Abstract: An inert gas flow is introduced into a molten metal bath at a location in a vessel. The absolute pressure of the gas flow through the molten metal other than zero flow is determined. The pressure acting on the surface of the bath is measured and the difference between the surface pressure and the absolute pressure is determined. The difference in converted into a distance measurement that reflects the actual distance between the surface of the bath and the location of introduction of the gas flow into the bath. The distance measurement is compared with a predetermined desired distance value and a resultant measurement is formed therefrom. The level of the bath is regulated as a function of the resultant measurement. The resultant measurement is converted into an electric setting signal and sent to a setting member for regulating the level of the bath and/or the amount flowing out of or withdrawn from the vessel.

Abstract: There is disclosed a metallurgical vessel, such as a steelworks converter, having a refractory brick lining and a probe opening passing a wall of the vessel for introducing a measuring and/or sampling probe. In order that the probe opening will get obstructed only minimally, if at all, and possible deposits of slag will be removed easily and quickly, the probe opening is provided with a lining of graphite or a graphite/alumina mixture.

Abstract: A furnace system particularly adapted for use with a continuous upcaster. Instead of employing discrete furnaces, tundishes, ladles and the like, the instant unitary system employs a furnace, a feeding mechanism for directly introducing material into the furnace and a plasma torch to melt the material. The rate of material entering the furnace is balanced by the quantity of product emerging from the upcaster.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a control system and method of vacuum brazing of aluminum workpieces in a chamber wherein the combination of the partial pressure of water and the partial pressure of oxygen is adjusted to be within a determined desired combination pressure range as a function of the temperature within the chamber as the workpieces are heated up to a temperature of about 500.degree. C.

Abstract: An automatic dross removal apparatus (10) is disclosed for removing dross from the surface of a solder bath (22) in an automated electric component handling system. A rotatable wiper blade (14) is positioned adjacent the solder bath (22) which skims the dross off of the surface prior to the dipping of a robot conveyed component into the bath. An electronic control circuit (34) causes a motor (32) to rotate the wiper arm (14) one full rotational cycle each time a pulse is received from a robot controller (44) as a component approaches the solder bath (22).

Abstract: Apparatus for the opto-electronic control of a flame cutting machine having photoelectric sensors of different spectral sensitivity. The sensors may be positioned within a cutting torch and directed during operation on a flame and a workpiece to be cut. The sensors are connected at their outputs with computing means to generate control signals for the advancing movement of the cutting torch relative to the workpiece. In order to reduce the impact of disturbing variables on the control signals, an electronic means for generating the quotient of the sensor output signals is connected with the outputs of at least two of said sensors. The quotient of the output magnitude of the sensors is used to control the flame cutting machine.

Abstract: The furnace comprises two chambers, a closed well melting chamber and a main heating chamber. The furnace includes a hot gas duct connecting the chambers, the hot gas duct having a damper to control the gas flow between chambers in accordance with the respective condition of each chamber. The furnace is designed to have an efficient liquid metal flow by sloping the floor.

Abstract: An aluminum furnace charging system including a movable charger assembly, a hydraulically operated ram assembly, a hydraulically operated elevator and aluminum furnace having a hydraulically operated door whereby aluminum billets and/or scrap aluminum loaded onto the elevator is automatically and quickly charged to the furnace so that heat loss from the furnace and escape of molten aluminum from within the furnace is minimized.

Abstract: An assembly for the recovery of aluminum metal from aluminum dross comprising a rotary furnace, a plasma arc torch, and a supervisory control system for tying together and automatically controlling the operation of the rotary furnace and plasma arc torch is described. The invention provides recovery of aluminum metal from dross in an efficient and economical process.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for accurately detecting an outflow of a slag into a stream of a molten steel when the molten steel is poured from a first vessel such as a refining furnace or a ladle into an intermediate vessel such as a ladle or a tundish through a melt-discharging hole or a nozzle. At that time, an inert gas is fed into the stream of the molten steel in the nozzle through a side portion of the melt-discharging hole or the nozzle, and the detection is made based on a change in a flow rate of the inert gas sucked into the stream of the molten steel and/or in a back pressure.

