EP0679113B1 - Verfahren und vorrichtung zur herstellung von amorphen metallbaendern durch schnellen abschrecken - Google Patents

Verfahren und vorrichtung zur herstellung von amorphen metallbaendern durch schnellen abschrecken Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0679113B1
EP0679113B1 EP94904217A EP94904217A EP0679113B1 EP 0679113 B1 EP0679113 B1 EP 0679113B1 EP 94904217 A EP94904217 A EP 94904217A EP 94904217 A EP94904217 A EP 94904217A EP 0679113 B1 EP0679113 B1 EP 0679113B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
receiving surface
installation
travel
wheel
crucible
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP94904217A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0679113A1 (de
Inventor
Alain Remy
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
SEVA SA
Original Assignee
SEVA SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by SEVA SA filed Critical SEVA SA
Publication of EP0679113A1 publication Critical patent/EP0679113A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0679113B1 publication Critical patent/EP0679113B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B22CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
    • B22DCASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES
    • B22D11/00Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths
    • B22D11/06Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths into moulds with travelling walls, e.g. with rolls, plates, belts, caterpillars
    • B22D11/0637Accessories therefor
    • B22D11/0697Accessories therefor for casting in a protected atmosphere
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B22CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
    • B22DCASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES
    • B22D11/00Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths
    • B22D11/06Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths into moulds with travelling walls, e.g. with rolls, plates, belts, caterpillars
    • B22D11/0611Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths into moulds with travelling walls, e.g. with rolls, plates, belts, caterpillars formed by a single casting wheel, e.g. for casting amorphous metal strips or wires
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B22CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
    • B22DCASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES
    • B22D11/00Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths
    • B22D11/06Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths into moulds with travelling walls, e.g. with rolls, plates, belts, caterpillars
    • B22D11/0631Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths into moulds with travelling walls, e.g. with rolls, plates, belts, caterpillars formed by a travelling straight surface, e.g. through-like moulds, a belt
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B22CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
    • B22DCASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES
    • B22D11/00Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths
    • B22D11/06Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths into moulds with travelling walls, e.g. with rolls, plates, belts, caterpillars
    • B22D11/0637Accessories therefor
    • B22D11/064Accessories therefor for supplying molten metal

