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, and also can tilt to dump its contents. The car includes a vessel-supporting cradle which tilts from an upright position about an off-center axis located near the bottom and adjacent the side toward which the cradle tilts. Thus the contents of the vessel can be dumped without shifting the car from the position it occupies for teeming metal from a tundish into a mold. Jack screws, which raise and lower the vessel and support the weight, are stressed in tension.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a multiple-plant gas-producing facility which is subject to wide variations in the demand for its output. The invention is particularly applicable to an oxygen-producing facility for a steelmaking operation in which there are two independently operable oxygen-producing plants. It is impractical to shut down an oxygen-producing plant when its output temporarily is not needed. During periods of reduced demand conventional practice is to operate one plant at its normal rate to supply the needed oxygen and operate the other plant at a reduced rate and waste excess oxygen which cannot be liquefied and stored. The invention provides a way of combining the outputs of two plants, whereby both plants can operate at reduced rates during periods of reduced demand, and large scale waste is avoided.

Abstract: A subsurface pumping installation for handling viscous or sand-laden fluids. The installation includes parallel power and production tubing strings, a pump located at the bottom of the power tubing string, and a crossover which affords communication between the pump and the production tubing string. Diluent is conducted to the well through the power tubing string. A portion of the diluent is conducted to the pump barrel below the plunger, where it serves to exclude well fluid from the plunger. Another portion may be conducted through a bypass tube to a mixing chamber below the pump, where it mixes with well fluid.

Abstract: A method and mechanism for controlling forces exerted between opposed roll-pairs of a continuous-casting machine and a casting traveling therebetween. Each roll pair is equipped with a load cell for measuring the force. If the force at any roll-pair deviates from the norm, it is an indication that the dimension of the gap between rolls of that pair requires correction. Correction is effected through a screw threaded adjusting means.

Abstract: A chemical machining method and apparatus for forming an internal tpaer in the walls of a sleeve-like body, such as a copper liner of a continuous-casting mold. The body is partially filled with an etching solution, whereby the inside faces of the body are exposed to a pool of the solution. The pool is agitated by blowing air therethrough. By proper control of the rate at which the level of the pool rises or falls within the body, any form of linear or curvilinear taper can be obtained.

Abstract: A one-piece stamped metal fence post cap aligns and attaches the top rail of a fence. The cap enables the top rail to extend at a range of vertical angles with respect to the post, depending on the terrain. It covers the ragged, exposed end of the post. It can be formed from precoated metal or can be easily coated after fabrication.

Abstract: A mechanism for adjusting the edge rolls of a guide roll rack of a continuous casting machine to accommodate castings of different width. The edge rolls are journaled in bearing brackets mounted on the frame of the roll-rack for movement in and out. Each bearing bracket is connected to a respective screw jack. Shafts and gearing mounted on the outside of the frame operate the screw jacks.

Abstract: A suction stabilizer for reciprocating pumps and method of stabilizing the inflow of liquid to the suction side of the pump. The stabilizer comprises a substantially cylindrical tank, a perforate-walled cage at one end of the tank, and a flexible resilient gas-filled bladder within the cage. Liquid passes through the tank as it moves from a source to the suction side of the pump. Between suction strokes the liquid compresses gas in the bladder. During suction strokes the pressure of the gas adds to the head of liquid entering the pump. The invention involves critical ratios of the tank volume to both the pump displacement and the bladder volume.

Abstract: A piston and piston rod construction for use in a double-acting reciprocating pump, and a method of flushing a piston-type pump. The piston has spaced apart rubbers mounted on a body intermediate its length. The rubbers have confronting lips. Each rubber alternately is the working rubber and the idle rubber as the pump operates. Fluid under a pressure greater than the pump discharge pressure is introduced to the space between rubbers, where it is effective to flush particles from the surface of the liner in front of the working rubber.

Abstract: A blast furnace hearth constructed of carbon blocks and having an initially dished upper face. The hearth includes a plurality of courses of full carbon beams and a plurality of courses of stub carbon beams. Each course of the latter extends from the outer wall toward the center of the furnace, and the stub beams of each course are progressively shorter from the lowermost upwardly. The hearth provides longer life without requiring proportionately as much carbon as a flat hearth of equivalent life.

