EP0901851B1 - Face laterale pour l'obturation de l'espace de coulee d'une installation de coulee continue de bandes metalliques entre cylindres, et installation de coulee ainsi equipee - Google Patents

Face laterale pour l'obturation de l'espace de coulee d'une installation de coulee continue de bandes metalliques entre cylindres, et installation de coulee ainsi equipee Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0901851B1
EP0901851B1 EP98402164A EP98402164A EP0901851B1 EP 0901851 B1 EP0901851 B1 EP 0901851B1 EP 98402164 A EP98402164 A EP 98402164A EP 98402164 A EP98402164 A EP 98402164A EP 0901851 B1 EP0901851 B1 EP 0901851B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
casting
installation
casting space
side wall
neck
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
EP98402164A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0901851A1 (fr
Inventor
Wilhelm Schmitz
Dieter Senk
Guido Stebner
Rolf Simon
Christophe Ganser
Jean-Michel Damasse
Patrice Vicente
Dominique Themines
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.)
Thyssen Stahl AG
USINOR SA
Original Assignee
Thyssen Stahl AG
USINOR 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 Thyssen Stahl AG, USINOR SA filed Critical Thyssen Stahl AG
Publication of EP0901851A1 publication Critical patent/EP0901851A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0901851B1 publication Critical patent/EP0901851B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
    • B22D—CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES
    • B22D11/00—Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths
    • B22D11/06—Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths into moulds with travelling walls, e.g. with rolls, plates, belts, caterpillars
    • B22D11/0637—Accessories therefor
    • B22D11/0648—Casting surfaces
    • B22D11/066—Side dams
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
    • B22D—CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES
    • B22D11/00—Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths
    • B22D11/06—Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths into moulds with travelling walls, e.g. with rolls, plates, belts, caterpillars
    • B22D11/0622—Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths into moulds with travelling walls, e.g. with rolls, plates, belts, caterpillars formed by two casting wheels
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
    • B22D—CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES
    • B22D11/00—Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths
    • B22D11/06—Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths into moulds with travelling walls, e.g. with rolls, plates, belts, caterpillars
    • B22D11/0637—Accessories therefor
    • B22D11/068—Accessories therefor for cooling the cast product during its passage through the mould surfaces
    • B22D11/0682—Accessories therefor for cooling the cast product during its passage through the mould surfaces by cooling the casting wheel
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
    • B22D—CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES
    • B22D11/00—Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths
    • B22D11/14—Plants for continuous casting

