A continuous induction heat treating apparatus is provided including a conveyor path defining an axis for a workpiece to be conveyed through the apparatus. The apparatus includes an induction heating station positioned along the conveyor path and operable to induce heating in the workpiece as the workpiece is conveyed through the induction heating station. A quenching station is positioned in a downstream direction from the induction heating station. The quenching station is coupled to a water supply and includes a plurality of sprayers in fluid communication with the water supply and operable to spray water toward the axis for quenching the workpiece as the workpiece is conveyed through the quenching station. The apparatus further includes a quench adjustment mechanism including an actuator coupled to at least a first one of the plurality of sprayers for re-positioning a point of intersection defined between the first sprayer and the axis.

A high-strength galvanized steel sheet includes a steel sheet having a steel composition having a specific component composition, a steel structure containing martensite and bainite at more than or equal to 70% (including 100%), ferrite at less than 20% (including 0%), and retained austenite at less than 5% (including 0%) in terms of area ratio, the amount of diffusible hydrogen in steel being less than or equal to 0.20 mass ppm; and a galvanizing layer provided on a surface of the steel sheet, having a content amount of Fe of 8 to 15% in mass %, and having an coating weight per one surface of 20 to 120 g/m.sup.2, wherein the amount of Mn oxides contained in the galvanizing layer is less than or equal to 0.050 g/m.sup.2, and a tensile strength is more than or equal to 1100 MPa and a yield ratio is more than or equal to 0.85.

A method for producing a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet which has an intermediate layer containing silicon oxide as a main component on a surface of a base steel sheet in which a forsterite film is substantially absent and has an insulation coating on a surface of the intermediate layer includes: a decarburization annealing process of obtaining a decarburization-annealed steel sheet which has the oxygen content or 320 ppm or less and the carbon content of 25 ppm or less by subjecting a cold rolled steel sheet containing Si to decarburization annealing; a final annealing process of heating the decarburization-annealed steel sheet in a state in which a surface of the decarburization-annealed steel sheet is coated with an annealing separator to subject a steel sheet to secondary recrystallization; a removal process of obtaining a finally-annealed steel sheet by removing the annealing separator on the steel sheet which has been subjected to the final annealing process; an intermediate layer forming process of forming the intermediate layer by subjecting the finally-annealed steel sheet to thermal oxidation annealing; and an insulation coating forming process of forming the insulation coating on the finally-annealed steel sheet having the intermediate layer formed thereon.

System and method for using fast response heaters to pre-heat metal before entering a metal treatment furnace, which may improve control over metal processing, especially in response to changes in material, mass flow rate, line speed, and/or desired treatment process. Fast response heaters may be used with control systems to adjust the output of the fast response heater based on operator inputs, direct or indirect sensing of process parameters, and/or the use of thermal models to quickly adjust fast response heater output while a metal treatment furnace remains at a constant temperature or slowly transitions into a new operating state. The resulting gains in process control result in higher quality products, reduced scrap, and increases in line speed and output.

Provided are a method for measuring the magnetic transformation rate of a steel sheet in an annealing furnace and an apparatus for measuring the same, and a continuous annealing process and a continuous galvanizing process which utilize the method and the apparatus. One such method includes delivering an alternating-current driving signal to the surface of the steel sheet by using an air-core driving coil having a size larger than, a width of the steel sheet, measuring the driving signal reflected by the steel sheet by using air-core receiving coils having a size larger than the width of the steel sheet, and determining the magnetic transformation rate of the steel sheet by using a measurement processing unit based on a distance between the steel sheet and the driving coil which has been corrected by using the measured values of the driving signal obtained by using the receiving coils.

The present invention relates to a device for electromagnetically measuring, in real time, the percentage of austenite contained in a continuously running steel strip during an in-line process for manufacturing or transforming the latter, such that the magnetic field produced by the alternating current flowing through the emitter coil (1) produces, in the steel strip (5), induced currents that generate an induced magnetic field creating, in the receiver coil (2), an electromotive force that can be measured by the voltage measurement device (4), the amplitude of this electromotive force being dependent on the voltage applied to the emitter coil and on the nature of the steel in the strip (5). The device is characterized in that the first and second coils (1, 2) are arranged in parallel to one another with a set distance between them and, in use, on either side of the steel strip (5).

Support device for a radiant pipe (TR), usable in thermal treatment furnaces, for lines for continuous galvanising and annealing of metal strips or sheets and/or other products made of steel and/or other metals or for revamping pre-existing furnaces, including a support for radiant pipe or shank and a furnace-side support or socket, wherein the support for the radiant pipe or shank includes at least one outer surface, facing—during use—towards the furnace-side support or socket and a thickness, wherein the furnace-side support or socket includes at least one first surface and one second surface, the latter facing—during use—towards the support for radiant pipe or shank, and a thickness, including at least one rotary means and at least one seat for housing the at least one rotary means.

Provided are a method for measuring the magnetic transformation rate of a steel sheet in an annealing furnace and an apparatus for measuring the same, and a continuous annealing process and a continuous galvanizing process which utilize the method and the apparatus. One such method includes delivering an alternating-current driving signal to the surface of the steel sheet by using an air-core driving coil having a size larger than, a width of the steel sheet, measuring the driving signal reflected by the steel sheet by using air-core receiving coils having a size larger than the width of the steel sheet, and determining the magnetic transformation rate of the steel sheet by using a measurement processing unit based on a distance between the steel sheet and the driving coil which has been corrected by using the measured values of the driving signal obtained by using the receiving coils.

A spring steel having a superior fatigue life, and a manufacturing method for the same. The chemical components thereof are as follows in weight percentage: C: 0.52-0.62%, Si: 1.20-1.45%, Mn: 0.25-0.75%, Cr: 0.30-0.80%, V: 0.01-0.15%, Nb: 0.001-0.05%, N: 0.001-0.009%, O: 0.0005-0.0040%, P: ≤0.015%, S: ≤0.015%, and Al: ≤0.0045%, with the remainder being Fe and incidental impurities, wherein the following condition is also met 0.02≤(2Nb+V)/(20N+C)≤0.40. The spring steel of the present invention has a microstructure of tempered troostite+tempered sorbite, a prior austenite grain size less than 80 um, a size of alloy nitride and carbide precipitates being 5-60 nm, and a maximum width of single-grain inclusions being less than 30 pm. The spring steel has a handling strength greater than 2020 MPa, superior ductility and toughness (the reduction of area≥40%), and a fatigue life≥800,000 times, thereby meeting application requirements of high-stress springs in industries, such as automobiles, machinery, and the like.

By optimizing equipment and processing, magnetic domain miniaturization efficiency can be increased, workability can be improved, and processing ability can be increased through same. Provided is a method for miniaturizing the magnetic domains of a directional electric steel plate, the method comprising: a steel plate supporting roll position adjusting step of controlling the vertical direction position of a steel plate while supporting the steel plate progressing along a production line; and a laser emitting step of melting the steel plate by emitting a laser beam to form grooves on the surface of the steel plate, wherein the laser emitting step includes an angle changing step of changing an emitting line angle of the laser beam with respect to a width direction of the steel plate while an optical system emitting the laser beam onto the steel plate is rotated with respect to the steel plate, and a focal distance maintaining step of changing a tilt of the steel plate supporting roll which supports the steel plate according to a change in focal distance of the laser beam in the width direction of the steel plate.