Abstract: A method for producing liquid iron, especially for producing liquid iron directly from iron ore, mainly comprising the steps of saturating an iron bath in a container by blowing particulate carbon into the bath, dropping iron ore onto a central portion of the bath surface to form a cone of iron ore thereon, blowing oxygen onto an uncovered border zone of the bath surface, blowing particulate carbon by means of a carrier gas into the bath between the bottom of the container and the bath surface, and mixing the bath by blowing a neutral gas through a porous member from a substantially central portion of the bottom of the container in upward direction through the bath, whereby the necessary energy for melting the iron ore is produced by afterburning of the CO producing during blowing of oxygen onto the border zone; and an apparatus for carrying out the method.

Abstract: An energy-storage element, i.e. a body of high heat capacity capable of storing thermal energy and especially electrothermal energy, consists of 50-95% magnesium oxide, 5-50% iron oxide and a chemical binder, the mean particle size of the magnesium oxide lying between 0.1 and 4 mm and that of the iron oxide below 0.5 mm, preferably between 0.01 and 0.2 mm.

Abstract: A refractory gas-permeable structural unit for blowing a gas into a metal treatment vessel and through its casing has at least two elements composed of refractory material and having abutting longitudinal faces provided with at least one metal layer, a metal housing surrounding the elements to connect them with one another and tightly abutting against other longitudinal faces of the elements, and a gas distribution chamber formed at an end face of the elements and communicating with a gas supply conduit.

Abstract: A desulfurization method in which an iron melt, carefully skimmed from slag in a ladle, is covered with about 1 to 2 kg. of lime per ton of iron, the melt is deoxidized to at most 35 ppm of oxygen and is then blown with a mixture of lime, calcium fluoride and metallic aluminum in an inert gas by means of a lance immersed in the bath so that the outlet of the lance is at an average depth of about 1500 mm below the bath surface.

Abstract: A continuous casting mold for producing polygonal steel profiles by continuous casting by the curved-mold method, comprises individual plates defining the sides of the molds. The four plates are provided with recesses at their extremities which form abutting joint edges and the edges are held flush with one another by shims inserted between opposing surfaces of the plates at the corners thereof. One pair of plates is provided with radius or bevels so that the cross section of the interior of the mold is octogonal. According to the invention, moreover, the chamfered or bevelled surfaces and the surfaces between them are machined and a corresponding insertion shim is provided to insure that the edges are flush with one another.

Abstract: Molten metal is introduced in a continuous-casting system downwardly into a mold through a nozzle opening downwardly into the mold at an axis to form in the mold a body of molten metal having an upper surface carrying impurities above the mouth of the mold. The body of molten metal is rotated about the axis in the mold. The nozzle is provided generally at the level of the upper surface of the body of molten metal with radially outwardly projecting vanes that prevent the body from rotating about the axis at the upper surface, thereby preventing inclusions from being sucked into the body of molten metal.

Abstract: A refractory gas permeable structural unit for blowing a gas into a metal treatment container and through its casing, has a refractory gas permeable stone, a first metal housing sealingly surrounding the stone, a second metal housing arranged at a distance from the first metal housing, a refractory substantially gas impermeable filler material provided between the first and second metal housings, and at least one connection and a distribution chamber provided at the end face of the stone.

Abstract: A process of producing a colloidal mortar suitable for use as a lining of steel conduit pipes, boilers or the like, includes filling a mixer with water while imparting to water a rotary motion by a rotary agitator at a speed of 1500 m/minutes, feeding the mixer with cement while maintaining the rotary motion whereby the mixture forms a funnel-like profile within the mixer and adding to the mixture wet sand of humidity of 5-15% and in proportion of 1 to 2 parts of the cement content to obtain the colloidal mortar. Fiber rovings may be added to the colloidal mortar.

Abstract: A steel refining system has a crucible having an upwardly open mouth and containing a steel melt covered by slag, an oxygen lance directed downwardly into the mouth at the melt, a hood fitting downwardly over the mouth and having a hood wall formed by a multiplicity of coolant tubes, and an arrangement for circulating a coolant through these tubes. The tubes form a tubular hood-wall extension that has an outer end and is centered on an axis trained on the melt on the crucible. A holder is mounted on the outer end of this extension and contains a sound transducer carried by the holder and directed along the axis at the melt. A circuit is connected to this transducer for determining slag thickness by means of the sound detected by the transducer. The holder itself comprises a circularly annular hollow cell fixed by means of a collar to the extension and a transducer housing that is fixed to this cell and therethrough to the extension.

