EP2100676A1 - Procédé de coulée continue - Google Patents

Procédé de coulée continue Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP2100676A1
EP2100676A1 EP08106006A EP08106006A EP2100676A1 EP 2100676 A1 EP2100676 A1 EP 2100676A1 EP 08106006 A EP08106006 A EP 08106006A EP 08106006 A EP08106006 A EP 08106006A EP 2100676 A1 EP2100676 A1 EP 2100676A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
melt
mould
ports
splash shield
nozzle
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP08106006A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP2100676B1 (fr
Inventor
designation of the inventor has not yet been filed The
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.)
Kovac Peter
Original Assignee
Kovac Peter
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
Family has litigation
First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=40578935&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=EP2100676(A1) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Application filed by Kovac Peter filed Critical Kovac Peter
Priority to PL08106006T priority Critical patent/PL2100676T3/pl
Priority to ES08106006T priority patent/ES2388900T3/es
Priority to EP08106006A priority patent/EP2100676B1/fr
Priority to SI200830707T priority patent/SI2100676T1/sl
Priority to SK50063-2009U priority patent/SK5440Y1/sk
Publication of EP2100676A1 publication Critical patent/EP2100676A1/fr
Priority to EA200901560A priority patent/EA018656B1/ru
Priority to ZA200908972A priority patent/ZA200908972B/en
Publication of EP2100676B1 publication Critical patent/EP2100676B1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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
    • B22D41/00—Casting melt-holding vessels, e.g. ladles, tundishes, cups or the like
    • B22D41/50—Pouring-nozzles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
    • B22D—CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES
    • B22D7/00—Casting ingots, e.g. from ferrous metals
    • B22D7/12—Appurtenances, e.g. for sintering, for preventing splashing

