Abstract: Process and apparatus for forming a plastic coating on a metal strip. A metal strip is cleaned, surface treated, coated with an electrostatically charged plastic powder in an enclosed chamber using a plurality of spray guns positioned on both sides of the strip, inductively heated to above the melting point of the powder, and maintained in an infrared heater until the fused powder is flowed into a coating having a smooth surface and a uniform thickness. Thermoplastic and thermosetting coatings, having thicknesses of at least 10 microns formed using total induction and infrared heating times of less than 60 seconds, can be fabricated without cracking.

Abstract: Lubrication system for a centrifugal pump having a bearing mounted around a rotatable vertical shaft. The lubrication system includes a reservoir for holding a quantity of lubricant, structure for withdrawing lubricant from the reservoir, a stator, and a passageway for communicating lubricant from the reservoir to the bearing. The withdrawing structure includes a rotor connected to the vertical shaft. The stator encircles the rotor with the rotor and stator extending axially into the reservoir. The stator minimizes vortexing and churning of the lubricant in the reservoir during rotation of the rotor. Dynamic seals are not necessary with the lubrication system. Accordingly, concern of heat generation and wear associated with dynamic seals has been eliminated.

Abstract: Drilling equipment including apparatus for laterally moving a direct drive drilling unit to a position offset from the centerline of a well. The drilling equipment includes a traveling block suspended for generally vertical travel within a derrick during drilling of a well, a direct drive drilling unit suspendable from the traveling block, means for guiding the drilling unit during drilling and apparatus connected to the derrick for moving the drilling unit laterally relative to the axis of the well to an offset position. The drilling unit includes a drill motor and a drive sleeve for threadably connecting the drill motor to a drill string in the well. The guide means includes a first pair of rails connected to the derrick and extending parallel to the axis of the well. The apparatus includes a second pair of rails and means for supporting the drilling unit. The second pair of rails is positionable below and in alignment with the first pair of rails when the support means is in the offset position.

Abstract: Continuous hot dip aluminum coated ferritic chromium alloy steel strip. Strip is cleaned by heating to a temperature no greater than about 650.degree. C. in a direct fired furnace. The cleaned strip is further heated in a protective atmosphere containing at least 95% by volume hydrogen, cooled in the protective hydrogen atmosphere to near or slightly above the melting point of an aluminum coating metal, and passed into a bath of the aluminum coating metal. The low direct fired furnace cleaning temperature and hydrogen protective atmosphere provides good wetting of a chromium alloy steel surface to prevent uncoated areas or pin holes in the aluminum coated layer.

Abstract: Method for forming a laminate and a product formed therefrom. A thin layer of oil is applied to a facing surface of at least one of a plurality of adjacent sheets and a wax is applied along the longitudinal edges of a facing surface of at least one of the sheets. The sheets are combined into a laminate by being passed between a pair of rollers which apply sufficient pressure to remove excess oil from between the facing surfaces and to spread the wax thereby forming a continuous seal along the longitudinal edges of the laminate. Air between the facing surfaces is displaced by the oil and the wax forms the seal to prevent reentry of the air and seepage of the oil along the longitudinal edges of the laminate. The laminate is tightly held together to permit handling or fabrication without delamination.

Abstract: Galvannealed electroplated steel strip. The strip is heated to an alloying temperature of at least about 427.degree. C. using an induction coil operated at a frequency to produce an eddy current penetration depth of one-half the strip thickness. The diffusion temperature and time are controlled to minimize the formation of brittle gamma alloy phases in the zinc/iron alloy coating.

Abstract: Spliced structural members for supporting a traffic deck on a short span bridge. A spliced structural member includes a plurality of metal box-shaped girder segments placed end to end and splice channels nested around the adjacent ends of the girder segments. A spliced joint is formed by connecting the splice channels to the adjacent ends of the girder segments. The spliced joint has at least 75% of the flexural and shear strength of the girder segments and provides continuity for structural strength and rigidity for the spliced structural member.

Abstract: A positive lock for a drive assembly joint. In a top driven drilling machine, the motor for rotating the drill string is threadably connected to a drill pipe by the drive assembly. The lock eliminates the need for overtorquing and prevents loosening of the drive assembly joint when using the motor to break the connection between the drive assembly and the drill pipe. The lock also prevents tightening or damage to the joint during drilling. Costs and maintenance associated with an upper wrench are eliminated since the upper wrench is no longer required for making and breaking pipe connections.

Abstract: Method for forming a laminate and a product formed thereof. A thin layer of oil is applied to a facing surface of at least one a plurality of adjacent laminations. The laminations are passed between a pair of rollers which apply sufficient pressure to remove excess oil between the facing surfaces. The air between the facing surfaces is displaced and the remaining oil forms a seal to prevent reentry of the air. The laminate is tightly held together to permit handling or fabrication without delamination.

