Abstract: A process for continuously casting steel wherein liquid steel is teemed from a ladle through a shroud into the pour box section of a tundish and poured from the tundish through one or more outlets remote from the pour box, and wherein the surface of the steel in the tundish is covered with a first flux in the area of the pour box and with a second flux in the remaining areas of the tundish. The flux used in the pour box area has a higher melting temperature than the flux used in the remaining areas. Preferably all fluxes used are basic fluxes containing CaO and Al2O3.

Abstract: A bake hardenable cold-rolled steel sheet and a method for producing the steel sheet are provided, wherein the steel sheet includes carbon in a range of about 0.003-0.1 wt. %, with the amount of carbon in solution being about 3-30 ppm, and the steel is substantially free of Ti, Nb, and V, which are otherwise commonly employed in producing low-carbon bake hardenable cold-rolled steel. The method includes a two stage batch or box anneal, a first stage of which is an intercritical batch anneal at a temperature between the A.sub.1 and A.sub.3 temperatures, and a second, subcritical batch anneal at a temperature below the A.sub.1 temperature and above 900.degree. F., with a slow controlled cooling from the intercritical temperature to the subcritical temperature, and from the subcritical temperature to ambient temperature.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a low loss motor lamination steel having a relatively low alloy content, which has a composition such that the motor lamination steel is fully ferritic at all solid temperatures. The steel preferably includes 1.20-1.40 wt. % silicon, 0.25-0.40 wt. % aluminum, 0.15-0.30 wt. % manganese and not more than 0.005 wt. % carbon. The processes for producing the fully ferritic low loss motor lamination steel include a hot band anneal followed by cold rolling, and a two-stage or double cold roll process.

Abstract: A tundish used in a continuous steel casting operation is sealed to permit effective purging of the tundish to eliminate free oxygen and nitrogen by providing a plurality of generally rectangular planar sealing boards of refractory fiber material having sufficient density to be self-supporting and placing the boards in side-by-side relation on the open top of the tundish prior to installation of the refractory cover whereby the sealing boards form a gasket between the cover and tundish top wall, and form a continuous panel underlying the cover. The refractory fiber material may be penetrated by the ladle shroud tube and/or the tundish stopper rod(s).

Abstract: A coke oven communication and control system uses high frequency spread spectrum transceivers which are land based (connected to a central controller) and machine based (on a charging car, door machine, pusher, or quench car). Each land based transceiver communicates with a single corresponding machine based transceiver, there being different frequencies for each of the machines. Except for the quenching car transceivers, the other land and machine transceivers all are selectively connected to a pair of antennas which are alternately used to overcome interference. An advantageous communication technique is used to send data between a central controller, known as a battery programmable logic controller (PLC), and the machines. Control strategies are used to minimize malfunctioning of the coke oven battery.

Abstract: A hot dip metal strip coating apparatus includes at least one roll submerged in a bath of molten coating metal for guiding the strip through the bath. The submerged rolls are mounted on the ends of support arms by bearings including a pair of substantially flat bearing surfaces disposed in planes parallel to and spaced from the horizontal axis of the roll shaft, with the planes of the flat surfaces intersecting one another at an angle within the range of about 90.degree. to about 150.degree.. The flat bearing surfaces are defined by inserts formed from a carbide material having excellent wear resistance and independently supported to contact the roll shaft tangentially during operation.

Abstract: An improved fuel lance and blow pipe system for injecting supplemental fuel into a blast furnace includes a lance support on the blow pipe housing by use of a quick disconnect coupling for releasably coupling the lance to the blow pipe and accurately fix the lance to discharge supplemental fuel into the hot blast. The coupling can be manually operated to disconnect the lance, without use of tools, to permit the lance to be retracted for inspection or replacement, or to facilitate packing of the tuyeres directing the hot blast into the furnace.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for testing a drawn metal cup for earing, including using a sensing device operable to obtain a first data set representing the height of the rim portion of the cup by rotating the cup relative to the sensing device and recording rim height data each time the cup rotates a given number of degrees, generating a second data set which represents the first derivative of the first data set, and calculating the percent earing for the cup by using values in the first data set which correspond to zero-crossings in the second data set.

Abstract: A continuous hot dip galvanizing line for coating steel strip includes a continuous annealing furnace for annealing the strip before discharging the strip directly into the molten coating metal and a broad based bridle is located in the final cooling zone of the furnace. The broad based bridle includes at least two spaced bridle rolls each of which is independently driven and controlled to produce a more uniform tensile load in the strip and improve strip stability and coating quality in the final product.

Abstract: A hot dip metal strip coating apparatus includes at least one roll submerged in a bath of molten coating metal for guiding the strip through the bath. The submerged rolls are mounted on the ends of support arms by bearings including a pair of substantially flat metal surfaces disposed in planes parallel to and spaced from the horizontal axis of the roll shaft, with the planes of the flat surfaces intersecting one another at an angle within the range of about 60.degree. to about 135.degree.. The flat bearing surfaces are oriented to contact the roll shaft tangentially, with the load in the strip and the flat bearing surfaces supporting the roll during coating and the bearing permitting the free flow of liquid metal between the bearing and shaft on each side of the tangential line of contact of each flat surface with the shaft.

Abstract: A spray coating booth for enclosing individual articles to be coated with a liquid spray while the articles are supported in closely spaced relation on an article conveyor for movement through the booth includes a rigid frame with fixed sidewalls and movable top and end walls which may be moved between a closed position completely enclosing an article supported on the conveyor and an open position to permit articles to be moved into and out of the booth. The movable top assures against coating liquid dripping onto and contaminating articles moving on the conveyor which are not to be coated. The end walls are supported for movement in substantially a transverse vertical plane to permit close spacing of articles on the conveyor without contact of the articles by the end walls.

