Abstract: A system configured for deformation compensation in real time during a heat treatment performed on a component. The system comprises a supporting structure; two or more clamping devices arranged with the supporting structure, one or more clamping devices including a clamp, a load cell and a motor; and a processing and control system configured to collect signals from a load cell and to send signals based on the detected loads to a motor to compensate for deformation due to the heat treatment.

Abstract: The method may comprise receiving historical data (e.g., mineralogy data, irrigation data, raffinate data, heat data, lift height data, geographic data on ore placement and/or blower data); training a predictive model using the historical data to create a trained predictive model; adding future assumption data to the trained predictive model; running the forecast engine for a plurality of parameters to obtain forecast data for a mining production target; comparing the forecast data for the mining production target to the actual data for the mining production target; determining deviations between the forecast data and the actual data, based on the comparing; and changing each of the plurality of parameters from the forecast data to the actual data to determine a contribution to the deviations for each of the plurality of parameters.

Abstract: The method may comprise receiving historical data (e.g., mineralogy data, irrigation data, raffinate data, heat data, lift height data, geographic data on ore placement and/or blower data); training a predictive model using the historical data to create a trained predictive model; adding future assumption data to the trained predictive model; running the forecast engine for a plurality of parameters to obtain forecast data for a mining production target; comparing the forecast data for the mining production target to the actual data for the mining production target; determining deviations between the forecast data and the actual data, based on the comparing; and changing each of the plurality of parameters from the forecast data to the actual data to determine a contribution to the deviations for each of the plurality of parameters.

Abstract: A section mill (10) for the rolling of steel sections is disclosed. The section mill includes a universal mill stand (12) and an edger mill stand (14) for rolling a workpiece (18) in a plurality of back-and-forth passes into a steel section having a web and one or more flanges. The section mill further includes a cooling arrangement (16) for cooling the workpiece while it undergoes rolling during one or more of the passes. The cooling arrangement includes a cooling box (20) having a spray head (21) with spray openings (22) for spraying jets of pressurized cooling liquid against the workpiece. The cooling arrangement further includes an actuator (38, 34) configured to move the cooling box relative to the stand frame (58) of the universal mill stand and/or of the edger mill stand for adjusting a distance between the spray openings and the workpiece.

Abstract: A crust breaker bath detection system includes a cylinder defining a piston chamber. A piston is slidably displaced within the piston chamber by a pressurized fluid. A crust breaker rod connected to the piston is displaced through a crust layer into a bath having a bath voltage when the piston is displaced in the cylinder in a piston drive direction. A controller is in electrical communication with the cylinder. A conductive member is retained by and in electrical contact with the piston and in continuous contact with the cylinder. The conductive member defines a portion of a bath detection circuit including the crust breaker rod, the piston, the conductive member, the cylinder and the controller. The bath detection circuit is closed when the crust breaker rod contacts the bath such that the bath voltage is communicated to the controller by the bath detection circuit.

Abstract: An energy efficient metal melter has a portion of melting energy supplied to it by a combustion process for heating a melter charge to a temperature where the melter charge can no longer maintain its shape. A portion of melting energy is also supplied by an electrical process for adding remaining transformational and sensible heat. The combustion process preferably uses a hydrocarbon fuel energy source selected from a distillate compound, gas compound or both and the electrical energy comes from a source selected from an external power grid, a generator and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A system and method of verifying that a part is heat treated to strengthen the part. The part is marked with a thermo-chromatic composition before heat treating. The part is then heat treated to strengthen the part and change the color of the thermo-chromatic composition to indicate successful completion of the heat treating process. A detector may act to prevent the inclusion of a non-heat treated part in an assembly by disabling an assembly tool. A controller may also provide data related to the completion of the heat treating process to be recorded in a database.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for industrial-scale production of metal matrix nanocomposites (MMNCs) are provided. The apparatus and methods can be used for the batch production of an MMNC in a volume of molten metal housed within the cavity of a production chamber. Within the volume of molten metal, a flow is created which continuously carries agglomerates of nanoparticles, which have been introduced into the molten metal, through a cavitation zone formed in a cavitation cell housed within the production chamber.

