles and collide with one another to provide a zone of pressure which stably supports the strip.

Abstract: Rod cooling system for use in a rod rolling mill having a laying reel and a conveyor onto an entry portion of which the rod is deposited in overlapping offset rings, entry portion receiving substantial amounts of cooling air for rapid cooling of the rod, the conveyor having a grid for introducing cooling air under the rings for movement in a confined space thereunder and surfaces developing low pressure that draws ambient air through the rings.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously cooling a metal strip, which comprises: at least one cooling roll, which is freely rotatable and in contact with a metal strip continuously travelling in the longitudinal direction thereof, for continuously cooling the metal strip, a cooling liquid flowing through the interior of the cooling roll to continuously cool same, a contact area between the surface of the cooling roll and the surface of the metal strip being controllable; and a gas cooler, arranged on the exist side of the at least one cooling roll, for continuously cooling the metal strip by blowing a cooling gas onto the surface of the metal strip so as to achieve a uniform temperature distribution in the width direction of the metal strip after the final cooling thereof, the gas cooler comprising a plurality of mutually independent nozzle headers for blowing the cooling gas onto the surface of the metal strip, and the plurality of nozzle headers controlling at least one of a flow rate and a flow velocity of the coolin

Abstract: A conveyor defines a path along which hot rolled steel rod is transported in the form of overlapping mutually offset rings. Air nozzles are arranged beneath the conveyor path to direct air upwardly against the rings from underlying plenum chambers fed by motor driven fans. Additional water nozzles are arranged to apply water to the rings. Some of the thus applied water is vaporized by the heat of the rod, and the remainder of the water is drained through the air nozzles into the plenum chambers for subsequent removal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of floatingly supporting a metallic strip in a direct firing type continuous heat treating furnace accommodating a plurality of floater nozzles. In this method, furnace gas is initially supplied to and pressurized by a plurality of multistage booster fans. The temperature of the furnace gas to be supplied to the booster fans is less than a critical temperature of the fans. When the temperature of the furnace gas is less than the temperature of the material of the strip, the temperature of the furnace gas is raised to a temperature near the material temperature in combustion chambers provided with respective direct firing type burners. The furnace gas is then supplied to the floater nozzles, the internal pressure of which is controlled prior to being jetted.

Abstract: A process for controlling the heating of a thin-walled body according to a predetermined temperature program by means of electrically controllable heaters, comprising: disposing the heaters adjacent one surface of the body such that each heater is in facing relation with a respective zone of the surface;supplying heat-generating power to each heater and monitoring the temperature at each surface zone; and for each zone:deriving (16,18,20), on the basis of the temperature values obtained in the monitoring step, estimated temperature values of the surface at successive time intervals each having a first selected duration;generating (28), on the basis of the estimated temperature values derived in each time interval, representations of the temperature, THSIFUT, which each surface zone will have, based on the level of power presently supplied to each heater, at a future time which is separated from the present time interval by a second selected duration;determining (30) the difference between THSIFUT and the desi

Abstract: In the manufacture of formable steel strip having a thickness between 0.5 and 1.5 mm, the following process steps are performed sequentially in a continuous process:(a) in a continuous casting machine forming liquid steel into a hot slab having a thickness of less than 100 mm,(b) hot rolling the hot slab from step (a), in the austenitic region and below 1100.degree. C., to form strip having a thickness of between 2 and 5 mm,(c) cooling the strip from step (b) to a temperature between 300.degree. C. and the temperature T.sub.t at which 75% of the steel is converted to ferrite,(d) rolling the cooled strip from step (c) at said temperature between 300.degree. C. and T.sub.t with a thickness reduction of at least 25% at a rolling speed not more than 1000 m/min.,(e) coiling the rolled strip from step (d).

Abstract: The humidity of the atmosphere of a heat-treating furnace is controlled by the use of superheated steam, which is generated by the use of a furnace-heated humidifier to which water is fed through a capillary tube. A secondary gas flow passes through the humidifier and is humidified by the superheated steam. The humidified secondary gas flow then passes to a primary gas flow to be mixed therewith, before the primary gas flow passes to the furnace atmosphere.

Abstract: Carbon steel wire, which has been maintained at a temperature above the Ac3 ransformation temperature, is heat-treated to obtain a fine pearlitic structure by passing it through a tube containing a gas practically without forced ventilation and surrounded by a heat-exchange fluid. Certain relationships between the diameter of the wire, the diameter of the tube and the conductivity of the gas are to be satisfied to ensure cooling of the wire to a temperature below the Acl transformation temperature in a time prior to the time of the pearlitic nose and to effect pearlitization to completion under a nearly isothermal state.