Abstract: A supporting structure for a blast furnace in which the mantle and stack are supported on columns spaced a substantial distance from the furnace. Trusses and girders span the spaces between columns. The girders carry a frame which surrounds the furnace above the mantle. Hangers are suspended from the frame and girders and connected to the mantle. The supporting structure has advantages that it allows more room for maintenance of the furnace, and that there is little likelihood of damage to the columns in the event of a burnout.

Abstract: A sliding gate valve assembly adapted for use in the pouring of metals comprises a sliding gate member arranged for sliding movement to open and close an orifice of the assembly through which orifice metal is arranged to flow; the sliding gate member comprises a refractory body in which is provided a nozzle aligned with the orifice in an open position of the gate member and offset from the orifice in a closed position of the gate member; the nozzle has a side wall portion of permeable refractory material; and gas, e.g. an inert gas or oxygen is supplied to the nozzle, through the permeable side wall portion.

Abstract: A retractable spindle for connecting a drive to a driven instrumentality, such as a roll. The spindle includes an axially movable shaft which has self-contained hydraulic means for moving it axially to disconnect it from the driven instrumentality or connect it thereto. This arrangement avoids the need for external mechanical linkages used heretofore for retracting a spindle.

Abstract: A sliding gate valve for pouring molten metals has a slide carriage bearing a slide plate and a separate pouring bushing, the latter being mounted in a flanged collar and the carriage having spring loaded bolts, (i) to press the flange of the bushing collar against the slide plate and (ii) to press the slide plate against a head plate of the valve, to seal bushing to slide plate and slide plate to head plate, and the slide and head plates being identical and having identical sealing means.

Abstract: A drive and control mechanism for an electrically operated reciprocating apparatus, intended especially for a long-stroke well-pumping apparatus. The mechanism automatically controls the direction of travel of the apparatus and effects reversals at the ends of each stroke. On start-up the apparatus always travels in a direction toward its farther limit of travel. Control is effected without series of sequentially operating relays which can shut down the apparatus unnecessarily in the event any one relay drops out accidentally, as can result from a voltage drop. The circuit includes protective means for shutting down the apparatus immediately in the event certain malfunctions occur, for example, if the parts travel beyond proper limits, or if the apparatus commences to operate at excessive speed, or if a motor overheats.

Abstract: The sliding plate of a sliding gate valve has a mounting for a collector nozzle, and a nozzle is releasably coupled to the mounting by means of a releasable fastening which allows ready replacement of the nozzle when worn. The releasable fastening clamps the collector nozzle to its mounting and holds the nozzle in firm abutment with the underside of the sliding plate.

Abstract: Improved bits for ingot tongs, an improved tong-and-bit combination, and an improved method of handling ingots. The bits are formed of a durable metal, such as a nickel alloy or a cobalt alloy, and are rotatably fastened in the tong arms. Protrusions from the outside faces of the tong arms are avoided to prevent damage to parts struck by the tongs. The distance by which the points on the bits protrude from the inside faces of the tong arms can be adjusted for different sizes of ingots. The method includes a step of rotating the bits through a small arc each time an ingot is set down, whereby a fresh area is presented upwardly after each use and wear on the bit point is distributed around the circumference.

Abstract: A sliding gate valve has a sliding plate provided with an under-hung insulating member having a hollow nose, the hollow nose having a tapered bore in which a molten metal resistant liner is cemented, the liner being tapered to fit the bore and a frangible cement being used to detachably secure the liner in the nose so that the liner can be readily replaced when worn.

Abstract: A mold for continuously casting molten metal, which mold has a friction-reducing material disposed so that the surfaces of the copper liner and the steel backing plate of the mold bear against this material instead of directly against each other. Specifically, the friction-reducing material must possess a coefficient of friction significantly less than the coefficient of friction which results when copper bears against steel. Consequently, the restraint against thermal expansion is minimized, resulting in less distortion of the liner.