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing amorphous metallic ribbons by hyper quenching, of the type in which at least one jet of liquid metal is sent on a receiving surface in rapid movement.
  • amorphous metal alloys which are obtained by very rapid cooling of a liquid phase, thus allowing to keep its disordered structure, or not crystalline. Indeed, the material is thus brought directly to a temperature below a certain threshold, called the vitrification temperature, itself located at a temperature much lower than that of solidification at which crystallization begins.
  • a technique for manufacturing amorphous metal alloys consists of sending a jet of molten metal onto a rapidly moving surface, the temperature of which is maintained at or below room temperature. The liquid then spreads over the disc in a thick film of only a few microns. As the film is extremely thin and in close contact with a heat sink of much larger volume and the metals have a high thermal conductivity, the metal cools and solidifies very quickly, at a speed of the order of 10 6 ° C / second.
  • the moving surface can belong to a disc, an endless belt or a wheel. It can be provided with notches perpendicular to its direction of travel, in order to divide into small segments the films or ribbons produced.
  • the films or ribbons thus prepared have remarkable properties, both in terms of mechanical than on the magnetic plane.
  • the alloys have a very high tensile strength, and their ductility is characterized by excellent resistance to bending, making it possible to achieve curvatures around a radius of the order of the thickness of the strip; they also have properties of soft magnetism, that is to say that they are magnetized and demagnetized with a very weak field.
  • the documents EP-A-59 864, 84 335 and 84 785 are examples of the literature dealing with processes of the aforementioned type.
  • the document EP-A-0009 603 describes a process for manufacturing such metallic ribbons, the dimension of which results from the relative displacement of the casting jet relative to the receiving surface.
  • the invention aims to meet these requirements in a simple and economical way.
  • the invention has according to claim 1 for a method of the aforementioned type, in which an alternating movement is made perpendicular to said direction of travel between the receiving surface and the jet.
  • the invention also relates to an installation intended for the implementation of a method as defined above.
  • This installation of the type comprising a crucible containing liquid metal, provided with at least one outlet orifice, and an enclosure containing a receiving surface provided with means of rapid movement of this surface opposite the outlet orifice , comprises displacement means for causing between the orifice of output and the receiving surface a relative reciprocating movement perpendicular to the direction of travel of said surface.
  • FIG. 1 and 2 The installation shown in Figures 1 and 2 is intended to produce pieces 1 of amorphous metallic tape (Figure 2) by hyperemperation. It essentially comprises an enclosure 2 under partial air vacuum, a crucible 3, a notched wheel 4, means 5 for driving the shaft 6 of this wheel, and a brush 7 associated with the wheel.
  • the enclosure 2 comprises a vacuum outlet 8 connected to a vacuum pump 9 and provided with a pressure gauge 10.
  • the shaft 6 of the wheel and the shaft 11 of the brush 7 each pass through a side wall of the enclosure with interposition of a seal, 12 and 13 respectively. These two shafts are parallel to each other, and the shaft 13 is driven by a motor 14 fixed on a fixed frame 15 outside the enclosure.
  • the crucible 3 is equipped with an inductor 16 and is fixed to the upper wall of the enclosure 2 with the interposition of a refractory seal 17. Its bottom is pierced with a pouring orifice 18, located directly above an orifice 19 of the enclosure.
  • the wheel 4 is a metal cylinder having on its outer surface notches 20 parallel to the axis X-X of the wheel and regularly spaced.
  • the brush 7 is in contact with the lower region of the wheel situated at the base of the orifice 19.
  • the drive means 5 comprise a device 21 for driving the shaft 6 in rotation, a device for moving this shaft back and forth, and a device 23 for moving the median plane of the reciprocating movement.
  • the shaft 6 is carried, outside the enclosure 2, by two bearings 24 provided with axial stops (not shown) and fixed on a movable plate 25.
  • the shaft 6 is thus secured in translation of this plate, and it carries a pulley 26 driven, via a belt 27, by a motor 28 fixed on the plate 25.
  • the plate 25 is guided in translation parallel to the axis X-X by slides 29 secured to a movable frame 30 located under the plate.
  • This chassis carries a geared motor 31 on the output shaft of which an eccentric 32 is wedged, which is engaged with a groove 33 perpendicular to the axis X-X provided on the underside of the plate 25.
  • the chassis 30 is guided in translation relative to the axis X-X by slides 34 secured to a fixed frame 35 located under the chassis.
  • a lower appendage 36 projecting under this chassis has a tapped hole engaged on a threaded rod 37 provided with two end-of-travel stops 38.
  • the extension of the rod 37 is rotatably mounted in the frame 35 but immobilized in translation relative to this, and it can be rotated by a crank 39.
  • the shaft 6 is hollow and forms a round-trip circuit for water for cooling the wheel, this circuit being connected to an internal circuit for cooling the wheel (not shown).
  • the water supply and its evacuation take place via a rotary joint 40 located at the end of the shaft.
  • the wheel 4 is thus animated on the one hand by a rotational movement around its axis, and on the other hand by a sinusoidal reciprocating movement along this axis.
  • the cooling water of the wheel is put into circulation.
  • Liquid metal 41 is then poured into crucible 3, and this metal pours out at a determined flow rate through the orifices 18 and 19, in the form of a net or jet of liquid metal 42 which strikes the wheel 4.
  • the rotation rapid of this has the effect of transforming the net 42 into a flat ribbon, cut into pieces 1 by the notches 20.
  • a metal cooling rate of the order of 10 6 ° C / second is reached which, as is known, freezes the metal in the desired amorphous form.
  • the jet 42 collides with a variable zone of the wheel, which moves between two vertical planes P1 and P2 spaced by a distance d equal to twice the distance between the eccentric 32 and its axis of rotation.
  • the crank 39 by operating the crank 39, the mid-plane of the area swept by the jet 42 is displaced. This makes it possible to distribute the wear of the wheel uniformly over its entire length, and therefore considerably increase its duration of use. .
  • the amplitude of this movement, defined by the stops 38, is chosen to be slightly less than L-d / 2, where L is the axial length of the wheel.
  • the crank 39 can be actuated intermittently by the operator, who monitors the state wheel wear through a window 43 ( Figure 2) provided on the front wall of the enclosure.
  • this maneuver can be programmed automatically, intermittently or continuously. It can for example cause a sinusoidal movement of the chassis 30 having a period much less than that of the movement of the plate 25.
  • the shaft 6 is axially fixed, and it is the crucible 3 which is mounted movable parallel to the axis XX on the enclosure 2.
  • the trees 6 and 11 pass right through the enclosure 2.
  • the bearings 24 of the shaft 6 and the motor 28 are fixed to the fixed frames 15 and 35, while the crucible 3 is fixed, with the interposition of the seal 17, on a support plate 45 pierced with an orifice 46 at the below the orifice 18.
  • the upper wall of the enclosure has a slot 47 elongated parallel to the axis XX and situated directly above this axis, and a seal 48 made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE or "Teflon”), partially housed in a groove 49 which surrounds this slot.
  • the plate 45 is placed on the seal 48, and is guided in translation parallel to the axis X-X by slides (not shown) provided on the upper wall of the enclosure.
  • the piston rod 52 of this servo-cylinder is fixed to the plate 45.
  • Figures 3 to 5 may prove to be advantageous in certain cases, for example in the case of a very long wheel.
  • the crucible 3 can have several orifices 18 in its bottom, in order to simultaneously produce several jets 42.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Continuous Casting (AREA)
  • Manufacture Of Metal Powder And Suspensions Thereof (AREA)
  • Heat Treatment Of Strip Materials And Filament Materials (AREA)
  • Crucibles And Fluidized-Bed Furnaces (AREA)

