Abstract: A method of crushing particles of material in a ball mill comprises feeding a mixture of balls and a charge comprising the particles to be crushed, a solvent and a lubricant continuously through a ball mill which initially contains balls. The balls are recovered from the mixture issuing from the mill and are re-introduced into the mill with a fresh charge. One form of apparatus for carrying out the method comprises a cylindrical container disposed with its axis horizontal and rotatable about said axis. The inlet and outlet of the mill are arranged centrally at opposite ends of the container, and the outlet leads to an annular sieve which rotates with and is coaxial with the container. The sieve retains the balls for return to the inlet and allows the milled charge to fall into a receptacle. In an alternative form of the apparatus, the container has inlets at both ends and has an outlet with an associated sieve at its mid-length.

Abstract: A cell for electrolysis of magnesium chloride in a molten salt bath to produce magnesium metal and chlorine gas, having downwardly tapering graphite anodes with opposed major surfaces slanting throughout their vertical extents, and cathodes disposed in spaced, upwardly divergent slanting relation to the anode surfaces. Electrolytic production of the metal is effected by passing current between the facing anode and cathode slanting surfaces through the bath, which is essentially nonreactive with the carbon of the graphite anodes.

Abstract: Alumina dust, particularly partially calcined alumina dust, is coarsened by forming an aqueous admixture or slurry comprising the alumina dust and finely divided calcium carbonate and introducing the resulting aqueous admixture or slurry into Bayer pregnant liquor and precipitating alumina trihydrate from the resulting Bayer pregnant liquor.

Abstract: A coating material such as a high viscosity, low solvent content paint is applied to metal strip by means of a coater which comprises a soft-covered take-up roll which draws coating material from a reservoir and coacts with a hard metering roll (from which excess coating material is continuously removed by a doctor blade), to form a metered film on the surface of the take-up roll. The metered film is transferred to a small diameter hard transfer roll from which it is in turn transferred to a soft covered applicator roll, by which it is applied to the strip. At each line of contact between two rolls or between the applicator roll and the strip the mutually contacting surfaces travel in opposite directions (i.e., the rolls all rotate in the same sense). Preferably the peripheral speed of the applicator roll is greater than that of the transfer roll, which is greater than that of the take-up roll, but the strip speed is preferably lower than that of the applicator roll.

Abstract: The specification describes an apparatus for loading a stillage, for example with elongate articles such as extrusions. The apparatus comprises a horizontal series of spaced forwardly projecting sub-frames each carrying one or more rollers rotatable about a horizontal forwardly extending axis on to which rollers the extrusions can be fed from one side. The sub-frames can be moved forward and rearward relative to the frame of the apparatus. Between adjacent sub-frames are tines which can be raised to lift the extrusions off the rollers and, after the sub-frames and rollers have been moved rearwardly, can be lowered to lower the extrusions on to the stillage. The tines can then be moved rearward to disengage them from the extrusions on the stillage, either by movement of the tines relative to the main frame or by moving the main frame itself. Means is provided for depositing spacers on the extrusions while they are in their raised position after having been lifted from the rollers by the tines.

Abstract: A process for settling suspended particles in a liquid medium comprises supplying a stream of liquor for clarification to a settlement vessel, taking off an overflow of substantially clear liquor from the top of the settlement vessel, periodically or continuously removing settled particles in the form of a flowable mud from the bottom of the settlement vessel, supplying flocculating agent for admixture with the liquor entering said settlement vessel and controlling the relative proportions of flocculating agent and supplied liquor in such manner as to maintain a substantial layer of cloudy liquor lying between said flowable mud and a supernatant clear liquor layer in said settlement vessel. The upper boundary of the cloudy liquor layer is continuously monitored by a probe device which draws liquor from within the cloudy layer and forwards it to an instrument which compares its turbidity with a known value.