Abstract: A method and device for controlling a melting and refining process in an electric arc furnace for melting a metal, wherein the electric arc furnace includes molten and solid metal and a slag layer on the surface of the molten metal, wherein an electromagnetic stirrer is arranged for stirring the molten metal. The method includes calculating/determining masses of the molten and solid metal at a point of time, wherein the calculation is based on initial values of the molten and solid metal, an arc power supplied to the electric arc furnace, and temperatures of the molten and solid metal, determining a stirring power based on the calculated/determined masses, and supplying the determined stirring power to the electromagnetic stirrer.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing material such as organically coated waste and organic materials including biomass, industrial waste, municipal solid waste and sludge, is provided. The apparatus comprises a rotatable and tiltable furnace (1) having a body portion (15), a single material entry point (11) and a tapered portion (13) between the entry point and the body. The furnace has a closure through which material can be introduced to the furnace (1) when open and in which the interior of the furnace is isolated from the external environment when closed. A director at or adjacent the entry point (11) directs gases inwardly of the furnace so as to provide a barrier of gas adjacent the opening to inhibit the entrance of oxygen containing atmospheric gas when the closure is in its open position.

Abstract: In order to provide a further uniform carburizing treatment to an article to be treated, a carburizing treatment apparatus which performs carburizing treatment by heating the article to be treated in a treatment chamber, the inside of which is under reduced pressure and in a carburizing gas atmosphere, includes a temperature measurement means for measuring temperatures in a plurality of regions inside the treatment chamber and a temperature adjustment means for individually adjusting temperatures in the plurality of regions on the basis of measurement results of the temperature measurement means so that the article to be treated is given a uniform carburizing treatment.

Abstract: An apparatus for condensing metal vapors has at least one inlet conduit that is cooled to cause a portion of the metal vapor to condense to liquid. The apparatus also has a holding tank that is connected to the inlet conduit that collects condensed liquid metal. The apparatus also has at least one outlet conduit connected to the holding tank that is cooled to cause a portion of the remaining metal vapor to condense to solid metal. The apparatus also has at least one heater that heats the at least one outlet conduit to cause the solid metal to melt to liquid metal and subsequently flow in to the holding tank. The apparatus also has at least one sealing mechanism located at a distal end of the at least one outlet conduit for preventing metal vapor and carrier gas from exiting the outlet conduit during heating of the outlet conduit.

Abstract: A crust breaker bath detection system includes a cylinder defining a piston chamber. A piston is slidably displaced within the piston chamber by a pressurized fluid. A crust breaker rod connected to the piston is displaced through a crust layer into a bath having a bath voltage when the piston is displaced in the cylinder in a piston drive direction. A controller is in electrical communication with the cylinder. A conductive member is retained by and in electrical contact with the piston and in continuous contact with the cylinder. The conductive member defines a portion of a bath detection circuit including the crust breaker rod, the piston, the conductive member, the cylinder and the controller. The bath detection circuit is closed when the crust breaker rod contacts the bath such that the bath voltage is communicated to the controller by the bath detection circuit.

Abstract: A method of heap leaching including forming a heap lift, installing a horizontal solution collection system between the heap layers including a horizontal tubing with a wireline data collection tool disposed therein, providing a heap leach model for modeling the heap leach operation including a solvent formulation and a irrigation setting, obtaining collected data from the wireline data collection tool while irrigating the heap lift, the collected data including in-situ material parameters of the heap layers and in-situ solution parameters of the solution flowing in the heap layers, modeling the heap leach operation using the collected data based on the heap leach model to generate a result, and adjusting the heap leach operation based on the result.

Abstract: An electric arc melting facility includes a melting chamber configured to melt a source iron therein by electric arc discharge generated from an electrode, and a source iron feeder configured to continuously feed the source iron to the melting chamber. The facility further includes a state change detector configured to detect a state change of the melting chamber when the electric arc discharge is generated from the electrode, and a controller configured to adjust a feed rate at which the source iron feeder feeds the source iron to the melting chamber, based on a detection result of the state change detectors.

Abstract: An integrated steelmaking plant design is disclosed for efficiently merging the continuous operation of a reduction reactor producing hot DRI with the batch operation of at least one DRI melting furnace. The direct reduction reactor is adapted for producing hot DRI for its consumption in a DRI melting furnace or for producing cold DRI when the continuous production of DRI will exceed the DRI consumption rate of the melting furnace or when it suffers long-term operational delays. The reduction reactor has a DRI cooling zone within the same reactor vessel which is selectively operable for cooling the DRI in the same reactor vessel when the hot DRI produced in said reactor will not be consumed by the DRI melting furnace and when the capacity of the hot DRI bin feeding the melting furnace is insufficient to accumulate the amount of hot DRI which will not be consumed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling a continuous metal removal in conjunction with a zinc preparation process, in which the metal removal is performed in one or more reactors (11a-c), in conjunction with the reactor, the redox potential (16a-c) and the acidity and/or basicity are measured, and based on the measurement results, the process variables (17a-c) of the metal removal are adjusted towards the desired direction. According to the invention, the redox potential measurements (16a-c) are performed from the sludge produced in the reactor in conjunction with the outlet pipe of the reactor outside the reactor, and the measuring instrument (16a-c) is purified at predetermined intervals.

