METHOD AND INSTALLATION FOR INTRODUCING A CORED WIRE INTO
A BATH OF MOLTEN METAL
The present invention concerns the field of metallurgy, and more particularly the adjustment oi: the composition or the inclusion treatment of a bath of molten metal by the introduction of an additive by means of a cored wire containing said additive.
It concerns more precisely a method and an installation for introducing a cored wire into a bath of molten metal with an improved effective yield of addition of additives,
Metals and metal alloys such as steel or cast iron have properties which depend in particular on their composition. The manufacture of metals and metal alloys generally starts from a base composition, the content of certain components of which is adjusted according to the desired final composition.
This adjustment is made according to several techniques, including the introduction into the bath of moJ.ten metal of a predetermined longl:h of a cored wire, i.e. of a long element constituted by an outer covering in which the additive which is to be introduced is contained in the form of a powder.
The covering of the cored wire i.':; generally provided by starting from a thin m,etal sht'et or strip, the two opposed longitudinal edges of which ai e folded back so as to hook onto each other after a tubuJar (Configuration has been imparted to said sheet. By meaiiM oI: this mechanical

fastening of the two edges, a good seal is obtained with regard to the additive.
The cored wire is produced in the form of. a very long reel, for example 6000 metres long. Conventionally, as illustrated schematically in Figure 1 of the document FR 2.871.477, it is extracted from the reel which is either static, arranged inside a cage, or dynamic, wound on a drum, then it passes on a horizontal path into an injector, which drives it into an elbowed guide tube. The cored wire emerges from the distal end of the guide tube at a defined height above the surface of the bath, of the order of from I to 1.4 metres. The inj ector shown in Figure 1 of the document FR 2.871.477 is a conventional injector comprising three sets of two cylindrical rolls, driven in rotation, between which the cored wire passes. The pressure exerted by the rolls should be sufficient to permit the extraction of the wire from the reel and the driving of said wire towards the bath, through the guide tube. This pressure generally causes deformation of the wire in cross-section.
It is known that the use of the technique of adjustment of the composition of a bath of molten metal by means of a cored wire may pose problems with certain additives, especially calcium, magnesium, selenium and sulphur. For some, the heat of the bath of molten metal causes the explosion of the cored wire in a zone very close to the surface of the bath. For others, the additive vaporises very rapidly in proximity to the surface. In all cases, a strong surface reaction occurs, generating a certain number of phenomena; oxidation

and/or iiitriding of the bath, spa I. t>;rijiff of idie liquid metal , st rong j'umes given of f .
Witli this type of additive, i I. i ,'j Found that in order to obtain the adjustment of Lht^ composi I. i.on of the bath in the additive in question, a ,1 Oiujl.h of cored wire, and tlieref ore a quantity of addi L.i ve:.; rictuallv provided by the wire, is required which is much greattM- ihan the theoretical length which would iiavo bi'uii necessary if all the addi l:ive provided had partici p.Hl:.ed j ii |-lie adjustmoiit of t]ie composition of the bath.
lliis introduction operation tlieiX'l-ore yener'a.J..I y has a very low yield, an addition yield which may be of the order of 10 to 15%.
An endeavour has already been made to improve the addition yield, by introducing the cored vjire into the bath by passing it inside a protective tube or lance, made of refractory material, previously introduced into the bath. However, the presence of this refractory tube or lance going into the bath has, in addition to its high cost, other drawbacks linked in particular to the risk of clogging of the tube or of the lance and of pollution of the bath as a result of erosion of the tube or of the lance by the bath itself.
It has also been proposed, in order to improve the addition yield, to cover the metal covering in which the additive is located, with a second covering which is combustible but without leaving harmful residue.'^ and which momentarily retards the spread of heat towards the core of the cored wire. It consists in particular of one or more strips of paper wound in a spiral round the first metal covering. The paper is selected to have a