Claims (6)

  1. Verfahren zur Herstellung amorpher Metallbänder durch plötzliches Abschrecken, worin mindestens ein Strahl (42) aus geschmolzenem Metall auf eine schnell vorbeilaufende Aufnahmefläche (4) auftreffen gelassen wird, wobei quer zur Laufrichtung zwischen der Aufnahmefläche (4) und dem Strahl (42) eine Alternativbewegung ausgeführt und die relative mittlere Position von Aufnahmefläche (4) und Strahl (42) mit der Zeit verschoben wird.
  2. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Alternativbewegung sinusförmig ist.
  3. Vorrichtung zur Herstellung amorpher Metallbänder durch plötzliches Abschrecken, die einen geschmolzenes Metall enthaltenden Tiegel (3), der mit mindestens einer Ausgangsöffnung (18) versehen ist, und einen Behälter (2) umfaßt, der eine Aufnahmefläche (4) enthält, die mit Mitteln (21) ausgestattet ist, um diese Fläche gegenüber der Ausgangsöffnung schnell vorbeilaufen zu lassen, wobei die Vorrichtung auch Bewegungsmittel (22), welche zwischen der Ausgangsöffnung (18) und der Aufnahmefläche (4) quer zur Laufrichtung dieser Fläche eine relative Alternativbewegung bewirken, und außerdem Verschiebungsmittel (23) umfaßt, die geeignet sind, die relative mittlere Position von Aufnahmefläche (4) und Ausgangsöffnung (18) zu verändern.
  4. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Fläche (4) die Umfangsfläche eines mit Einkerbungen versehenen Rades ist, dessen Antriebswelle (6) hin- und hergehend durch eine Wand des Behälters (2) führt, und daß die Bewegungsmittel (22) ein Untergestell (30), einen Tisch (25), der parallel zur Achse (X-X) des Rades in Translationsrichtung geführt ist und die Antriebswelle (6) trägt, die axial mit diesem Tisch verbunden ist, und erste Antriebsmittel (31 bis 33) umfassen, die geeignet sind, den Tisch in bezug auf das Untergestell hin- und hergehend anzutreiben.
  5. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Tiegel (3) auf der Oberseite des Behälters (2) über einer in der hin- und hergehenden Richtung langen Öffnung (47) dieser Seite quer zur Laufrichtung hin- und hergehend angebracht ist und daß Mittel (50 bis 52) für eine Alternativbewegung des Tiegels in seiner hin- und hergehenden Richtung vorgesehen sind.
  6. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Verschiebungsmittel (23) Alternativantriebsmittel sind, deren Periode sehr viel kleiner als die der Bewegungsmittel (22) ist.
EP94904217A 1993-01-13 1994-01-11 Verfahren und vorrichtung zur herstellung von amorphen metallbaendern durch schnellen abschrecken Expired - Lifetime EP0679113B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9300216A FR2700282B1 (fr) 1993-01-13 1993-01-13 Procédé et installation de fabrication de rubans métalliques amorphes par hypertrempe.
FR9300216 1993-01-13
PCT/FR1994/000028 WO1994015738A1 (fr) 1993-01-13 1994-01-11 Procede et installation de fabrication de rubans metalliques amorphes par hypertrempe