Abstract: Process and apparatus are provided for selective heating a portion of a workpiece to achieve improved ausforming and isoforming processes when the workpiece is plastically deformed by mechanical working above the M.sub.s temperature. The process and apparatus includes a preheating step where a larger portion of the workpiece is preheated to less than the austenitic critical temperature while the final heating step conducted at a temperature higher than the austenitic critical temperature heats a smaller portion of the workpiece which is subsequently subjected to plastic deformation.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing agglomerates of sintered pellets comprises the steps of mixing and pelletizing fine iron ore, flux, binder and return fines, coating pelletized materials, charging the green pellets into a sintering machine, drying charged green pellets in a drying furnace and igniting the pellets in an ignition furnace, sintering the green pellets in the sintering machine, and measuring a noise level by the use of a noise sensor arranged on a sintering bed and controlling a sintering operation on the basis of the noise level.The noise level during igniting of the green pellets is measured by the use of noise sensors arranged on an ignition furnace and permeability of the green pellets are controlled on the basis of the noise level.The noise level is measured by the use of plurality of noise sensors arranged in the longitudinal direction of the sintering machine followed by the ignition furnace and the burn through point is controlled on the basis of the noise level.

Abstract: An apparatus for charging material to be sintered into a sintering machine comprises a shuttle conveyor transporting pelletized material to be sintered, a wide conveyor receiving said pelletized material from the shuttle conveyor and feeding the pelletized material to a pallet moving in a predetermined direction, a deflector plate receiving the pelletized material from the wide conveyor and feeding the pelletized material to the pallet and a support plate supporting the material fed to the pallet from behind, the support plate being arranged facing the deflector plate below the wide conveyor and over the upper side of the pallet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for direct reduction of metal oxides, using a rotary kiln, fed with greenball pellets, the kiln having a feed-end and a discharge end. A first chamber within the kiln, and adjacent to the feed-end, is used for drying, preheating and indurating the greenball pellets. Greenball pellets are fed into the first chamber using a conventional mechanism. The feed-end is sealed to prevent egress of process gas from the kiln into the atmosphere and ingress of the atmosphere into the kiln. A first burner is used for drying, preheating and indurating the greenball pellets within the first chamber. A second chamber within the kiln, adjacent to and connected with the first chamber, having a diameter greater than the first chamber, is used for reducing the pellets, the second chamber being adjacent to the discharge end. A second burner may be used for reducing the pellets within the second chamber. Reduced pellets are discharged from the discharge end.

Abstract: An improved method and an apparatus for the ion implantation of spherical surfaces are disclosed. The method includes the provision of a revised fixture by which a plurality of spherical workpieces are presented to a large area ion beam in a way that their entire respective spherical surfaces are uniformly ion implanted to improve their surface characteristics. The fixture includes a disc mounted for motion about two axes normal to each other, a plurality of holes formed in a the disc loosely to accommodate therein a plurality of spherical workpieces, each of the plurality of holes formed with a spherical bottom and having a cleaning orifice, cooling means disposed on one side of the disc, a thermocouple operatively mounted in association with the disc, and a cover plate mounted on a second side of the disc and provided with a plurality of apertures concentric with the plurality of holes formed in the disc.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a machine for heat treating camshafts, this machine comprising essentially torches likely to produce an electric arc and carried by a carriage which is movable owing to a binary control motor along a horizontal direction parallel to the axis of the camshaft to be treated, this carriage being carried by an intermediate carriage movable owing to another binary control motor along a horizontal direction perpendicular to the axis of the camshaft, which intermediate carriage is mounted in a vertically movable manner on the frame of the machine along a vertical direction perpendicular to the axis of the camshaft owing to still another binary control motor carried by the frame.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for quenching elongated steel pipe in a liquid cooling medium substantially improves the straightness of the finished product. After being heated to an initial temperature higher than the austenite transformation temperature, the pipe is positioned within an enclosure formed by mating semi-cylindrical shell members. Two streams of coolant are introduced to flow through the interior of the pipe, and over the exterior of the pipe, respectively, the relative volumes of flow of the two streams of coolant being regulated to ensure substantially uniform rates of cooling as between the interior and exterior surfaces of the pipe.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for remelting and hardening an elongate workpiece such as a shaft having a plurality of axially spaced shaft portions to be processed. The shaft is held in a second position, heated, and thereafter transferred to a first position close and parallel to the second position. The shaft is then held in the first position, and the outer surface of one of the shaft portions is remelted and hardened with a torch. Thereafter, the torch is moved parallel to the shaft to remelt and harden the adjacent shaft portions successively.

