Abstract: Gunning apparatus adapted to be carried by a mobile device such as a fork lift truck and inserted in a side door of a furnace such as an electric furnace and used to gun refractory material onto the inside surface of the furnace lining comprises a boom with one end adapted to be attached to the mobile device and the other end carrying a spray nozzle which can be rotated about a vertical axis, the boom also carrying channels to convey, separately, refractory and water to a mixer where the refractory and water are admixed, a channel to carry the admixture to the spray nozzle, and a motor to rotate the spray nozzle.

Abstract: An improved refractory composition especially adapted for use as a gunning mix is made of aggregate (for example, periclase) and a bonding material (for example, aluminum sulfate, boric acid, and citric acid) to which is added attapulgite. The composition may also contain other materials, as is known in the art.

Abstract: Powder metallurgy products of high tensile strength are formed in a pore-free state by a novel process which entirely avoids the use of canisters. An open-pore specimen is purged with depurative gas, backfilled with a reactive gas and, while still immersed in the reactive gas, compressed isostatically to an extent necessary to close the pores. The specimen may then be compressed to full density without the need for either high vacuum or a depurative or reactive gas atmosphere.

Abstract: A novel process for producing aluminum composite sheet products for roll forming and vacuum brazing is disclosed, which provides an unexpected improvement in the corrosion resistance of the brazed product. According to the process, a composite sheet is annealed to a strain-free state after having been rolled to a thickness which is a critical amount greater than the thickness ultimately sought. Following the annealing step, the sheet is cold worked to the desired thickness, the degree of reduction in this final step being within a critical range which provides the improvement in corrosion resistance to the final product after vacuum brazing.

Abstract: A cover for a top charged melting furnace includes an annular ring of downwardly extending blocks or modules of ceramic fiber insulating material. A plurality of T-bar anchors cooperate with the blocks to provide an anchor system for the annular ring. This anchor system allows the ring's attachment to the cover to be tightened in compensation for heat and compressionally related block size reductions. The anchoring system prevents the ring of blocks from sagging during cover elevation while not interfering with upward movement of the blocks during cover positioning on the furnace. The annular ring of blocks protects the main portion of the cover's insulation from damage and any damaged blocks in the ring are readily replaceable.

Abstract: A ladle or other vessel for containing molten metal, for example molten steel, is lined with refractory at least some of which (e.g. in the slag line area) is unfired refractory bonded with a phosphate bond such as a long-chain glassy polyphosphate and containing, at least in the material smaller than 0.15 mm (-100 mesh), a high-lime periclase grain. This type of refractory shows unexpectedly high resistance to erosion and corrosion in the environment of a steelmaking ladle.

Abstract: This invention is directed to the process and system for controlling the level of molten metal in a plurality of vertically oriented, continuous or semicontinuous casting units, particularly electromagnetic casting units. The flows of molten metal to the individual casting units are adjusted automatically in response to a control set point signal from a master controller in order to maintain essentially the same molten metal level in all of the casting units. Improved startup and termination procedures are also given.

Abstract: A method and system for continuously or semicontinuously casting a composite metal article, such as a structurally composite ingot or the like, wherein one of the principal structural components of the ingot comprises an aluminum-lithium alloy. During such casting by a D.C. (direct chill) conventional tubular mold or electromagnetic process, the aluminum-lithium structural component of a structurally composite ingot is encircled or peripherally encased by a further outer metal cladding component that can be cast simultaneously with the aluminum-lithium component such as another outer aluminous alloy from which lithium is absent as a constituent or impurity, although it may be present and tolerated as a trace element. In this arrangement the aluminum-lithium structural component is prevented during casting from coming into direct contact with the chilling coolant, normally water, with which lithium can react violently.

Abstract: A covered trough for conveying molten metal, wherein the trough includes a channel of refractory material within a metal shell, and the cover includes a layer of refractory insulation to reduce heat loss and means for preheating the trough such as a gas-fired radiant heater. Adjacent trough modules are joined together in an abutting end-to-end fashion, so that metal may flow between modules, by resilient joining means which elongate or contract to absorb differences in thermal expansion between parts of each trough module, to avoid the build up of large thermal stresses which might cause premature failure of the refractory parts.

Abstract: A heat exchange structure is constructed from refractory blocks having three linearly aligned flue-forming openings extending from top to bottom of the block. The central opening is surrounded on four sides by refractory and the two end openings are surrounded on three sides. These refractory shapes are assembled in an open basketweave structure to form the heat exchanger. The resulting structure contains vertically extending, interconnected flues of two types, (1) flues of a first type interconnected at alternate layers in the structure to each of the four contiguously adjacent flues and (2) flues of a second type connected to opposed pairs of contiguously adjacent flues at alternate levels and to the other pair of contiguously adjacent flues at the intermediate levels. The net result is a stable heat exchange structure with relatively thin walls, relatively large flues, and means for creating turbulence in gas passing through the exchanger, thus increasing the rate of heat exchange.

