Abstract: The invention provides a method of building or repairing refractory brickwork structures that are subjected to local differences in thermal expansion. The brickwork joints are made with a suitable sintering refractory mortar and in most or all of the joints there is also provided a synthetic material layer that changes into gaseous products when heated, without leaving any substantial solid residue and without reacting chemically with the refractory structure. The volume of the layers is not more than 95% of the thermal expansion of the brickwork adjacent the joints during heating up to working temperatures, so that the joints are left in compression to ensure gas tightness.

Abstract: Gas is mixed into a main flow of gas in a cylindrical conduit by means of one or more feed conduits. In order to achieve good mixing and avoid concentrations of the added gas, the feed conduit(s) have two openings for outflow of the added gas, which openings are spaced from the wall of the cylindrical conduit, are symmetrically located with respect to the axis of the cylindrical conduit and lie in a plane perpendicular to that axis. The axis of these openings are mutually spaced by less than one half of the internal diameter of the conduit. The added gas emerges from the two openings in mutually opposite parallel directions, so that it tends to circulate around the axis. The arrangement has been found advantageous when applied to the feed of gaseous fuel to hot blast stoves of a blast furnace.

Abstract: In a support construction for a hot blast main which is connected by respective branches to the outlets of a plurality of hot blast stoves of a blast furnace, the main is suspended on each stove by means of a rod system secured to a stiffened transitional region between the wall and dome of the stove and having an outer end located above the main. The main is suspended from this outer end, to which at least one strut extends from the stove wall adjacent the hot blast outlet. A travelling crane track is secured to the lower side of the rod systems so as to extend above valves incorporated in the hot blast branches. Thus these valves can easily be removed and replaced.

Abstract: For packing stacks of tinplate sheets on pallets a packing line is disclosed by which a variety of different packagings of the stacks can be realized. To minimize the manual labor a plurality of endless chain conveyors is provided, forming together a path for the stacks. The first conveyor is liftable and rotatable and acts as collector on a pallet for the sheets. After the forming of a stack on the pallet on the first conveyor the first conveyor is rotated over 90.degree. to align the runners of the pallet transversely to the travel direction of the stacks on the conveyor. At a manual packing station, the packaging is applied. Automatic strapping machines tie strips around each packed stack to complete the packaging. To provide temporary storage for the stacks in different stages, branch conveyors are provided in the form of roller conveyors.

Abstract: A protective strip or bumper for a road vehicle has an energy absorbing structure, partly formed of plastics material, mounted on a metal backing member. Within the plastics material body are a plurality of metal crushable elements which are plastically deformable in order to absorb energy when an impact occurs and which are also readily replaceable.

Abstract: A shaft furnace has a refractory lining within its armour and cooling plates located in recesses in the lining. In order to make it easier to remove and replace the cooling plates and to improve heat transfer, it is now proposed to construct the recess walls of special shaped members so that the recess retains its shape. The shaped members include elongate side members, a cover member resting on the elongate members, a bottom member below the elongate members and a front member between the front edge of the cooling plate and the furnace interior. Copper sheets may be provided between the cooling plate and these shaped members.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuous casting has pairs of rolls defining a path for the solidifying slab of steel. Between the rolls on each side are rows of spray nozzles. To check the operation of the sprays and thus achieve uniform cooling, checking apparatus carrying detectors for the sprayed water is passed through the path. To achieve a useful measure of the spraying efficiency the detectors must be highly sensitive and robust. Each detector has a metal diaphragm which is set in vibration by the sprayed water and a piezo-electric element fixed to the diaphragm so as to emit a signal whose amplitude is dependent on the amplitude of the vibration of the diaphragm.

Abstract: A coupling between a roll of a heavy rolling mill and a cardan shaft, wherein the roll and a connecting member are joined by a mortise-and-tenon joint with the roll having a projection and the connecting member having a recess to receive said projection, the joint being such as to prevent relative rotation. The leading end of the projection and the base of the recess have respectively a pair of mutually corresponding conical surfaces which are coaxial with the axis of the projection and are urged into engagement in order to align the axes of the roll and the connecting member.In order to achieve rigid coupling of the roll and the connecting member, there is provided a split ring which in unmounted condition is axially movable along the said projection and which is radially compressible by closure of the split or splits to grip the said projection.

Abstract: The basic wear-lining of a steel converter is made of refractory material at least partly composed of burnt magnesite. Maintenance is performed by spraying refractory material onto this lining or by "slagging-in". The effect of this maintenance procedure, in terms of the duration of the lining, are improved if the particles of the magnesite component of the wear-lining contain on average more than 61/4 percent monticellite. Material of this kind has not in the past been found suitable for a wear-lining.

