EP2529859B1 - Control instrument and method for monitoring a plate of an ingot mould in a continuous casting plant - Google Patents

Control instrument and method for monitoring a plate of an ingot mould in a continuous casting plant Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP2529859B1
EP2529859B1 EP12169709.8A EP12169709A EP2529859B1 EP 2529859 B1 EP2529859 B1 EP 2529859B1 EP 12169709 A EP12169709 A EP 12169709A EP 2529859 B1 EP2529859 B1 EP 2529859B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
plate
control instrument
vertical wall
measuring device
distance measuring
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.)
Not-in-force
Application number
EP12169709.8A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2529859A1 (en
Inventor
Franco FOSSI
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.)
Sider Sistem Srl
Original Assignee
Sider Sistem Srl
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 Sider Sistem Srl filed Critical Sider Sistem Srl
Publication of EP2529859A1 publication Critical patent/EP2529859A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2529859B1 publication Critical patent/EP2529859B1/en
Not-in-force 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
    • B22D2/00—Arrangement of indicating or measuring devices, e.g. for temperature or viscosity of the fused mass
    • 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
    • B22D11/04—Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths into open-ended moulds
    • B22D11/041—Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths into open-ended moulds for vertical casting
    • 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
    • B22D11/16—Controlling or regulating processes or operations
    • B22D11/168—Controlling or regulating processes or operations for adjusting the mould size or mould taper