resistance to ignition and a thermal resistance coefficient which are greater than tnose of an ordinary sheet of paper.
The presence of this second covering makes it possible to introduce the cored wire to a greater depth and therefore to minimise the effects of explosion and/or vaporisation of the additive.
In order to prevent Che second covering from being degraded while being coiled and especially during its extraction from the reel, it is preferable to provide a third, metal covering, of the same type as the first covering.
This improvement to the cored wii'C, described in the document FR 2.871.477, has already made il: post^ible to provide a significant improvement to the yd eld of the opeiraLion of introducing the cored wire, especially in the; case of: additives such as ca] cium, magnesium, selenium and sulphur.
The aim of the Applicant is to propose an additional imfjrovement which is not linked l."o a inoiiif j cat.i on of the ;";L-i ucture of the rn-red wi re but i^/tii di cakes account of the introduction method and installation,
The method, in a known manner, consists in extracting the cored wire from a reel and making it run into the metal bath, one part of the path travelled by the cored wire being formed in a guide tube, the distal end of which is at a defined height above the surface of the metal bath.
Characteristically, according to the present invention, the cored wire is driven and subjected to a straightening operation under conditions practically not

altering its substantially circular cross-section and allowing it to be introduced and penetrate into the depth of the bath in a vertical direction.
In fact, credit is due to the Applicant for having been able to detect the effect, on the yield of the operation of introducing the cored wire, on the one hand of the deformation of the cross-section of the wire caused by the driving systems of the current installations and on the other hand of the natural tendency of the wire, when it penetrates into Che bath, to reassume the curved configuration which it possessed in the reel. These two aspects both have as a practical consequence the fact that the cored wire, when it penetrates into the bath of molten metal, does so in a direction which is not straight but which curves towards the surface of the bath, thereby limiting the depth of introduction into the bath. This is added to Che fact that in the current installations for inj ecting wires, the direction of introduction of the cored wire, in particular that of the guide tube, is oblique with rccpect to the surface of the bath, which only aggravates the phenomenon of the rising up of the wire towards the surface of the bath.
Thus, according to the concept of the present invention, it is a question of provd.ding the conditions which allow the cored wire to penetrate deeply into the bath in a direction which remains as vertical as possible over the whole of its height before iL;.i disintegration.
The straightening operation i,'.; carried out by passing the cored wire, before its entry .into Che guide tube, into a plurality of sets of two press loils. The

pL'es^juie exerted, the number oE ;jeL;; of piii-fss j.oiJ.s, their respective distance apart, and Lhe configuration of the contact with the cored wire, are determined so as to obtain the desired straightening, i.. e. that in the free state the cored wire maintains a strai.ght configuration and does not tend to reassume the curved configuration which it had during its storage in the reel, and so that the straightened cored wire maintains its substantially-circular cross-section.
During this operation it is a matter of applying to the surface of the wire stresses which are equally distributed and sufficient to overcome and cancel out the effect of the internal stresses which have been induced during the reeling and unreeling operations.
In an alternative embodiment, the contact faces of the rolls which are in contact with the cored wire are concave.
Preferably, in this case, the radius of curvature of the concave faces of the press rolls is substantially the same as that of the cored wire. Thus, the pressure exerted by the rolls is applied substantially radially on the cored wire so that there is no damaging crushing or deformation of said wire, even with a high pressure. This makes it possible to limit the number of sets of press rolls, for example to two to five sets of two rolls.
It will be understood that optimally the curvature of the concave faces of the press rolls should be strictly the same as that of the cored wire, which would therefore allow total homogeneity of the pressing forces exerted radially on said wire over the whole surface area

of contact between the wire and the ]:oIl, but would make it necessary to change the rolls di-cording to the diameter of the wire. Mevertheleas, j.i w;is found that tht; radius of curvature of the coiic;ive faces couJ-d be slightly different from that of tlie coied wire wi.lrhout any harmful crusliing or deformation of the wire taking place, while maintaining the proper :il ruighl-en ing of the wiire .
'J'hi s is not exclusive howi-'v< T . I-:E\ tisf acl:ory ^;ti.a L'jliteniug , without damaging riofi uiiiul i on (if tlie r; i.oss-section of the cored wire, was obta ini-d liy uriiiig a larger number of sets of press rolls, fof example around fifteen sets, with a more limited pressure per set. In this case, the contact faces may for example be formed by the two oblique walls of a peripheral groove of triang'ular cross-section, The pressure exerted by each roll is applied to the cored wire along two continuous lines of contact, and not along one contact surface as in the preceding variant. However, owing to the lesser pressure exerted by each set and to the larger number of sets, no harmful deformation of the circular cross-section of the cored wire is observed.
According to an alternative embodiment, the cored wire is held laterally during its passage between the sets of press rolls, in particular by interposed guide tubes. The aim of this particular arrangement is to hold the cored wire so that it remains straight on its path through the whole of the sets of two press rolls.
In an alternative embodiment, the cored wire is driven at the same time as it is straightened, in particular when straightening is obtained by passing