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a continuous cast method, wherein a melt is supplied into a frame-shaped mould through a top opening of the mould by a nozzle having at least two opposing ports, until a surface level of the melt reaches a steady state position above the ports, and wherein in a steady state condition, an at least superficially solidified casting is drawn through a bottom opening of the mould opposite to the top opening, at a velocity corresponding to the flow rate of the melt, thus basically keeping the surface level in the steady state position.
  • the continuous strip cast process is well-known since the mid of the 19 th century and is currently employed with the major part of steel production world-wide, including plain carbon, alloy and stainless steel grades in different shapes and sizes. These include large rectangular slabs (having cross sections from 0.5 cm x 50 cm up to 25 cm x 220 cm) and basically square blooms (up to 40 cm x 60 cm), small square or circular billets ⁇ (10 cm up to 20 cm of diameter) as well as other, e.g. dog -bone shapes.
  • the melt flows from a ladle to a tundish and further through a ceramic nozzle that is attached to the tundish into the mould.
  • the melt freezes against the water-cooled walls of the bottomless copper mould to form a thin solidified shell of the casting.
  • the shell forms a container supporting the remaining liquid melt in the casting. While the tundish provides a continuous stream of melt to the mould, even during exchange of the ladle, the process runs in steady state.
  • the mould is assembled from four separate copper walls: Two broad walls are fixed to the assembly and two narrow walls are movable towards an axis of symmetry of the mould, thus allowing adjustment of the slab width even during the cast process.
  • the gaps between the broad and the narrow walls are limited to about 0.3 mm.
  • thermal deformation as well as wearing of the copper walls allow these gaps to increase up to 1.5 mm without impacting the cast process.
  • the melt surface as well as the surface of the thin shell of the casting is covered by liquid slag, both thermally insulating the copper walls from the steel melt and lubricating the gap between the mould and the casting.
  • the nozzle has lateral ports, forcing the melt stream to protrude at basically right angles to the narrow walls of the mould, thus inducing a forced flow in the melt.
  • Opposing pairs of drive rolls underneath the bottom opening of the mould continuously both withdraw the casting from the mould at a velocity (or casting speed) corresponding the flow rate of t he melt into the mould and bend the casting from the initially vertical to a horizontal direction. Further solidification of the casting is driven by cooling water or air mist sprays between the rolls.
  • the bottom opening is plugged with a dummy bar ⁇ and the empty mould is filled with melt like in a conventional mould cast. While the surface level of the melt rises to a previously defined steady state position above the ports of the nozzle (also SEN, Submerged Entry Nozzle) ⁇ , the shell begins to solidify both on top of the dummy bar and on the walls of the mould. After the surface level reaches the steady state position, the dummy bar is withdrawn from the bottom opening carrying along the casting by means of the drive rolls.
  • the most critical phase of the starting procedure of the known process is the initial filling of the empty mould through up to 1.5 m of plain air:
  • the melt splatters into the mould and spills onto the cooled copper walls, primarily to the narrow walls of the mould. Striking the cold walls, small spillings of melt abruptly become solid, forming sharp-edged shapes that above all firmly adhere to the walls.
  • a similar effect regularly occurs in flying tundish change during the cast process as provided by modem cast processes in order to significantly reduce downtime of the assembly: While the melt surface inside the mould falls below the ports level, the newly starting melt stream again falls up to 1.2 m through plain air.
  • the invention intends to reduce spillings and related drawbacks during the starting procedure.
  • the invention suggests that a splash shield is mounted to the nozzle and prevents spillings of the melt protruding from the ports from hitting the mould, and that the splash shield is molten by the surrounding melt at least in the steady state condition.
  • the lost splash shield of the invention is effective only during the most critical phase of the starting procedure, namely while the melt is initially filling the mould through plain air. In this period, it shields the walls of the mould from melt spillings protruding from the nozzle ports. While the melt rises over the ports, the splash shield is molten and itself becomes unrecognizable part of the melt. For the following continuous process, the ports of the nozzle are unshielded, thus inducing the necessary flow into the melt in the mould.
  • the splash shield deflects a melt stream basically protruding from one of the ports at right angles to a wall of the mould, to a direction basically parallel to the wall.
  • the stream of melt thus is guided towards the dummy bar at the bottom of the mould, where spillings forming notches do not impact the thin shell of the casting.
  • the splash shield further deflects the melt stream to an axis of symmetry of the mould. Streams of melt protruding from different ports of the nozzle thus are guided towards each other, and are mutually reducing flow rate and impetus. The resulting steadied stream of melt produces less spillings and rather flows than splatters into the mould.
  • the nozzle is attached to a bottom of a tundish, that is filled with the melt from a ladle.