Abstract: A transportable modular assault vehicle water egress and bridge access/egress surfacing or trackway system wherein a plurality of rectangularly shaped planks or sections are joined by flexible hinge members and can be folded accordion fashion and suspended in a container for storing, transporting and rapidly deploying to provide a surfacing upon the shores or banks of bodies of water for the access and egress of military vehicles into and out of bodies of water during military operations.

Abstract: An improved lifter for a rotary kiln is made by extending the internal reinforcement all the way to the inner face of the lifter and by locating the junction between the branches and the main stem of the lifter closer to the metal shell of the rotary kiln than is the hot, inner face of the refractory lining adjacent to the lifter.

Abstract: An improved, motorized Lunkenheimer valve is provided having two independently actuated drive means for operating the valve, one of which moves the valve stem and disc longitudinally along the axis of the stem and the other of which rotates the stem and disc about the longitudinal axis of the stem. The two drive means can be operated concurrently to effect more rapid opening or closing, and countercurrently to provide a continuous grinding operation when the valve is in the closed position.

Abstract: A low cost stabilized lime aggregate, preferably with dicalcium silicate as a major constituent, is obtained from slags of specified composition, and finds use in refractory gun mixes. Briefly, the slags which are suitable for this application contain at least 75% total CaO+Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 +SiO.sub.2 +MgO, have a CaO:SiO.sub.2 weight ratio of at least 1.8, less than 7% total calcium carbonate (CaCO.sub.3), calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH).sub.2), and CaO, and preferably contain at least 20% CaO.

Abstract: A more pressable composition for making graphitic refractory brick from oxide aggregate with a carbon bond is obtained when the refractory oxide aggregate is substantially all coarser than 0.15 mm (+100 mesh), preferably coarser than 0.2 mm (+65 mesh), and most preferably coarser than 0.4 mm (+35 mesh), and the matrix is entirely carbonaceous material, such as graphite, particularly flake graphite, resin, particularly a phenol formaldehyde resin, together with such other carbonaceous materials as carbon black, calcined coke, anthracite, and the like.

Abstract: A refractory brick without a metal casing and having built-in expansion at the hot face is formed by having at least one side face divided into two sections, the section adjacent the cold face being of normal configuration, but the section adjacent the hot face being inclined at a greater angle to the opposed side face, whereby expansion allowance is provided at the hot face, the section adjacent the hot face also having at least one raised portion, preferably adjacent the hot face, the height of the raised portion being such that its surface lies substantially in the plane extended of the lower, cold face section. By this construction, a brick is provided with built-in expansion allowance at the hot face, substantial bearing surface at the cold face to prevent loosening of the refractory structure in use, and means to prevent inadvertent closing of the hot face thermal expansion allowance during placement of the brick in a kiln or furnace.

Abstract: A one-piece metal wheel, preferably of aluminum, for example a wheel suitable for use on automotive and truck vehicles, is formed by (1) extruding a straight section comprising a first portion in the configuration of the wheel rim and an integral straight web portion, (2) cutting this extrusion to the appropriate length and forming it into a circular shape, (3) joining, for example by pressure welding the ends of the extrusion to form a continuous loop, and (4) deforming the web portion of the extrusion to form the center or disc of the wheel.

Abstract: A taphole assembly comprises three refractory pieces: (1) a monolithic central block with a hole for the passage of molten metal and (2) upper and lower wedge supports for the central block. The purpose of the assembly is to position the taphole between parallel layers of lining brick with the metal conducting hole at an angle to the lining brick surfaces. The assembly is installed by supporting the central block on a counterweighted bar in position in the furnace, and constructing the furnace lining around the assembly.

Abstract: A refractory gun mix contains from 1 to 5% alkali metal phosphate, for example monosodium phosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, or a long chain glassy polyphosphate, from 0.5 to 5% hydrated aluminum sulfate (e.g., Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3.14H.sub.2 O), from 0.5 to 5% bentonite, and up to 10% pitch, preferably hard pitch, the balance being sized refractory grain, preferably MgO-containing and/or CaO-containing grain such as periclase, chrome ore, and/or dolomite. In a preferred embodiment, the alkali metal phosphate contributes three atoms of phosphorous for each atom of aluminum contributed by the aluminum sulfate.