Abstract: Apparatus is described that is particularly adapted for suppressing fume generated in the flow of molten metal through the runner system of a blast furnace cast house. Burners adapted for combusting fuel and air are disposed at longitudinally spaced locations along the runner system. Fuel and air in predetermined amounts are discharged from the burners to create flame and disperse it along the axis of the runners. The flame operates to consume ambient air in the combustion process thereby to starve the region over the metal streams of oxygen that would otherwise combine with metal vapors to create fume-producing metallic oxides.

Abstract: A sliding gate valve slide plate in a can has an integral collector nozzle and is formed as two conjoined refractory concrete mouldings with a cup or trough shaped metal foil lying in the joint therebetween. The foil is oxidisable in service to form a bond between the concretes. The concretes may be of different formulations, and the moulding with which molten metal makes contact is preferably the more resistant to the rigorous environment presented by flowing molten metal.The slide plate is cast in two steps using the shaped foil and the can as respective lost mould members which coact with a planar polished surface to produce a cast slide plate needing effectively no finish grinding before installation in a valve.

Abstract: Plural strands of wire emerging from the cooling tower of a galvanizing line are cooled from about an elevated temperature to ambient temperature by heat exchange apparatus in which the strands are passed through an agitated, flowing stream of cooling water. The apparatus is designed to accommodate knots that connect strands in end-to-end relation or other strand surface irregularities. It also permits disorientation of the strands from their respective pass lines without disrupting operation of the apparatus.

Abstract: Mechanical dumping apparatus is described that is adapted for use in a zinc powder galvanizing system. The apparatus is effective to confine the powder during the dumping operation in order to minimize operator exposure to the harmful effects thereof. Mechanism provided for inverting the container includes a lid closure device incorporating a slide gate for controllably discharging the contents of the container when in its inverted mode.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying a clamping force to slide gate valve plates to prevent leakage of molten metal therebetween. The apparatus applies the force uniformly about the annulus of the orifice of the plates and at a location close to the orifice itself, thus providing more effective clamping of the parts together. The apparatus may be either an annular mechanical spring mounted about the orifice of the plates or an annular chamber filled with gas under pressure.

Abstract: A hot blast stove for use with high capacity blast furnaces incorporates a gas flow baffle particularly configured for improving mixture of combustion air and gas within the combustion chamber to enhance fuel burning characteristics with a concomitant reduction in pressure-pulsation experienced within the system and without an appreciable reduction in fuel firing rate.

Abstract: A drill steel support assembly for a mining roof bolting machine is presented. The assembly is utilized for retaining and guiding a drill steel on a roof bolting machine during the collaring of the drill steel in the mine roof. Once collared, the drill steel is released by the retaining assembly inasmuch as the latter is not necessary for support purposes after collaring has occurred. The release of the drill steel from the retaining assembly is accomplished when the vibrations from the drill steel are sufficient to open the support mechanism once the drill has been collared.

Abstract: A wire feed mechanism for use in conjunction with a nail forming machine. The wire feed includes a wire clamping device connected through appropriate linkages to a reciprocating hammerslide located within the nail machine. The hammerslide is movable between extended and retracted positions for forming the nail head. Due to the direct positive linkage between the hammerslide and the wire clamping device, feeding movement of the wire into the nail machine is achieved as a direct result of hammerslide movement, thereby obviating the need for cumbersome and elaborate linkages currently in use.

Abstract: Apparatus is described for mechanically determining the helix height of a preformed strand containing a plurality of helically wound wires for use in the production of wire rope. The apparatus includes a base support for maintaining the dimensional integrity of the strand during the measurement procedure; plural adjustable sensors for determining the locus of the outer peripheral points at a plurality of locations along the length of the strand in order to obtain a sample along an extended length of the strand; and means for conveniently and accurately determining a representative helix height over the concerned strand length.

Abstract: Method for making a refractory valve is disclosed. The sliding gate valve slide plate in a can has an integral collector nozzle and is formed as two conjoined refractory concrete mouldings with a cup or trough shaped metal foil lying in the joint therebetween. The foil is oxidisable in service to form a bond between the concretes. The concretes may be of different formulations, and the moulding with which molten metal makes contact is preferably the more resistant to the rigorous environment presented by flowing molten metal.The slide plate is cast in two steps using the shaped foil and the can as respective lost mould members which coact with a planar polished surface to produce a cast slide plate needing effectively no finish grinding before installation in a valve.