between consecutive sets of rolls, sori'.e o£ the rolls then being driven in rotation.
This is not exclusive, the driving o£ the cored wire being able in particular to be carried out upstream and independently of its straightening. In this case, the straightening operation is carried out under conditions making it possible to rectify the deformation in cross-section of the wire caused by the driving system. This is preferably achieved by means of straightening using rolls having concave faces the radius of curvature of which is substantially the same as that of the non-deformed cored wire.
Another object of the invention is to propose an installation for introducing a cored wire into a bath of mo 1 ten metal which includes means foi makii-ig said cored wiie run from a leel and a guide tube foi; the co red wire, tht' distal end of which is at a tief i.iietl hoitf]it H above the surface of the bath.
Characteristically, accordinq to the present invention, the guide tube extend.'; in a vertical d"i r e-:'! i on . Tn addition, th'-~' i ii;;t-,-ri 1 a t" i oii incluries stt aightening means for the cored wire whicli die disposed before its entry into the guide tube and are capable of imparting the straight vertical direction to the cored wire practically without altering its substantially circular cross-section.
Preferably, the straightening means are formed by a plurality of sets of two press rolls, the contact between the cored wire and each roll being along a contact surface or along two continuous lines of contact.

In an alternative embodiment, the straightening means are formed by a limited numbei:, for example from three to five, of sets of press rolls of which the faces in contact with the cored wire are concave; preferably the concave contact face of each press roll has a radius of curvature which is substantially the same as that of the cored wire.
Advantageously, in this case, each contact face of each roll corresponds to an angular portion of between 120" and 180". It will be understood that in theory the angular portion of 180° makes it possible to obtain the radial distribution of the pressing forces over the whole of the outer periphery of a reference wire having a radius which corresponds strictly to the radius of curvature of the press rolls. The angular portion comprised in the range between 120" and 180" makes it possible however to straighten wires having a diameter greater than the reference wire without harmful crushing or deformation.
In an alternative embodiment, the straightening mpans are formed by a large number, for example from twelve to twenty, of sets of press rolls, in which each roll has a peripheral groove of triangular cross-section, delimiting two oblique faces for contact with the cored wire .
Preferably, the installation includes, between each pair of sets of press rolls, an interposed guide tube, suI table for holding the wire laterally during its movement between the sets of press rolls In a straight di i: ection.

According to an alternative >-ml >< id i men I , 1 he |-al:io between the inside diameter of i h'.- (laide tube, and optionally of the interposed tubes, and the diameter of the cored wire is of the order of 1. ':» to b. The guide tube should permit the free movement of the cored wire while nonetheless constraining it to maintain a straight vertical direction. This function is performed for the aforesaid range by the same gviide tulie for the customary range of diameter of cored wire.
According to an alternative embodiment, the distal end of the guide tube is provided with a protective end-piece more heat-resistant than said guide tube. The purpose of using the protective end-piece is to prevent alteration of the distal end of the guide tube due to the heat of the bath of molten metal and also due to spattering.
The protective end-piece may extend beyond the distal end of the guide tube for a given distance, for example of the order of 10 to 30 cm,
Preferably, the guide tube is in at least two parts, i.e. on the one hand a proximal par t and on the other hand a distal part equipped with the protective end-piece, the two Said parts being firmly connectable by detachable connecting means, in particular by a screw thread or a bayonet system, so as to permit the replacement of the distal part of the tube and of the protective end-piece.
In an alternative embodiment, the straightening means for the cored wire serve as driving means.
According to one embodiment of the variant, in which the straightening means are formed by a limited number of

sets of two press rolls, each set comprises a driven roll and an idle roll. In addition, the idle roll is mounted on a pivoting arm, forming a rocker arm, movable by means of a jack.
In another alternative embodi iii.nit, l he strraightening means are dissoci.ated from the drivirjg fiieans, the latter cons ill ting of an injector di£ipo:;ed upstream oi: the straightening raer.ins. In this cast,', rhe cm-ed wir^-^, in the straightening means, necessnr i "ly extends in a vei-1 i Cdl di recLion , In addition, i I i .■; adv i s,"il"d e tor the St.mi yli!-i-?ni ng means to be capald f o! r- •<:[ i fyi ng the detormation caused to the wire, in c r osii-set'l i rjn, l.iy the st.i;aightenjng means.
The present invention will become clearei^ from the following description of the introductio]i of a cored wire into a bath of molten metal by the use of an installation of which the preferred embodiment is illustrated by the appended drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic view of said installation, including the path travelled by the cored wire; Figure 2 is a schematic sectional view of a straightening assembly composed of a series of sets of two press rolls;
Figure 3 is a schematic, partial sectional view of two press rolls acting on the cored wire; Figure 4 is a schematic sectional view of the distal portion of the guide tube with its protective end-piece .
The installation 1 is intended for introducing a cored wire 2 into a bath 3 of moltei; metal in order to adjusc the composition of the bath or to treat the latter