Abstract: In order to control the sodium oxalate level in the liquor employed in the Bayer process for the production of alumina, a part of the spent liquor recovered from alumina trihydrate precipitation stage is concentrated by evaporation to render it supersaturated with respect to sodium oxalate. The thus concentrated liquor is then sprayed onto a packing in an enclosed space under conditions such that the supersaturation of the droplets at impact on the packing exceeds a critical supersaturation. The sprayed liquor deposits sodium oxalate on the packing and is recovered for recirculation to the process circuit.

Abstract: A method of aseptically packaging pre-sterilized foodstuffs is described. The method used `dry` radiation methods for sterilizing packaging material in an aseptic workspace either before or after construction of the container as such. The internal surfaces of the packaging material supplied to the workspace are coated with a radiation resistant lacquer. After sterilization the containers are filled with food such as milk or yoghurt and heat sealed.

Abstract: In the continuous casting of an ingot of rectangular cross-section, the formation of convexly curved surfaces on the wider faces of the ingot is avoided, along the full length of the ingot, by progressively increasing the gap at least between the mid-points of the longer sides of the rectangular mould, without substantially altering the gap between the ends of said sides, as the rate of advance of the ingot through the mould increases from a relatively low initial speed. The mould is cooled and coolant is applied directly to the surface of ingot emerging from the mould. In an apparatus for putting the above method into practice, means is provided for varying the curvature of the long side walls of the mould progressively during a casting operation by the application of a flexing force arranged symmetrically with respect to the mid-point of each of the long sidewalls, the ends of the said side walls being restrained from transverse movement.

Abstract: In the calcination of petroleum coke or the like in a rotary kiln, utilizing controlled air supply intermediate the ends of the kiln to burn removed volatiles and thereby generate all or nearly all of the heat required, highly effective control procedure includes establishing and repeatedly re-establishing target values for temperatures of exit gas and discharging product respectively at opposite ends of the kiln, such target temperatures representing conditions of desired position of the calcining zone and desired physical character of the calcined product which is achieved by proper maximum temperature in said zone. The procedure further includes adjusting one or more of the variables of combustion air supply, RPM of the kiln, and green coke feed rate so as to keep the end temperatures at target value.

Abstract: In the process of electrocoloring aluminum by passage of alternating current between anodized aluminum and a counter-electrode while immersed in a bath containing a salt of one or more of the group nickel, cobalt, tin, the range of colors obtainable by the process is extended by subjecting aluminum, which has been anodized under conventional D.C. conditions while immersed in a sulfuric acid-based electrolyte, to an electrolytic treatment in a phosphoric acid based electrolyte before the electrocoloring operation.

Abstract: A pyroscrubber for combustion of large carbon particles in a stream of waste gas, particularly the waste gas from a coke calcination furnace comprises a generally U-shaped combustion chamber having a first passage arranged parallel with (preferably above) a second passage, so that there is a reversal in gas flow direction between the two passages. The combustion chamber has an exhaust gas inlet and an array of air inlets at the inlet end of the first passage. A gas outlet preferably leads laterally out of the side of the structure at the outlet end of the second passage to secure an abrupt change in the direction of gas flow.

Abstract: In apparatus for continuously casting metals between endless moving belts, a pulley device for carrying a casting belt, including outer, belt-supporting structure having at least two belt-engaging surface zones respectively located on opposite sides of the median plane of the pulley, wherein at least one of the two zones is variable in circumference with respect to the other of the two zones for adjusting the transverse profile of the belt-supporting surface of the pulley. The pulley device in one form comprises a belt-supporting structure which is circumferentially expansible at each of two surface zones and means for effecting controlled expansion of the structure separately at each of the two zones.

Abstract: For stirring molten metal such as aluminum in a furnace, metal is alternately withdrawn from and discharged as a jet into the body of molten metal, such being effected by successive application of suction and gaseous pressure to a tubular vessel which projects beneath the surface of the molten metal for advantageously delivering the successive quantities in a horizontal direction over a preferably long path. Effective, reliable stirring of the entire body of metal is achieved with one or more such means, the extent of stirring being controllable; the results include saving of energy and of time for furnace operation, and reduction of melt loss.

