Abstract: A heat transfer conduit for extracting heat from a molten metal in transit from a containing vessel or delivery system includes at least two elongate segments separable along separation lines which lie generally in the direction of a longitudinal center line of the conduit, which in use, define a unitary structure. The segments can be disassembled following use for the removal of solidified material and other matter from the conduit interior.

Abstract: A method of ironmaking by means of a smelting shaft furnace including the steps of supplying iron ore and coke to the top of the furnace; and injecting coal and oxygen into the smelting zone of the furnace to promote combustion, to control reaction temperature and provide heat for smelting, the quantities of coal and oxygen injection being within the range of 0.7 to 1.7 of stoichiometric conditions with respect to combustion to carbon monoxide and hydrogen.

Abstract: The invention provides a closure member for a taphole or closure of a metal and slag containing vessel comprising a plug including a temperature reactive component rapidly expandable when subjected to heat, and a component softening under the effect of heat whereby, in use, the closure member expands and fits the taphole to form a block thereto.

Abstract: The invention provides an arrangement of controlling reactants in a chemical engineering system comprising feeding to a background electronic logic control circuit analysis signals with respect to the operation of the reactants in the reaction for interpretation therein; drawing conclusions as would a field technologist, implementing experiments from these conclusions to improve the efficiency, and if greater efficiency is achieved, feeding interpreted data signals with respect thereto from the background logic circuit to a data file; feeding data signals from the data file to a foreground electronic logic circuit together with signals relating to the activity level of the reaction and the physical conditions of the incoming supply of at least one reactant to the reaction; the foreground logic circuit controlling the flow of one or more reactants to the reaction on the basis of the signals received thereby.

Abstract: The invention provides a joint between two tubes comprising a box at one end of one tube and a pin at one end of the other tube, the pin being provided on its external surface with a threadless zone at its nose serving as a stabbing guide for entry of the pin into the box, a parallel threaded load carrying zone, and an inclined threaded locking and load carrying zone; the box being provided on its inner surface with a parallel threaded load carrying zone, and an inclined threaded locking and load carrying zone, both generally matching and engageable with the corresponding zones of the pin, and an unthreaded stabbing guide zone axially disposed between said parallel load carrying zone and said inclined locking and load carrying zone of the box; the parallel load carrying zone in the box serving as an extension of the stabbing guide provided between the parallel load carrying zone and the inclined locking and load carrying zone for the nose of the pin, and the two threaded zones in the box being so separated th

Abstract: Apparatus for determining the concentration of a selected gas, e.g. hydrogen, nitrogen or oxygen, in molten metal of known temperature and composition (other than dissolved gases) comprises a tubular probe having an outer sheath, impermeable to the metal, constructed from a gas permeable refractory or cermet for immersion in the melt, a passageway for passing a gas of known composition through the probe such as to realize an equilibrium condition, via the sheath, with the gas dissolved in the melt and an analyzer for analyzing the equilibrated gas collected from the probe whereby to determine the concentration of the selected gas in the melt.

Abstract: An outlet valve for a melt-containing vessel includes a lower insert piece mounted in the base of the vessel having an outlet bore passing therethrough from the inside to the outside of the vessel, and an elongate shaft located above and pressed down upon the lower insert piece. The shaft has a lower face mating with an upper face of the lower insert piece and is rotatable relative to the lower insert piece about a generally vertical axis. The bore through the lower insert piece is offset, at least at its upper end, from the axis of rotation. The shaft has a side opening at the lower end thereof capable of aligning with the top of the bore through the lower insert piece in at least one rotational position.