Abstract: A method and measurement system for the control of an active charge surface in a low pressure carburizing process can avoid formation of by-products and achieve regular carburized layers. This can be achieved through sampling of outlet gas at a specified time and comparison with experimentally set model characteristics.

Abstract: A process line control apparatus which controls a process line including an annealing furnace (3) including a heating process apparatus executing a heating process and a cooling process apparatus executing a cooling process, the heating and cooling processes being continuously executed on a steel material, the apparatus having feed forward control means (112, 113) for measuring quality of the steel material by a material quality measuring apparatus (6) installed in an inlet stage (1) preceding the heating process in the annealing furnace (3), and on the basis of measurement results, determining modifications for respective temperature set values set by temperature setting means (111) for the heating and cooling apparatuses in the annealing furnace (3), and feedback control means (114, 115) for measuring the quality of the steel material by a material quality measuring apparatus (7) installed in an outlet stage (5) succeeding the cooling process in the annealing furnace (3), and on the basis of measurement res

Abstract: Method and apparatus for determining the ore content and for further treatment of the ore, the ore content of the crushed ore being monitored in said method on-line and the information on the ore content being utilized in the further treatment of the ore.

Abstract: A method for tapping of steel from a steelmaking furnace to a receiving vessel comprising the steps of providing a steelmaking furnace comprising a tapping hole, and means for angular positioning of the furnace to vary the depth of molten steel and slag contained in the furnace above the tapping hole; determining a guidance profile for the tapping of the furnace, the guidance profile including the parameters of minimum tapping angle, maximum tapping angle, and time of rotation from the minimum tapping angle to the maximum tapping angle; performing an initial angular rotation of the furnace from an initial position to the minimum tapping angle; beginning the transfer of molten steel from the furnace through the tapping hole to a receiving vessel; rotating the furnace to the maximum tapping angle in accordance with the guidance profile; and ceasing the flow of molten steel through the tapping hole.

Abstract: An induction brazing and quenching apparatus and related method of coupling components together.

Abstract: A system and method for forming and heat treating a metal casting are provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling gas layer thickness on the surface of casting rolls in a twin roll strip caster includes: a pair of chambers fixedly mounted on both lateral portions of the meniscus shield in a width direction of a strip; blocking units for blocking introduction of pollutants into the molten metal pool, wherein each of the blocking units includes front and rear barrier members which are mounted on each of the chambers and in close contact with an outer periphery of each casting roll and a blower for injecting inert gas toward the outer periphery of each casting roll; operating units for adjusting the thickness and the width of gas layers at both ends of the casting rolls, wherein each of the operating units includes suction lines connected with each chamber to transmit a suction force to ends of each casting roll and a pair of movable plates slidably assembled to both side portions within each chamber for being reciprocated by movable members; and a control unit for controlling the suction force

Abstract: A method for continuously producing foamed metals is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of (i) adding a previously dissolved molten metal to a viscosity-enhancing furnace and agitating the molten metal so as to uniformly maintain the viscosity of the molten metal; (ii) conveying the molten metal to an electronic agitating type foaming furnace; (iii) injecting gas into the conveyed molten metal while agitating to obtain a foamed molten metal; and (iv) drawing the obtained foamed molten metal using a roller and cooling the drawn foamed metal.

Abstract: A method of determining disturbances when discharging molten metal from a metallurgical container having an outlet into a receiving container. In steps of this process, a real time video image of the teeming stream is monitored to detect the presence of a slag phase, or conditions conducive to the presence of such a phase in steel being transferred, the monitored images are processed to provide data used to assess the quantity of slag passed, parameters of data generated representing characteristics of the teeming stream image are compared with threshold values to generate at least one signal indicative of the passage of slag, and the threshold values are progressively adjusted responsive to data collected by monitoring plural parameters of the teeming operation selected from predicted teeming duration, weight of the receiving vessel, condition of means controlling teeming rate, and oxygen content of the molten steel.