Definitions

  • the invention relates to the continuous casting of thin metal strips, made directly from liquid metal. More specifically, it concerns the obturation lateral of the casting space of the so-called “casting between cylinders" installations in particular with the casting of strips of steel or ferrous alloys.
  • the casting space is delimited on the one hand by the internally cooled cylindrical side surfaces of two cylinders close horizontal rotated in opposite directions around their axes, against which the liquid metal initiates its solidification, and on the other hand by plates of material refractory applied by elastic means against the flat ends of the cylinders (called “songs"). These plates close off the pouring space laterally, so that prevent liquid metal from leaking out of the installation.
  • Their lower edge is located in below the "neck”, ie the area where the surfaces of the cylinders are closest to one on the other, and whose width corresponds substantially to the desired thickness for the strip.
  • the side cover plates must be strongly preheated before casting, so that the liquid metal does not solidify against they during the filling of the mold (whose bottom, during the filling operation, is closed by a part called "mannequin", which is extracted from the casting space when begins the rotation of the cylinders and brings with it the beginning of the strip) and in the first moments of casting.
  • the faces side constitute a thermally delicate point of the machine, in that they create inevitably in their vicinity an area where the extraction of heat from metal liquid is abnormally high. This is, in particular, the case near the cylinders which, as they are internally cooled by circulation of water, they tend to cool lateral faces in the vicinity of the areas where their contact takes place.
  • the solidification of the steel on the edges of the cylinders takes place significantly faster than on the portions of the cylinders closer to their central areas, and this can be a source of problems.
  • the metal "skins" which solidify on each of the cylinders the thickness of which at a given point gradually increases as measure of the rotation of the cylinder, must, to form the band, join either exactly at the level of the neck, or very slightly below this level. If this junction skin occurs too noticeably lower than the neck, the band may not be fairly solid at the outlet of the cylinders and cracking. It may also present internal porosities.
  • the thickness of the strip solidified at neck level is greater than the nominal width of the neck. It is then necessary to remove the cylinders from each other to prevent them from providing a rolling force on the strip then that they were not designed for that.
  • This spacing of the cylinders is a source of faults on the tape, which are related to the changes it causes on the thickness and the mode of solidification of the product.
  • Another consequence of the abnormal conditions of the solidification of the strip near the side faces is the strong pressure exerted by the metal being solidified on the lower part of the side faces. He is coming frequently this pressure is enough to move the side face back on at least part of its height, which can locally destroy the tightness of the contact side cylinders. Liquid metal can then escape out of the casting space.
  • the object of the invention is to propose a configuration of the casting installation making it possible to create conditions for solidifying the strip in the vicinity of the faces which are not likely to disturb the regularity of the casting process. It should also limit the phenomenon of receding side faces.
  • the subject of the invention is a side face for closing off the pouring space. of a continuous casting installation of metal strips of the type comprising two internally cooled counter-rotating cylinders with horizontal axes, the surfaces of which cylindrical sides define a casting space whose width at the neck determines the thickness of the strip, said lateral face having an active part intended to rub against the edges of the rolls during casting and facing said casting space, characterized in that the dimensions of said active part are such that its edge lower is intended to be located at a distance equal to at least 1 mm above the neck when the side face is mounted on the casting installation.
  • the invention also relates to an installation for continuously casting strips of the type comprising two internally cooled counter-rotating cylinders, with axes horizontal, whose cylindrical side surfaces define a pouring space whose width at the neck determines the thickness of the strip, and two lateral sides for closing its pouring space, characterized in that said lateral faces are of the type previously described.
  • the active part of the lateral face is to say its part which is in contact either with the edges of the cylinders or with the liquid metal enclosed by the casting space, is interrupted not below the neck as it is usual, but on top of it.
  • the metal present in front of this free space cannot cause of the side faces, even if its solidified fraction is abnormally high. Else apart, this free space gives the possibility for solidified metal or in the process of solidification to extend towards the outside of the casting space, which limits the forces that must bear the edges of the cylinders.
  • the inventors have realized that the cooling conditions of the steel at the inside of the mold, with the usual casting parameters, was such that from a level which can be a few cm above the neck, the solidification of the metal on the edges of the casting space, although not yet complete, is already sufficiently advanced so that there is no significant leakage of liquid metal to the outside of the machine, even if the metal is no longer retained by the side faces. They deduced that the removal of the lower part of the lateral faces of the prior art was possible. This suppression makes the casting machine more tolerant of slight deviations in the process of solidification of the strip.