with a component or additive, which is contained J n the form of a powder inside the cored wire 2.
In the example illustrated in Figure 3, the cored wire 2 has a structure which conforms to that described in the document FR 2.871.477. More precisely, the additive 4, in the form of a powder, is housed inside a first metal sheath 5, which is surrounded by a covering 6 which is itself surrounded by a second metal sheath 7. In cross-section, as shown in Figure 3, the cored wire 2 has a generally circular configuration, the intermediate covering 6 being sandwiched between the two metal sheaths 5 and 7. Each of the two metal sheaths 5, 7 is made from a strip, the tvra opposed longitudina] edges of which are folded back so as Co hook onto each other after a substantially tubular configuration has been imparted to the strip. These fastening zones a re shown schematically in Figure 3 under the reference nujiibers 5a and 7a, being turned towards ths inside of the tuiiular wire 2.
The interposed covering G is made of a material whi ch is combustible but without leaving harmful residues in tlu"-; bath of molten metal and wh i rih :nonienLar ily retards the spread of heat towards the core-' rH" the crored wire 2. In a ]jrecise exemplary embocliment , t]\('. intetrposed covering is formed by a plural.i Ly MT sti ips of paper wound in a spiral around the f ir.Mt metal sheath 5, it being a paper of pyrotechnic type, having a resistance to ignition and a thermal resistance coefficient greater than those of ordinary paper. Ever: if the structure described above of the cored wire 2 is preferred, it is not however exclusive of the present invention.

The cored wire 2 is fed in from a platform 8 supporting two reels 9, 9 ' on which are coiled long, continuous lengths of cored wire 2, for example of the order of 6000 linear metres. The second reel 9' serves as a reserve for feeding in wire at the end of the first reel 9.
In the embodiment illustrated, each reel 9 is held statically inside a cage 10. During the extraction of the cored wire, the reel 9 remains fixed, the cored wire 2 being extracted from the core of the i:eel . This mode of presentation of the cored wire 2 has the advantage, compared with conventional winding on a drum, of not requiring rotation of the reel during unreeling. On the other hand, it has the major drawback, which the present invention is able to remedy, i.e. of considerably increasing the capacity for deformation of the cored wire in the free state, which deformation prevents the straight penetration of said wire into the bath of molten metal.
The installation 1 comprises in succession on the path travelled by the cored wire 2 a quide assembly 11, a driving and straightening assembly 12, a guide tube 13 and a protective end-piece 14. The function of the guide assembly 11 is to accompany the cored wire 2 drawn from the reel 9 during its transfer as far as the entry to the driving/straightening assembly 12. The guide assembly 11 coitiprises a certain number of rolls 15 which are mounted to bo free in rotation, each on a horizontal axis and on which the cored wire 2 rests. The rolls 15 are mounted on a frame 16 generally in the shape of an inverted U, with two elbows, of which the upstream end 15a and

dowiisr. ream end L6b respectively >:•:'.{■< -in ! in a : :iili;-;i,,uil i a Lly viiTtical dJ reel:ion, The cored w i ri.' ';, di awn Pi (.TII the reel 9, is introduced into the up.'itJiMin end J.la (.d: the guide assembly 11, is supported by the roJ.ls 113 and prevented from leaving the guide as.sembly 11 owing Lo the configuration thereof in the shape of a cage, with arches 17 fixed to the frame 16 at and/or between the rolls 15.
During its passage in the guide assembly IJ , the cored wire is first moved upwards, then substantially horizontally, and finally downwards, extending in a substantially vertical direction on its introduction into the driving/straightening assembly 12 at the outlet of the downstream end lib of said assembly 11,
In the reel 9, the cored wire 2 is wound in the form of substantially adjacent coils. During the extraction of the wire 2 from the core of the reel 9, the wire pulled upwards gradually deforms to change from the coiled configuration to a substantially straight configuration owing to the traction exerted. Nevertheless, this passage generates internal stresses which cause the wire to hold "in memory" its initial coiled configuration, which it reassumes at least in part when the traction exerted on it ceases. These internal stresses are added to those which had been caused during the reeling operation.
The function imparted to the straightening assembly is that of overcoming and cancelling out the effect of all these internal stresses which prevent the cored wire, once introduced into the bath 3, from being able to continue to penetrate in a straight line.

