Abstract: A vehicle wheel formed of a heat treatable aluminum alloy and including an axially center area and opposite axially end areas is subjected to a solution heat treatment and then is cooled in a controlled manner to improve the dynamic strength of the wheel. Specifically, cooling is achieved by cooling the center area faster than the end areas. More particularly, a cooling medium first is sprayed on the center area and then is sprayed on the end areas.

Abstract: Method for controlling the alumina feed to reduction cells for the production of aluminum. There is employed an adaptive control with parameter estimation (3) and controller calculation (2) based upon the separation theorem. As a process model there is used a linear model having two inputs and one output. One input (u.sub.1) is in the form of alumina feeding minus assumed alumina consumption. Another input (u.sub.2) is in the form of movements of the reduction cell anode. The output (y) is in the form of the change in electric resistance across the reduction cell concerned. The model is of the first order in u.sub.1 and u.sub.2 whereas it is of the order zero in y. An estimated parameter (b.sub.1) represents the slope of the curve for resistance as a function of alumina concentration in the electrolytic bath, and the controller (2) controls the addition of alumina to the electrolytic bath in response to the value of b.sub.1.

Abstract: A laminated carbon cathode includes two layers of carbon blocks, i.e. and the upper layer of graphite of graphitised carbon, and a lower layer of a cheaper anthracite carbon. The two layers are so displaced with respect to one another that there are no vertical seams leading straight from the upper surface of the carbon cathode to the its underside. Dividing the cathode into two horizontal layers is combined with the embedding of current-carrying steel conductors in precise grooves between the layers. In order to capitalize on the good electrical conductivity of aluminum, an aluminum extension is friction-welded to each steel conductor as close to a shell enclosing the cathode while at the same time a collar is formed which provides an air-tight seal at the point where the cathode bar enters the side of the shell.

Abstract: The desired finished size of the rim of an aluminum wheel which has undergone a solution heat treatment is calibrated by positioning the wheel, at a first temperature substantially equal to the temperature of the wheel after removal thereof from the solution heat treatment, in a die. The die is heated to a second temperature lower than the first temperature. The wheel is cooled to a third temperature lower than the second temperature, such that the rim is caused to shrink tightly over the die to the desired finished size. The cooling is interrupted such that the rim is heated by heat from the die and thereby is expanded by an amount sufficient to enable the rim to be removed easily from the die.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy wheel rim is formed to a desired finished size by pressing a sheet of aluminum alloy material to form a wheel rim having a diameter less than, but not smaller than 98.7% of, the desired finished size. The wheel rim then is subjected to a solution heat treatment operation and thereby is expanded to a diameter of a size greater than the desired finished size. The wheel rim then is positioned, while substantially at the temperature thereof when removed from the solution heat treatment, in a calibration tool in the form of two dies on a common arbor, with the dies being located to define the desired finished size. The wheel rim then is cooled to cause the rim to shrink tightly onto the dies to the desired finished size without the necessity of applying pressure to the rim.

Abstract: A cooking vessel suitable for being heated by an induction heat source includes a base of austenitic stainless steel. A heat distributing layer is bonded to the exterior of the base, the heat distributing layer being formed of a metal having a high thermal conductivity. A magnetizable layer is connected to the exterior of the heat distributing layer. At least two intermediate layers are provided between and connect the magnetizable layer and the heat distributing layer. Each of the intermediate layers is formed of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion value between the values of the coefficients of thermal expansion of the materials of the heat distributing layer and the magnetizable layer.

Abstract: A hollow rotating body of a refractory material, with holes in the bottom and the side wall thereof is caused to rotate while immersed in molten metal. The metal inside the rotor is thus caused to rotate, and as a result, the metal flows into the rotor from the hole in the bottom and out through the holes in the side. The rotating metal in the rotor develops an upper surface with the shape of a paraboloid of revolution.A shaft of the rotor is hollow and has extending therethrough a fixed electrode. With the molten metal as the other electrode, an electric arc is struck between the fixed electrode and the paraboloid surface of the metal inside the rotor, whereby heat is imparted to the metal.

Abstract: A ring section baking furnace for the indirect heating of shaped bodies or particulate material, particularly for calcination, includes vertical ducts, or channels, in pit walls arranged in groups by means of partition walls under the bottom of the pits. Flue gases are led up and down through these ducts. Combustion chambers are not provided, and the volume thereof otherwise required is incorporated into the pit volume. The ducts in each pit wall lead out over the pit wall into one or more separate rooms which connect, in series, two neighboring groups in this pit wall. A small cover plate is provided over each pit wall. Compared with earlier designs with the same external dimensions, less refractory brick is required, a more even temperature of the calcined material is achieved, the consumption of fuel is reduced and the capacity increased.

Abstract: A three-layer metal laminate consists of only two different metals with different coefficients of thermal expansion. The two outer layers consist of the same metal, yet of different thicknesses so that, on heating the metal laminate there arises a cotrolled bimetal effect which is utilized in thin-based vessels for hot food, to maintain the base flat on being heated.

Abstract: Anode butts are removed from the studs of anode rods by stripping the butts from the studs in a downward direction by hydraulic cylinders, the counter-forces of such action being taken up by the yoke which carries the studs. The stripping forces are thus absorbed inside the device and not transferred to other parts of the structure. The butts are stripped off the studs with only slight crumbling.