Abstract: A closure plate for hot blast slide valves of the type having a hollow ring of box-like cross section cooled by running water to whose inner circumference a body is attached by welding, which is formed by parallel plates and is likewise cooled by running water. The thickness of the body in axial direction is smaller than the axial length of the hollow ring, and the outer surfaces are coated to about the height of the front faces of the ring with refractory concrete, the coating being tied to these outer surfaces by anchoring means.

Abstract: In a rail system one or more hydraulic assemblies comprising a movable cylinder (6) with a wheel-engaged rounded head (7) and a fixed piston (4) within the cylinder (6) are located adjacent a running rail (1). When engaged by passing rail wheels (2) the assembly provides pressurized fluid which is fed into a pressure line which leads to means for switching a set of points. Energy is thus extracted from moving rail vehicles and it is unnecessary to provide long-distance power supplies to a set of points.

Abstract: The problem of loss of strength in carboard along a line of fold due to stretching and breaking of fibres on the outside of the fold is overcome by providing a machine having a support surface against which the sheet of cardboard which is to be folded is held by an element which has a knife edge. The support surface is provided by a taut flexible sheet material which extends around a rotatable and movable roller. On operation of the machine, the roller is moved around the knife edge, its longitudinal axis being kept parallel to the knife edge, thereby making a fold in the sheet and the cardboard. The flexible sheet which contacts the cardboard has a high coefficient of friction with respect to cardboard. The restrains the cardboard fibres on the outerside of the cardboard as the fold is made preventing their stretching and breaking and thereby providing an unweakened fold.

Abstract: In a chain conveyor having a plurality of side-by-side endless chains which support articles being conveyed and are driven by engagement with sprocket wheels on common driving shafts, the chains are rendered individually and independently removable and replaceable by mounting them on a cassette. The cassette comprises a frame which provides a track for the rollers of the chain and supports the sprocket wheels in bearings. Thus the sprocket wheels are not supported by the drive shafts, which are axially withdrawn to allow removal of a cassette.

Abstract: A method of producing a metal can or similar object by drawing and ironing wherein subsequent to the drawing process the edge of the can or object is cut to size, while the can or object is rotated about its longitudinal axis, by means of a laser beam whereby the deformation properties of the edge are improved.

Abstract: A coking plant in which steam is injected into the ascension pipe of each coking chamber during charging of coal into the chamber and during an initial portion of the coking time, in order to maintain a slightly sub-atmospheric pressure in the chamber. Timing means which stops the injection of steam at the end of a suitable period of time after charging is actuated to start timing this period by a command signal sent from the coke pusher machine, which also levels the coal after charging, via induction coils provided for ascertaining the correct alignment of the coke pusher machine and the coke chambers.

Abstract: Injection of steam into the ascension pipe of each coking chamber in a coking plant is continued for a period of time after charging of that chamber so as to create a slightly sub-atmospheric pressure in the chamber during the initial stage of the coking process, in order to reduce leakage of gas and fumes to the atmosphere past the doors and filling openings. A time clock operated by the coke pusher machine or by the coal charging machine stops this injection of steam after a desired period of time.

Abstract: A method for regenerating a weak base anion exchanger which comprises passing a regenerating chemical in an upward direction through a granular resinous mass of an exchanger, thereupon displacing the chemical and rinsing the mass with water. The regenerating chemical is a lime slurry having a concentration of 1 to 5% by weight, which is both supplied to and withdrawn from the granular mass in an evenly distributed flow with a flow rate of at least 10 m.sup.3, per hour, per m.sup.3 resin material (m.sup.3 /h/m.sup.3), while the granular mass is in a compacted state.

Abstract: Method for regenerating an electrolytic liquid for tinning purposes in which the electrolytic liquid is freed from ions of foreign metals introduced into it during the tinning action, characterized by the steps of (a) detinning of the electrolytic liquid through electrolysis and (b) releasing of the foreign metal ions by means of a cation exchanger.

Abstract: Apparatus for manufacturing steel includes a hood adapted to be connected to the mouth of a converter. The hood has at least one conduit opening into it for introducing secondary materials into the hood. In order to arrange monitoring points of the pressure within the hood cheaply and conveniently, the pressure-measuring points are incorporated into the upper sides of the conduits. Each conduit may also have a connection which enables it to be flushed out with an inert gas, thus preventing a dangerous build up of inflammable gases within the conduit.

Abstract: An expandable coiler mandrel has a core, radially movable segments around the core and hydraulic pistons to move the segments outwardly. To provide a mandrel in which all movements are actuated hydraulically, and in which tilting of the segments during expansion is avoided, the segments are secured to the pistons which are annular and mounted around pins having heads to limit the movement of the segments. The pistons can be urged in either direction by hydraulic fluid, to expand and retract the mandrel. Fluid for expansion is supplied by pressure cylinders. The pistons associated with a single segment are actuated by at least two of the pressure cylinders.