Abstract: A wheel flange lubrication system for rail vehicles is described consisting of a rigid lubrication block, which is forced against a wheel flange to provide lubrication to the wheel flange. The block or stick is maintained in position to reduce flange wear, to minimize the movement of lubricant to undesirable locations, such as the crown of the rails and the tread of the wheel, and to provide a lubrication system which is environmentally safe. Preferably the lubrication block is arc shaped and spring-forced laterally and radially into the flange. The lubrication system is designed to stay in contact with the wheel flange and apply the desired amount of lubrication in the flange area using the side contact surface of the block. This adjustable position control is provided by applying independent forces which are directed radially towards the crotch of the wheel and laterally towards the wheel flange. The lubrication system is applicable to single or two flange wheels.

Abstract: A ferritic non-ridging stainless steel and process therefor. A chromium alloyed steel melt containing sufficient titanium and nitrogen but a controlled amount of aluminum is cast into an ingot or continuously cast into a strip or a slab having an as-cast fine equiaxed grain structure substantially free of columnar grains. The as-cast steel contains 0.08% C, at least about 8% Cr, up to 1.50% Mn, <0.020% Al, ?0.05% N, ?1.5% Si, <2.0% Ni, Ti?0.10%, the ratio of (Ti×N)/Al?0.14, all percentages by weight, the balance Fe and residual elements. Preferably, the titanium is controlled so that (Ti/48)/[(C/12)+(N/14)]>1.5. A hot processed sheet may be formed from a continuously cast slab without grinding the surfaces of the slab. The hot processed sheet may be descaled, cold reduced to a final thickness and recrystallization annealed. Annealing the hot processed sheet prior to cold reduction is not required to obtain an annealed sheet essentially free of ridging and having high formability.

Abstract: Casting molten metal using a segmented roll for casting continuous metal strip. A strip caster (10) for producing a continuous strip (18) includes a tundish for containing a melt and a pair of horizontally disposed water cooled composite casting rolls (84). The casting rolls are juxtaposed relative to one another for forming a pouring basin (16) for receiving molten metal. The composite rolls are formed from a plurality of annular segments (45). Each segment preferably includes at least a pair of coolant openings (34) and means for aligning the coolant openings, such as a pair of alignment openings (26). The segments are axially aligned and structurally connected by a pair of connecting rods (42) extending completely across the width of the roll through the alignment openings and through appropriate end plates (96). Each roll includes a load supporting spindle (86) with each end of the roll sealed by a rotary seal (88).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a nonoriented electrical steel sheet coated on both surfaces with a cured insulative coating for providing a high level of surface resistivity to minimize interlaminar power losses. The cured insulative coating on the steel sheet includes, based upon 100 parts by dry weight, 20-60 parts of aluminum phosphate, 20-70 parts of at least one inorganic particulate silicate and 10-25 parts of an acrylic resin. The cured coating is formed from an acid aqueous suspension that may include up to 1 part by weight of a water-soluble organic solvent per each part of the resin. The aqueous suspension has a pH of about 2-2.5, a silicate particle size of 0.3-60 .mu.m, a resin particle size of less than 1 .mu.m, less than about 0.5 wt. % unreacted phosphoric acid and a specific gravity of about 1.0-1.3. The silicate may be one or more from the group consisting of aluminum silicate, aluminum potassium silicate and magnesium silicate.

Abstract: A three-stage process for obtaining metallic Cr units insitu during the production of stainless steel. Raw chromite ore or a concentrate produced from chromite ore is mixed with a carbonaceous reductant and slagging agents are added to an iron bath (24) for smelting and refining in a refining reactor (10). During the first stage, partially metallized chromite is smelted by carbon in the reactor that is top-and bottom-blown with oxygen and oxygen-containing gases respectively to produce a chromium alloy bath having a carbon content well below saturation. In the second stage, the alloy bath is decarburized by being bottom stirred with the oxygen-containing gas to the final bath carbon specification. In the third stage, the alloy bath is reduced by a metalloid reductant such as silicon or aluminum and again bottom stirred but with a non-oxidizing gas to achieve a high chromium yield.

Abstract: A self-contained apparatus for forming metal sheet is adapted for operation within a standard double action press having a base and outer and inner vertically reciprocating slides. A basic die is mountable to the press and specific tooling is replaceably mountable to the basic die. The basic die includes a riser, a manifold and hydraulic cylinder assemblies. A sheet metal blank is positioned on the lower die and is clamped between the upper and lower dies whereby the periphery of the blank is gripped between a male and female bead mounted all around a part print cavity. The cylinder assemblies cause hydraulic fluid to be forced into a region between the clamped blank and the lower die and form the blank in the part print cavity. The male bead exerts varying control on the sheet to allow it to stretch across portions of the cavity while flowing into other portions of the cavity.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a frame member for an automobile from a tube blank applies internal hydraulic pressure to the blank, tangent bends and preforms the internally pressurized blank into a preformed tube having a desired horizontal profile configuration, then forms the preformed tube into a finally formed frame member having a desired vertical profile configuration and a desired, varying cross-sectional configuration by placing the preformed tube in a stuffing ledge apparatus having a lower die with an upwardly facing ledge and vertically extending, punch engaging surfaces and a punch having a downwardly facing ledge and vertically extending, die engaging surfaces, internally pressurizing the tube, and then ramming the punch downwardly to form the tube into the finally formed frame member, the ledges and vertically extending surfaces substantially completely enclosing a portion of the tube before and while the punch and die come together to form the tube into the finally formed frame member.

