Abstract: A method of manufacturing a cylindrical billet having a predetermined length useable as raw material for producing a pipe. This method is practiced by way of the steps of drawing a cast slab from a casting mold on a continuous casting stand, spirally winding or cylindrically bending it around a rotating mandrel, joining together both end faces of the wound or bent cast slab to a cylindrical body and cutting it to a predetermined length. Two or more cast slabs may be used for forming the cylindrical body. Two rectangular cast slabs may be used as starting material which are subjected to roll forming and thereafter are cut to the predetermined length. They are then press worked to form a recess having a semi-circular cross-sectional configuration whereby a cylindrical body is constituted by assembly thereof in a superimposed relation.

Abstract: An apparatus for screening a stream of molten metal has a bellows. An annular distribution chamber for protective gas to be blown into an area traversed by the stream of molten metal is provided inside the bellows. That annular chamber is inwardly delimited by a flexible screening shroud of heat-resistant, gas-permeable material encompassing the area traversed by the stream of molten metal and being inwardly spaced from the bellows. Corresponding ends of the bellows and shroud are gas-tightly interconnected. The screening shroud surrounding the pouring stream at a distance protects the bellows from metal splashes and screen it also from heat that is radiating from the pouring stream.

Abstract: In regulating the flow of cooling water sprayed upon a metallurgical product such as a steel slab in a machine for the continuous casting of such products which then undergo a straightening operation, the present, past and future speeds of the product are taken into account so as to compensate a projected change in the temperature of the product in the straightening stage, due to a planned or expected modification of the cooling conditions. These conditions are established by a regulating system responsive to changes in the speed of the product; the anticipated temperature change is compensated by substituting for the true speed, as a controlling parameter, a fictitious speed lying between the true speed and an advance image of an anticipated speed change whose effects upon the temperature are to be neutralized.

Abstract: An entirely automatic, cold box type machine for molding an integral connecting core, which machine is provided with a sand blowing mechanism and a gassing mechanism, these mechanisms being suspended above an upper frame of the molding machine and traversable, and with a liftable drag car being mounted on the platform of the molding machine, characterized in that a rotatable connecting core feeding device is provided at one side portion outside the molding machine, a reversing unloader is provided at the other side portion, and a connecting core transfer car having a connecting core lifting device is traversably suspended from the upper frame in parallel with the sand blowing mechanism and the gassing mechanism.