Abstract: This invention provides methods of treatment for work products of materials such as steel, bronze, plastic, etc. and particularly welded steel bodies by pulse impact energy, preferably ultrasonic, to relax fatigue and aging and extend expectant life. The treatment may occur (a) at original production, (b) during the active life period for maintenance or (c) after failure in a repair stage. The ultrasonic treatment improves the work product strength. In welded products residual stress patterns near the weld sites are relaxed and micro-stress defects such as voids and unusual grain boundaries are reduced. The basic method steps are non-destructive in nature, inducing interior pulse compression waves with ultrasonic transducers and accessory tools impacting an external product surface with enough impulse energy to heat and temporarily plasticize the metal interior and relax stresses.

Abstract: A double tapered steel wire (S) is evenly heat treated over the entire length thereof. The wire (S) has its constant-diameter straight portion (21, 24) disposed between its opposite end tapered portions (22, 23) each tapered down to its reduced-diameter outer end. In heat treatments, a diameter of the wire (S) is continuously detected by a detection means (3, 6), so that the amount of energy of induction heating applied to the wire (S) is controlled by a control unit (12) in a manner such that the amount of the energy is proportional to a wire diameter of the wire (S) having been detected, whereby heat applied to the wire (S) varies over the entire length of the wire (S). As a result, the wire (S) is quenched and tempered over its entire length in a manner such that the wire (S) thus heat treated has its small-diameter portions (24) and its large-diameter portion (21) differ from each other in tensile strength.

Abstract: A method of determining disturbances when discharging molten metal from a metallurgical container having an outlet into a receiving container. In the first step of this process, one directly or indirectly detects mechanical vibrations caused by the discharge of molten metal through the outlet. Thereafter, a second property is measured; the second property so measured varies during the discharge of molten metal from the first metallurgical container to the receiving container. Then, one calculates a sensitivity constant based upon the measuring of the second property. Thereafter, a comparison is made between the vibrations detected by the measuring device with a desired vibrational characteristic, wherein the desired vibrational characteristic is defined in part by the sensitivity constant; the comparison is analyzed to determine the existence of the disturbances within the outlet, and actions are then taken to cause the disturbance(s) to cease.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed to improve the metal yield by adjusting the tilt angle of a tilting vessel having a submerged tap hole. The tilt angle is adjusted in response to parameters inherent in the pouring process, i.e. the proximity of the vessel contents to the vessel lip, the age of the tap hole, the liquid head over the tap hole, etc. Additionally, methods are disclosed to enhance the metal yield by advancing or moving back the furnace without knowledge of the tilt angle. Moreover, such methods and apparatus can be implemented through the use of computer based algorithms. The methods can also be used to archive pouring parameter information for future uses such as training and reviewing.

Abstract: A metal alloy, such as steel, is manufactured in an electric arc furnace system equipped with at least one sensor, at least one a controller including a logic program and a variable valve in fluid communication with the furnace and a material source. The nature and quality of the slag formed over a molten metal during manufacture of steel is dynamically controlled by continuously adjusting the addition of one or more material to the arc furnace through the variable valve.

Abstract: A system and method for inductively heating and then quench hardening a portion of a workpiece, such as a several threads of a screw or bolt are disclosed. The system includes a conveyor system having a rotary conveyor for separating, aligning, and transporting each of the workpieces in aligned succession through an induction heater positioned about the rotary conveyor to heat-treat at least a portion of each of the workpieces. A sensor determines whether a workpiece is heat-treated to a minimum temperature and causes an ejector to separate heat-treated workpieces that have reached the minimum temperature from heat-treated workpieces that have failed to reach the minimum temperature. The separated workpieces are then quenched in a tank & separately removed automatically.

Abstract: A furnace system for recovering a non-ferrous metal from a charge of material containing the metal. The furnace system having a furnace chamber having walls defining a refractory chamber, the refractory chamber receiving the charge of material and the metal contained in the charge of material being heated into a flowable mode in the refractory chamber. The furnace system having at least one paddle radially projecting from an interior surface of the furnace chamber toward a longitudinal axis of the furnace chamber. Other features of the invention include a door having a closed position adjacent an inlet passage to the furnace chamber, the door having rollers and a suspension. Other features of the invention include a motor and a control unit which monitors torque to rotate the furnace chamber as an indication of viscosity of the charge of material. Methods of operating a furnace system for recovering non-ferrous metal from a charge of material containing the metal are also discussed.