Abstract: An austenitic Fe-Cr-Mn-N stainless steel is characterized by a combination of improved castability in terms of yield and speed and the development of excellent strength and ductility levels in the cold worked condition. The low alloy stainless steel consists essentially of, in weight percent, from about 13% to 17% chromium, about 8% to 12% manganese, about 0.05% to 0.2% carbon, about 0.15% to 0.23% nitrogen, about 1.5% maximum nickel, about 1% maximum molybdenum, about 1% maximum silicon, about 1% maximum copper and balance essentially iron. The steel composition is particularly suited for cold-drawn wire which develops an ultimate tensile strength of at least about 250 ksi with elongations of at least about 10%.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for coating the top surface of a high speed metal sheet with a thin film of lubricant having a uniform thickness. The apparatus includes a header assembly positioned above the moving sheet, a plurality of spray nozzles inclined at an angle relative to the oncoming sheet, and a solenoid operated valve to control flow of lubricant through each of the spray nozzles. The orifice of each nozzle is sized to produce a mist. The angle of inclination of the spray nozzles is sufficiently large so that the mist is generally sprayed above rather than toward the sheet. The method includes selecting a specific spray nozzle arrangement and adjusting the header assembly so that the span of the mist corresponds to the width of the metal sheet. An extremely thin and uniform thickness of lubricant film is formed on the sheet as the particles of mist settle onto the sheet. Waste of lubricant is minimized.

Abstract: Ultra-rapid annealing of grain oriented electrical steel to a temperature prior to the final high temperature anneal results in improved texture and smaller secondary grain size. The ultra-rapid anneal requires heating the strip to a temperature above about 675.degree. C. (1250.degree. F.) at a rate above 100.degree. C. per second (180.degree. F. per second). The ultra-rapid anneal is performed after the first stage of cold rolling and prior to or as part of the decarburization anneal. The material will survive a subsequent stress relief anneal and may be further improved by various domain treatments. The ultra-rapid anneal increases productivity and procedures improved core loss properties.

Abstract: Oriented silicon steel is heated in a slab furnace at temperatures above 1260.degree. C. prior to hot rolling. The slab surfaces in the furnace are exposed to molten slag, variable atmosphere conditions and refractory interaction from the hearth. The slab surface prior to hot rolling has a major importance for cold rolling and the quality of the glass film.A rapid oxidation treatement of the slab just prior to the scale breaker or first rolling stand corrects a silicon-free iron layer condition which causes streaks in the glass film. The oxidation treatment blows gas having at least 30% oxygen for a sufficient time and velocity to provide a surface which will develop a continuous fayalite layer in subsequent processing and provide for the formation of a continuous glass film.

Abstract: Ultra-rapid annealing of nonoriented electrical steel is conducted at a rate above 100.degree. C. per second on prior to or as part of the strip decarburization and/or annealing process to provide an improved texture and, thereby, improved permeability and reduced core loss. During the ultra-rapid heating of cold-rolled strip, the recrystallization texture is enhanced by more preferential nucleation of {100}<uvw> and {110}<uvw> oriented crystals and reduced formation of {111}<uvw> oriented crystals. The preferred practice has a heating rate above 262.degree. C. per second to a peak temperature between 750.degree. C. and 1150.degree. C. and held at temperature for 0 to 5 minutes.

Abstract: Method for forming a laminate and a product formed thereof. A thin layer of oil is applied to a facing surface of at least one of a plurality of adjacent laminations. The laminations are passed between a pair of rollers which apply sufficient pressure to remove excess oil between the facing surfaces. The air between the facing surfaces is displaced and the remaining oil forms a seal to prevent reentry of the air. The laminate is tightly held together to permit handling or fabrication without delamination.

Abstract: Continuously hot dip aluminum coated ferritic chromium alloy steel strip. After the steel has been given a pretreatment to remove surface contaminants, the steel is protected in a hydrogen atmosphere until it is passed into the molten aluminum coating metal. The coating metal readily wets the steel surface to prevent uncoated areas or pin holes in the coating layer.

Abstract: A spring actuated guide system for a top driven drilling machine. Rollers for guiding the drilling machine are mounted onto springs which urge the rollers into contact with support surfaces on parallel tracks within a derrick. If the tracks become misaligned, the springs allow for the misalignment with low roller loads thereby providing limited rotational movement of the drilling machine relative to the tracks. Premature failure of the roller bearings is prevented and wear on the rollers and tracks is reduced.

Abstract: A method of fluidizing a cold lime-silica slag covering a molten metal. An acid flux is prepared from a particulate admixture of sodium fluoroaluminate and sodium silicate. The flux is mixed with the cold slag forming a fluid slag having at least 1% by weight F- and at least 1% by weight Na.sub.2 O. The treated slag has a reduced melting point allowing it to be mechanically skimmed from the molten metal and has a high sulfur capacity.

Abstract: A carbon or alloy steel heat treated grinding rod having improved wear resistance and breaking resistance for use in a rotating grinding mill. The surface of the rod has a martensitic microstructure having a hardness of at least HRC 55. The core of the rod has a bainitic microstructure having a hardness of at least HRC 40. A preferred rod composition includes at least 0.7% carbon, at least 0.25% of molybdenum, at least 0.25% chromium, less than 0.7% manganese, the balance iron and unavoidable impurities, all percentages by weight.

Abstract: A nonmagnetic austenitic stainless steel and articles such as drill collars or boat shafts fabricated therefrom, the steel having a 0.2% yield strength of at least 100 ksi (689 N/mm.sup.2), improved resistance to intergranular stress corrosion, good ductility, good corrosion resistance and low magnetic permeability, and consisting essentially of, in weight percent, from greater than 0.05% to about 0.10% carbon, greater than 14% to about 18% manganese, about 15% to about 20% chromium, about 1% to about 3.5% nickel, about 0.3% to about 0.55% nitrogen, about 0.10% to about 0.5% vanadium, about 1.0% maximum copper, about 1.0% maximum molybdenum, about 1.0% maximum silicon, about 0.04% maximum phosphorous, about 0.03% maximum sulfur, and balance essentially iron.