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a control instrument and a method for monitoring a plate of an ingot mould in a continuous casting plant.
  • the present invention finds advantageous application in a continuous casting plant for the making of steel bars, to which the following disclosure will explicitly refer while not losing generality therefor.
  • a continuous casting plant for the making of steel bars comprises a ladle feeding molten metal through a vertical solidification path comprising an ingot mould in which primary solidification of steel occurs.
  • the ingot mould is a tubular body comprised of a set of copper plates that are cooled by a continuous circulation of cooling water.
  • the ingot mould has a taper converging towards the bottom (i.e., towards the outlet) so that the cross section of the ingot mould progressively decreases from the upper inlet to the lower outlet; the taper of the ingot mould is fundamental in order to allow the ingot mould to "follow" the shrinkage of the metal consequent to temperature reduction.
  • the internal surface of the ingot mould can happen to lose contact with the semi-solid metal (insufficient taper), with an entailed localized reduction of the cooling capacity (in the absence of contact between ingot mould and semi-solid metal, heat transmission decreases remarkably) and therefore with the forming of undesired dishomogeneities in the semi-solid metal, or the internal surface of the ingot mould can happen to press too much on the semi-solid metal (excessive taper) with the entailed onset of undesired strains in the semi-solid metal, worsening the grade of the solidification process.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide a control instrument and a method for monitoring a plate of an ingot mould in a continuous casting plant, which control instrument and method be free from the drawbacks described above and, in particular, be easy and inexpensive to carry out.
  • JP 2247055 describes an instrument for detecting abnormality in a mould.
  • the instrument comprises a probe shiftable inside the mould to measure the distance from an inner wall of the mould and the thickness of such inner wall in a preset measuring position.
  • the instrument also includes an arithmetic part and signal processing part for determining an abnormality in flatness and thickness of the wall.
  • Plant 1 comprises a ladle 2 feeding molten steel to an underlying tundish 3, from which the molten steel is fed to a vertical solidification path.
  • the vertical solidification path comprises, at the beginning, an ingot mould 4 made of copper, in which primary solidification of steel occurs; downstream of ingot mould 4 made of copper, the vertical solidification path continues with water injectors 5.
  • Plant 1 comprises a station 6 for cutting the steel bars, provided with ejector rolls 7 and a rollover cradle 8 which receives each steel bar from cutting station 6 and feeds the steel bars to an horizontally-conveying roll device 9.
  • ingot mould 4 is a tubular body of parallelepiped shape and comprises four copper plates 10 which are cooled by a continuous circulation of cooling water.
  • Each copper plate 10 has a predetermined inclination with respect to the vertical line and/or a specific profile in order to give ingot mould 4 a desired conicity which progressively reduces the cross section of the ingot mould 4 from top to bottom (i.e. from the upper inlet opening, which is larger, to the lower outlet opening, which is narrower).
  • the function of the conicity of ingot mould 4 is that of allowing ingot mould 4 to "follow" the steel dimensional reduction consequent to temperature reduction (i.e. to primary solidification).
  • control instrument 11 which is applied externally to a copper plate 10 which is part of ingot mould 4 and measures both the inclination of copper plate 10 with respect to the vertical line and the vertical profile of copper plate 10 (i.e. the shape of an external vertical wall 12 of copper plate 10 along a vertical line).
  • Control instrument 11 comprises a rigid frame 13 having a plurality of feet 14, which are apt to be rested against a vertical wall 12 of plate 10; in particular, frame 13 comprises a beam 15 and a pair of transverse arms 16 , each of which is arranged perpendicularly to beam 15 and supports a pair of feet 14 arranged at opposite sides of beam 15.
  • control instrument 11 comprises a support device 17, which is fixed to frame 13 and is apt to rest on an upper horizontal wall 18 of plate 10 for supporting frame 13 (i.e. for supporting control instrument 11).
  • Support device 17 is shaped in such a way that the weight of control instrument 11 pushes frame 13 against vertical wall 12 of plate 10 when support device 17 rests on upper horizontal wall 18 of plate 10. Thus, it is the weight of control instrument 11 which ensures that feet 4 remain in contact with vertical wall 12 of plate 10, with no need for any further external intervention.
  • control instrument 11 comprises a box-like body 19 which is fixed to an upper end of frame 13 (i.e. it is head connected to an upper end of beam 13) and is mechanically connected to support device 17 (i.e. support device 17 is not directly connected to frame 13, but is indirectly connected to frame 13 through box-like body 19).
  • Control instrument 11 comprises a distance measuring device 20, which oriented towards vertical wall 12 of plate 10 and is apt to measure a distance D from vertical wall 12 (that is, it measures the distance between a reading head of distance measuring device 20 and vertical wall 12).
  • distance measuring device 20 is a laser distance measuring device operating without contact (i.e. the reading head of distance measuring device 20 sends a laser beam against vertical wall 12, and therefore never touches vertical wall 12).
  • distance measuring device 20 is a mechanical distance measuring device, operating by contact (i.e. the reading head of distance measuring device 20 continuously touches vertical wall 12).
  • Control instrument 11 comprises a moving device 21, which is supported by frame 13 (in particular by beam 15 of frame 13) and supports distance measuring device 20 so as to move distance measuring device 20 along a vertical measuring path P; moreover, control instrument 11 comprises a position sensor 22, which detects the position of distance measuring device 20 along the vertical measuring path P.
  • control instrument 11 comprises a processing unit 23, which cyclically reads distance measuring device 20 and position sensor 22 and correlates the distance D with respect to vertical wall 12 of plate 10 as measured by distance measuring device 20 with the position of distance measuring device 20 along vertical measuring path P as measured by position sensor 22 so as to obtain a profile of vertical wall 12.
  • processing unit 23 is housed inside box-like body 19 and is connected to a display 24 having the "touch” function and implementing an I/O ("Input/Output") device; i.e. display 24 is used both to show information to the user and to receive instructions from the user.
  • display 24 is used both to show information to the user and to receive instructions from the user.
  • moving device 21 comprises a slide, which is mounted in a sliding manner along measuring path P and carries distance measuring device 20, a worm screw 25, which is arranged along measuring path P and is mechanically coupled to the slide so as to set the slide in motion when rotated, and an electric motor 26, which is mechanically coupled to an end of screw 25, so as to cause it to rotate.
  • electric motor 26 is housed inside box-like body 19.
  • position sensor 22 is an angular encoder which is mechanically connected to motor 26 or to screw 25.
  • worm screw 25 is replaced by a closed-loop belt, tensioned between a motorized upper pulley, which is connected to electric motor 26, and an idle lower pulley; one side of the belt is fixed to the slide carrying distance measuring device 20 and therefore, by moving the belt by means of a rotation of the motorized upper pulley, a corresponding movement of the slide (and therefore of the distance measuring device 20) is obtained along path P.
  • control instrument 11 comprises a contact sensor 27, which is coupled at least to one foot 14, is connected to processing unit 23 and detects whether or not there is actually a contact of foot 14 with vertical wall 12 of plate 10; processing unit 23 detects the profile of vertical wall 12 of plate 10 only when the contact sensor 27 detects that there is actually a contact of foot 14 with vertical wall 12.
  • contact sensor 27 detects the electrical conductivity existing between at least two distinct feet 14 through plate 10; in other words, if the electrical conductivity existing between at least two distinct feet 14 through plate 10 is "high" (i.e.
  • Control instrument also comprises an inclinometer 28, which is connected to processing unit 23 and detects the angle of inclination of frame 13 with respect to the vertical line (therefore, it detects the angle of inclination of vertical wall 12 of plate 10 with respect to the vertical line) and is preferably housed inside box-like body 19.
  • inclinometer 28 is connected to processing unit 23 and detects the angle of inclination of frame 13 with respect to the vertical line (therefore, it detects the angle of inclination of vertical wall 12 of plate 10 with respect to the vertical line) and is preferably housed inside box-like body 19.
  • control instrument 11 for monitoring a plate 10 (or better, a vertical wall 12 of plate 10) of the ingot mould 4 is described.
  • control instrument 11 Before starting the monitoring, the user couples control instrument 11 to plate 10 by initially resting support device 17 on upper horizontal wall 18 of plate 10, and then letting control instrument 11 "fall” towards vertical wall 12 of plate 10 so that feet 14 rest against vertical wall 12. It is important to observe that handles or other elements apt to be grabbed by the user can be connected to frame 13 and/or to box-like body 19, so as to enable the user to easily manipulate control instrument 11 even remaining at a certain distance from ingot mould 14.
  • control instrument 11 Once control instrument 11 is coupled to plate 10, the user can start monitoring of plate 10; such a monitoring provides detecting the angle of inclination of vertical wall 12 of plate 10 with respect to the vertical line by means of inclinometer 28, and it further provides obtaining the profile of vertical wall 12 of plate 10 by moving distance measuring device 20 along path P and then correlating, as described above, the distance D with respect to vertical wall 12 of plate 10 as measured by distance measuring device 20 with the position of distance measuring device 20 along vertical measuring path P as measured by position sensor 22.
  • control instrument 11 starts the monitoring of plate 10 only if contact sensor 27 detects that there is actually adequate contact of feet 14 with vertical wall 12 of plate 10.
  • the angle of inclination of vertical wall 12 of plate 10 with respect to the vertical line measured by inclinometer 28 is compared to a predetermined optimal value and, in case of a significant deviation (i.e. a deviation greater than a maximum deviation allowed, which may be expressed in an absolute or relative way) it alerts about the presence of an anomalous situation.
  • the profile of vertical wall 12 of plate 10 is compared punctually (i.e. point by point) with a predetermined optimal profile and, in case of a significant deviation (i.e.
  • control instrument 11 has numerous advantages.
  • control instrument 11 allows detecting quickly and with extreme accuracy the profile of vertical wall 12 of plate 10; thanks to this detection of the profile, it is possible to detect not only a wrong position of entire plate 10 (wrong position also detected by the measurement of inclinometer 23), but it is also possible to detect any local deformation of plate 10 (i.e. deformations concentrated in a limited zone of plate 10) which can determine local variations of the taper of the ingot mould even in the presence of a correct position of plate 10.
  • control instrument 11 is of easy and intuitive use also by an inexpert user; in other words, it is possible to profitably use the above-described control instrument even after a simple reading of the instruction manual attached to the control instrument, with no need of specific training.
  • control instrument is of simple and inexpensive manufacturing.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Continuous Casting (AREA)
  • Length Measuring Devices With Unspecified Measuring Means (AREA)
  • Length Measuring Devices By Optical Means (AREA)
EP12169709.8A 2011-05-31 2012-05-29 Control instrument and method for monitoring a plate of an ingot mould in a continuous casting plant Not-in-force EP2529859B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT000317A ITBO20110317A1 (it) 2011-05-31 2011-05-31 Strumento di controllo e metodo per monitorare una piastra di una lingottiera in un impianto di colata continua

