Abstract: Light operative apparatus is located inside electro-optical instrument viewing window, such as that used by a radiation pyrometer or dimensional gage in a steel mill environment, to detect and compensate for optically attenuating objects which may accumulate on the outside surface of the viewing window. Light beam irradiates viewing window from inside and optics collects light radiation backscatter which varies as a function of light-scattering attenuating objects that have accumulated on the viewing window outside surface. A light backscatter detector feeds display, alarm and instrument compensation functions.

Abstract: Driving a dividing shear to a home position after cutting a workpiece is done without oscillations at the home position. Control uses shear position feedback signal to shape nonlinearly a variable shear velocity reference signal such that no overshoot occurs. Adaptive control procedure automatically adjusts variable shear velocity reference signal to compensate for dynamic changes in cutting operation.

Abstract: Strand-like apparatus for measuring roll position, i.e., roll gap and/or roll alignment, is moved through a caster between roll faces of a series of oppositely spaced pairs of conveyor rolls which define either a straight or curved strand travel path. Apparatus includes carrier means having resiliently deformable parallel sensing surfaces with an elastomeric core, and plural lateral and plural diagonal inductive distance measuring means pivotally linked to the sensing surfaces for generating roll gap and alignment signals. These signals are recorded. Single and multiple harness means attach single and multiple measuring apparatus to a powered starter bar at one or more lateral strand axes, thereby to make lateral roll position measurements during multiple or single passes, respectively.

Abstract: Instruments measure and periodically store coke vertical temperature profile data sets at multiple coke guide levels within expected level range. Computer detects highest level in each data set above a reference temperature and terminal plots coke level as a function thereof.

Abstract: The low resolution of state-of-the-art solid-state video cameras with quantized image arrays has limited their usefulness in high-accuracy dimension measurement systems. A video output signal processor with a simple computing element improves the apparent resolution of these cameras by a factor of 10 and more. This is enough to widen the range of measurement applications for these cameras.

Abstract: In a continuous slab caster, for example, the system measures tundish molten steel temperature using tundish probe, recorder and temperature monitoring circuits having separate outputs to a temperature indicator and an industrial process controller. Monitoring circuits periodically reject errors and discontinuities in temperature traces, reject open thermocouple or burn-out conditions, and advise the probe operator by way of the indicator to accept a present good reading or take another sample. The last bonafide temperature reading is held at the output to the process controller, thereby eliminating control errors caused by errors or discontinuities in temperature traces.

Abstract: Breakouts due to insufficient skin thickness exiting below caster mold are prevented. Minimum mold heat removal rate is defined in terms of casting speed, mold faces, mold size, material grade and tundish superheat, then calculated, indicated and compared to actual measured values of heat removal rate. As a result of the comparison, caster preset speed correction is taken to automatically maintain the mold heat removal rate above the minimum level where breakouts occur.

Abstract: Image dissector camera with either of two shielding embodiments permits camera to be moveably mounted in earth's magnetic field and strong electrical magnetic fields. Each embodiment includes one or more mu metal closure members adapted to attenuate both axial and radial magnetic fields while the camera is stationary or being moved through the magnetic fields.

Abstract: An intrinsically safe system controls all miner hydraulic and electrical functions from a hand held miner remote control pendant. Pendant control devices provide on/off control signals to interfaces with miner drive and pump controllers, as well as a group of .+-.6 VDC differential proportional and on/off control signals to respective electronic valve drivers. Valve driver outputs are fed to respective force motors on pilot stage valves which control each hydraulic function. Each valve driver output is modified by offset and dither signals to overcome power stage valve dead band and frictional characteristics. Pilot stage valves have an internal feedback sleeve coacting with a pilot valve spool in a hydraulic servo circuit. Pilot stage valves operate in a pilot oil system which may be isolated from power oil systems.

Abstract: Repetitive defect signals are produced, for example, by bar or rod inspection equipment whenever any one of plural roll sets in a rolling mill develops a roll crack. Defect signal repetitive rate differs for each roll's relative speed. Selective correlator electronics process the defect signals with plural repetitive rates and produce an output signal indicative of which roll set in the mill has a cracked roll.

Abstract: A mill for rolling round bars, having a penultimate and a last stand with mutually perpendicular roll axes, is provided with a control system for varying the roll gaps of said stands and for axially aligning the rolls in the last stand. A gauge measures the diameters of the bar about its entire periphery and supplies a computer with this data. In addition, data, indicative of lengthwise variations in predetermined diameters of the bar, are supplied to the computer. The computer uses these data to compute an optimum diameter profile of the bar. The computer then calculates adjustments to the rolls in these last two stands to obtain this optimum profile. If substantial improvement in the performance of the mill can be obtained by these adjustments, the computer actuates means for adjusting these rolls whereby this profile may be realized.

Abstract: Computerized electro-optical system gages two orthogonal dimensions of a moving hot bar and plots cold bar profile. Dual back-lighted electronic camera heads mounted 90.degree. apart on a scanner generate separate bar shadow pulses representing othogonal bar dimensions. Each camera source of bar pulses is processed in individual camera electronics where it is presumed the bar pulse has been corrected for optical and electronic system sources of error. If each bar pulse is not corrected, it is assumed that both a bar size pulse and bar position-in-field-of-view pulse are generated by each camera electronics and fed to a digital computer. The computer is programmed to correct for optical and electronic errors, bar temperature and composition and other errors. Two corrected bar size signals, together with a scanner position signal and a bar aim size signal, are used to plot cold bar profile deviation from aim size. CRT and printing terminals readout and printout bar profile data and interact with the computer.