  • a tundish instead of filling the mould directly from the ladle allows for providing a continuous stream of melt to the mould, even during exchange of the ladle.
  • the casting is drawn vertically from the mould and bent to a horizontal direction through paired support rolls.
  • the initial casting direction equals to the direction of gravitational force, providing uniformity of the forced flow of melt inside the mould and the of the final casting.
  • the invention further suggests a splash shield for use with one of the above described methods, comprising a bar for penetrating the opposing ports of the nozzle and thus mounting the splash shield to the nozzle. After inserting the bar through the nozzle, the splash shield is firmly attached to the nozzle in a very simple manner.
  • the bar has a tubular shape with a centred inlet opening for the melt and outlet openings for the melt at both ends.
  • the melt thus flows through the bar.
  • the bar only forms the splash shield, handling, in particular mounting of the shield to the nozzle is significantly simplified.
  • the splash shield has an annular ring for surrounding the nozzle above the ports, and further has deflectors being attached to the annular ring, wherein in a mounted position of the splash shield the deflectors are assigned to the ports for deflecting melt streams from the ports to an axis of symmetry of the mould.
  • This splash shield provides for significantly steadying the stream of melt as described above.
  • the invention not only provides for better surface quality of the casting product and enhances the productivity of the process by reducing the risk of shell bursts, but also significantly eases the starting of a continuous strip cast process.
  • the splash shield of the invention may also be effectively applied with flying tundish change, wherein the surface level of the melt is allowed to fall below the top edge of the ports of the nozzle.
  • the continuous cast assembly shown in figure 1a and in detail in figures 1b and 1c includes a ladle 2 and a tundish 3 underneath the ladle 2.
  • the ladle 2 provides steel melt 4 to the tundish 3.
  • a ceramic nozzle 5 is mounted to the tundish 3 and protruding through a top opening 6 of a frame-shaped mould 7, ending between the copper, water-cooled walls 8 of the mould 7.
  • the melt 4 is provided into the mould 7 through two opposing ports 9 of the nozzle 5.
  • the surface level 10 of the melt 4 is basically kept in a defined steady state position above the ports 9.
  • the melt 4 solidifies to form a thin shell 12 of the casting 13.
  • the assembly 1 Underneath a bottom opening 14 of the mould 7, the assembly 1 includes a sequence of paired drive rolls 15 for withdrawing the casting 13 from the mould 7, and for bending it from vertical to horizontal direction. Along with the drive rolls 15, the casting 13 is cooled by means of water sprays (not shown in the drawing).
  • the first embodiment of a splash shield 16 as shown in figure 2a is welded from steel sheets of 3 mm thickness to form a bar 17 with tubular shape.
  • the shield 16 has a length 18 of 40 cm and a squared cross-section of 64 mm of height 19 and 54 mm of width 20.
  • the splash shield 16 has a brick-shaped stopper 21 welded to its upper surface 22, an inlet opening 23 in the upper surface 22 and two outlet openings 24 in the lower surface 25 at both ends 26.
  • the splash shield 16 is inserted through the ports 9 into the nozzle 5 until the stopper 21 hits the surface 27 of the nozzle 5 as shown in figure 2b .
  • a slide gate (not shown) underneath the tundish 3 is opened, the melt 4 flows through the inlet opening 23 into the shield 16 and flows out of the shield 16 through the outlet openings 24 as shown in figure 2c .
  • the alternative second embodiment of a splash shield 28 as shown in figure 3a is evenly welded from steel sheets of 3 mm thickness.
  • the second splash shield 28 has an annular ring 29 having a diameter 30 of about 14 cm and carrying two deflectors 31.
  • the deflectors 31 are box-shaped having a height 32 of 16 cm and width 33 of 15 cm.
  • the outward surfaces 34 of the deflectors 31 are arranged to have a distance of about 33 cm.
  • the second splash shield 28 has a separate bar 35 from a bevelled steel sheet of 3 mm thickness and 5 cm width 36.
  • the deflectors 31 have slits 37 for inserting the bar 35 to the splash shield 28.
  • the nozzle 5 Before starting the cast process, the nozzle 5 is positioned into the annular ring 29 of the alternative splash shield 28 and the bar 35 is inserted through the slits 37 and through the ports 9 into the nozzle 5 until a stopper 38 of the bar 35 hits the outward surface of the deflector 31 as shown in figure 3b .
  • the melt 4 first is guided by the bar 35 to flow into the deflectors 31 and afterwards to flow out of the splash shield 28 as shown in figure 3c .
  • Both the first splash shield 16 and the alternative second splash shield 28 are molten at least after they are below surface level 10 of the melt 4, thus becoming part of the melt 4 themselves.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Continuous Casting (AREA)
EP08106006A 2008-12-17 2008-12-17 Procédé de coulée continue Active EP2100676B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PL08106006T PL2100676T3 (pl) 2008-12-17 2008-12-17 Sposób ciągłego odlewania
ES08106006T ES2388900T3 (es) 2008-12-17 2008-12-17 Procedimiento de colada continua
EP08106006A EP2100676B1 (fr) 2008-12-17 2008-12-17 Procédé de coulée continue
SI200830707T SI2100676T1 (sl) 2008-12-17 2008-12-17 Postopek neprekinjenega vlivanja
SK50063-2009U SK5440Y1 (en) 2008-12-17 2009-08-03 Continuous cast method
EA200901560A EA018656B1 (ru) 2008-12-17 2009-12-17 Способ непрерывного литья и устройство для его осуществления
ZA200908972A ZA200908972B (en) 2008-12-17 2009-12-17 Continuous cast method