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2529859A1 EP2529859A1 (en) 2012-12-05
EP2529859B1 true EP2529859B1 (en) 2015-09-02

Family

ID=44898467

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP12169709.8A Not-in-force EP2529859B1 (en) 2011-05-31 2012-05-29 Control instrument and method for monitoring a plate of an ingot mould in a continuous casting plant

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2529859B1 (zh)
CN (1) CN103561887A (zh)
IT (1) ITBO20110317A1 (zh)
WO (1) WO2012164477A1 (zh)

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ITBO20130130A1 (it) 2013-03-27 2014-09-28 Sider Sistem Engineering Srlcr Strumento e metodo di controllo per rilevare la geometria interna di una lingottiera in un impianto di colata continua
EP3135402B1 (de) * 2015-08-27 2018-07-25 Primetals Technologies Austria GmbH Kokille und verfahren zum überwachen einer kokille
DE102018215503A1 (de) * 2018-09-12 2020-03-12 Sms Group Gmbh Messvorrichtung zur Ermittlung der Schmalseitenneigung und Gießbreite einer Kokille
CN111761035B (zh) * 2019-03-31 2022-02-22 上海梅山钢铁股份有限公司 一种连铸机导向座侧向变形故障检测装置以及诊断方法
CN113976846A (zh) * 2021-11-22 2022-01-28 泰州市金鹰精密铸造有限公司 应用于轻量化a390铝合金的垂直连续铸造系统

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS4886853U (zh) * 1972-01-22 1973-10-20
JPS5433755A (en) * 1977-08-22 1979-03-12 Nippon Steel Corp Meter for inside shape of mold
JPS6046849A (ja) * 1983-08-25 1985-03-13 Mishima Kosan Co Ltd 丸ビレツト連続鋳造機用モ−ルドの内径寸法測定装置
JPH02247055A (ja) * 1989-03-20 1990-10-02 Sumitomo Metal Ind Ltd 鋳型異常検出装置
CN1209212C (zh) * 2002-11-27 2005-07-06 张祝得 一种连铸机结晶器的拉坯工艺及其专用结晶器结构
CN1254330C (zh) * 2004-03-01 2006-05-03 北京科技大学 一种在线控制结晶器窄面锥度的方法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ITBO20110317A1 (it) 2012-12-01
WO2012164477A1 (en) 2012-12-06
EP2529859A1 (en) 2012-12-05
CN103561887A (zh) 2014-02-05