Abstract: Computerized coiling control in which both pouring reel location and reel speed wobble pattern are preselected, whereby a moving product, such as bar, rod or wire, is continuously poured into a reel to form the densest product coils under a variety of coiling situations. A coiler operator presets independently adjustable parameters including coil O.D. and I.D., reel speed wobble rate, and a reel speed wobble pattern selected from computer storage and having either a spiral, spiral with dwell, or triangular waveform. The computer is programmed to assimilate operator input data, and calculate reel motor speed reference and current reference signals for use by a reel motor controller which will form the densest coils having predetermined flat spirals stacked axially in alternate reverse-convolute layers. Reel speed is modified to compensate coiler operation for effects due to variations in bar grade, temperature and/or shape.

Abstract: Electro-optical gaging system has an electronic camera which develops a raw camera pulse having a width that approximates the dimension between edges of an object imaged on the camera. A camera pulse processor employs edge detecting techniques using raw pulse differentiators, threshold detectors, zero cross-over detectors, and an autocorrelator to eliminate differentiator-generated noise. This processor produces a precise output pulse that accurately defines the object edge dimension and may be used to drive A/D measuring and/or converting circuits.

Abstract: Digital data, in the form of serial station bit frames which exclude protocol information, are communicated bidirectionally over a plurality of serial transmission channels to peripheral devices in a digital process control system. Data enters and leaves a process control computer input-output section serially in response to software-generated control signals. Serial-to-parallel station interfaces are located along each channel. Each interface has a multifunctional shift register responding to the control signals to provide not only bidirectional data flow through each station, but simultaneous parallel loading of each peripheral device. One software control logic arrangement eliminates modems and portions of hardwired data flow control logic elements in each station interface, yet operates with a station bit frame which excludes protocol information. Also provided are true interrupt capability at each interface; verification of every bit of input and/or output of each station interface; diagnostics.

Abstract: Computerized electro-optical system gages two orthogonal dimensions of a moving hot bar at various peripheral positions. Dual back-light electronic camera heads mounted 90.degree. apart on a scanner generate high-speed bar shadow pulses which represent the bar dimensions. Bar pulses are processed by way of individual camera electronics and a digital computer. CRT and printing terminals, interacting with the computer, indicate and/or record each cold-size bar diameter measurement, a plot of bar profile deviation from aim gage overlaid on full- and half-commercial tolerance references with a data header, and a gaging system histogram.Each camera head electronics includes camera AGC circuit, a digital type one-axis bidirectional linear sweep, bar pulse edge-detection with an autocorrelator to remove noise and enhance the bar pulse, and a digital accumulator of digital bar size signals and digital bar position-in-field-of-view signals.

Abstract: Computerized electro-optical system gages dimension of a moving hot bar. Back-lighted electronic camera head generates high-speed bar shadow pulses which represent the bar dimensions. Bar pulses are processed by way of camera electronics and a digital computer. CRT and printing terminals, interacting with the computer, indicate and/or record a field-of-view correction map and a cold-size bar diameter measurement.Camera head electronics includes camera AGC, a digital type one-axis bidirectional linear sweep, bar pulse edge-detection with an autocorrelator to remove noise and enhance the bar pulse, and a digital accumulator of digital bar size signals and digital bar position-in-field-of-view signals. The digital computer assimilates bar size and bar position signals along with bar temperature, aim size, and other data signals.

Abstract: Computerized electro-optical system gages dimension of a moving hot bar. Back-lighted electronic camera head generates high-speed bar shadow pulses which represent the bar dimensions. Bar pulses are processed by way of camera electronics and a digital computer. CRT and printing terminals, interacting with the computer, indicate and/or record a recalibration mask table and a cold-size bar diameter measurement.Camera head electronics includes camera AGC, a digital type one-axis bidirectional linear sweep, bar pulse edge-detection with an autocorrelator to remove noise and enhance the bar pulse, and a digital accumulator of digital bar size signals. The digital computer assimilates bar size along with bar temperature, aim size, and other data signals.

Abstract: Sheet material in a rolling mill passes over a measuring roll on its way to a coiler and causes the production of length measuring pulses at the roll and coil wrap pulses at the coiler. Sometimes slipping occurs between the moving sheet and measuring roll, thus causing variable errors in length measurements. A digital computer first stores predetermined constants and all pulse data until the tail end of the sheet is detected, then performs a regression analysis on the pulse data to compensate for measurement errors, and subsequently integrates the corrected data to obtain a highly accurate coil sheet length calculation. The computer also corrects the coil sheet length calculation for additional errors caused by a partial last wrap on large diameter coils, as well as for any significant differences in sheet thickness from a nominal value.

Abstract: Rolling mill computer control system includes an operator update program which accepts requests from a mill operator to modify computer setups for speed and screwdown presets. When under computer control and abnormal mill conditions arise, the computer programs will accept operator updates from the same presetting devices which are used in manual operation. The operator update program calculates speed and draft coefficients which are used to update the basic computer schedule calculations so as to accommodate the abnormal mill conditions. Additional presetting devices, such as load distribution switches, are eliminated so as to minimize operator confusion and simplify operator panel layout.