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP08106006A EP2100676B1 (fr) 2008-12-17 2008-12-17 Procédé de coulée continue

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2100676A1 true EP2100676A1 (fr) 2009-09-16
EP2100676B1 EP2100676B1 (fr) 2012-06-06

Family

ID=40578935

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP08106006A Active EP2100676B1 (fr) 2008-12-17 2008-12-17 Procédé de coulée continue

Country Status (7)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2100676B1 (fr)
EA (1) EA018656B1 (fr)
ES (1) ES2388900T3 (fr)
PL (1) PL2100676T3 (fr)
SI (1) SI2100676T1 (fr)
SK (1) SK5440Y1 (fr)
ZA (1) ZA200908972B (fr)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3189315A (en) * 1962-12-28 1965-06-15 Ralph A Verna Teeming gate with consumable anti-splash shield
EP0771600A1 (fr) * 1995-10-30 1997-05-07 Usinor Sacilor Busette pour l'introduction d'un métal liquide dans une lingotière de coulée continue de produits métalliques, dont le fond comporte des orifices
EP0950453A1 (fr) * 1998-04-14 1999-10-20 LTV Steel Company, Inc. Busette de coulée submergée

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1959097C2 (de) * 1969-11-20 1973-10-04 Mannesmann Ag, 4000 Duesseldorf Vorrichtung beim Stranggießen zum Ver teilen eiern Stahlschmelze
IT1267242B1 (it) * 1994-05-30 1997-01-28 Danieli Off Mecc Scaricatore per bramme sottili
DE19724232C2 (de) * 1997-06-03 1999-04-15 Mannesmann Ag Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Erzeugen von Brammen
RU2247625C1 (ru) * 2003-09-01 2005-03-10 Хлопонин Виктор Николаевич Способ воздействия на химсостав жидкой стали перед и в процессе непрерывной разливки и противоворонкообразующее устройство для воздействия на химсостав жидкой стали перед и в процессе непрерывной разливки

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3189315A (en) * 1962-12-28 1965-06-15 Ralph A Verna Teeming gate with consumable anti-splash shield
EP0771600A1 (fr) * 1995-10-30 1997-05-07 Usinor Sacilor Busette pour l'introduction d'un métal liquide dans une lingotière de coulée continue de produits métalliques, dont le fond comporte des orifices
EP0950453A1 (fr) * 1998-04-14 1999-10-20 LTV Steel Company, Inc. Busette de coulée submergée

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP2100676B1 (fr) 2012-06-06
ES2388900T3 (es) 2012-10-19
EA018656B1 (ru) 2013-09-30
ZA200908972B (en) 2010-08-25
SK5440Y1 (en) 2010-05-07
PL2100676T3 (pl) 2012-11-30
EA200901560A1 (ru) 2010-08-30
SK500632009U1 (en) 2009-11-05
SI2100676T1 (sl) 2012-10-30

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
JP5916942B2 (ja) 連続鋳造設備
US4494594A (en) Spray cooling system for continuous steel casting machine
EP1599300B1 (fr) Procede de coulee en continu
JP4057679B2 (ja) 金属ストリップ鋳造方法及び装置並びに耐火ノズル
JPH1085906A (ja) 金属ストリップ鋳造装置及び耐火ノズル
AU665622B2 (en) Method and apparatus for direct casting of continuous metal strip
EP2100676B1 (fr) Procédé de coulée continue
US11148192B2 (en) Shroud for billet casting
JPH0255642A (ja) ストリツプ鋼を連続的に鋳造する方法および装置
CN1011867B (zh) 金属尤其是钢的带材连铸工艺方法及其设备
US4100960A (en) Method and apparatus for casting metals
RU2315681C2 (ru) Способ непрерывной разливки прямоугольных стальных слитков и устройство для его осуществления
USRE30979E (en) Method and apparatus for casting metals
US4355680A (en) Method and apparatus for continuous casting of hollow articles
RU2111081C1 (ru) Способ непрерывной разливки различных марок стали и устройство для его осуществления
Dutta et al. Continuous casting (concast)
JP7068628B2 (ja) 鋳造方法
SU1118478A1 (ru) Промежуточное устройство дл непрерывной разливки стали
CA1108373A (fr) Methode et dispositif de coulee des metaux
Kumar et al. Continuous Casting of Steel and Simulation for Cost Reduction
KR910008748Y1 (ko) 소형판재 제조용 수평연속주조장치
JPH06503274A (ja) 薄いストリップまたはスラブの連続鋳造法および連続鋳造装置
EP0036777A1 (fr) Machine pour la coulée continue horizontale
FI69972B (fi) Kontinuerlig metallgjutning
KR101400037B1 (ko) 연속 주조 방법

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 BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: AL BA MK RS

APBK Appeal reference recorded

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNREFNE

APBN Date of receipt of notice of appeal recorded

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNNOA2E

APBR Date of receipt of statement of grounds of appeal recorded

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNNOA3E

RIN1 Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected)

Inventor name: KOVAC, PETER

APAF Appeal reference modified

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSCREFNE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20100312