Abstract: A device for the discontinuous charging of molten metal into a vacuum chamber which is continuously held under vacuum includes a charging vessel or tundish on which is disposed a fixed transfer pipe so positioned that the tundish can be rotated about the axis of the pipe to such an extent that the pipe's input orifice is lifted above the surface of the metal flow in the tundish, while at the same time the pipe is withdrawn from the vacuum chamber. The chamber is sealed with a plate valve.

Abstract: A system for removing packing coke from baking chambers of a furnace for baking carbon bodies includes a crane mounted for movement along a rail, a silo supported by the crane, a suction tube connected to the silo and insertable into packing in a furnace baking chamber, and structure for supplying vacuum to the suction tube to remove the packing coke therethrough from the chamber into the silo. The vacuum structure includes a closed vacuum duct extending parallel to the rail, the vacuum duct having an upper slide surface and a plurality of valves spaced along the slide surface. A stationary vacuum source is connected to the vacuum duct and creates therein a vacuum. A sliding box is supported by the crane and is movable thereby along the vacuum duct over the valves on the slide surface. Each valve is openable by a respective pneumatic cylinder.

Abstract: Arrangement is disclosed for compensating detrimental magnetic influence on longitudinally oriented pots (U.sub.3) in a pot row, from the current in one or more adjacent pot rows, in plants for producing metal, for example aluminum, by electrolytic reduction of a molten bath. Two substantially symmetrical groups (k.sub.31, k.sub.32) of cathode taps located at opposite sides of the positive end of the pot, are each connected to a separate compensation bus bar (X, Y) so located in relation to the pot (U.sub.3) that they form a current loop around the cathode in a clockwise or in a counter-clockwise direction, depending upon whether a positive or a negative vertical magnetic field is to be compensated for.

Abstract: A suction tube unit for removing packing coke from vertical spaces within a ring furnace for producing carbon bodies includes a plurality of elongated suction and air supply tubes, the tubes being arranged to extend parallel to each other and being aligned in a single straight row, with each adjacent pair of the suction tubes being separated by a separate one of the air-supply tubes, thus forming an elongated assembly adapted to fit within the vertical space of the furnace. The assembly is supported at an upper portion thereof by a telescopic mounting. All of the tubes are open at lower ends thereof. A suction device is connected to the upper end of the suction tubes for creating a vacuum within the suction tubes to thereby withdraw the packing coke therethrough. Upper portions of the air-supply tubes have therein orifices to supply ambient air into the air-supply tubes and to aid in withdrawal of the packing coke through the suction tubes.

Abstract: A method is provided for teem-welding metals, preferably light metals, particularly aluminium and its alloys, in which the metal, during its introduction into a casting mould, is caused to form one or more metal jets which are directed as far as possible at right-angles to and concentrated against the surfaces to be melted of the workpiece or workpieces. There is used a mould of such volume and with such an arrangement of the workpiece or workpieces therein, that the desired melting is achieved with that quantity of metal which, as the process proceeds, accumulates in and fills the mould, which quantity constitutes all the metal introduced into the mould.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided for compensation for detrimental magnetic influence between two or more rows of transverse electrolytic pots or cells for producing aluminum, by electrolytic reduction in a molten bath, in which most of the current conducted from the rear side of a pot in the pot row to the succeeding pot in the row, is carried by two or more conductors underneath the pot. Another and smaller proportion of the current conducted to the succeeding pot in the row is conducted in its entirety around that short side of the pot which faces the magnetically dominating adjacent pot row. Preferably, this smaller proportion of the current amounts to a maximum of twenty percent of the total electrolysis current.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided for compensating for detrimental magnetic horizontal fields at the plus or upstream end of longitudinally oriented pots in plants for melt-electrolytic production of aluminium, in particular where compensation for vertical magnetic influence from one pot row to another is provided for by utilizing an anode current supply to the minus or downstream end of each pot. A smaller proportion of the current supply to the minus end of the pot takes place through one or more conductors being located underneath the pot in the longitudinal direction thereof, said smaller proportion of the current supply being preferably no more than 20% of the total anode current supply.

Abstract: In the scrubbing of gases containing sorbable contaminants, particularly the waste gases from reduction cells for electrolytic production of aluminium the waste gas is injected tangentially into the bottom of a cylindrical chamber, from which it is withdrawn through an axial outlet passage at the top end. A solid sorbent material is introduced into the chamber at one or more positions at the top end of the chamber in such a way that it enters the ascending gas stream in a peripheral zone of the chamber.

Abstract: A potshell for an electrolytic cell for the electrolytic reduction of aluminum includes a bottom plate, side walls and end walls of steel plates, and also a reinforcing structure surrounding structure. Up against the side walls and end walls, on the outside thereof are disposed vertical stiffeners and outside these stiffeners there is disposed an essentially horizontal reinforcing frame in such a manner that between the stiffeners there are formed vertical, free air passages up against the side walls and the end walls, and in such a manner that the stiffeners act as cooling ribs for conducting and dissipiating the heat from the side walls and the end walls.