Abstract: In a rolling mill for reducing metal, having upper and lower work rolls between which the metal is passed and at least one back-up roll for the upper work roll, the combination of means for applying coolant to the surface of the upper work roll only on the outgoing side of the mill, casing structure enclosing the locality of coolant application and so arranged that a narrow gap is defined between the upper work roll and a transverse wall of the casing below the coolant-applying means, and means for creating a rapid flow of air along the upper work roll surface adjacent the gap in a direction to prevent exit of coolant through the gap from the casing structure while withdrawing air from the casing structure. The air-flow creating means may include means for maintaining the interior of the casing structure at subatmospheric pressure.

Abstract: Dispersion strengthened aluminum alloy products are produced by working a cast aluminum alloy having a content of unaligned intermetallic rods in a selected size range to break up the brittle intermetallic rods. The intermetallic rods form 5.0 - 20 per cent by volume of the alloy and have an average diameter in the range of 0.1 - 1.5 (preferably 0.1 - 0.8) microns.The working required to effect the necessary segmentation of the rods and dispersion of the resultant intermetallic particles is sufficient to reduce the alloy by at least 60%. Initial hot working is preferably followed by cold working to effect at least a further 10% reduction of the hot worked alloy.The preferred alloys are alloys of Al-Fe-Mn and Al-Fe-Ni having a composition close to the eutectic and are cast under conditions to avoid as far as possible the formation of coarse primary intermetallic particles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of joining together the ends of tubular metal members by explosive welding and to a permanent, self-aligning backing mandrel for use in the method. The mandrel is in the form of a tubular member having an outer face defining a cylindrical portion and an axially adjacent tapered portion, the maximum diameter of the tapered portion being greater than the diameter of the cylindrical portion. An annular shoulder extends outwardly between the cylindrical portion and the maximum diameter end of the tapered portion, which tapers inwardly away from the shoulder. One pipe end is outwardly flared and fits over the tapered portion of the mandrel and the other pipe end is non-flared and fits over the cylindrical portion, abutting the shoulder. The outer end of the flared pipe end overlaps the non-flared pipe, defining therewith an annular wedge-shaped outwardly-opening space. An explosive is located around this outer overlapping end and is detonated to weld the ends together.

Abstract: A mixture of powdered aluminum brazing alloy and a powdered flux consisting essentially of potassium fluoaluminate complexes is applied, in an aqueous vehicle, to aluminum surfaces which are to be joined, and the surfaces are then heated to brazing temperature while being maintained in juxtaposed relation to produce a brazed joint.

Abstract: In the calcination of petroleum coke in a rotary kiln, procedure wherein air is controllably supplied internally of the kiln to burn the removed volatiles, as by selection or adjustment of the amount of such air and of the speed of coke travel down the kiln, so that all or nearly all of the heat for calcining the coke is provided by such combustion, and so that a suitably high temperature is reached for effective calcination at an efficiently large feed rate of coke, a special feature being to maintain a significantly long travel time of the coke from a region of intense calcining activity to the product discharge end of the kiln. High production rates, of coke calcined well and uniformly, are economically attained, with ease of control and with unusual stability of kiln operation.

Abstract: A lubricant for working aluminium comprising essentially an aqueous solution ofA. a secondary alkylamine, in which at least one of the alkyl groups includes a chain of at least 8 carbon atoms, the secondary alkylamine including a carboxylic acid group as a substituent at a carbon atom not more than 3 atoms distant from the amino group andB. an acid phosphate mono- or di- ester of a polyalkylene oxide surface active agent,Said alkylamine and said acid phosphate ester each having a solubility of at least 1/2% by weight in water and said solution including at least 1/2% by weight of said alkylamine and said acid phosphate ester.