Abstract: An edge trimmer for trimming the side edges of a running length of metal strip having upper and lower rotary shearing cutter discs engaging the top and bottom respectively, of the strip being trimmer includes top and bottom cylindrical strip stabilizers mounted coaxially with the cutter discs engaging the top and bottom surface of the strip adjacent the trim line, and a movable holddown roll disposed inboard of the top strip stabilizer and cooperating with the lower strip stabilizer to stabilize the strip at a location spaced inward from the trim line. The holddown roll is movable between an operable position engaging the strip and an inoperable position permitting access to the cutter disc for servicing.

Abstract: A wall panel assembly for an external building roof or wall including a plurality of generally rectangular sheet metal panels each including a longitudinally extending outwardly projecting reinforcing rib adjacent each longitudinal side edge and at least one such rib intermediate said longitudinal side edges with the panels being disposed in parallel relationship with the reinforcing ribs on adjacent side edges of successive panels overlapping and secured to underlying structure by a plurality of headed fasteners penetrating each said panel along each reinforcing rib has the fastener heads concealed by batten strips mounted by clips which are secured to each reinforcing rib by the headed fasteners.

Abstract: An improved containment fence for a roller conveyor type runout table used with a hot strip mill includes a plurality of vertically extending posts mounted in fixed relation to and outboard of the conveyor rollers along each side of the runout table with the posts each terminating in a top end spaced above the conveying path defined by the rollers, and a plurality of fence plate assemblies each including an elongated generally rectangular plate and a pair of rigid mounting brackets on and extending outwardly from one surface of each elongated plate one adjacent each end thereof for mounting the plates on the upper end of the upwardly projecting posts and adjacent the ends of the rollers of the conveyor, each plate assembly having a length to extend past the ends of a plurality of adjacent rollers on the conveyor, and the posts and mounting brackets supporting the plates in overlapping relation along the length of the conveyor with a downstream end of each elongated plate extending inboard of the upstream end

Abstract: A metallurgical ladle including a steel shell and refractory brick lining includes a refractory brick retaining ring formed in segments from a ceramic material, with the segments being releasably secured to the inner surface of the steel shell and overlying the lining brick. The ceramic material preferably is reinforced with metal fiber and preferably has a top surface extending above the open top of the steel shell.

Abstract: An improved shroud tube supporting and changing apparatus for use in a bottom pour metal teeming operation includes an elongated arm having its midpoint mounted on the teeming vessel for free rotation about a generally vertical axis and for limited pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, and a shroud tube support on each end of the elongated arm for engaging and providing gimbal-like support for a shroud tube. A power actuator mounted on the teeming vessel is selectively operable to pivot the arm about the horizontal axis in one direction to maintain a fluid tight seal between the shroud tube and the bottom pour opening in the teeming vessel, and to permit the arm to be pivoted in the other direction to disengage the shroud tube from the bottom pour opening and permit the arm to be rotated about the vertical axis to place a new shroud tube in position beneath the bottom pour opening.

Abstract: An improved electric induction furnace for use in the continuous heat treatment of a running length of coated metal strip moving in a substantially straight path through the furnace includes at least one heating coil extending completely around the path of the strip and extending in closely spaced relation to the opposed surfaces of the strip. The furnace is mounted on a track for movement transversely of the strip path, and each coil is provided with movable connector doors for opening and closing the continuous loops whereby when the coil is not energized, the connector doors may be disengaged to open the coil and permit the furnace to be moved along its track between a retracted non-use position and an online heat treating position. The coils are supported for transverse and angular adjustment to accurately align the coils with the strip whereby the opposed surfaces of the strip are substantially equal distant from the heating coils throughout the path through the furnace.

Abstract: An improved tilting lug assembly for a metallurgical ladle includes an elongated hooking link having one end portion pivotally mounted on the sidewall of the ladle by a rigid support bracket positioned substantially 90.degree. circumferentially from the ladle trunion axis, with an open eye on the other end of the hooking link. The hooking link is normally biased to a substantially horizontal position with the open eye projecting outwardly from the ladle sidewall in position to be easily engaged by the lifting hook of a crane for tilting the ladle, with the link being freely pivotable in an upward direction on application on an upwardly directed force and being pivoted downward from the normal horizontal position against the biasing means upon application of a downward force whereby engagement of the hooking link with an obstruction during raising or lowering the crane will not result in inadvertent tilting of the ladle.

Abstract: The level of molten metal in the mold of a continuous metal caster is controlled by regulating the open area of a variable outlet nozzle in a tundish. The level of molten metal is monitored, and the extent and direction of any detected deviation is signalled to a computer which also receives a signal indicating the position of a movable valve member in the tundish outlet nozzle and a separate signal representing the rate of withdrawal of the cast metal from the mold. The computer determines the extent of movement of the valve member to correct the liquid metal level in the mold and controls actuation of a hydraulic drive system to move the valve member to reduce the position error to zero. The velocity of movement of the valve member is measured and fed back to the computer, with the velocity measurement being utilized by the computer to control the hydraulic system and more accurately position the movable valve member.

Abstract: An improved method of and apparatus for striping hot steel slabs on the runout table of a continuous caster employs a torch support and drive mechanism adapted to support a scarfing torch for movement at a uniform rate across the surface of a slab maintained in a stationary position on the runout table. A radiation thermometer supported for movement with the torch is focused to continuously monitor the striping operation by detecting flashes or temperature increases resulting from reduction of alumina inclusions during the striping process and transmitting an electrical signal to a microprocessor which converts the signal to electrical impulses that are counted, recorded or otherwise utilized to evaluate the slab being striped. The microprocessor controls operation of the apparatus during the striping process to provide a more reliable evaluation of the slab.