Abstract: A method and apparatus for repairing "hot spots" in a refractory lined wall, applicable especially to blast furnaces. A plurality of relatively closely spaced couplings are affixed in advance to a metal shell which overlies the refractory lining. When a hot spot is observed, a jig is installed successively on couplings overlying the hot spot and holes are drilled in the shell. The couplings accommodate a grouting machine which injects grouting material through the holes.

Abstract: An adjustable spring latch for doors of coke ovens or the like. The latch includes springs which urge the door into tight engagement with the jamb. The force exerted by the springs can be adjusted by turning a spindle. The latch also includes sight pins which afford a visual indication of the force exerted by the springs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forging large irregular shapes in a closed-die operation, particularly for forging a blank to be machined to form a fluid end piece of a pump. The blank has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped body and a block projecting sideways from the body. The apparatus has a die opening of a shape to form the blank. In a single operation in a conventional open-die press a heated workpiece is upset and a portion squeezed sideways to form the block.

Abstract: A method and mechanism for forming a hole through a forged workpiece. During the forging operation an indentation is formed in the upper surface of the workpiece. While the workpiece remains in the forging press, a trepanning tool is placed in the indentation and the top die of the press is used to force the tool almost through the workpiece leaving a thin wall at the bottom of the hole. The workpiece either may be removed from the press while the wall is knocked out to complete the hole, or preferably the workpiece remains in the press and the top die is used to knock out the wall. If the workpiece remains in the press, preferably it is supported on a locating ring which aligns the workpiece and trepanning tool with the top die. Also disclosed is an improved trepanning tool which has external and internal sloping faces extending around its circumference at its lower end.

Abstract: A shear plug particularly for use in combination with a load cell in the roll-rack of a continuous-casting machine. The plug includes a body which has a shallow recess in one face and an axially aligned and preferably deeper recess in the other face, and a wall separating the recesses. The shallow recess receives the end of a load cell of smaller dimensions. On application of an overload the load cell punches out a tapered segment from the wall. The plug does not expand sideways when it fails and is readily removed from the surrounding mechanism.

Abstract: A car for carrying large vessels, such as a tundish used in continuous casting, wherein the vessel is raised and lowered while supported on the car. The car embodies a raising-and-lowering mechanism which includes only two synchronized fluid-pressure cylinders, contrasted with the usual four cylinders or screw jacks. The cylinders transmit movement to the vessel through rack and pinion means.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for discharging freshly reduced material from a shaft furnace and controlling release of spent reducing gases so that they are not a hazard. The apparatus includes a pair of surge bins and means for directing material selectively to either bin. Gas-seal valves having purge means are located above the respective bins. Gas-seal flapper valves are located below and are movable to positions wholly out of the path of material discharging from the bins.

Abstract: An eccentric shaft particularly for driving a large reciprocating pump, and a method of making the shaft. The shaft includes an elongated cylindrical body, a plurality of small eccentric discs uniformly spaced along the length of the body, and optionally one or more concentric gear flanges, all formed as a single integral forging. Relatively large eccentric discs are shrink-fitted and keyed to the small eccentric discs.

Abstract: A latch mechanism for coke-oven doors, which mechanism includes combination radial thrust bearings for the latch bars. These bearings afford adjustability in all directions for the latch bars to enable force to be applied uniformly to the sealing strips which extend around the perimeter of the door.

Abstract: An inertia bar to be installed in a well between a sucker rod string and a subsurface pump. A string of the bars adds weight to the sucker rod string and maintains it under tension throughout a pumping cycle. A sufficient number of the bars are used to place a neutral zone within the inertia bars. The neutral zone is a zone in which there is neither tension nor compression in the bars. The body of each bar has a relatively large diameter, which for example may be the same as the outside diameter of the couplings used to connect the individual sucker rods. The bar has pins at its ends for engaging the couplings, which pins have the same dimension as standard sucker rod pins. The bar can be engaged by a conventional elevator when it is to be removed from a well.