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0679113A1 EP0679113A1 (de) 1995-11-02
EP0679113B1 true EP0679113B1 (de) 1997-03-19

Family

ID=9442977

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP94904217A Expired - Lifetime EP0679113B1 (de) 1993-01-13 1994-01-11 Verfahren und vorrichtung zur herstellung von amorphen metallbaendern durch schnellen abschrecken

Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (1) US5601139A (de)
EP (1) EP0679113B1 (de)
JP (1) JP2781663B2 (de)
CA (1) CA2153772C (de)
DE (1) DE69402178T2 (de)
FR (1) FR2700282B1 (de)
WO (1) WO1994015738A1 (de)
ZA (1) ZA94124B (de)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2732628B1 (fr) * 1995-04-05 1997-05-30 Seva Installation et procede de fabrication de ruban ou de fibre metallique amorphe par hypertrempe
US6626228B1 (en) * 1998-08-24 2003-09-30 General Electric Company Turbine component repair system and method of using thereof
CH691576A5 (de) * 1999-09-24 2001-08-31 Main Man Inspiration Ag Bandgiessmaschine zur Erzeugung eines Metallbandes.
US6604570B1 (en) 2002-05-10 2003-08-12 Fiber Tech Co., Ltd. Apparatus and method for manufacturing metal filaments

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2393635A1 (fr) * 1977-06-06 1979-01-05 Michelin & Cie Procede de fabrication de fil metallique ondule pour armer des materiaux composites
EP0009603B1 (de) * 1978-09-29 1982-05-26 Vacuumschmelze GmbH Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Herstellung von Metallbändern
FR2500851B1 (fr) * 1981-02-27 1985-09-13 Pont A Mousson Procede d'elaboration d'alliages metalliques amorphes a base de fer, de phosphore, de carbone et de chrome, et alliage obtenu
US4408653A (en) * 1981-11-09 1983-10-11 Allied Corporation Method for making serrated metal ribbon
FR2519891A1 (fr) * 1982-01-18 1983-07-22 Pont A Mousson Procede et dispositif de trempe rapide sur bande d'un metal ou d'un alliage metallique liquide
FR2519892A1 (fr) * 1982-01-21 1983-07-22 Pont A Mousson Perfectionnements aux dispositifs de trempe rapide sur bande d'un metal ou d'un alliage metallique
JPS62183943A (ja) * 1986-02-06 1987-08-12 Kobe Steel Ltd 急冷金属薄帯の製造方法
BR8807555A (pt) * 1987-07-21 1990-04-17 Gomelsk Polt Inst Processo de producao de filamento de metal e aparelho para materializacao do dito processo
JP2626794B2 (ja) * 1988-06-10 1997-07-02 新日本製鐵株式会社 単ロールによる直接鋳造方法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US5601139A (en) 1997-02-11
DE69402178D1 (de) 1997-04-24
DE69402178T2 (de) 1997-06-26
FR2700282A1 (fr) 1994-07-13
FR2700282B1 (fr) 1995-03-03
JP2781663B2 (ja) 1998-07-30
CA2153772C (fr) 1999-12-14
JPH08502693A (ja) 1996-03-26
WO1994015738A1 (fr) 1994-07-21
ZA94124B (en) 1994-08-19
EP0679113A1 (de) 1995-11-02
CA2153772A1 (fr) 1994-07-21