Abstract: A furnace for heating and melting zinc comprising a reservoir, a movable upper section, pre-heaters supported on the upper section and immersion burners supported on the upper section and extending into the reservoir. The movable upper section can be raised and lowered relative to the level of molten zinc in the reservoir and thereby insure maximum heating efficiency of the zinc. In a preferred imbodiment the pre-heaters and immersion burners are gas fired.

Abstract: In a method of producing a mixed gas from a process gas of a continuously working gasifier and a discontinuously incurred off-gas of an oxygen blowing converter, the off-gas of the refining process having the lower pressure is sucked into the process gas of the gasifier with the higher pressure via a gas jet ejector. The process gas serves as power gas, and subsequently the mixed gas is dedusted. A plant for producing steel includes a plant for recoverng pig iron formed by a reduction shaft furnace and a melt-down gasifier, and at least one oxygen blowing converter for converting the pig iron into steel. The reduction shaft furnace has a process or top gas duct system, the converter has a converter off-gas duct, and an ejector connects both, the converter off-gas thus being feedable into the top gas duct system to form the mixed gas. Common dedusting and washing devices are provided for the mixed gas and safety devices for preventing oxygen from entering into the mixed gas.

Abstract: A system for adding alloying material to molten metal media is disclosed. The system includes spark cup means, preferably cylindrically shaped, which is partially immersed in the molten media. The spark cup preferably has a lower open end which is exposed to a submerged surface of the molten media and an upper inlet, at least a portion of which is located above an exterior surface of the molten media. Means for supplying the spark cup means with an arc shielding gas through the inlet is provided as is means for feeding an elongated form of the alloying material through the spark cup inlet into the cup area or chamber of the spark cup. Also provided is means for establishing an electrical arc discharge between the submerged molten metal surface and the free end of the alloying element in the spark cup. The free end of the alloying element is converted into a spray of superheated alloy materials as it passes through the arc discharge.

Abstract: This application discloses a method and apparatus for conducting various metal treatment processes including nitriding, carbonitriding, nitrocarburizing, surface activation, and selective oxidation in any desired sequence in the same fluidized bed furnace. The apparatus comprises a fluidized bed furnace having a humidifier system including a humidifier and superheater and the method involves exposing a metal workpiece sequentially to at least two separate metal treatment atmospheres in a fluidized bed furnace.

Abstract: A support machine is provided for a ladle in a continuous casting. A rotatable column is positioned on a bearing on a foundation base. A ladle support arm is pivoted around a horizontal axis, includes a yoke surrounding the rotatable column and has a U-shaped planar projection, and two lever legs running about in parallel and each extending an end of the yoke. A ladle support is disposed near an end of each lever leg. A support provision for each lever leg is disposed between the ladle support and the yoke for supporting the lever leg on the side of the column disposed toward the corresponding ladle. A position adjustment provision is attached to the column, is disposed at the side of the column opposite to the corresponding support provisions and engages the yoke. A ladle support is disposed near the free end of the support arm and can be pivoted around a horizontal axis provided by a hinge mechanism. An inclination measurement sensor is disposed at the ladle support of the ladle support arm.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement for following and controlling the progress of heat treatment of cold worked metals in an annealing furnace uses the changing electrical resistivity of the cold worked metal during the annealing process as a process control parameter. A sample of the cold worked metal is placed in a slave furnace along with a sample of the cold worked metal which has been previously annealed. The temperature of the slave furnace is controlled to follow and duplicate the temperature at any point of interest in the annealing furnace, and the differential resistivity between the two samples is measured to follow and control the progress of annealing.