In the embodiment vjhich will new be described, the asseir.bly 12 fulfils both the function of driving the cored wire 2 and the function of straightening said wire. This is not however exclusive, and Llie dri vinq function may be dissociated from the straiglitejiing [:unc:tion; in thi G case, however, it is pref ei'-ible for the diriving assembly to be disposed upstream ol. the si;raighl;ening as:ji.-iiibly and for the path travei 1 k;d l.iy tdii-' wire i n the straighliening ass^^mbly to be in a voi;!: icfil cliiectioi) w.i th respect to tlic i ]ieot etical plane ri-" oi tbe sui.'f-ir^e of the bath of molten metal 3.
The dri vLng/straightening riisseinh.! y I 2 whicli is il ] us (..rated in Figure 2 comprises ..i r,o) i es o L' 1: ivi> sets 18 of two press rolls 19, 20 betwt-K'u wliich 1 in.- co.re(i wire 2 r>a£ises in a vortical direction. IvJich roi;i 19, 20 of each set 18 is in contact with the cored wire 2 on a contact face 21, 22 which is concave. In tlie example illustrated in Figure 3, each concave face 21, 2 2 has approximately the same radius of curvature as that of the outer face of the cored wire 2, i.e. of the second metal sheath 7 . As explained previously, the rolls 19, 20 could nevertheless be used for driving and straightening a wire 2 having a radius of curvature less than that of the wire shown.
It is however preferable for each concave face 21,
22 to correspond to an angular portion a of between 12 0'^ and 180°, for example 130°, in particular when the driving operation and straightening operation are independent and the straightening means must rectify the deformation caused to the wire during its passage in the driving means.

One of the rolls 19 is driven in rotation, while the other 20 is mounted idle on ics axis. The idle roll 20 is mounted on a pivoting arm 23 the pivot axis 2 8 of which is offset with respect to said id]e roll 20. The pivoting arm 23 is moved by a jack 24, the body 2 5 of which is pivo tally fixed on the frame 2 9 of the assembly 12 and the stem 27 of which is pivotally mounted on the arm 23, opposite to the axis 28 of said arm 23. Thus, owing to the action of the jack 24, it is optionally possible to move the two rolls 19, ?.0 apart durinc] the introduction of the wire 2, but especially to exert a defined pressure between the two press rolls 19, 20, which pressure is exerted in correlation on the cored wire 2 with a view to straightening it.
Owing to the concave curvature of the contact faces 21, 22, the pressure is applied radially over the whole suiface area between said contact faces and the cored wire 2 so that not only does no harinful deformation or f lr.i ttening occur during the straiglitoning but also there is correction of the deformation oi flattening which may exist on the wire, in particular duj ijig its passage in i.ndependent driving means upstream ol the sti'aighL ening means.
in order to obtain the desirod :it raiglitc^iid.ng it is necessary, for a given cored win"', l:o exert a defined pressure overall. Owing to the app.l.ica tion of the pressure along a contact surface, it is thus possible to reduce the number of sets of press rolls. A satisfactory result is nevertheless obtained with a larger number of sets of press rolls and the application of the pressure in the form of two continuous lines for each roll, for

example with tlie cored wire coming into contact with the two oblique walls of a peripheral groove of triangular cross-section provided in the roll.
The contact faces 21, 22 may have a certain texture, represented by the curved lines 2 9 in Figure 3, so as to increase the coefficient of friction between said faces 21, 22 and the outer face of the cored wire 2, permitting the optimisation of its transfei and also of: its straightening.
During its passage between the five sets 18 of press rolls 19, 20, the cored wire 2 assumey a vertical direction. In order, if necessary, to constrain the wire 2 to maintain this direction, in the assembly 12 interposed tubes 30 are provided which exv.end over the entire height of the assembly 12 in the intervals between the five sets 18 of press rolls 19, 20 and in the inlet and outlet portions of said assembly 12, and through which the cored wire 2 passes.
Each interposed tube 30 is fixed to the frame 29 by cross-members 31. At the outlet of the driving/straightening assembly 12, the cored wire 2 penetrates into the guide Cube 13, wliich is strictly in prolongation of the interposed tubes 3D, said guide tube 13 extending in a vertical direction. The function of the guide tube is both to protect the cored wire from the external environment and to maintain the vertical direction of said cored wire during its movement towards the bath 3.
In order to perform this function, the inside diameter of the guide tube 13 is of the order of l.S Co 5 times the outside diameter of the cored wi.re 2.

