Method and device for rapidly cooling a metal strip and continuous production line for metal strips

A cooling device for rapidly cooling metal strips on a continuous production line, the device being arranged so as to cool the strip as it travels by spraying a liquid, or a mixture of a gas and a liquid, thereon by means of nozzles arranged on spraying units, wherein the cooling device comprises spraying units that are rotatable on a plane perpendicular to the strip and perpendicular to the direction of travel of the strip, thereby making it possible to individually and multidirectionally adjust a spraying angle of said spraying units that are movable with respect to the strip, and wherein two rotatable spraying units are arranged on either side of a central spraying unit in a direction defined by the strip width, the three spraying units covering the entire width of the strip, the pivot elements of the movable spraying units being proximal to the central spraying unit.