Abstract: A direct smelting process for producing iron and/or ferroalloys is provided, which involves injecting feed materials into a molten bath of molten metal in a metallurgical vessel to form an expanded molten bath zone, and injecting oxygen containing gas, wherein the selection of the number of, and position of, the solids injection and oxygen gas injection lances is such that the expanded molten bath zone includes a raised region around the oxygen gas injection region, and such that splashes, droplets and streams of molten material project upwardly from the raised region, and such that a free space forms around a lower end of the oxygen gas injection lance.

Abstract: Liquid is supplied from a bottle B to a discharge outlet 8 via a molded plastics reservoir 15 by pressurizing the bottle using an air pump 22. A pressure sensor responds to a rise in air pressure supplied to the bottle by shutting off the pump. Liquid is removed from the reservoir through a dip tube 17 having a main outlet 18 adjacent to the bottom of the reservoir and a smaller auxiliary outlet 21 adjacent to the top of the reservoir. The upper region of the reservoir is received in a finned heat-conducting holder 16 provided with a thermoelectric cooling element. For hygienic purposes the bottle has a connector 12 which can be replaced together with the reservoir 15 and associated supply tubes 24, 13, 14, 17 and 19. A temperature-control mixer 51 may be to mix liquid from the reservoir with liquid from the bottle.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the treatment of an alumina process feedstock prior to transferring the treated feedstock to an alumina process for extracting refined alumina from the treated feedstock. The treatment process includes the following steps: (a) heating the alumina process feedstock to a temperature of 400C. to 650C. by direct contact with combustion gases, and (b) cooling the heated feedstock to a temperature at which it can be handled and fed to the alumina process. The treatment process is characterised by controlling the contact time of the solid alumina process feedstock at temperatures in the above range in step (a) to less than 5 minutes.

Abstract: A method of making a microswitch module which comprises the steps of: charging a molten resin onto a loading surface of a microswitch; disposing an actuator element onto the molten resin charged onto the loading surface of the microswitch; and ensuring that the actuator element remains fixed while at least part of the the molten resin hardens into a layer of resilient material thereby providing a microswitch module wherein the actuator element is adapted to transmit a mechanical switching force to the loading surface of the microswitch through the layer of resilient material for actuating the micro switch. Additionally, a micro switch module comprises a micro switch; a layer of resilient material disposed on a loading surface of the microswitch; and an actuator element disposed on the layer of resilient material for transmitting a mechanical switching force therethrough to the loading surface of the microswitch for actuating the microswitch.

Abstract: A direct smelting process for producing iron and/or ferroalloys is provided, which involves forming a molten bath in a metallurgical vessel, supplying feed materials, injecting oxygen containing gas, generating upward movement of the molten material from the molten bath, wherein the oxygen-containing gas is injected by three or more lances, and entraining into the jets of oxygen containing gas a volume of top space gas that is 2-6 times the volume of the injected gas.

Abstract: A position sensor for determining a set position thereof is disclosed. The sensor comprises a time-varying magnetic field generator. A movable electrically conductive element is positioned such that the time-varying magnetic field generates eddy currents therein. At least one pick-up is provided for generating a signal in response to the time-varying magnetic field. Movement of the conductive element relative to the pick-up alters the magnetic coupling between the magnetic field generator and the pick-up allowing the set position to be determined unambiguously.

Abstract: A fluid injector system for use in tank cleaning is provided, the injector system including an injector head block housing two disc-shaped injectors which may be rotated inside of the injector head block to change the orientation of bores extending through the disc-shaped injectors, which discharge pressurized fluid therethrough. The injector head block depends downwardly from a housing, and is rotatable relative to the housing by rotating a drive tube assembly housed partially within the housing and connected to the injector head block. The disc-shaped injectors are rotated by a vertical movement of the injector head block by virtue of a linkage assembly linking the injectors to a portion of the structure that is vertically stationary when the injector head block is moved vertically.