i 11 a ]",)rec:isfc! embodiment, i.h(.> r; H ,-.(] w j , ,. ;) j-jj-.^^-^ ^^^^ uu |- n i '"lu (:liamf."'l:ei o !: Li , 5 mm ami I In- i n; dclr ' i LuiuM > M/ of t he guidt^ tube 13 was 3 6 mm.
■I'ownrd.s the dJ.Gtal end ot i lu- yuidc* I-U1>P I J, a protective end-piece 14 is provided, iiil. ended to protect said end on the one hand from the heat emitted by the bath 3 and on the other hand from the spatter of molten metal which may occur during the i ii1:i:eduction of the cored wire 2 into the bath 3, The end-piece is formed of a material more heat-resistant than that from which the guide tube 13 is made, for example o£ ce>ramies.
The protective end-piece 14 extends beyond the distal end 32 of the guide tube for a given distance, for example of the order of 10 to 30 cm, so that the protective end-piece 14 can itself be at a relatively short distance D from the surface of the bath 3, for example of the order of from 20 cm to 50 cm.
The purpose of this arrangement is to permit the introduction of the cored wire 2 into the bath 3 while being certain that it maintains iLs vertical direction, without being altered, before its; introduction into the bath, by the heat emitted by the latter. The distance D may of course vary according to the speed at which the cored wire 2 is driven, which speed may be from 40 to 400 metres per minute.
A particular embodiment of a protective end-piece 34 is illustrated in Figure 4. In this embodiment, the guide tube is in two parts, i.e. a proximal part, not shown in Figure 4, and a distal part 33 onto which is fixed the protective end-piece 34. The distal part 33 may be connected to the proximal part of the guide tube

by detachable connecting means, IJoi: example a bayonet sys tern 3 5, only the female part of wh.i ch is shown in Figure 4. The advantage of this embodiment of the guide tube in two parts, proximal and discal, is that it is possible to replace only the distal part and the protective end-piece in the event o f: a], t era t ion of these owing to the spattering and the heat emitted by the bath 3.

CLAIMS
1. Method for introducing a cored wire (2) into a
bath (3) o£ molten metal, consisclng in extracting the
cored wire from a reel (9), especially from i;he core of
the reel, and in making it run into the bath of metal
(3), one part of the path travelled by the cored wire
being formed in a guide tube (13), the distal end (32) of
which is at a defined height (H) above the surface (PP')
of the bath of metal (3) , characterized .i n that the cored
wire (2) is driven and subjected to a straightening
operation, under conditions practically not altering its
substantially circular cross-section and allowing it to
be introduced and penetrate into the depth of the bath
(3) in a vertical direction.
2, Method according to claim 1, characterized in that, since the guide tube (13) is disposed vertically above the bath, the straightening operation is carried out by the passage of the cored wii.e (2), before its entry into the guide tube (13), thr(.n.igli a pluirality of sels (IH) of two press rolls (19, 20), the contact between l:he cored wire and each pross roll being along a contact surface or along at least l,wo I i nes of contact.
3, Method according to claiiii '.', characterized in t.tial: the contact faces 121, 22) ol the press colls with said wire (2) are concave.
4. Method according to c^laim "1, chaia<.:teri;'.i:'d in
that the radius of curvature of the concave Eaces (21,
22) of the press rolls is substantially the same as that
of the cored wire (2) .

