Abstract: A process and installation for heating a channel in which flows a mass of molten glass toward one or more forming machines. The channel includes a vault which carries at least one group of oxyfuel burners connected to a source of oxygen and to a source of fuel gas, these burners being so oriented as to produce curtains of flames directed towards the longitudinal marginal zones of the surface of the stream of molten glass.

Abstract: A method of protecting a roadway maintenance or construction site in which a crash cushion is suspended beneath a straddle carrier-type vehicle. The crash cushion preferably comprises an inertial system of free standing sand filled plastic containers or other suitable impact attenuator which in some cases is used with a backup structure. The vehicle is connected to a towing vehicle and is towed to the maintenance or construction site or can also be used in a self-propelled configuration. When the crash cushion is located in a position to block oncoming traffic at the site, it is lowered onto the roadway and disconnected from the straddle carrier-type vehicle. The towing vehicle and straddle carrier-type vehicle can then be removed from the site leaving the crash cushion in a fixed and favorable position relative to oncoming traffic.

Abstract: First, one end of a neck tube is adhesive bonded in an outwardly diverging frustoconical orifice of an inner vessel. The other end of the neck tube is then adhesive bonded in the outwardly converging frustoconical orifice of the upper part of the outer vessel. Thereafter the lower part of the outer vessel is welded or bonded to said upper part. The resulting container is useful for storing very high or very low temperature liquids.

Abstract: A process for refining pig iron from below the surface of a molten metal bath, and the resulting product, in which an oxidizing gas is injected in the bath and, during the last refining stage, a mixture of oxidizing gas and inert gas is further injected. The inert gas content x of the mixture is made to vary according to a law corresponding to an oxidizing gas dilution curve that is located in an area determined by two envelope curves, to wit, a first maximum dilution curve defined by the straight line portions:x=-766.7 %C+168.7 for 0.16<%C<0.22x=-550 %C+134 for 0.1<%C<0.16x=-233 %C+102 for %C<0.1and a second minimum dilution curve defined by the straight line portions:x=-1500 %C+255 for 0.14<%C<0.17x=-400 %C+101 for 0.1<%C<0.14x=-230 %C+84 for 0.05<%C<0.1x=-72.5 for %C<0.

Abstract: A mercury pump for analyzing geological core samples has a vertically oriented cylindrical cavity in which a lower portion forms a mercury displacement chamber and an upper portion in axial alignment with it forms a sample chamber. A pressure transducer, e.g., a strain gauge or solid-state sensor, in communication with the sample chamber produces an electrical pressure signal. A screw ball jack urges a synthetic-resin piston upwards in the displacement section to push the mercury into the sample chamber. The displacement of the mercury is sensed by an electronic encoder coupled to the hand crank of the jack, and provides data regarding both the direction and the amount of piston displacement. A microprocessor-controlled volume-measuring device has inputs connected to the encoder, and automatically provides core sample data, in response to the signals from the encoder, at the end of a core test run.

Abstract: The invention relates in particular to plasma cutting. The nozzle (5) is freely slidably mounted in the torch body so as to come into contact with the electrode if the torch is applied against the work piece (16). By disengaging the torch, an arc is struck between the electrode and the nozzle and then transferred to the work piece. Application in particular to low-power plasma torches.

Abstract: The invention relates to casting non-ferrous metal from a storage vessel of the said molten metal into a receiving vessel of the said metal in the form of a gravity-free jet. According to the process, an isolating zone from the ambient air, covering the said receiving vessel and the said zone is rendered inert by introducing a liquified inert gas prior to and during casting. The process applies in particular to the continuous casting of zinc into ingots molds.

Abstract: Compressibility test apparatus and method of testing compressibility. The apparatus includes a holder having a sample chamber for holding a sample in the environment of a confining pressure and means for supplying an internal pressure to the held sample. The sample and various conduits and channels that communicate with the sample define an internal system volume. Connected in this internal system volume is an internal volume adjustment pump that is operable to vary the internal system volume in incremental steps, by which the internal pressure is reduced (or increased) in steps to increase (or reduce) the net confining pressure. As a result, changes in the sample volume as a function of changes in the net confining pressure are determined, from which the compressibility of the sample is obtained.

Abstract: This burner is so designed as to be capable of operating in a stable manner with no risk of explosion with pure oxygen or air highly enriched with oxygen as the reactant. In one embodiment, a stream of oxygen is delivered through a central tube 4A which terminates in a divergent annular diffuser 30. A mixture of air and pulverized coal is delivered in an intermediate ring 15 around this diffuser and an annular stream of whirling oxygen is delivered in an outer ring 16. Application in indirect heating furnaces, furnaces in which slag exists and cement-making furnaces and in cases where special atmospheres (for example reducing atmospheres) are desired.

Abstract: The permeability of a core sample is measured during nonsteady state flow of fluid therethrough. A predetermined test pressure is supplied to an upstream end of the core sample while that sample is disposed in a fixed, closed volume and is subjected to a constant, predetermined confining pressure. The change in pressure across the core sample, with the passage of time, is measured; and the permeability of the core sample is determined as a function of the time-related measure of pressure change.

Abstract: This invention relates to arc working torches.To prevent the operator from touching the live electrode, the free end of the torch is provided with a cowling formed by a protective skirt on the one hand and on the other hand by a tilting stirrup hinged on this skirt which engages on the torch body while closing an electrical circuit forming part of the safety circuit of the torch. The invention is applied to manual plasma cutting torches.