Abstract: A method and computer program for determining the amounts of desulphurizing reagents required to reduce the sulphur content in hot metal to meet a specified aim concentration. The determination of the amounts of reagents is based on a multivariate statistical model of the process. This model is initially based on a set of representative data from the process including all process parameters for which data are available. These parameters include chemistry-type variables and variables representing the state of operation of the desulphurization process. The use of a plurality of process and chemistry variables provides a more advantageous determination of the reagent quantities. Also, the method includes an adaptation scheme whereby new data are used to automatically update the predictive model so that the optimality of the model is maintained. Other features of the system include optimal handling of missing data, and data and model validation schemes.

Abstract: A furnace system for recovering a non-ferrous metal from a charge of material containing the metal. The furnace system having a furnace chamber having walls defining a refractory chamber, the refractory chamber receiving the charge of material and the metal contained in the charge of material being heated into a flowable mode in the refractory chamber. The furnace system having at least one paddle radially projecting from an interior surface of the furnace chamber toward a longitudinal axis of the furnace chamber. Other features of the invention include a door having a closed position adjacent an inlet passage to the furnace chamber, the door having rollers and a suspension. Other features of the invention include a motor and a control unit which monitors torque to rotate the furnace chamber as an indication of viscosity of the charge of material. Methods of operating a furnace system for recovering non-ferrous metal from a charge of material containing the metal are also discussed.

Abstract: Clean metal pour form a tilting, side-tapped furnace containing metal and slag is maximized by determining metal residuum remaining in the furnace from measuring the liquid metal poured into the receiving ladle and adjusting the furnace tilt angle to minimize vortex formation and minimize slag entrainment. Measurement of the necessary parameters avoids the use of operator judgment. In a preferred embodiment, adjustment of the tilt angle is computerized based on data received from appropriate sensing devices, avoiding both operator judgment as well as operator control.

Abstract: A method for producing a metal strip which reduces the risk of the strip breaking over the course of a path, the strip being conveyed under stress in the strip direction and in which, in an upstream feed path of the metal strip, defects in the edges of the strip are detected and then measures are taken to reduce the risk of these defects causing the strip to break, in which method the strip is provided, in the region of the detected defect, with at least one notch in the strip direction, at a distance which is further away from the edge of the strip than the maximum dimension of the defect transversely with respect to the strip direction.

Abstract: A spiral parts heat treatment apparatus includes a first guide, a transfer unit, a second guide, and a controller. The first guide has a carrier portion that continuously conveys the manufactured spiral parts carried thereon in a longitudinal direction. The transfer unit is disposed downstream from the first guide to feed the spiral parts one by one after discrimination. The second guide is provided continuously to the transfer unit and has a carrier portion and a driving portion. The carrier portion serves to guide the spiral parts carried thereon in the longitudinal direction in the heat treatment furnace. The driving portion serves to push the spiral parts from a rear end side thereof and a driving portion. The controller performs a control operation so as to feed the spiral parts one by one.

Abstract: A cushioning conversion machine and method employing a loading assembly that eliminates the need to manually thread sheet-like stock material through a forming assembly of the machine during a loading operation. The loading assembly and associated method are characterized by cooperating feed members that are located adjacent an upstream or inlet end of a converging chute. Upon actuation of an accessible operator member, the feed members are selectively engaged to push stock material through the chute and out the exit end of the chute for engagement by a feeding/connecting assembly which is at least energized during such selective engagement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving the yield of molten metal discharged from a metal production vessel limits the slag carryover by reducing turbulence of metal pouring through a discharge opening by inhibiting a vortex over the discharge opening, automatically sensing the presence of slag in the discharge opening, and terminating discharge through the opening in response to the detection of changing content through the discharged opening passage. Preferably, the inhibiting function includes inserting a slag reduction device, preferably a refractory body and maintaining the position of the device over the discharge nozzle. Preferably, the sensor is an electromagnetic coil that determines the change in content of the flow through the opening passage without direct contact with the contents of the opening. The combination of the slag vortex inhibitor and the flow content sensor is substantially improved metal pouring yield as demonstrated by actual slag reduction results.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein utilizes magnetic forces to draw metal particles having magnetic characteristics into and beneath the surface of a molten metal stream flowing through a non-magnetic trough. The apparatus of the present invention includes a declined non-magnetic trough having an interior channel. Means are provided for introducing a molten metal stream into the trough. A magnetic source is provided which produces a magnetic field having flux lines which extend through the non-magnetic trough and to at least the surface of the molten metal stream. A particle discharge mechanism having contained therein substantially ferromagnetic metal particles is positioned above the surface of the molten metal stream. Gravity draws the metal particles onto the surface of the stream and the particles are drawn beneath the surface of the stream by the magnetic field.