Abstract: A process is provided for the treatment of an alumina process feedstock prior to transferring the treated feedstock to an alumina process for extracting refined alumina from the treated feedstock. The treatment process includes: (a) heating the alumina process feedstock to a temperature of 400° C. to 650° C. by direct contact with combustion gas, and (b) cooling the heated feedstock to a temperature at which it can be handled and fed to the alumina process. The treatment process also includes controlling the contact time of the alumina process feedstock at temperatures in step (a) to ensure decomposition of alumina trihydrate and alumina monohydrate. The process also includes: (i) limiting the maximum temperature of incoming gas to a stage of the process in which the alumina process feedstock reaches the above temperature range of 400° C. to 650° C.

Abstract: A process for combining dyed or melt pigmented textile denier accent yarns in small yarn sizes, into a small building block carpet denier bundle to achieve a face yarn bundle having a wide range of special color effects and appearance, not attainable by manufacture of multi-colored carpets from carpet denier fibers alone. The carpet denier singles yarns are drawn, textured and air-jet entangled. At least one textile denier singles yarns, which is preferably a yarn having some degree of orientation, is then entangled with the carpet denier singles yarn, and the bundle is then wound up. The final yarn bundle may contain one or more fiber types, as well as at least one anti-static filament. The two types of singles yarn, i.e., the carpet denier and textile denier types, optionally have the same or different fiber cross-sections.

Abstract: A product fill system and method uses a mode valve. The mode valve is a shuttle valve that allows the shock tube to communicate with the filler valve during a fill operation corresponding to fill mode of the mode valve. If the filler valve is shut off, any overpressure can pass through the mode valve and be absorbed by the shock tube. The mode valve can be switched into a clean mode in which the shock tube is connected more directly in the circuit between the upstream side of the mode valve and the filler valve. In other words, the shock tube is on a side circuit of the main circuit used for product feeding during the fill operation. However, during the clean operation, the shock tube is in the circuit such that cleaning material travels completely throughout the shock tube. The method of the present invention involves the use of the product fill system so as to accommodate cleaning without disassembly of parts.

Abstract: A method of manufacture and a piezoelectric transducer are provided having a housing whose interior contains a piezoelectric element having radially spaced surfaces which undergo relative shear and produce an electrical signal in response thereto, an outer radial surface of the piezoelectric element being soldered to the interior of the housing, and an inner radial surface of the piezoelectric element is soldered to the outer surface of a stress/strain transmitting element. The solder alloy used shrinks less than →2.5% solidification. The subassembly made up of the piezoelectric element and the stress/strain transmitting element is provided with a passage to permit escape of gas from a chamber above the piezoelectric member which may be present from vapors attendant soldering.

Abstract: An elongate metallurgical lance (27) for injecting solid particulate material into molten material held within a vessel (11) is disclosed. The lance includes a central core tube (31) through which to pass solid particulate material, an annular cooling jacket (32) surrounding the central core tube throughout a substantial part of its length, a coolant inlet means (52), and a coolant outlet means (53). An outer wall of a forward end section of the jacket is formed from a first material which has high heat transfer properties and can withstand external temperatures above 1100° C. for prolonged periods when the jacket is cooled by coolant flow. An outer wall of a body section of the jacket is formed from a second material that maintains its structural properties when exposed to external temperatures above 1100° C. for prolonged periods when the jacket is cooled by coolant flow, whereby the outer wall acts as a structural member that contributes to supporting the lance at these temperatures.

Abstract: A method of relining a vessel that is used to carry out a direct smelting process that produces molten metal under conditions requiring molten bath temperatures of at least 1000° C. is disclosed. The vessel is of the type that has a floor that is refractory lined, a side wall that is at least partially refractory lined, and a top wall, and at least two access openings to the interior of the vessel. The relining method includes the steps of cooling down the vessel, gaining access to the interior of the vessel via the access openings, relining the vessel, and re-starting operation of the process in a period of time of 21 or less days.