  • a thickness of the skins solidified on the edges of the cylinders slightly larger than expected in the last mm or cm preceding the collar no longer causes the side faces to recede and the risk of loss sealing in the upper levels of the casting space associated with them. Else apart, the excessively solidified parts of the strip can extend laterally if the cylinders exert on them a compressive force, which makes significantly less likely the need to spread the cylinders to minimize the stresses they undergo.
  • the invention thus provides greater stability of the casting conditions, which will in the sense of better overall tape quality and higher reliability of the casting installation.
  • the side face 1 according to the prior art shown schematically in Figure 1 includes a support plate 2, in which the active part 3 of the face is embedded lateral 1, ie its portion intended, during casting, to come into contact with the edges 4 cylinders 5, 5 ′ (of which only the contours have been shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1a), of liquid steel which will contain the casting space 6 of the machine and, below the level from the neck 7 where the cylinders 4, 4 ′ are as close as possible to each other, from the solidified strip. of the means (not shown) known in themselves ensure the application of the side face 1 against the edges 4 of the cylinders 5, 5 '.
  • the part active 3 is, in the example shown, divided into two portions.
  • Portion 8 in double arc of circle which, when the side face 1 is mounted on the machine, constitutes the area of contact with the edges 4 of the cylinders 5, 5 ′, the immediate vicinity of this contact zone and the area surrounding the neck 7, is constructed of a first refractory material.
  • Its quality essential is a high hardness so that it resists friction as well as possible edges 4 of the cylinders 5, 5 'and (around the neck 7) of the strip being solidified or already solidified. It is, for example, made of SiAlON® or boron nitride. She may be consisting of a single piece or of several adjoining pieces that are integral with each other. Its lower edge 9 is located below the level of the neck 7, so as to produce a total lateral closure of the pouring space 6.
  • the remaining portion 10 of the active part 3 is made of a refractory material having a high insulating power, such as silica or alumina.
  • the active part 3 of the side face 1 is projecting relative to the support plate 2 with a thickness equal to at least its maximum tolerable wear during casting, by example 10 mm.
  • the whole active part 3 of the side face 1 can be constituted by a single part.
  • FIG. 2 which represents a lateral face 11 according to the invention mounted on the casting installation
  • the elements common with those of FIG. 1 are designated by the same references.
  • the lower edge 12 of the active part 3 of the lateral face 11 which ensures contact with the cylinders 5, 5 'and closes the lower part of the casting space 6 is no longer located under the neck 7, but at a distance "d" above it.
  • This distance "d" can be very small, up to 1 mm, if we usually manage to regulate skin growth with great precision solidified on the edges of cylinders 5, 5 ', and if the proportion of solid matter present in the metal not yet fully solidified in this region of the casting space 6 is likely to go very quickly from 0 to 100%.
  • a distance "d” of between 10 and 40 mm is suitable for the most common grades of stainless steel, cast in the form of strips 3 mm thick with 1500 mm diameter cylinders and casting speeds of around 1 m / min.
  • the optimal choice of distance “d” also depends on the pressure ferrostatic reigning in the lower part of the casting space, therefore of the geometry of the casting installation and the nominal level of the surface of the liquid steel present in casting space. Good results have thus been obtained with a distance "d” of 1 to 7 mm on a machine fitted with 600 mm diameter cylinders, when casting steels low-alloy carbon and iron-silicon alloys.
  • the lower edge 12 of the part active 3 of the side face 11 which faces the casting space 6 does not have a sharp angle, but a rounded 13 whose radius of curvature can, for example, be of the order of 10 to 20 mm.
  • the same function can be ensured by bevelling the lower edge 12, according to a inclined plane, for example, at 45 °.
  • An indicator of the effectiveness of the invention is the number of setbacks from the lateral face that we observe during casting. It was thus found that this number could be divided by three on the whole of a casting, compared to the use of descending side faces down to the neck. The improvement is even more noticeable when we consider the first minutes of casting, during which the operation of the casting machine is not always perfectly stabilized.
  • the invention is applicable not only to casting between cylinders of strips of steel and other ferrous alloys, but of any other metal liable to be cast by this method.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Continuous Casting (AREA)
  • Train Traffic Observation, Control, And Security (AREA)
  • Rolls And Other Rotary Bodies (AREA)
  • Metal Rolling (AREA)
  • Moulds, Cores, Or Mandrels (AREA)
  • Shearing Machines (AREA)
  • Sawing (AREA)
  • Arc Welding In General (AREA)
EP98402164A 1997-09-12 1998-09-02 Face laterale pour l'obturation de l'espace de coulee d'une installation de coulee continue de bandes metalliques entre cylindres, et installation de coulee ainsi equipee Expired - Lifetime EP0901851B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9711351 1997-09-12
FR9711351A FR2768354B1 (fr) 1997-09-12 1997-09-12 Face laterale pour l'obturation de l'espace de coulee d'une installation de coulee continue de bandes metalliques entre cylindres, et installation de coulee ainsi equipee

