Abstract: A method and apparatus for introducing gas into a molten metal bath contained within a refractory-lined vessel by the distribution of gas bubbles in the metal bath. The distribution is disbursed and covers a wide areas and mixing within the bath is improved. This is accomplished with the use of a tuyere having a plurality of passageways which cause gas passing through the tuyere to exit into the bath as a series of gas jets which exit from the tuyere at an angle to its longitudinal axis. Preferably, the passageways in the tuyere are spiral so as to produce a swirling or vortical gas motion within the bath.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for quantitatively evaluating the finish of a curved surface of a rolling mill roll or a coil of strip. A light beam is directed by the position of a support housing at a specific incident angle onto the curved surface and a plurality of light detectors are positioned by the support housing above the curved surface for measuring the intensity of reflected light in various directions as defined by the positions of the light detectors. The housing is positioned by stabilizing arms at opposite sides of the housing so that the housing and stabilizing arms form three points of contact with the curved surface. A roller with journals at opposite ends is supported by each stabilizing arm. The longitudinal axes of the rollers are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the roll or coil of strip so that the light beam travels in a plane which is also parallel to longitudinal axis of the roll or coil of strip.

Abstract: A high temperature fan plug for a jet heat recuperator includes inner and outer face plates spaced apart by tubular spacers extending between the plates to form a heat insulative cavity. A fastener bolt extends from one face plate through a tubular spacer and projects from the other face plate. A spring with washers at opposite ends thereof is compressed by nut members on the end of the bolt which projects from the face plate for clamping the outer and inner face plates against the spacers. A hub structure carried by the inner and outer face plates receives a seal. The face plate exposed to high temperatures in the recuperator extends between spaced apart rings that are secured to a rim that is in turn carried by the other of the face plates. The rings slidably engage the outer peripheral portion of the face plate exposed to the high temperature environment.

Abstract: A method is provided for improving core loss of grain-oriented silicon steel by scribing the steel after cold rolling in a direction substantially transverse to the rolling direction by directing a pressurized liquid jet onto the steel surface to form selected spaced-apart scribe lines. The jet may contain solid particles which increase the scribing efficiency.

Abstract: A taphole structure for BOF vessels that will prevent slag entrapment through vortexing and allow most of the metal to be tapped free of slag. This is accomplished through the use of a refractory member of generally tubular configuration which extends through the sidewall of the BOF vesssel and has a closed end portion extending into the vessel. The sidewall openings are provided in the tubular refractory member closely adjacent its closed end such that the molten metal will not flow directly into the end of the tubular refractory member but rather will flow into the refractory member through the sidewall openings, thereby creating an irrotational flow of metal into the tubular structure in the last stages of tapping without vortexing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for scribing grain-oriented silicon steel to improve core losses and which can be used at typical strip line speeds. The method and apparatus provide for moving the strip and forming the strip about an axis parallel to the strip movement, rotating a body having scribing means mounted at or about the periphery and scribing the strip at selected spaced-apart intervals substantially transverse to the strip direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for monitoring the surface level of a liquid, such as molten metal, by moving first and second sensing electrodes vertically with respect to the surface level of the liquid, positioning the lower portion of the second electrode vertically displaced upwardly with respect to the lower portion of the first electrode, such that the amount of vertical displacement is directly related to the accuracy of determining the liquid level, generating an electrical signal as a function of each electrode position, then moving the first and second electrode vertically with respect to the surface level of the liquid in response to the electrical signal corresponding to each electrode, and thereafter determining the liquid level when the first electrode is in contact with the liquid and the second electrode is in noncontacting position above the liquid.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for sequentially continuously casting molten steels of different compositional grades is provided using mechanical separators of particular configuration. Such separators or chill units have a geometric shape selected from the group of spheroids, ellipsoids, and polyhedra and can be easily used to shorten the time between pouring the different compositional grades as well as for improving product yield for the cast slab.

Abstract: A protective attachment for the vertical leg of a "C" hook for lifting steel coils. The protective attachment surrounds the forward portion of the aforesaid vertical leg and is covered with shock-absorbing material to prevent damage to the edges of the steel coil as the hook is being inserted into the central opening of the coil prior to its being lifted by an overhead crane.

Abstract: A method is provided for directly casting molten metal from a U-shaped structure of the exit end of a casting vessel onto a moving casting surface to form a continuous strip of crystalline material. The method includes radiantly cooling the molten metal in a zone defined above the molten metal, across the width of the U-shaped structure and adjacent the casting surface. The method also includes providing a non-oxidizing atmosphere in the zone.