Abstract: Steel alloys containing chromium may be hot dip aluminized in a bath having up to 15% silicon with improved wettability by using a bright preannealing practice in a box furnace having a substantially pure hydrogen atmosphere. The surfaces of the preannealed steel are easily coated if the box annealing furnace has a dew point of less than -60.degree. C. (-75.degree. F.). The preannealing should also include a minimum soak of at least 1 hour at a temperature of 675.degree. C. to 785.degree. C. (1250.degree. F. to 1450.degree. F.). It is important that the surfaces of the strip after preannealing are not removed prior to aluminizing. During the aluminizing operation, the strip temperature does not need to be heated to much above the bath temperature since the strip has already been preannealed. The furnace is maintained to avoid oxidation with an atmosphere which is typically a nitrogen, hydrogen or a hydrogen-nitrogen mixture.

Abstract: The present invention provides a steel composition and method for producing a high quality regular grain oriented electrical steel having less than 0.005% aluminum using a single cold reduction step. A high austenite volume fraction, the use of an annealing separator coating with high sulfur or a sulfur bearing atmosphere to provide strong surface energy grain growth, a quench after initial annealing to provide the optimum microstructure having a small amount of martensite with a fine carbide dispersion and various chemistry changes are included in the method. Excess manganese in combination with tin, which has been found to act similarly to excess Mn, are maintained at a total level less than 0.03%. The use of chromium in an amount ranging from 0.11% to 1.2% provides outstanding control of stability for secondary grain growth.

Abstract: A self-contained apparatus for forming metal sheet is adapted for operation within a standard double action press having a base and outer and inner vertically reciprocating slides and includes a basic die mountable to the press and specific tooling replaceably mountable to the basic die. The basic die includes an upper shoe mountable to the outer slide, a reservoir pan mounted atop the base, and hydraulic cylinder assemblies mounted with the pan and mechanically actuatable by the inner slide for providing pressurized fluid to the specific tooling. The specific tooling includes mating upper and lower dies connected to the upper shoe and base, respectively, and movable between open and closed positions.

Abstract: A sheet metal blank positioned upon a lower die is wrapped around an upper die as the upper die is moved down to a closed position by an outer slide, the blank being clamped between the upper and lower dies whereby the periphery of the blank is gripped between a male and female bead mounted all around a part print cavity in the upper and lower dies, respectively. The outer slide then dwells while an inner slide moves down, engaging and actuating cylinder assemblies, causing hydraulic fluid to be forced into a region between the clamped blank and the lower die, the blank being formed into a part print cavity defined in the upper die. The male bead exerts varying control on the sheet to allow it to stretch across portions of the cavity while flowing into other portions of the cavity. A locking mechanism prevents the bending of the dies and holds the dies in a closed position thereby assisting the engagement of the male bead with the female bead.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a frame member for an automobile from a tube blank applies internal hydraulic pressure to the blank, tangent bends and preforms the internally pressurized blank into a preformed tube having a desired horizontal profile configuration, then forms the preformed tube into a finally formed frame member having a desired vertical profile configuration and a desired, varying cross-sectional configuration by placing the preformed tube in a stuffing ledge apparatus having a lower die with an upwardly facing ledge and vertically extending, punch engaging surfaces and a punch having a downwardly facing ledge and vertically extending, die engaging surfaces, internally pressurizing the tube, and then ramming the punch downwardly to form the tube into the finally formed frame member, the ledges and vertically extending surfaces substantially completely enclosing a portion of the tube before and while the punch and die come together to form the tube into the finally formed frame member.

Abstract: A nonmagnetic austenitic stainless steel and articles produced therefrom, such as drill collars, having a 0.2% yield strength of at least 690 N/mm.sup.2 (100 ksi), excellent resistance to intergranular stress corrosion, good ductility, good corrosion resistance, very low magnetic permeability (less than 1.004) and resistance to galling and wear which is typically at least 50% better than found in previous drill collars, the steel and articles consisting essentially of, in weight percent, from greater than 0.05% to about 0.10% carbon, greater than 18% to about 22% manganese, about 12.5% to about 17% chromium, about 1.5% to about 5% nickel, about 0.2% to about 0.4% nitrogen, about 0.2% to about 0.7% vanadium, about 1% maximum copper, about 1% maximum molybdenum, about 2% to about 4% silicon, about 0.05% maximum phosphorus, about 0.03% maximum sulfur and balance essentially iron.