Abstract: Process of refining of a metal bath in a crucible with oxygen blast at the top and crucible used.The invention consists essentially of providing in the bottom (15) of the crucible agitating gas injectors (15) located at least in a peripheral circular ring situated in immediate proximity to the refractory side wall. The injectors are preferably concentrated opposite the journals. Secondary injectors are, also preferably, provided in the bottom zone, intermediate between the ring and the center of the crucible.The invention makes it possible, in relation to the prior injection practice, to reduce the rate of dissolution of the agitating gas in the molten metal and then makes it possible to use a low-cost agitating gas, such as nitrogen, without risk of excessive nitridation of the bath.

Abstract: A lance for blowing oxygen from above into a ladle of an iron foundry has a nozzle head with at least four main tuyeres of larger diameter and as many ancillary tuyeres of smaller diameter, the larger tuyeres serving to blow into the melt for decarburizing the metal while the smaller ones promote afterburning of the evolving carbon monoxide just above the melt surface. The axes of the main tuyeres are inclined to the nozzle-head axis at an angle of about 14.degree. to 17.degree. while the axes of the ancillary tuyeres have an angle of inclination exceeding that of the main tuyeres by about 30.degree. to 50.degree.. In order to slow down the air flow through the ancillary tuyeres with reference to the surface-penetrating jets of the main tuyeres, the former are provided with inner peripheral inlays or grooves of annular or helicoidal shape.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for determining the level of slag above a metallurgical melt, especially a steel melt, and for determining a physical characteristic or property of the slag, such as its viscosity or consistency, utilizes a plurality of nozzles opening into the bath-containing vessel at different levels above the melt and supplied with inert gas. The difference in hydrostatic pressures at the nozzles can be ascertained by measurement of the pressures upstream thereof and the measured values are converted into indications of slag level and consistency.

Abstract: A combined road and sound barrier has its upper and lower portions formed as hollow profiles filled with synthetic resin foam.

Abstract: Slag sand and slag wool are formed by a method wherein molten slag is poured at a temperature above 1300.degree. C. in a thin flowing stream onto a vaned drum rotating at a peripheral speed of at least 25 m/sec. This drum, which may have forwardly directed nozzles for mixing the falling slag stream with a cooling medium such as water, breaks the slag up into droplets and projects these droplets through the air so they cool and form filaments and granules. The granules are collected separately from the filaments so that the installation simultaneously produces slag sand and slag wool.

Abstract: A process for refining a metal bath in a converter by oxygen blowing, particularly a molten metal liquid bath containing cold, solid substances, notably of scrap. Oxygen is distributed over the surface of the bath, so that there will be an after-combustion of CO released in the course of decarbonization. The thickness and consistency of a slag layer formed over the bath is actively regulated by injecting a rising inert gas through the bottom of the bath. The flow of rising gas may be regulated depending upon the oxygen content in the fumes of the converter, or upon the intensity of emission through the top of an oxygen blowing lance.

Abstract: A composite beam especially for pile driving comprises an H-beam core whose flanges are bridged by steel sheets having inwardly bent edges engaging over outwardly projecting spurs on the flange edges. The web of the H-beam thus defines with the sheets two compartments which are internally lined with colloidal concrete, the outer steel surfaces being likewise coated with colloidal concrete.

Abstract: A desulphurizing agent is blown into a metallurgical converter from a storage bin which is connected over a vane type bilowthrough feeder. Variable amounts of desulphurizing agents are fed through the inlet by margin the rotational speed of the vanes.

Abstract: A ferrous melt, e.g. of steel, is refined beneath a slag layer by blowing from above with an oxygen-containing gas through a lance and by bubbling an inert gas through the melt from the bottom. According to the invention, the consistency of the slag layer and/or its level is continuously detected on the one hand and the rate of decarburation of the bath is detected on the other hand and in response to these measurements the volume rate of flow of the bubbling gas is controlled on the one hand to maintain a predetermined spacing of the slag layer from the head of the lance and, on the other hand, a fluid consistency of the slag.

Abstract: A process for refining a steel melt in a furnace in which a steel melt is formed with a slag layer thereon, the thickness of which can be controlled by passing a stream of inert gas upwardly through the melt, while directing a first stream of oxygen into the melt from a lance positioned above the melt for the top-blowing refining thereof to produce carbon monoxide above the melt and feeding a second stream of oxygen from the lance for the post-combustion of the released carbon monoxide, while monitoring continuously the thickness of the slag layer, the height of the melt, the carbon monoxide post-combustion factor (%CO.sub.2 /%CO+%CO.sub.2) and the speed of decarburization of the melt and controlling the height of the lance above the melt and the discharge rates of total blown oxygen, the second stream of oxygen and the inert gas stream at any given time in accordance with a particular relationship.

Abstract: Slag is conditioned during blowing from above with oxygen of an iron melt by bubbling an inert gas into the melt from the bottom of the crucible in response to measurements made of the flowability of the slag layer and the speed of decarburization.