Abstract: Thin walled broached parts are heat treated from manufactured dimensions to predetermined dimensions through control of heating, cooling and pressurization parameters during the heat treating cycle.

Abstract: Apparatus and process is disclosed for heat treating of material in a furnace comprising a fan driven by an electric motor, a load sensor which senses the motor load and a speed controller responsive to the load sensor signal for controlling the speed of the electric motor.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for refining molten metal in a top-blown vessel, particularly, by removal of the carbon content. The system includes various means for selecting, regulating the composition and controlling the rate of flow of the top-blown gases. The system further includes various means for introducing an inert gas from beneath the molten bath surface during top blowing and regulating the composition and controlling the rate of flow of the inert gas as a function of the top-blown gas composition and flow rate.A method for introducing the gases is also provided.

Abstract: It is known to anneal non-ferrous strip material by passing the strip continuously around a pair of spaced pulleys and effecting a short circuit between the incoming and outgoing strip material to form a closed electrical loop of continuously moving strip material around the pulleys. The material in the closed moving loop is heated to anneal temperature by inserting an induction coil in the run around the pulleys so that under electrical inductive effects a current is induced in the loop thus raising its temperature. The incoming and outgoing strip material overlaps in the groove of one of the pulleys, the incoming material being fed into the loop formation at the point of overlap in a spiralling path which leads or directs the strip laterally and towards the plane of the annealing loop. Loading of the pulleys is thus made easier, arcing and sparking is avoided at overlap, and the life of the system is extended.

Abstract: An automatic pig-charging apparatus for hot-chamber pressure-diecasting machines is described, which enable small parts to be manufactured e.g., a Zamak alloy especially under mass production conditions. Excessive fluctuations of the level of the liquid metal melt have prove to have disadvantageous effects on the quality of small parts, and on the service lives of the pressure-diecasting machines and dies. The aim must accordingly be to minimize the fluctuations. The present invention provides a control system, which keeps the liquid metal level within narrow limits. A float switch automatically triggers a charging operation whenever the lower liquid metal level is reached. This operation involves the automatic replenishment of the liquid metal melt by addition of pigs supplied from a replenishing station.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided whereby maximum options for the treatment of steel rod in direct sequence with rolling are available within a single piece of equipment, all on a single treatment line, and all at convenient, labor free, push-button control. Maximum application of heat to the rod is provided for heat treating, slow-cooling or intermittent reheat cooling or treating, and alternatively maximum application of cooling air is available by means of individually controllable air ducts and guides associated with each roller conveyor for applying air at different pressures both across and/or along the conveyor. Special means for applying forced air to the rod through outlets in contact with the rod assure maximum penetration of cooling air into the dense parts of the lay. Special forms of rollers are provided for applying cooling air to the rod and to the rollers as well as for supporting rod during heat treatment.

Abstract: In a top-and-bottom blown converter having a plurality of tuyeres arranged at the bottom of converter housing, a monitoring sub-lance is vertically movable within a region defined beween vertical planes passing through parallel lines horizontally spaced a distance of 300 mm from a tuyere aligning line.

Abstract: Helper rolls in a continuous annealing furnace are divided by a master speed hearth roll serving as the boundary into a plurality of control blocks disposed forwardly and rearwardly of the master speed hearth roll, and the speed of rotation of the master speed hearth roll is used as a reference speed. Tension of a steel strip are continuously controlled on the basis of values detected by a tension meter in the plurality of control blocks towards the inlet of the furnace for the helper rolls disposed forwardly of the master speed hearth roll and towards the outlet of the furnace for the helper rolls disposed rearwardly of the master speed hearth roll.

