Abstract: A hydrodynamic thrust bearing assembly for supporting a reduced diameter end portion of a rotating shaft includes a thrust button or plate having one end thereof abutting an end of the reduced diameter end portion to absorb axial forces exerted by the rotating shaft, and a hollow cylindrical bearing sleeve disposed around the reduced diameter end portion, and wherein the thrust button has a central aperture for introduction of a process fluid and a plurality of slots in the one end of the thrust button and communicating with the central aperture in the thrust button and with a helical groove formed in an interior surface of the sleeve.

Abstract: A recirculating fume scrubber system in which fume is evolved from an aqueous bath in a process vessel, such as an HCl pickling tank, and the evolved fume is scrubbed with water and then the scrubbed gas is divided into two portions, one of which is released to a stack vented to atmosphere and the other portion is recirculated to the scrubber.

Abstract: A system and method for rinsing residue from steel product with a fluid includes a monitoring system for monitoring movement of the steel product and a rinse control system for controlling a pumping system to pump fluid to at least one sprayer and an actuator which can open and close a drain seal in a drain in the rinse tank. The system operates by having the monitoring system monitor the movement of the steel product through the rinse tank and generating a run signal when the steel product is moving and a stop signal when the steel product has stopped moving and the rinse control system controlling the pumping system to pump fluid to at least one sprayer in the rinse tank and the actuator to open the drain seal in the drain in the rinse tank when the run signal is received and to control the actuator to close the drain seal when the stop signal is received.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for continuous pickling of metal strip comprises a series of pickling tanks in which the strip is submerged in pickling liquid in a caternary loop and wherein passage of the strip through the liquid produces a low liquid level at a strip entry end of each tank and a high liquid level end at a strip exit end of each tank, piping external to the tanks is provided through which pickling liquid cascades from the high liquid level end of one tank to the low liquid level end of an adjacent tank upstream thereof in a direction opposite the direction of strip travel. Valves in the cascade piping control the amount of pickling liquid flowing in the cascade piping. Pickling tank bottoms are sloped at either end to increase stirring action of the moving strip, and a holding tank or plurality of holding tanks are provided to empty the pickling tanks for repair and maintenance.

Abstract: An edge trimmer system in accordance with the present invention includes a conveyor system, a cutting assembly, and a pair of starter punches. The cutting assembly includes a pair of side trimmers each with a cutting device which trims one of the elongated edges of a raw strip of steel to produce a parent steel strip and two scrap steel strips.