Abstract: A steam-powered rotary engine is provided in which a rotor arm assembly and an outer ring are positioned such that steam ejected from outlets at the two ends of the rotor arm assembly will impact at a substantially right angle onto steps or depressions formed on the inner portion of the outer ring. Both the rotor arm assembly and the outer ring are mounted or supported in a freely rotatable manner on a housing or frame. The ejection of the steam from the rotor arm causes the rotor arm to rotate in a direction opposite the direction of travel of the exiting steam. The reaction of the steam impacting the steps causes the outer ring to rotate in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of the rotor arm. Power take-off devices are provided to use the rotational movement of the rotor arm and the outer ring to generate electricity.

Abstract: A gas/liquid transfer device for delivering a fixed quantity of pressurized gas/liquid to a dispensing device including a fixed volume chamber for receiving the pressurized gas/liquid, the chamber being in fluid connection with a system of controllable filling and emptying valves and a discharge connector. The discharge connector is disposed downstream of the emptying valve is arranged to be operatively coupled by an operator to a hand held dispensing device. The discharge connector is tamper-proof and configured to prevent a fixed quantity of pressurized gas to be discharged without the dispensing device being attached to the discharge connector. The timer is configured to impose a predetermined time interval between successive transfers of the pressurized gas/liquid.

Abstract: A flow diversion device is provided for use in a gas jet stripping apparatus and includes a baffle having a first portion which, in use, extends longitudinally of the moving strip which is being subjected to the stripping action of the jet stripping nozzles of gas jet stripping apparatus. The baffle further includes a second portion which diverges away from the moving strip and a gas outlet for providing gas to the strip side of the baffle. The baffle also has gas collection vanes for redirecting gas from the stripping nozzles to the gas outlet.

Abstract: The use of a sulfonated polyester ionomer resin in a colored, drawn polyamide or polyester fiber results in improved color strength and appearance. Sodium sulfo isophthalate polybutylene terephthalate copolymers when melt blended with synthetic polyamides or polyesters are shown to enhance color strength in drawn fibers. In addition the sulfonated polyesters reduce color strength variation in colored fibers made with different batches of colorant. Water insoluble sulfonated polyester ionomers are preferred.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for gauging and rounding, at room temperature, a section of fully formed seamless ductile iron pipe that has an out-of-round initial cross-section profile and/or a larger than desired initial gauge. The apparatus includes a set of hour-glass shaped gauging/rounding rolls arranged so that the combined profiles of adjacent rolls forms a substantially continuous circular of precise diameter. In operation, the ductile iron pipe is passed though the opening in the set of gauging/rounding rolls, thereby causing the pipe to be gauged and rounded. The pipe is conveyed through one or two sets of rolls to accommodate multiple pipe diameters by a transport mechanism consisting of a rail mounted push car which is moved by one or more fluid actuated cylinders anchored to a base in common with the rail.

Abstract: An urging device includes: an urging actuator (7); and an urging mechanism actuatable by the urging actuator in an urging direction for effecting a translational movement of a member (3), the urging mechanism being configured such that, upon actuation thereof, at least a first portion (11a) thereof moves in a first direction, and a second portion thereof moves in a second direction different from the first direction, and a second portion thereof moves in a second direction different from the first direction. Additionally, a dispensing kit (5) implements the above urging device. The dispensing kit comprise a dispensing cartridge (15) which includes a cartridge body. A cartridge actuator (21) is disposed at the head portion of the cartridge body.

Abstract: A direct smelting process for producing iron and/or ferroalloys is provided, which involves forming a molten bath in a metallurgical vessel, supplying feed materials, injecting oxygen containing gas, generating upward movement of the molten material from the molten bath, wherein the oxygen-containing gas is injected by three or more lances, and entraining into the jets of oxygen containing gas a volume of top space gas that is 2-6 times the volume of the injected gas.