Abstract: An improved method for hot working materials previously considered to be difficult or impossible to hot work is described. The method consists of varying the deformation conditions in order to achieve an essentially constant energy input, to the material being worked, on a time basis.

Abstract: A metallurgical container has a refractory lining for containing a molten metal. A plurality of combination electrodes are provided at various positions of the refractory lining. Each combination electrode includes a refractory body having the property of high electrical conductivity at normal temperatures of the molten metal, and at least one electrical conductor embedded within the refractory body. Refractory material having a low electrical conductivity is positioned between the combination electrodes. A power source is connected to the electrical conductors of the plurality of combination electrodes to achieve first electrical resistances through the refractory bodies from the interior of the metallurgical container to the electrical conductors and second electrical resistances between the electrical conductors.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of controlling the nozzle damper (slide valve) of a vessel for the metallurgical casting, in response of the variation of the molten metal level of the volume of molten metal tapped from said vessel the nozzle opening is stepwise controlled in response to, the value of the vertical level of the molten metal above said nozzle damper at the respective tapping time or after the respective tapping period with the molten metal volume calculated from the time integral of the respective previous actual damper opening areas.

Abstract: A ferrous melt, e.g. of steel, is refined beneath a slag layer by blowing from above with an oxygen-containing gas through a lance and by bubbling an inert gas through the melt from the bottom. According to the invention, the consistency of the slag layer and/or its level is continuously detected on the one hand and the rate of decarburation of the bath is detected on the other hand and in response to these measurements the volume rate of flow of the bubbling gas is controlled on the one hand to maintain a predetermined spacing of the slag layer from the head of the lance and, on the other hand, a fluid consistency of the slag.

Abstract: Slag is conditioned during blowing from above with oxygen of an iron melt by bubbling an inert gas into the melt from the bottom of the crucible in response to measurements made of the flowability of the slag layer and the speed of decarburization.

Abstract: In a system wherein exhaust gases containing SO.sub.2 are fed to a sulfuric acid plant from multiple furnaces, including an intermittently operated furnace (such as a copper or nickel converter furnace), a method of automatically controlling the gas pressure to within a predetermined range at a point just upstream of the exhaust gas pretreating equipment at the inlet of the sulfuric acid plant so as to compensate for the fluctuation in the exhaust gas pressure resulting from start up and stopping of the operation of the intermittently-operated furnace. By this method, the disadvantages caused by large gas fluctuations, i.e., the leakage of SO.sub.2 -containing gas and the suction of excess free air can be prevented.

Abstract: A method of controlling a process off-gas system by generating a model of the input to the system as a function of the gas generating inputs to the process vessel served by the off-gas system and feeding forward this flow representation as the set point for a feedback flow control loop for the downstream off-gas system fans. The feed forward signal is trimmed by a process off-gas pressure feedback loop which when applied to a TBRC off-gas system assures a minimum flow of leakage air to prevent puffing. The flow control feedback loop employs a mass spectrometer to provide on line computation of the true off-gas flow at the fans. Since the input model can be generated as a simple linear function of the SCFM of the gas generating inputs to the process, the flow control loop is operated on the same basis although it can also be operated on the basis of mass flow.

Abstract: A lance assembly for insertion into a steelmaking vessel includes a sensor instrument supporting nozzle assembly which projects outwardly from the lance and which is cooled by water circulation. The lance has provisions for the inclusion of an inert gas which is directed into a reduced diameter cable enclosing pipe connected to the nozzle supporting the sensor instrument.

