Abstract: Method and apparatus to spray the interior surface of a refractory lined vessel that receives molten metal where the interior refractory surface of the vessel is most prone to erode. Supply pipes are introduced into the vessel and are pivotally supported on an upper portion of the vessel to pivot about angularly related axis, such as horizontal and vertical axis. Said pipes are pivoted around at least one of said axis while water is propelled through said elongated pipe to a corroded portion of said interior surface to remove scale from and clean said corroded surface. Air entrained granulated refractory material, preferably mixed with water to form a slurry, is propelled through said pipe to coat the clean interior surface. A movable end portion is hingedly connected to said elongated pipe to provide for the angular control of said movable end portion.

Abstract: Method and apparatus to spray the interior surface of a refractory body, such as a blast furnace having circumferentially spaced windows above its mantle, each facing a different wall portion where the interior surface of the shell is most prone to corrode. Two window operations can be employed simultaneously to introduce supply pipes pivotally supported for pivoting about angularly related axes, such as horizontal and vertical axes, and pivoted about at least one of said axes while water is propelled through said elongated pipe to a corroded portion of said interior surface to remove scale from and clean said corroded surface. Air entrained granulated refractory material, preferably mixed with water to form a slurry, is propelled through said pipe to coat the clean interior surface. The two process operation is repeated for each window to clean and reline the entire perimeter of the wall portion if required.

Abstract: A pair of frame members are secured to the ends of pair of adjacent generally circular ducts. Each frame member has a generally circular configuration and has an inner vertical wall, an outer vertical wall. The outer vertical wall is connected to a sloped rigidifying portion which extends outwardly from the inner vertical wall. Both the inner and outer vertical walls have horizontally extending flanges which are in abutting relation and their end portions are clampingly engaged. The frame members have a circumferential dimension less than the circumferential dimension of the duct member so that a gap is formed in the circular frame member. The frame members are positioned on the duct end portions by inserting the frame member flange portions inside the duct end portions with the top surface of the frame member upper flange abutting the underside of the duct.

Abstract: A continuous mining machine is provided which includes a frame assembly having a material dislodging head mounted on one end of the frame. Ground engaging traction treads or wheels propel the machine within a mine to advance the dislodging head into a mine face to dislodge material therefrom. The mining machine also includes roof support apparatus capable of assuming a free-standing position separated from the mining machine to install supports in the roof above the mining machine as the mining machine continuously advances. The roof support apparatus includes a transverse beam having a pair of end portions extending outwardly from the sides of the frame assembly. Connected to the ends of the transverse beam are a pair of support assemblies each including apparatus for lifting the roof support apparatus vertically off the mining machine and initially supporting the mine roof.

Abstract: A roof anchor for supporting an underground mine roof or the like is provided. The roof anchor has an elongated shaft with a head formed at one end. The head supports a washer and a roof supporting plate that surrounds the mouth of a blind bore formed upwardly into the roof. A resin capsule is positioned within the blind bore above the roof anchor. The shaft of the roof anchor has an adjustably securable annular washer surrounding the shaft. The annular washer is fixed in a position so that when the resin capsule is ruptured to release the resin to blind the roof anchor within the bore hole, the resin completely fills the bore hole from the blind end of the bore to the rigid annular washer fixed to the shaft of the roof anchor.

Abstract: A mechanical anchor including an expansion shell and an expansion plug positioned in the shell is engaged with the end of a bar having helically extending rib segments formed on the outer surface of the bar. The expansion plug has an internal bore defining a wall having a configuration to receive and mate with the helically extending rib segments formed on the outer surface of the bar. The mechanical anchor and a portion of the bar are inserted in a bore hole drilled in a rock formation and, upon rotation of the bar in a preselected direction, the expansion plug nonrotatably moves down the bar to expand the shell into engagement with the bore hole wall. As the shell engages the bore hole wall, the bar is mechanically anchored within the bore hole by the mechanical anchor.