Abstract: A sealing means for a coke oven chuck door. The sealing means includes a metal sealing member which has springiness and flexibility and is supported cantilever fashion on the inside of the door frame. An insulation block is interposed between the sealing member and door frame. The sealing member has a knife edge flange which extends around its perimeter and is automatically aligned with a sealing surface on the main door on which the chuck door is mounted.

Abstract: A tab for an easy-open can. The tab carries an anodic insert of zinc, zinc-plated steel or equivalent to prevent corrosion. The insert underlies the tab where white rust which forms on zinc is hidden from view.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for electromagnetic testing of magnetic and/or electrically conductive materials. The apparatus includes the usual test probe which carries excitation and pickup coils and is placed against a test piece of magnetic and/or electrically conductive material. The invention eliminates inaccuracies in the test caused by variable distances or gaps between the probe and test piece surface. Properties of the test pieces are determined by applying a controlled alternating drive current to the excitation coil so as to produce a predetermined a-c voltage in the pickup coil and measuring the drive current applied to the excitation coil when the time-integral of the voltage induced in the a-c pickup coil corresponds to zero magnetic flux in the gaps.

Abstract: A sealing means for doors of a railroad hopper car and an apparatus and method for forming a sealing strip. The sealing means comprises a preformed strip of RTV silicone rubber fixed to the door at its edges and receiving a flange on the door frame. Preferably the strip is formed by extruding RTV silicone rubber from a traversing head onto a screen.

Abstract: A pipe-thread protector which includes a molded plastic drum-shaped body and a solid metal band encircling the body. The body has a corrugated outer circumferential wall, a concentric inner wall spaced from the outer wall, and a corrugated web joining the two walls at one end. An end wall is joined to the inner wall. The other end of the outer wall carries an integral ring. The inside of the outer wall has lengthwise ribs which have internal screw threads. The space between the walls forms an annular pocket for receiving the end portion of a pipe, while the internal threads engage the pipe threads and the ring snugly receives the pipe beyond the threads.

Abstract: A subsurface pumping installation in which solvent or diluent is introduced to the well from the surface and blends with the well fluid to enable it to be pumped more readily. The diluent is introduced through a power tubing which may be either concentric with the casing or concentric with a production tubing within the casing. A mixture of well fluid and diluent is conducted to the surface through an annulus which surrounds the power tubing. The diluent is injected into the well fluid in a blending chamber inside the pump, where it blends effectively without loss into the formation around the pump.

Abstract: A car for transporting a ladle of hot metal and charging the metal to a furnace, commonly a BOP or Q-BOP used in steelmaking. The car includes a transversely movable trolley which carries a tiltable support for a ladle. Tilting of the ladle is independent of transverse movement of the trolley. Thus the car can be positioned adjacent the furnace, and the ladle moved tranversely and tilted to dump its contents into the furnace even though the furnace itself is not tilted to a precise position.

Abstract: A protective device for preventing a machine, such as a reversing roll stand, from receiving a new workpiece unless the machine has been reset after the previous workpiece leaves. The device includes an electronic circuit which is set automatically when the previous workpiece leaves and is reset when the machine is reset. In the example of a roll stand, the circuit permits a reverse pass and another forward pass even though the stand is not reset.

Abstract: A device for skimming floating material from a body of liquid, particularly useful with a pipe galvanizing apparatus for skimming dross from a zinc bath. The device includes paddles pivoted to a reciprocating carriage for dragging floating material to an edge of the vessel. The paddles pivot to positions in which their faces lie parallel with the direction of carriage movement to avoid pushing material back toward the interior of the vessel during return strokes of the carriage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for locating improperly positioned or bent rolls among a set of rolls which define a confined path of travel for a workpiece, particularly useful for checking a straight or curved roll-rack of a continuous-casting machine. The apparatus may be propelled through the path defined by the rolls by any suitable mechanism. For example, as applied to a roll-rack, the apparatus may be attached to the upper end of a starter bar and propelled with the bar through the rack, or the apparatus may be suspended from a hoist and pulled through the rack. The apparatus includes a housing and means within the housing for measuring the gap between work-engaging faces of the rolls and-or, when used with a curved roll-rack, means for measuring the angular relation of adjacent bottom rolls. The latter measurement is used in determining whether the work-engaging faces lie on arcs of the intended radii.