5. Method according to any one of claims ?. to 4, characterized in that the cored wire is held latidrally during its passage between the sets (181 of press rolls (19, 20), for example by interposed g;:ide tubes (30).
6. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the driving of the cored wire is carried out at the same time as its straightening, in particular some of the press rolls (19) being drive rolls .
7. Method according to any one of cla ims 1 to 5, characterized in that the driving of the cored wire is carried out upstream and independently of its straightening, and in that during the straightening operation the cored wire (2) extends i ri a vertical direction.
8. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the ratio between the inside diameter of the guide tube, and optionally o£ the interposed tubes, and the outside diameter of the cored wire is o£ the order of 1.5:1 to 5:1.
9. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it further consists in protecting the distal end (32) of the guide tube (13) , and preferably the cored wire (2) on its path beyond said end
(32), in proximity to the bath (3), by a protective end-piece (341 .
10. Installation (1) for introducing a cored wire
(2) into a bath (3) of molten metal, comprising:
- driving means (12) for driving said cored wire, from a reel (9) in which the wire is extracted from the core of the reel;

- ci 'luidc tuhe (.1.3) for gu.i.ding Irin:- f.^ned w i i e- {:;) Ihe di st-nl end (32} of which tube is .-il ,! di'Eincd Im Lglil: (1-i) dbovi.' Lhf suj.'face of [-he bath (J),
charactei'ized in that the guide L NI.)C> ( 1 .i) extend;; in a vei;tical direction and in that il Lnfluiles .sL raighiening means (12) for the cored wire (2) , disposed before its entry into the guide tube (13) and capable of iitiparting a straight di.rection to the cored wire (2) without alte,ring its circular cross-section and optionally while correcting the deformation present on :;aid cross - section. 11 . Installation according to claim 10, characterized in that the straightening means are formed by a plurality of sets of two press rolls, the contact between the cored wire and each press roll being along a contact surface or along at least two lines of contact.
12. Installation according to claim 11, wherein the contact between the cored wire and each press roll is along a contact surface, characterized in that the straightening means are formed by a limited number, for example from three to five, sets (18) of two press rolls (19, 20) of which the contact faces (21, 22) with the cored wire (2) are concave.
13. Installation according to claim 12, characterized in that each contact face [21, 22) with the cored wire of each roll has a radius of curvature which is substantially the same as that of the cored wire (2).
14. Installation according to either claim 12 or claim 13, characterized in that each contact face of each roll corresponds to an angular portion of between 120° and 180".

:i 5. Installation according to claim 11, whereiii the contact between the cored wire and eac)i press roll, is along two lines of contact, characterized in that the straightening means are formed by a large number, for example from twelve to twenty, of SGts of press rolls, each roll including a peripheral groove of triangular cross-section of which the oblique walls delimit the cot: tact faces with the cored wiic.
16. Installation according to ajiy one of claims 11 to J Ti, cl'.aracterized in that it IcicluLles inl'ei'po.sed guide tubes (30) for guidi.ng the cored wiie (2) b.-'^tween each pa.i c (18) ol sets of press rolls (.!'), :'0).
17. I:istallation according Vo any nne of i":lai.ms 10 I o 16 , cliaracter.i zed j.n that the IM f i n h.>twi't;ii t hie inside difiimel er of the guide tube (13) , .-UMA opticujti i I y "I: Ihe i Hirer posed Cubes (30) , and the di aiii'?|-.fi: of l hi.' cnrerl wire i s of the order of 1.5:1 to 5:1.
18. Installation according to any one oE claims 10 to 17, characterized in that the distal end (32) of the guide tube (13) is provided with a protective end-piece (14) more heat-resistant than said guide tube (13).
19. Installation according to claim 18, characterized in that the protective end-piece (14) extends beyond the distal end (32) of the guide tube (13) for a given distance, for example of the order of 10 to 30 cm.
20. Installation according to either claim 18 or claim 19, characterized in that the guide tube is in two parts, one proximal and the other distal (33) to which the protective end-piece (34) is fixed, and in that the two said parts are firmly connectable by detachable

connecting means, especially by a screw thread or by a bayonet system (35), so as to permit the rcplacemont of the assembly formed by the distal part (33) cif the tube and the protective end-piece (34).
21. Installation according to any one of claims 10
to 20, characterized in that the straightening means
serve as driving means.
22. Installation according to claims 11 and 21,
characterized in chat each set (18) of two rolls (19, 20)
comprises a driven roll (19) and an idle rol]. (20) , and
in that the idle roll (20) is mounteii oil a pivoting arm
(23) , forming a roclcer arm, movable by a jac]': (2!5) .
23. Installation according to any one of claims 10
to 22, characterized in that the driving means are
upstream of the straightening means and in that, in the
straightening means, the cored wire extends in a vertical
direction.