Abstract: Disclosed is apparatus for subjecting a workpiece to a controlled temperature comprising a light-weight muffle of high diffusivity material having an interior high emissivity surface, an air cooled envelope surrounding the muffle having an infrared reflective interior surface, and a housing which maintains a vacuum in the space outside of the muffle. Heaters and temperature sensors are spaced about the muffle. The heaters are controlled by an electronic feedback control system which actuates the heaters in response to signals received from the temperature sensors. The apparatus is ideally suited for use in the controlled diffusion processing techniques employed in the fabrication of electronic devices because it applies on the order of 90% of the generated heat to the workpiece, can be rapidly heated up and cooled, and can maintain a selected temperature within narrow limits.

Abstract: Installation includes a throttle assembly built in the blast-furnace outlet pipe and at least two gas turbines with blast furnace gas heaters also built in the outlet pipe and being parallel with the throttle assembly. Each of the gas turbines having a control diaphragm and a stop diaphragm is provided with a separate drive for turning thereof. The installation is also furnished with an isodromic regulator, for the gas pressure under the shaft top of the blast furnace, electrically connected to the separate drives of the throttles, being a part of a throttle unit and by means of a logic control unit being connected to separate drives of the control diaphragms of the gas turbines. The regulator preselects a sequence of operation of the above drives, when in the process of gas pressure control under the shaft top in the super-capacity blast furnace, to open in the first-turn the control diaphragms of the gas turbines and then to open the throttles which are a part of the throttle assembly.

Abstract: Gas is circulated within the chamber of a heat treating furnace by a fan which is driven by an electric motor. The current drawn by the motor is detected and, when the current exceeds a predetermined magnitude, the density of the gas in the chamber is reduced to prevent an excessive load from being imposed on the motor. The density of the gas is reduced by shutting off the flow of gas to the chamber and by exhausting gas from the chamber.

Abstract: A stream of molten metal is monitored as to emitted radiation to detect the onset of inclusion of slag for stopping the stream.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing solids such as iron oxide pellets and fines from the rotating water seal trough of an annular material cooler by periodically operating an air ejector pump, which is suspended in the trough and operated at predetermined intervals and for a predetermined time; the ejector pump has associated with it a sensing apparatus both being pivotally mounted and suspended within the trough; an abnormal build-up of pellets and fines in the trough or large foreign bodies within the trough is sensed by the sensing means which actuates emergency means to override the normal pump operating cycle and maintain the pump operating and simultaneously alerting personnel to the emergency condition.

Abstract: A metallurgical tilting vat, such as a steel mill converter, which, by means of vat extensions or projections, rests on a surrounding tilting mechanism, so that it can be tilted 360.degree., and where radial and axial heat expansion and contractions are accommodated. The tilting mechanism is equipped with dynamic test cells for weighing the vat and/or vat contents. This type of metallurgical tilting vat equipped with weighing devices serves to ascertain the vat contents in order to observe the steel production process based on differing weights of the vat contents, and, in turn, to regulate the decarbonization process based on the weight data and/or data graphs thus obtained.

Abstract: A tilting drive arrangement for a converter comprises a gear arranged on a tilting trunnion, a torque support for supporting the gear on the base, and a measuring device for measuring the tilting moment, which measuring device is arranged in the torque support between the base and the gear.

Abstract: A purifier for handling the high temperature effluent from a blister copper furnace, which includes solid particles in the range from 600 microns, or greater, down to a few microns, which contains oxidizable material, and which is at a high temperature, in the range of 2100.degree. to 2400.degree. F. The effluent from the blister furnace goes first to a settling chamber where the very large particles are caused to settle out by reducing the velocity of the effluent gas. The effluent then goes to a precooler tower which is an adiabatic humidifier, where the temperature is reduced to the neighborhood of 1200.degree. F. by injecting an air-driven water atomizer spray. The effluent then goes to an oxidation tower where the combustibles are oxidized, at lower than flame temperature, by injecting air and recycled gas. The effluent then goes to a conditioning tower which is a second adiabatic humidifier to further cool the gases to the neighborhood of 450.degree. F.

Abstract: The weight of a vessel having trunnion shafts supported by bearings fitted with pressure pads is determined as a function of the fluid pressure necessary to raise the shafts a constant distance and maintain the distance constant.