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP2529859B1 (en) Control instrument and method for monitoring a plate of an ingot mould in a continuous casting plant
JP6430467B2 (ja) 鋳片品質の予測装置及びその方法
EP2924443B1 (en) Device and method for measuring flow rate near liquid steel surface
CN101788291B (zh) 一种连铸结晶器对中测量装置
KR101443278B1 (ko) 벌징 감지 모듈 및 이를 이용한 벌징 감지 방법
KR101257472B1 (ko) 슬래그 측정장치 및 그 측정방법
KR101411877B1 (ko) 압연기용 균열 감지장치
KR101928013B1 (ko) 압연롤 초크의 측정장치
KR101701325B1 (ko) 주조 방법 및 주조 장치
JP5862595B2 (ja) 鋳片の凝固完了位置判定方法、鋳片の凝固完了位置判定装置、及び鋳片の製造方法
CN209810921U (zh) 一种小型在线辊缝测量仪结构
KR101399861B1 (ko) 압연기용 치수 감지장치 및 그 제어방법
KR100920566B1 (ko) 슬라브의 벤딩률 측정 시스템 및 방법
EP2981375A1 (en) Control instrument and method to detect the inner geometry of an ingot mould in a continuous casting plant
KR101766675B1 (ko) 주조 설비 및 이를 이용한 주조 방법
CN109539961A (zh) 连铸机组扇形段上下框架位移的测量装置
CN201680841U (zh) 一种连铸结晶器对中测量装置
CN213657796U (zh) 一种基于物联网的钢材厚度检测仪控制装置
KR101315352B1 (ko) 몰드 폭 조절 장치
KR101225786B1 (ko) 압연제품용 측정장치
CN114951566A (zh) 一种连铸机结晶器的施工方法
KR101483509B1 (ko) 변위측정에 의한 강판 에지의 웨이브 측정 시스템 및 방법
KR100797290B1 (ko) 선재코일의 조밀집적 장치
JPH0592248A (ja) 連続鋳造設備診断装置
KR20110087988A (ko) 소재속도 측정장치

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: 20120529

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

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

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: BA ME

RBV Designated contracting states (corrected)

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

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20130625

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

GRAJ Information related to disapproval of communication of intention to grant by the applicant or resumption of examination proceedings by the epo deleted

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSDIGR1

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

INTG Intention to grant announced

Effective date: 20150219

INTG Intention to grant announced

Effective date: 20150309

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

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: 746226

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20150915

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: DE

Ref legal event code: R096

Ref document number: 602012010162

Country of ref document: DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: MK05

Ref document number: 746226

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20150902

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

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: 20150902

Ref country code: FI

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: 20150902

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: 20151203

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: 20151202

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: 20150902

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: LT

Ref legal event code: MG4D

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: MP

Effective date: 20150902

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

Effective date: 20150902

Ref country code: RS

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: 20150902

Ref country code: PL

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: 20150902

Ref country code: ES

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: 20150902

Ref country code: AT

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: 20150902

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

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: 20150902

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: 20160102

Ref country code: IT

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: 20150902

Ref country code: SK

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: 20150902

Ref country code: CZ

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: 20150902

Ref country code: NL

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: 20150902

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 5

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: 20160104

Ref country code: RO

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: 20150902

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R097

Ref document number: 602012010162

Country of ref document: DE

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

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

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20160520

Year of fee payment: 5

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20160520

Year of fee payment: 5

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20160603

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: 20160531

Ref country code: SI

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: 20150902

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: 20150902

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

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20160520

Year of fee payment: 5

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

Effective date: 20160529

Ref country code: BE

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: 20150902

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: LI

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

Effective date: 20160531

Ref country code: CH

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

Effective date: 20160531

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: IE

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

Effective date: 20160529

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R119

Ref document number: 602012010162

Country of ref document: DE

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

Effective date: 20170529

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

Effective date: 20180131

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: 20171201

Ref country code: GB

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

Effective date: 20170529

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: 20170531

Ref country code: SM

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: 20150902

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: 20150902

Ref country code: HU

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

Effective date: 20120529

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

Effective date: 20150902

Ref country code: TR

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: 20150902

Ref country code: MT

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

Effective date: 20160531

Ref country code: MK

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: 20150902

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: 20150902

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

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: 20150902

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

Ref country code: AL

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: 20150902