Abstract: A plurality of individual openings provided in a sheet strip material by a stamping device are passed in succession through a monitoring station positioned adjacent the outlet of the stamping device. As each individual opening is passed through the monitoring station, the monitoring station produces a plurality of voltage signals which identify the progress of each opening through the monitoring station and the progress of the sheet strip material through the stamping device. A controller is provided having an input for receiving the plurality of voltage signals produced as each opening is passed through the monitoring station and an output connected to the stamping device. Within the controller, the plurality of voltage signals identifying the progress of an individual opening through the monitoring station are compared to the plurality of voltage signals identifying the progress of a following opening through the monitoring station.

Abstract: A translucent end block which may be secured to an exposed side or top abutting surface of a translucent block includes a pair of parallel upper and lower surfaces spaced from each other and having generally the same preselected shape. A pair of side walls extend between the upper and lower surfaces and are joined to the upper and lower surfaces. The pair of side walls each have first wall portions positioned in parallel, spaced relation with each other and nonparallel second wall portions. A first end wall is positioned between the pair of side walls first wall portions and is joined to the upper and lower surfaces and to the pair of side walls first wall portions. The end block is secured to an exposed side or top abutting surface of a translucent block which forms a part of a translucent block wall structure to provide a translucent block wall structure having usable top or side surfaces.

Abstract: A lifting device adapted to be connected to a tractor scoop includes a plurality of first lifting members adapted to be positioned in overlying relation with a bottom wall of the scoop. One end of each first lifting member is adapted to be pivotally connected to the rear wall of the scoop, and the second free end of each first lifting member extends forward of the open front portion of the scoop. A second lifting member is pivotally connected to each first lifting member, and each second lifting member is also adapted to be pivotally connected to a horizontally movable pusher member positioned within the scoop. A support member or saddle is pivotally secured to the free end of each first lifting member, and a roof support member is supported by the plurality of saddles. The roof support member is raised into abutting contact with a mine roof above the scoop by moving the pusher member positioned in the scoop horizontally towards the open front of the scoop.

Abstract: A marking device includes a plurality of individual marking pin assemblies. Each marking pin assembly is spaced an angular distance from each adjacent marking pin assembly in the marking device to form a generally fan-shaped array. An arcuate object to be marked by the marking device is placed on an object support plate. As the arcuate object is rotated on the object support plate, the plurality of marking pin assemblies in the marking device operate to selectively imprint a plurality of preselected characters in the circumference of the arcuate object.

Abstract: A nonwoven composite fibrous material adaptable as an insulation medium is formed by a loose layer of inorganic fibers, such as rock wool, glass, ceramic, carbon-graphite or the like, bonded together by at least one carrier web layer positioned on a surface of the inorganic fibrous layer. The carrier web layer is a blend of inorganic fibers and organic fibers with the organic fibers comprising about 1% or less by weight of the total nonwoven composite fibrous material. Both organic and inorganic fibers of the carrier web are advanced into interlocking relation with the fibers of the inorganic layer by needle punching the carrier web.

Abstract: A rabble arm adapted to be connected to a rotatable center shaft of a multiple hearth furnace includes an elongated tubular member having an open end portion and an opposite closed end portion. The tubular member has an outside surface of substantially oval cross-sectional configuration and an inside surface arranged to form a hollow interior portion connected with the tubular member open end portion. The oval cross-sectional configuration of the tubular member outside surface defines a tubular member major axis and a tubular member minor axis displaced from the major axis by substantially 90.degree. C. A socket is connected to the tubular member open end portion. The socket and tubular member may include partitions or tubes which are connected upon assembly to form a flow path through the socket and tubular member for receiving a circulating cooling medium.