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0901851A1 EP0901851A1 (fr) 1999-03-17
EP0901851B1 true EP0901851B1 (fr) 2003-04-09

Family

ID=9511009

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP98402164A Expired - Lifetime EP0901851B1 (fr) 1997-09-12 1998-09-02 Face laterale pour l'obturation de l'espace de coulee d'une installation de coulee continue de bandes metalliques entre cylindres, et installation de coulee ainsi equipee

Country Status (22)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0901851B1 (enExample)
JP (1) JPH11151556A (enExample)
KR (1) KR19990029727A (enExample)
CN (1) CN1074328C (enExample)
AT (1) ATE236749T1 (enExample)
AU (1) AU8312298A (enExample)
BR (1) BR9803422A (enExample)
CA (1) CA2247538A1 (enExample)
CZ (1) CZ287998A3 (enExample)
DE (1) DE69813120T2 (enExample)
DK (1) DK0901851T3 (enExample)
ES (1) ES2196512T3 (enExample)
FR (1) FR2768354B1 (enExample)
IN (1) IN188785B (enExample)
PL (1) PL328526A1 (enExample)
PT (1) PT901851E (enExample)
RO (1) RO119996B1 (enExample)
RU (1) RU2208497C2 (enExample)
SK (1) SK123598A3 (enExample)
TR (1) TR199801783A2 (enExample)
TW (1) TW504414B (enExample)
ZA (1) ZA988049B (enExample)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP4216340B2 (ja) * 1996-10-18 2009-01-28 ミシュラン ルシェルシュ エ テクニーク ソシエテ アノニム セルロース材料を主成分とする液晶溶液用の水性凝固剤
AT412195B (de) * 2002-06-25 2004-11-25 Voest Alpine Ind Anlagen Verfahren zur erzeugung eines metallbandes mit einer zweiwalzengiesseinrichtung
FR2842130B1 (fr) * 2002-07-12 2004-10-15 Usinor Face laterale pour installation de coulee continue de bandes metalliques entre deux cylindres
CN113649536B (zh) * 2021-08-06 2024-12-17 东北大学 用于双辊薄带连铸的侧封板及其使用方法

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS6233047A (ja) * 1985-08-05 1987-02-13 Nisshin Steel Co Ltd 双ドラム式連続鋳造機
FR2636259B1 (fr) * 1988-09-14 1994-03-11 Irsid Paroi laterale pour une installation de coulee continue entre parois mobiles et installation comportant cette paroi
FR2655577B1 (fr) * 1989-12-07 1992-01-24 Siderurgie Fse Inst Rech Installation de coulee continue de produits metalliques minces entre deux cylindres.
JPH0741376B2 (ja) * 1990-06-11 1995-05-10 新日本製鐵株式会社 薄帯連続鋳造方法
RU2041768C1 (ru) * 1991-12-11 1995-08-20 Юзинор Сасилор С.А. Установка для непрерывной разливки
JPH0749140B2 (ja) * 1992-02-17 1995-05-31 三菱重工業株式会社 双ドラム式連続鋳造装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
PT901851E (pt) 2003-07-31
RO119996B1 (ro) 2005-07-29
CN1212914A (zh) 1999-04-07
IN188785B (enExample) 2002-11-09
TW504414B (en) 2002-10-01
JPH11151556A (ja) 1999-06-08
KR19990029727A (ko) 1999-04-26
SK123598A3 (en) 1999-06-11
TR199801783A3 (tr) 1999-10-21
CA2247538A1 (fr) 1999-03-12
DE69813120D1 (de) 2003-05-15
FR2768354A1 (fr) 1999-03-19
TR199801783A2 (xx) 1999-10-21
PL328526A1 (en) 1999-03-15
EP0901851A1 (fr) 1999-03-17
DE69813120T2 (de) 2004-01-29
ES2196512T3 (es) 2003-12-16
DK0901851T3 (da) 2003-07-28
ZA988049B (en) 1999-03-05
BR9803422A (pt) 1999-11-03
FR2768354B1 (fr) 1999-10-22
CZ287998A3 (cs) 1999-08-11
ATE236749T1 (de) 2003-04-15
AU8312298A (en) 1999-03-25
CN1074328C (zh) 2001-11-07
RU2208497C2 (ru) 2003-07-20