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP1641580B1 (de) Vorrichtung zur herstellung von dünnen pulverschichten, insbesondere bei hohen temperaturen, während eines die verwendung eines lasers auf einem material einsetzenden verfahrens
EP0057651A2 (de) Verfahren zum schnellen Erstarren und Abkühlen durch Stranggiessen von geschmolzenen Materialien auf der Basis von Metalloxiden
EP0679113B1 (de) Verfahren und vorrichtung zur herstellung von amorphen metallbaendern durch schnellen abschrecken
EP0884285A2 (de) Vorrichtung zum Biegen von Glasscheiben
FR2634416A1 (fr) Assemblage oscillant a fil metallique de soudage pour thermosoudage d'un film thermoplastique et machine a empaqueter horizontale pour empaqueter des objets dans un film thermoplastique comportant un tel assemblage oscillant
FR2472437A1 (fr) Dispositif et procede pour le decoupage en continu d'une plaque metallique par fusion d'une portion de celle-ci et ebarbage de l'extremite de la plaque decoupee
EP0031772B1 (de) Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Herstellen von Float-Glas
EP0290423B1 (de) Vorrichtung zur kontinuierlichen Herstellung eines dünnen Metallbands
BE1016068A3 (fr) Dispositif de manipulation de bord de r uban de verre flotte, et installation mettant en oeuvre un tel dispositif.
EP1140467B1 (de) Vorrichtung zum umkippen von einem warmumformwerkzeug mit einer schraubenförmig bewegten nockenfolgeeinheit
EP0170252B1 (de) Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Beschichten eines Bandes mit einer Schicht aus einem Halbleitermaterial
FR2672522A1 (fr) Procede et dispositif pour obtenir en continu un fil par extrusion dans un liquide.
FR2831158A1 (fr) Dispositif et procede pour la fabrication de pieces moulees en verre
EP0697930B1 (de) Vorrichtung zur steuerung der bewegung eines stranges
WO1996038599A1 (fr) Procede et dispositif pour revetir une bande metallique d'un metal ou d'un alliage a plus bas point de fusion ou de liquide que celui du materiau constituant la bande
FR3127707A1 (fr) Dispositif de découpe et procédé de découpe par fil chauffant défilant
BE1022595B1 (fr) Dispositif de manipulation du bord d'un ruban de verre flotte, comprenant une molette a axe incline, et installation comportant un tel dispositif
BE900020A (fr) Procede pour la fabrication de sacs en matiere thermosoudable et machine pour la mise en oeuvre de ce procede.
BE738234A (de)
FR2526696A1 (fr) Procede et dispositif pour la commande et le controle de la position entre deux bords metalliques d'un organe de soudage a l'arc
FR2537914A1 (fr) Procede de soudure longitudinale en continu d'un materiau plastique en film et dispositif mettant en oeuvre ce procede
FR2521045A1 (fr) Procede d'elaboration de lingots par coulee continue double, machine pour sa mise en oeuvre et lingots ainsi obtenus
BE335292A (de)
BE352975A (de)
BE426759A (de)

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19950814

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): DE GB IT NL SE

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19960717

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): DE GB IT NL SE

ITF It: translation for a ep patent filed
GBT Gb: translation of ep patent filed (gb section 77(6)(a)/1977)

Effective date: 19970319

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69402178

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19970424

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: IF02

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Payment date: 20051216

Year of fee payment: 13

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 20051219

Year of fee payment: 13

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20051230

Year of fee payment: 13

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20060110

Year of fee payment: 13

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Payment date: 20060131

Year of fee payment: 13

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20070112

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20070801

EUG Se: european patent has lapsed
GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20070111

NLV4 Nl: lapsed or anulled due to non-payment of the annual fee

Effective date: 20070801

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20070111

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20070801

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20070111