Abstract: The present invention produces a regular grain oriented electrical steel using a single cold reduction step having excellent and highly uniform magnetic quality. The method includes the steps of providing an electrical steel band having Mn of 0.024% or less in excess of that needed to combine with S and/or Se. The band is provided with an anneal at a temperature of from 900.degree.-1125.degree. C. (1650.degree.-2050.degree. F.) for a time up to 10 minutes and slowly cooled to 480.degree.-650.degree. C. (900.degree.-1200.degree. F.) followed by rapid cooling to a temperature below 100.degree. C. (212.degree. F.). The annealed band must have a critical amount of austenite, .gamma..sub.1150.degree. C., of 7% or more. The annealed band is cold reduced in a single stage to the desired final thickness. The strip is decarburized and provided with an annealing separator coating on one or more surfaces of the strip.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a frame member for an automobile from a tube blank applies internal hydraulic pressure to the blank, tangent bends and preforms the internally pressurized blank into a preformed tube having a desired horizontal profile configuration, then forms the preformed tube into a finally formed frame member having a desired vertical profile configuration and a desired, varying cross-sectional configuration by placing the preformed tube in a stuffing ledge apparatus having a lower die with an upwardly facing ledge and vertically extending, punch engaging surfaces and a punch having a downwardly facing ledge and vertically extending, die engaging surfaces, internally pressurizing the tube, and then ramming the punch downwardly to form the tube into the finally formed frame member, the ledges and vertically extending surfaces substantially completely enclosing a portion of the tube before and while the punch and die come together to form the tube into the finally formed frame member.

Abstract: Decarburized grain oriented silicon steel is provided with an annealing separator which forms a glass film after the final high temperature anneal. The magnesia used as the annealing separator has a total chlorine level of 0.01 to 0.20% by weight based on the weight of magnesia with at least 0.01% metal chloride selected from the group of Mg, Ca, Na and K. The chloride addition acts to seal the coating surface during the final anneal to control diffusion and stabilize the secondary grain growth. The glass film which forms during the anneal may be laser scribed for domain refinement without coating damage. The magnesia may also contain additions of phosphates, TiO.sub.2, SiO.sub.2, Cr and B. The temperature of the magnesia is maintained below 25.degree. C. to control hydration and eliminate the need for other additives in the magnesia slurry to control hydration.

Abstract: Acid concentrations are determined by the method and apparatus, particularly HCl acid for picking ferrous material. Specific gravity measurements are made on acid samples, diluted acid samples and water. Conductivity measurements are conducted on the diluted acid samples. The water dilution minimizes the influence of the metal salt in the sample to improve the conductivity measurements. The system calculates the acid concentration by a series of approximations using the conductivity data and the acid concentration - conductivity relationships to provide an accurate acid concentration which is easily automated by computer.

Abstract: The thermal flattening of grain oriented silicon steel which is in the semi-processed condition has improved magnetic properties after a stress relief anneal by using a low temperature and high tension flattening anneal. The flattening process is conducted at a temperature between 1000.degree. to 1435.degree. F. (540.degree. to 780.degree. C.) with a tension selected to produce a yield strength/tension ratio from above 5 to about 20 and preferably from 7 to 13. The yield strength of the material will vary depending on the length of the time at peak temperature but are typically from 400 to 4000 psi (29,200 to 292,000 gm/cm.sup.2). The material as thermally flattened will have at least about 10% stress. After a stress relief anneal above about 1450.degree. F. (785.degree. C.), the material has significantly improved core loss compared to conventional thermally flattened material. The material is particularly suited for wound transformer core applications.

Abstract: A substantially martensitic stainless steel as cast having good castability, ductility and capability of being hardened to a wide range of hardness, the steel consisting essentially of, in weight percent, up to about 0.08% carbon, about 1.0 to about 4.0% maganese, about 13.0 to about 17.0% chromium, about 1.5 to about 4.0% copper, up to about 0.12% nitrogen, less than about 1.0% silicon, less than about 1.0% molybdenum, less than 1.0% nickel, less than about 0.03% phosphorus, less than about 0.5% sulfur, up to about 0.005% boron, up to 0.5% niobium, vanadium, titanium and/or zirconium and balance essentially iron. The steels have particular utility in the production of cast golf clubs, forged golf clubs, cutlery, boat propellers and other cast, forged and wrought products, including free machining materials.

Abstract: An actuator comprising a housing having a chamber and a piston slidably received within the chamber. The housing is provided with an inlet port to the chamber for the introduction of an operating fluid to cause the piston to slide within the chamber. The housing is provided with means for releasably attaching the actuator relative to a stem to be actuated. Additionally, the housing includes a plug for sealing an aperture to the chamber and receiving the stem. The plug moves into the chamber to enable the piston to act upon the stem via the plug.