AKX Designation fees paid

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

AXX Extension fees paid

Extension state: RS

Payment date: 20100312

APBT Appeal procedure closed

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNNOA9E

RIN1 Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected)

Inventor name: KOVAC, PETER

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: SK

Ref legal event code: BA9A

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20110720

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: RS

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: REF

Ref document number: 560758

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20120615

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: T3

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R096

Ref document number: 602008016124

Country of ref document: DE

Effective date: 20120809

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: RO

Ref legal event code: EPE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: SE

Ref legal event code: TRGR

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FG2A

Ref document number: 2388900

Country of ref document: ES

Kind code of ref document: T3

Effective date: 20121019

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

Ref country code: LT

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: 20120606

Ref country code: NO

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: 20120906

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: 20120606

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: LT

Ref legal event code: MG4D

Effective date: 20120606

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 FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20120907

Ref country code: LV

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: 20120606

Ref country code: HR

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: 20120606

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: PL

Ref legal event code: T3

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

Ref country code: IS

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: 20121006

Ref country code: EE

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: 20120606

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 FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20121008

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: SK

Ref legal event code: T3

Ref document number: E 12980

Country of ref document: SK

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

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

Ref country code: DK

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: 20120606

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20130307

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R097

Ref document number: 602008016124

Country of ref document: DE

Effective date: 20130307

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: HU

Ref legal event code: AG4A

Ref document number: E015839

Country of ref document: HU

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

Ref country code: MC

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

Effective date: 20121231

Ref country code: BG

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: 20120906

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: MM4A

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

Ref country code: CH

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

Effective date: 20121231

Ref country code: LI

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

Effective date: 20121231

Ref country code: IE

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

Effective date: 20121217

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

Ref country code: MT

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: 20120606

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

Ref country code: TR

Payment date: 20131120

Year of fee payment: 6

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: 20121217

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

Ref country code: CZ

Payment date: 20141216

Year of fee payment: 7

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

Ref country code: HU

Payment date: 20150317

Year of fee payment: 7

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 8

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

Ref country code: PL

Payment date: 20151216

Year of fee payment: 8

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 20151223

Year of fee payment: 8

Ref country code: SI

Payment date: 20151217

Year of fee payment: 8

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

Ref country code: IT

Payment date: 20151221

Year of fee payment: 8

Ref country code: ES

Payment date: 20160121

Year of fee payment: 8

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

Ref country code: CZ

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

Effective date: 20151217

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

Ref country code: HU

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

Effective date: 20151218

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 9

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

Ref country code: FI

Payment date: 20161220

Year of fee payment: 9

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20161228

Year of fee payment: 9

Ref country code: SK

Payment date: 20161215

Year of fee payment: 9

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

Ref country code: AT

Payment date: 20161228

Year of fee payment: 9

Ref country code: SE

Payment date: 20161223

Year of fee payment: 9

Ref country code: RO

Payment date: 20161214

Year of fee payment: 9

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20161229

Year of fee payment: 9

Ref country code: BE

Payment date: 20161222

Year of fee payment: 9

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

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20161231

Year of fee payment: 9

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: MM

Effective date: 20170101

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: 20170101

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: SI

Ref legal event code: KO00

Effective date: 20170818

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: 20161217

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

Ref country code: SI

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

Effective date: 20161218

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

Ref country code: PL

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

Effective date: 20161217

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

Ref country code: ES

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

Effective date: 20161218

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R119

Ref document number: 602008016124

Country of ref document: DE

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

Ref country code: FI

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

Effective date: 20171217

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: MM01

Ref document number: 560758

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20171217

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20171217

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

Ref country code: RO

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

Effective date: 20171217

Ref country code: SE

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

Effective date: 20171218

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: SK

Ref legal event code: MM4A

Ref document number: E 12980

Country of ref document: SK

Effective date: 20171217

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

Effective date: 20180831

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: BE

Ref legal event code: MM

Effective date: 20171231

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: 20180102

Ref country code: DE

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

Effective date: 20180703

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FD2A

Effective date: 20181116

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

Ref country code: BE

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

Effective date: 20171231

Ref country code: AT

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

Effective date: 20171217

Ref country code: GB

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

Effective date: 20171217

Ref country code: SK

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

Effective date: 20171217

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

Ref country code: TR

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

Effective date: 20171217