Abstract: A self-propelled continuous mining machine includes a mobile frame assembly having a front end portion with a boom assembly pivotally retained thereon. The outer end portion of the boom assembly carries a dislodging head for removing material from a mine face. A plurality of connections pivotally connects the boom assembly to the mobile frame assembly. A dust collecting system is positioned on the mobile frame assembly for inducing a flow of air through a hollow interior portion of the boom assembly. As the dislodging head removes material from a mine face, the dust collecting system draws airborne dust created by the dislodging head through a hollow interior of the boom assembly and into the collecting system mounted on the mobile frame assembly.

Abstract: A telescoping nozzle assembly adapted to be secured to the pouring opening of a container to facilitate pouring of fluid from the container includes a base member adapted to be received in the container pouring opening. A helically formed member is provided having an end portion secured to the base member and an opposite end portion shaped in the form of a pull-tab member. The helically formed member is extendible from a normally collapsed helical condition within the container pouring opening to an elongated helical condition. A resilient covering surrounds the helically formed member and is extendible with the helically formed member from the normally collapsed helical condition to the elongated helical condition. The resilient covering has a bottom surface portion sealingly connected with the base member, and an open top surface portion which defines a generally circular opening in the resilient covering.

Abstract: Apparatus for movably supporting an object to be marked comprising a table assembly supported for linear reciprocating movement on a fixed platform. A generally U-shaped support member mounts a marking device for linear movement relative to the support member adjacent the table assembly. A first drive moves the marking device and a second drive moves the table assembly. The U-shaped support member can be arranged in two different positions relative to the table assembly so as to mark either a vertical surface or a horizontal surface of an object.

Abstract: A conditioner for cooling and cleaning hot exhaust gas containing particulates has an enclosure partially filled with liquid and a gas conditioning means positioned within the enclosure. Hot exhaust gas entering the conditioning means passes through a liquid induction portion submerged in the liquid to introduce a portion of the liquid into the hot gas stream within the gas conditioner means to form a gas-liquid mixture. The hot exhaust gas-liquid mixture then flows through a contact portion of the conditioning means in which cooling of the hot exhaust gas takes place through vaporization of at least a portion of the liquid. The cooled exhaust gas-liquid mixture is then passed through a separator portion of the conditioning means in which the direction of the flow of the cooled exhaust gas-liquid mixture is changed.

Abstract: A plurality of individual frames or stampings provided in a sheet strip material by a stamping device are passed in proximity to a sensing device. As each individual frame or stamping is passed in proximity to the sensing device, the sensing device provides a voltage signal to a controller. The voltage signal is proportional to the amount of, or mass of, metallic material in each frame or stamping and the distance between the frame or stamping and the sensing device. The controller generates an individual waveform from the voltage signal for each frame passed in proximity to the sensing device. Each individual waveform is a function of the position of the movable portion of the stamping device for one cycle. As the plurality of individual frames are passed in proximity to the sensing device, a plurality of individual waveforms are generated within the controller. The waveforms are compared within the controller to detect a deviation between waveforms.

Abstract: A plurality of individual marks are imprinted in the surface of an object to form a plurality of substantially linear, rectangular arrays of preselected width in the surface of the object. Each imprinted substantially linear, rectangular array is spaced a preselected distance from each adjacent imprinted, substantially linear, rectangular array to provide a space of preselected width. The preselected width substantially linear, rectangular arrays and preselected width spaces are combined in alternating fashion to provide a bar code message in the surface of the object.

Abstract: A self-propelled vehicle maneuverable in an underground mine includes an elongated body having a forward end portion with a boom assembly mounted thereon. The boom assembly includes a pair of boom members that are telescopically arranged to vary the overall length of the boom. A material handling device is secured to the end portion of the boom assembly and is operable to perform various material handling operations in the mine. A support arrangement secures the boom assembly to the front of the vehicle. A pair of double acting piston cylinder assemblies are mounted on the mobile body and are connected to the support arrangement for laterally swinging the boom assembly relative to the elongated body. The boom assembly is also connected to the support arrangement for upward and downward pivotal movement independently of the lateral swinging movement by operation of a pair of pivoting cylinders.