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
CA2173391C (fr) Procede et dispositif de reglage du bombe des cylindres d'une installation de coulee de bandes metalliques
EP0894556B1 (fr) Face latérale d'obturation de l'espace de coulée d'une installation de coulée continue entre cylindres de bandes minces métalliques
EP0901851B1 (fr) Face laterale pour l'obturation de l'espace de coulee d'une installation de coulee continue de bandes metalliques entre cylindres, et installation de coulee ainsi equipee
CA2193243C (fr) Face laterale pour une machine de coulee en continu de tole mince
EP1521650B1 (fr) Face laterale pour installation de coulee continue de bandes metalliques entre deux cylindres
EP0350345B1 (fr) Procédé et dispositif de coulée continue de produits métalliques minces
FR2833871A1 (fr) Procede et installation de fabrication de bandes metalliques a partir de bandes coulees directement a partir de metal liquide
EP0241445B1 (fr) Dispositif et procédé pour le refroidissement d'un produit métallique coulé en continu
FR2734186A1 (fr) Procede de lubrification des parois d'une lingotiere de coulee continue des metaux et lingotiere pour sa mise en oeuvre
EP0066524B1 (fr) Procédé et dispositif de coulée continue sur roue à gorge
EP0875315B1 (fr) Installation de coulée continue de bandes métalliques entre deux cylindres
FR2695580A1 (fr) Dispositif de coulée continue entre cylindres de produits métalliques minces.
EP0709151B1 (fr) Surface de coulée d'une lingotière de coulée continue des métaux à paroi mobile
CA2251007C (fr) Procede de coulee continue des metaux et installation de coulee pour sa mise oeuvre
CA2023504A1 (fr) Procede et dispositif de coulee continue directe de produits metalliques minces
EP0435729A1 (fr) Dispositif de coulée continue de produits métalliques minces entre deux cylindres refroidis en rotation
FR2785211A1 (fr) Face laterale pour installation de coulee continue de bandes metalliques entre deux cylindres
FR2757790A1 (fr) Procede de coulee continue de bandes metalliques minces entre deux cylindres, et installation pour sa mise en oeuvre
FR2557821A1 (fr) Dispositif compensateur de l'usure d'un moule
FR2723013A1 (fr) Face laterale pour une machine de coulee en continu de tole mince
WO1997014519A1 (fr) Installation de coulee continue de filaments metalliques directement a partir de metal liquide
BE904436A (fr) Dispositif et procede pour le refroidissement d'un produit metallique coule en continu.

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

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU NL PT SE

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Free format text: AL;LT;LV;MK;RO;SI

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19990917

AKX Designation fees paid

Free format text: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU NL PT SE

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20010924

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

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

Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU NL PT SE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

Free format text: NOT ENGLISH

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

Free format text: FRENCH

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: SE

Ref legal event code: TRGR

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GR

Ref legal event code: EP

Ref document number: 20030402122

Country of ref document: GR

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DK

Ref legal event code: T3

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

Effective date: 20030728

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

Ref country code: LU

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

Effective date: 20030902

Ref country code: IE

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

Effective date: 20030902

Ref country code: GB

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

Effective date: 20030902

Ref country code: FI

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

Effective date: 20030902

Ref country code: CY

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20030902

Ref country code: AT

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

Effective date: 20030902

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: 20030903

Ref country code: ES

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

Effective date: 20030903

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

Ref country code: LI

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

Effective date: 20030930

Ref country code: DK

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

Effective date: 20030930

Ref country code: CH

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

Effective date: 20030930

Ref country code: BE

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

Effective date: 20030930

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FG2A

Ref document number: 2196512

Country of ref document: ES

Kind code of ref document: T3

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

Effective date: 20040112

BERE Be: lapsed

Owner name: *THYSSEN STAHL A.G.

Effective date: 20030930

Owner name: *USINOR

Effective date: 20030930

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: 20040401

Ref country code: DE

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

Effective date: 20040401

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee
EUG Se: european patent has lapsed
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DK

Ref legal event code: EBP

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

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

Ref country code: FR

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

Effective date: 20040528

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

Effective date: 20040401

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: MM4A

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

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

Ref country code: PT

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

Effective date: 20041015

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FD2A

Effective date: 20030903

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

Ref country code: GR

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

Effective date: 20050405

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: 20050902

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

Ref country code: GR

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

Effective date: 20030409

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

Ref country code: PT

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

Effective date: 20030902