Abstract: A process and apparatus are presented for the direct production of molten iron from iron oxide ores in a metallurgical vessel. The process and apparatus involve decarbonization by oxygen blowing of an existing iron melt which has a carbon content above 1% and is covered with a slag layer. Heat is produced and the slag is oxidized and increased by foam formation. The thickness of the slag layer is continuously monitored, and overfoaming is prevented by directing into the melt an inert gas stream via charging units in the bottom of the vessel to counteract the formation of foam. Pulverized ore and carbon in an inert carrier gas are introduced into the slag foam through charging units in the vessel walls above the metal level. Blowing of oxygen and the injection of inert gas are regulated so that the slag level is essentially maintained at a fixed maximum height.

Abstract: In an eleven-step butterfly rolling process for producing inertial sheet piling, the upset grooving hitherto used in the fourth step is eliminated and replaced by one or more flat rolling steps intended to work the bulges at the edges of the flanges so as to impart a grain structure parallel to the flat rolled surfaces and thereby avoid cracking after the edge portion has been bent into hook configuration.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method are presented for the paired connection of sheet piles with claws, the piles having either Z-shaped cross-sections or U-shaped cross-sections. The machinery is divided into two general sections having a common axis. One pile to be joined is positioned in one section against a first alignment edge with a claw on the common axis, and the other pile to be joined is positioned in the second section against a second alignment edge with a claw on the common axis. The piles are then joined together to form a paired or "threaded" connection.

Abstract: A rack-changing apparatus for a continuous casting installation, especially for changing the curved guide, support and cooling racks of a continuous casting installation having a plurality of casting lines, has a carriage which is shiftable transversely to the casting lines on rails mounting below the casting floor and preferably extending beyond the installation to a location at which the racks can be deposited and picked up. An arm on the carriage is swingable in a vertical plane about a horizontal axis and is extensible and retractable while carrying on its end a clamping mechanism swingable in a vertical plane about a horizontal axis at the arm end for engagement with the racks.

Abstract: A method of producing molten iron in which iron oxide is fed together with carbon to an oxygen-top-blown melt from below through blocks whose pores permit the particles to be entrained into the melt in a carrier gas, the pores preventing penetration of the molten metal.

Abstract: A seal for use around a rod electrode passing along an axis through a hole in the wall of a furnace into the interior of the furnace has an annular and at least limitedly flexible seal ring fitted snugly around the electrode in the hole and a holder carrying the seal ring and sealingly engaged with the furnace wall. Thus gas flow through the wall at the hole past the seal ring is substantially blocked. The seal assembly has structure forming with the electrode and seal ring a substantially closed chamber surrounding the electrode axially inward into the furnace from the ring. This chamber is pressurized at superatmospheric pressure with an inert gas and the electrode is cooled inward of the furnace from the seal ring. The seal ring is compressed axially by a packing assembly so it is pressed radially against the electrode. The packing includes rigid split compression rings bearing axially on the seal ring.

Abstract: Molten steel, carried in a transport ladle from a converter to a casting stage, is treated in a heating chamber which has two tubes depending from its bottom into the ladle to a depth sufficient to penetrate a slag layer and an intermediate layer atop the melt. The ladle is surrounded by a pressure vessel whose rim sealingly engages an outlying annular flange of the chamber bottom and into which high-pressure gas is admitted to drive part of the melt into the heating chamber. Each of these two tubes is initially closed at its lower end by a fusible sheet-metal cap which prevents the entry of slag into the heating chamber but melts upon immersion into the hot metal bath. Treatment gas may be introduced into the chamber via one of these tubes.

Abstract: The buoyancy change of a probe as it is lowered into a molten metal melt is detected and the lowering of the probe terminated a predetermined time after the detection of the buoyancy change to precisely position the probe at a predetermined level below the surface of the melt without the need for a contact detector which actually touches the melt.

Abstract: A continuous casting apparatus in which a multi-plate continuous casting mold is provided with an electromagnetic inductor for imparting rotary motion to the molten metal within the mold. Each plate is provided with a cooling chamber on its side turned away from the molten metal and an inductor is disposed around the mold so that the poles of the inductor approach the cooling chambers and are formed with passages through which threaded bolts can pass to serve as demountable support elements whereby the inductor is affixed to the chambers and by the latter to the mold. The passages run parallel to the planes of the sheets forming the laminated inductor. The withdrawal of the bolts permits separation of the inductor from the cooling chambers and thus separation of the plates so that grinding and removal of shims can compensate for the wear of the cavity-defining surfaces.

Abstract: The level of a melt in a vertically reciprocating continuous-casting mold is detected by a method wherein a nonhomogeneous steady magnetic field is formed extending horizontally through the mold into the melt generally at the melt level. This field is vertically reciprocated jointly and synchronously with the mold and its field strength is detected at a sensing location after the field passes through the mold. This location is also vertically reciprocated jointly and synchronously with the mold. The melt level is derived from the detected field strength, normally taking into account melt conductivity and relative displacement rate of the mold and melt. With the use of a steady field the effect of the mold is automatically eliminated as the field does not move appreciably relative to the mold, so it generates virtually no eddy currents in it that would generate secondary fields.