Abstract: A method of protecting a roadway maintenance or construction site in which a crash cushion is mounted on the bed of a trailer or other unpowered wheeled vehicle. The crash cushion preferably comprises an intertial system of free standing sand-filled plastic containers or other suitable impact attenuator which in some cases is used with a backup structure. The unpowered vehicle is then connected to a powered towing vehicle and is towed to the maintenance or construction site. When the unpowered vehicle and its crash cushion are located in position to block oncoming traffic at the site, the unpowered vehicle is disconnected from the towing vehicle, to enable release of the towing vehicle for other purposes. The trailer bed of the unpowered vehicle is lowered relative to the vehicle wheels such that the bed rests on the roadway to thereby maintain the crash cushion in a fixed and favorable position relative to oncoming traffic.

Abstract: A viscosimeter measures the viscosity of a fluid, such as a petroleum hydrocarbon liquid, by driving a capillary through the fluid and measuring the pressure drop across the capillary. The viscosimeter comprises a pressure cylinder, a piston within the cylinder having at least one capillary tube, and an arrangement for driving the piston at a known speed so that the fluid is displaced at a known volumetric rate through the capillary tube. Pressure sensors on either end of the cylinder measure the capillary pressure drop. In a preferred embodiment, the piston has a main body and a selector plate. The main body has a plurality of capillary tubes each of a different bore size, and the selector plate is rotatable relative to the main body by rotating a selector handle outside the cylinder. An oven enclosure permits the cylinder, and its fill of fluid, to be heated in an air bath to reservoir temperatures.

Abstract: An assembly fixture for television sets consists of a top panel, a front panel secured to the top panel, and a pair of opposite side panels, each of the latter being secured to both the top and front panels, respectively. The assembly fixture, when used with a television set, is placed over that television set to encompass same, and the front panel has a main aperture therein through which the picture screen of the television set is viewed.

Abstract: A core holder is used in the nonsteady-state testing of permeability and other flow characteristics of a geological core sample. A reference pressure reservoir assembly contains a predetermined volume of test gas at a known pressure, and a gas operated valve admits this test gas rapidly to the upstream end of the core sample. The downstream end of the core sample is open to the atmosphere, and the pressure in the reference pressure reservoir assembly is monitored as it decays in time while the test gas passes through the core sample. The gas-operated valve is formed of an upstream plug, a gland fitting the plug, and a valve stem fitting into a generally cylindrical cavity formed in the plug and gland. The valve stem has an enlarged head at one end with an annular slot on a cylindrical surface thereof. This structure minimizes turbulence in the flow of the test gas through the valve assembly.

Abstract: According to the process, a mixture of powdered mineral substances is introduced at one end of a furnace and this mixture is heated, and the molten glass thus obtained is continuously discharged at the other end of the furnace. The mixture is heated by means of at least one air-fuel flame and at least one oxygen-fuel flame. A current of auxiliary gas which is concentric to and surrounds the oxygen-fuel flame is injected into the furnace.

Abstract: In a surface hardening process for metal parts by nitriding or carbonitriding, the parts to be treated are placed in a furnace and maintained at a temperature of between 490.degree. C. and 750.degree. C., in a nitrogen bearing atmosphere, such atmosphere formed by introducing into the furnace a gaseous mixture comprising in particular ammonia and an oxidizing gas for accelerating the catalytic dissociation of ammonia in contact with said parts. The oxidizing gas is nitrous oxide and the gaseous mixture contains about 0.1% to 10% by volume of nitrous oxide. The invention is well suited for the surface hardening of steel parts.

Abstract: In order to improve electric arc penetration of an arc welding torch, the angles of convergence .alpha. and .beta. of a sleeve and a nozzle of the torch are selected within an area which is inscribed in a quadrangular figure defined by the coordinates (.alpha., .beta.) with corners, or apices, at the four following points:______________________________________ .alpha. = 17.5 degrees S'.sub.1 : .beta. = 27.5 degrees .alpha. = 7.2 degrees S'.sub.2 : .beta. = 20 degrees .alpha. = 7.5 degrees S'.sub.3 : .beta. = 15 degrees .alpha. = 17.5 degrees S'.sub.4 : .beta. = 7.5 degrees ______________________________________The disclosed arc welding torch is favorably employed in an inert gas welding process.

Abstract: A pressure or differential pressure detector is hardened to be suitable for use in a hostile environment, for example, under high pressure, temperature, and radiation conditions which could possibly be present in the containment vessel of a nuclear generating plant. A linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) disposed within a detector housing is designed to sustain temperatures up to or exceeding 500.degree. F. A signal detecting and conditioning circuit disposed remote from the detector housing includes demodulator means for producing X and Y demodulated signals respectively from A and B secondary windings of the LVDT, a summing circuit for producing a temperature analog voltage X+Y, a subtractor for providing a differential pressure analog voltage X-Y, and a multiplier for multiplying the differential pressure analog voltage X-Y by a temperature compensation voltage X+Y-Ref based on the temperature analog voltage to provide a resulting temperature-compensated differential pressure analog signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cutting metal rods into shorter lengths comprising a movable cutting line (A) which is made up of a portal bench (1) which can slide transversely on rails (B) to align itself with a stored bundle of rods, the bench (1) having a first extraction device (2) for the partial extraction of a bundle of rods (b) from the store, arranged so as to transfer onto the feed and cutting line (X--X) a sub-bundle of rods (b') to a second extraction device (3) for subsequent extraction consisting of gripper-pincers (3.1) which can be moved alternately backwards and forwards along the line (X--X), placed upstream of shears (4), which operate in conjunction with a similar device (5) for subsequent extraction and feed placed downstream of the shears.