Abstract: Apparatus is described for attaching a shroud tube to the pour nozzle of a sliding gate valve, or the like, from a remote position. The apparatus is also effective to impart compound movement to the shroud tube for inserting the end of the tube into the opening in a tundish cover. Apparatus according to the invention is characterized by simplicity of design, low capital cost and ease of manipulation.

Abstract: Apparatus is described by means of which sheet metal strip, unwound from a coil construct having a vertical axis of rotation, is fed to a strip processing station at regulated rates. The feed rate control mechanism is particularly adapted to accommodate strip that is twisted prior to exiting the apparatus to enable it to enter the strip processing station in a generally surface-horizontal attitude. The apparatus is arranged to occupy a minimum amount of floor space.

Abstract: A tool is described which is particularly adapted for detaching by peeling sheet metal strip from a wound construct containing a plurality of coiled strips interconnected by intermittently spaced tabs that bridge the parting lines between adjacent strips. The tool is effective to fracture the tabs without distorting or marring the adjacent strip material.

Abstract: An air wipe nozzle for removing water from a rod as it emerges from a water cooling tube in a rod mill is provided. The air nozzle includes a tubular head through which the rod passes, the header having a plurality of passages terminating in openings spaced around the periphery of the tube interior and directed at an acute angle with respect to the tube axis. The passages are configured to receive compressed air and direct it through the openings against the movement of the rod through the housing toward the entry end of the housing. A second group of openings spaced downstream in the header from the other openings directs additional air against the rod to completely remove water from the rod surface. Direction of the air toward the upstream direction of travel of the rod creates a vacuum at the exit end of the header and draws air therein to prevent passage of water along the header itself.

Abstract: A method of aligning each of the rolls in a rolling mill such that each of the axes of rotation are substantially parallel to one another and do not present a crossed-roll condition. The alignment method does not involve the disassembly of the chock arrangement and associated bearings, but utilizes the determination of a special orientation of each of the lateral chock face planes with respect to the axis of rotation of the associated roll. Once this spacial orientation has been determined, it is then utilized in the analysis of the chock, roll and bearing tolerances and alignment and in the selective placement of necessary corrective spacing elements between the lateral chock face planes and their support within the rolling mill to physically adjust the chock face plane and the axis of rotation of the associated roll such that each of the axes of rotation of each roll are parallel to one another.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are described by means of which the slitting head in a slitting line for severing sheet metal web material into strips is utilized to transfer the leading end of the web material from the uncoiler to the recoiler for attachment thereto during the feed-up operation. The invention enables the concerned operation to be performed more safely in reduced time and with less effort and manpower than heretofore.

Abstract: A duct and flop-gate construction for handling particulate material and a method of handling dust or other particulate material. The collected material drops down a duct which contains a flop-gate for directing the material to either of two bins. A mild current of air is drawn upwardly through the duct and flop-gate counter to the movement of the material to subject the bins to negative pressure and prevent outward leakage. The same duct serves both to carry material downwardly to the bins and as a means for applying negative pressure to the bins.

Abstract: A mill roll balance system for incorporation within a rolling mill is provided. The balance system includes a rigid beam assembly for guiding a portion of the mechanism utilized to stabilize the top roll and for preventing any resultant horizontal forces due to an unbalanced counterweight apparatus utilized to provide an upward force to the upper roll in the mill. A plurality of steelyard rods are provided and are continuous in their length from a point below the bottom of the roll housing through the housing to their upper terminus switches proximate the upper roll for providing the necessary counter-balancing upward force to the screw-down mechanism's downward force on the upper roll.

Abstract: Apparatus is described for cleaning the interior of gooseneck elbows of coke oven ascension pipes. A powered cleaning mechanism carried by the coke oven larry car is mounted on a platform that is reciprocably movable between the larry car and the elbow to be cleaned over a track and roller system protected against the disruptive effects of accumulated coal or other debris. A cam and follower arrangement is operative to automatically guide the operating end of the cleaning mechanism within the interior of the elbow thereby eliminating the need for a workman's manually guiding and manipulating the same.

Abstract: A recuperator which includes vertically extending outer tubes and respective inner tubes within the outer tubes. Hot waste gases flow around the outside of the outer tubes. Air to be preheated flows through the inner tubes and annular passages between tubes. The outer tubes are formed of relatively short length sections of ceramic joined end-to-end. The lowermost sections rest on solid base blocks which support the weight of the outer tubes.