Abstract: Pig iron is refined by top blowing with oxygen and injecting inert gas from the bottom. The slag formation is minimized by controlled addition of lime to match the formation of slag components as they are generated by the process. This increases the capacity of the melt to receive a cold charge, e.g. of scrap.

Abstract: A plating method comprises the steps of melting the metal and forming a bath of the molten metal, and displacing a strand to be plated longitudinally through the molten-metal bath so the strand leaves the bath at a surface thereof. Thus the molten metal of the bath sticks to the strand and forms a molten metallic layer thereon. A helicoidal, that is at least generally helical or corkscrew-shaped, magnetic field generally centered on the strand is formed and positioned to exert on the metallic layer a magnetic force generally parallel to the strand and on the conductive metallic bath a rotary force centered on the strand. The field is polarized to exert the magnetic force upward to thicken the layer on the strand and is polarized oppositely to exert the magnetic force downward to thin the layer on the strand. The rotary action on the bath serves to move any impurities floating on the bath outward away from the rising strand.

Abstract: An apparatus for the nondestructive determination of the thickness of an article, e.g. a rolled steel product such as a beam, comprises a plurality of radiation sources mounted in a sectoral body rotatable about an axis such that the center of gravity of the body is offset from this axis. The body is received within a massive shielding structure so that it can be swung into a trough-like recess formed in the latter when not in use and can be swung out of this recess to bring the respective radiation sources into registry with a window formed in a cover overlying the trough-shaped body and defining a space which is filled with a cooling and absorbing fluid. The device is provided between conveyor rollers of a rolling mill line.

Abstract: The reducing power of gases liberated at the top of the charge of an industrial furnace is determined by a method wherein the energy radiated from the charge in the range, for example between 1 and 6 microns, covering the radiant energy emitted by the compounds CO.sub.2, CO, H.sub.2, and CH.sub.4 is continuously measured in a multiplicity of detection points distributed over the entire upper surface of the charge and outputs are formed corresponding to the energy radiated at each of the points. An energy image of the energy radiated at the points in the range is formed from the outputs. This energy image is converted into respective specific images for the compounds by isolating from the energy image for each detection point the radiant energy emitted by the compounds. The concentration of each of the compounds at each of the points is calculated from the intensity of the respective specific image.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for the refining of a molten metal overlain by a slag and in which cold solids are introduced, e.g. in the form of metal scrap. According to the invention the heat necessary to melt the scrap and prevent undue cooling of the bath is generated by directing a jet of neutral gas entraining carbon against the surface of the melt perpendicularly thereto at Mach 1.5 to Mach 2.5, while refining oxygen is directed at the surface from jets inclined to the carbon entraining jet and the melt is bottomblown by neutral gas to prevent excessive foaming of the slag.

Abstract: In a process for injecting a fine-grain carbon carrier including ash-bearing bituminous or hard coal into a blast furnace hearth, use is made of a mix of fine-grain bituminous coal and at least one other solid fine-grain ash-bearing carbon carrier. The composition of the mix is so selected that the degree of basicity of the overall resulting ash of the mixture is adapted to the degree of basicity of the furnace slag.

Abstract: A system for the rapid insertion and removal of a starting chain for the change of format or cross section of a continuous strand casting operation utilizing such starting chains, comprises an arcuate guide into which a portion of the chain can be drawn, a swingable ramp for lifting this portion of the chain into alignment with another arcuate guide at a device for separating the chain into segments or joining a segment of the chain to another portion thereof, and an automatic gripper, lifter and transport system for the chain segments. The latter mechanism is provided at the free end of the second arcuate guide.

Abstract: A system for treating, normally refining, a metallurgical melt has a melt-containing vessel having below the level of the melt an at least gas-pervious wall portion. A finely divided treatment solids is suspended in a treatment gas and this suspension is introduced through the pervious wall portion into the melt and reacting the melt with the gas and solids. The wall portion has openings oriented so that the gases and particles can pass into the vessel through them, but the molten metal therein cannot enter them. A plurality of such gas-and particle-pervious inserts are provided in the base of the crucible. They can be individually controlled relative to respective sensors provided above the melt. Thus exothermically reacting gases and/or particles are fed in under cold spots, or endothermically reacting gases and/or particles are fed in under hot spots.

Abstract: A melt is contained in a vessel having below the level of the melt an at least gas-pervious wall portion. First the slag is removed, normally by pouring it off, from the melt. Then a finely divided treatment solids suspended in a gas is introduced through the wall portion into the melt. The melt reacts thoroughly with these solids. Immediately deslagging the melt substantially reduces its ability to pick up nitrogen or hydrogen. This can be enhanced by the further step, prior to introduction of the suspension, of adding pure lime to the melt to form a protective layer thereon. The vehicle gas for the powder of course is inert, normally argon. The vessel can also be sealed up with a tight cover after addition of pure lime to it and before introduction of the suspension. Otherwise in the subsequent desulfurizing nitrogen and hydrogen will enter into the metal matrix, especially if there is an appropriate slag present.

Abstract: A mixture of fine-particle mineral coal and a fine-particle solid carrier of carbon is stored in a bulk store from which the mixture is withdrawn and continuously blown into a shaft furnace, e.g. a blast furnace. Sufficient carbon carrier is used to loosen the mixture and to prevent it from caking and sticking. A suitable carbon carrier is particulate compost obtained by rotting household refuse or sewage sludge.