Abstract: An apparatus for scribing grain-oriented silicon steel to improve the core loss thereof is provided. The method comprises passing the final gauge steel after cold rolling through a roll pass defined by an anvil roll and a scribing roll having a surface with a plurality of projections thereon with said projections being generally in a direction of the roll axis; the anvil roll is constructed from a material that is relatively more elastic than the material from which said scribing roll is constructed. Preferably the scribing roll is constructed from steel and the anvil roll is constructed from rubber.

Abstract: There is practiced a method of making low carbon silicon steel in which the lining of the ladle is made of dolomite instead of fireclay or alumina, and there is added to the ladle, before the metal is teemed into it, a pre-melted or pre-fused mixture containing appropriate portions of calcium silicate, lime, magnesia, and spar, and argon bubbling is practice as before but preferably for a slightly longer period of time, and the ladle is provided during argon bubbling with a hood or lid. There is then obtained a product steel with desirably low contents of oxygen and nitrogen, and without penalty in the form of higher contents of aluminum and titanium in the finished steel.

Abstract: A method is provided for final texture annealing silicon steel to produce a cube-on-edge grain orientation having lower core losses and higher magnetic permeability. The method includes using a controlled heating cycle including a substantially isothermal hold at a selected recrystallization temperature of about 1650.degree. F. to improve secondary recrystallization and the Goss texture (110) [001].

Abstract: A misting jet apparatus is provided for producing an air-water mist comprising a water nozzle that produces an expanding stream of water droplets which enters an air-mixing nozzle wherein air introduced to said mixing nozzle converts the expanding stream of water droplets into an air-water mist which exits as a jet having high cooling capacity at relatively low air pressures, and is adapted for metallurgical quenching applications.

Abstract: A method is provided for improving core loss of grain-oriented silicon steel by scribing the steel after cold rolling in a direction substantially transverse to the rolling direction by directing a pressurized liquid jet onto the steel surface to form selected spaced-apart scribe lines. The jet may contain solid particles which increase the scribing efficiency.

Abstract: A method is provided for directly casting molten metal from of the exit end of a casting vessel onto a moving casting surface to form a continuous strip of crystalline metal. The surface tension of the molten metal flowing from the exit forms the top, edge and bottom surfaces of the strip being cast to provide good strip surface quality, edges and structure. An apparatus is also provided including a casting vessel having a molten metal receiving end and an exit end from which a fully developed uniform flow of molten metal leaves through a U-shaped structure onto a moving casting surface. A direct cast strip product is also provided.

Abstract: A method is provided for improving core-loss values of grain-oriented silicon steel after final texture annealing by boronizing the steel to levels of 0.001 to 0.009 wt. % after applying a boron-containing material to the final texture annealed steel, heating to 1850.degree. to 2200.degree. F., maintaining the steel at such temperature to infuse boron into other steel, and cooling the steel at a rate of 100.degree. F./hour or less.

Abstract: A submerged nozzle for use in introducing molten metal below the surface of a molten metal pool in a flow-through continuous casting mold. The nozzle is tubular and has an upper end connected to a source of molten metal to be introduced to the mold for casting. The lower end of the nozzle is closed and adjacent this end are two molten metal outlet ports of equal diameter and in opposed relation with each being axially inclined upwardly at an angle of about 15.degree.. Four additional equal diameter molten metal outlet ports with a diameter of each being larger than the diameter of the said two molten metal outlet ports are positioned adjacent said lower end of the nozzle in diametrically opposed pairs with each pair being nonradial at an included angle of 30.degree. and inclined upwardly at an angle of about 15.degree..

Abstract: A method is provided for improving the core losses of silicon-iron steels, especially grain-oriented silicon steels, by improving the uniformity and quality of the base insulating coating; the method includes winding coated steel strip at winding tensions sufficient to form a coil having good coil integrity and sufficiently loose to improve base coating formation.

Abstract: A ferritic stainless steel alloy is provided which is hot workable and is resistant to thermal cyclic oxidation and scaling at elevated temperatures. The iron-chromium-aluminum alloy contains cerium, lanthanum and other rare earths and is suitable for forming thereon an adherent textured aluminum oxide surface. Also provided are an oxidation resistant catalytic substrate made from the alloy and a method of making the steel article and products having a textured aluminum oxide surface. The method includes steps of heat treating the cold worked steel article to form the adherent textured oxide surface and, optionally, pretreatment heating of the cold worked article before the texture heat treatment.