Abstract: An apparatus (20) for induction heat treating, restraint quenching, and straightening an associated carbon steel truck structural member (30), having a web (32) and at least one flange (34) substantially perpendicular thereto, comprises a heat treating apparatus (22) for induction heating and restraint quenching the associated structural member (30). The heat treating apparatus (22) is operatively connected to a cooling conveyor (50). The cooling conveyor (50) is adapted for receiving the associated structural member (30) from the heat treating apparatus (22). A testing apparatus (24) is included for hardness testing the heat treated associated structural member. The testing apparatus (24) is adapted for receiving the associated structural member (30) from the cooling conveyor (52). A conveyor (54) is adapted for receiving the associated structural member (30) from the testing apparatus (24). A roller straightener (26) is operatively connected to the conveyor (54).

Abstract: The proposed method of carrying out diagnostics on a process for the thermo-chemical treatment of steels and alloys in a glow discharge involves monitoring the ionization characteristics of the atmosphere as revealed by the intensity of the electromagnetic radiation in various frequency intervals. The proposed device for carrying out the method in question comprises a primary converter (1) in the form of an electromagnetic radiation emitter unit and contains filtering elements (5) mounted in such a way that they can be positioned in the radiation zone in front of the receiver (6) on a rotating disk (4). The disk (4) is provided with a rotation drive (7) for positioning the elements (5).

Abstract: A method for controlling operation of a galvanneal induction furnace includes the steps of providing a steel strip having a molten zinc coating applied thereto and transporting the strip to an induction furnace in which the strip and coating are to be alloyed. The temperature which the strip is estimated to attain just prior to entering the furnace is then calculated. A temperature which the strip should achieve during the alloying reaction is then selected. The power which must be applied to the furnace to elevate the strip temperature from the estimated temperature to the alloying temperature is then calculated. Power is then supplied to the furnace.

Abstract: A process and device are disclosed for regulating the annealing power in at least one annealing section of a continuous annealing and processing line for continuously cast metal products. The speed of the cast products (D) passing through the continuous annealing device is detected, as well as the voltage currently applied to the annealing section, which is converted into an effective value (U.sub.c) by means of a control device (50). The voltage supplied to the annealing section is modified by a control signal derived from the determined effective value of the voltage, in order to achieve a predetermined annealing power value dependent on the measured speed. At least the current flowing in one annealing section is also detected and converted into an effective value. The annealing power actually supplied to the annealing section is calculated from said effective values. The voltage value is modified by a control device until a predetermined value of the annealing power is reached.

Abstract: Both an apparatus and method for detecting slag in a flow of molten metal conducted through a ladle shroud are provided. In the apparatus, first and second conductive pins are mounted beside one another in a wall of the ladle shroud, the first being in contact with the flow of molten metal, but electrically insulated from both the wall and from the second conductive pin, the second being in electrical contact both with the wall and with the flow of molten metal. A voltmeter is connected between the two conductive pins for detecting differences in the electrical potential between them as molten metal flows through the shroud. Abrupt changes in potential caused by the passage of a metal slag interface through the shroud indicate the presence of slag in the molten metal.

Abstract: A process for induction hardening a part to a desired depth with an AC signal applied to the part from a closely coupled induction coil includes measuring the voltage of the AC signal at the coil and the current passing through the coil; and controlling the depth of hardening of the part from the measured voltage and current. The control system determines parameters of the part that are functions of applied voltage and current to the induction coil, and uses a neural network to control the application of the AC signal based on the detected functions for each part.

Abstract: In order to determine the contents of solids in a heated elongated slug of thixotropic metal having a longitudinal axis, there is an apparatus comprising an inductive heating coil with electrical winding. Moreover, a sensor includes at least one measuring coil arranged between the heating coil and the slug. This sensor provides an output signal which corresponds to the contents of solids demanded.

Abstract: The disclosure is of apparatus for determining the transformation characteristics of a metal alloy by treating the alloy to render it austenitic and then monitoring the isothermal decomposition of the austenite by measuring the magnetic change in the alloy.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for atomizing liquid metal are disclosed. A liquid metal supply is coupled to a nozzle for atomizing a stream of liquid metal in an atomizing zone extending from the nozzle. A viewing instrument provides a field of view extending to the atomization zone. A sensor coupled with the viewing instrument generates an image of the atomizing zone, and a control adjusts a flow rate of the stream responsive to the image.