Abstract: According to the invention there is provided a railway sleeper having a formed inverted channel-shaped section the ends of which have their upper surfaces downwardly inclined and shaped in a corrugated fashion to add strength and rigidity to said ends.The `dished spade` end contour of the sleeper may be pressed from a standard rolled steel channel section. By virtue of the stronger ends thus produced these portions can sustain a greater load than the conventional design hitherto--this means that the length of the sleeper according to this invention may be much shorter, e.g. 20% less than the conventional design for the same load bearing capacity, representing a considerable cost savings. The shape facilitates stacking, and lateral insertion beneath the track for track maintenance and replacement etc.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of melting and superheating ferrous material comprising the steps of charging a vessel with ferrous material and injecting into the vessel coal and oxygen in such ratios as to combust the coal to provide adequate heat for the melting of the ferrous material and to provide residual carbon in the melt to superheat the melt upon oxidation of the carbon.

Abstract: The invention provides an arrangement for producing solid metal with fine solidification structure from liquid metal including the steps of transferring liquid metal with a minimum flow through a hollow carrier; the minimum bulk velocity of the metal through the carrier being 50 cm/sec.

Abstract: A clamp for joining together overlapping sections of elongate members in, for example, telescopic steel arches used in the mining industry comprises a frontal plate and a U-bolt, the arms of the U-bolt being inclined to a line drawn normal to a load bearing surface of the frontal plate at a preferred angle of between 5.degree. and 40.degree..

Abstract: The invention provides a method of treating grain oriented steel sheet or strip to refine domain spacing by subjecting the steel sheet or strip to electrical discharge to create a line of surface ablation and stress thereacross, together with apparatus for carrying out the method.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of and apparatus for, introducing into a bath of molten metal (e.g. ferrous metal) contained in a vessel an alloying component (e.g. lead) or a reagent. The method includes the steps of connecting a plurality of plugs or nozzles located in the bottom and/or sides of the vessel to supplies of gas (e.g. argon) under pressure, and causing gas to be introduced simultaneously through the plugs or nozzles to produce individual gas flows which pass upwardly through the metal bath to create areas of turbulence on the bath surface. The areas of turbulence interact to produce on the bath surface a relatively quiescent region and it is into this relatively quiescent region that the required quantity of alloying component or reagent is added.

Abstract: A device for clamping together at least two leaves of a leaf spring assembly and a resilient plate member in superimposed interfacial contact comprises at least one clasp adapted to embrace the leaves and the resilient member. A closure plate or bar is secured to the free ends of the clasp to impose a clamping force on the members embraced by the clasp. The closure plate or bar is formed with a raised surface which co-operates with an adjacent surface of a member embraced by the clasp to permit angular movement of the clasp relative to the embraced members.

Abstract: This invention concerns apparatus for selectively connecting an electrode of an electric arc furnace to a source of cooling fluid. The apparatus includes a coupling having passageways extending therethrough for the flow of cooling fluid and comprises at least two separable sections, one such section being connected to receive cooling fluid from the source and the other to convey such cooling fluid to the electrode when coupled to the said one section. Guide means are provided to guide one separable section into close proximity to the other section and to clamp the assembled sections together to connect the electrode to the source of cooling fluid.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of analyzing materials, comprising the steps of subjecting a surface of the material to high energy impact by a laser to cause ablation and vaporization such as to generate a gaseous and/or gas-born sample of the material, transporting all or part of the gaseous and/or gas-born sample of the material to a remote analytical apparatus, and analyzing the gaseous and/or gas-born sample of the material at the remote analytical device so as to determine the constituent compartments of the material, together with Apparatus for carrying out this method.

Abstract: The invention concerns the promotion of stirring of molten material (e.g. steel) within a receptacle such as a mould, vessel, or shell of a partially solidified metal strand emerging from a mould. Polyphase alternating currents are passed through electrically conductive elements located on, or forming part of, or lying adjacent to the receptable surface by joining both current connections of one or more transducers to the conductive elements to cause electrical currents to flow along paths in the elements to induce magnetic fields within the molten material and to promote stirring of the material.

Abstract: The invention provides apparatus for ultrasonically testing the edges and/or the body of a metallic workpiece, utilizing water as a coupling medium between ultrasonic transducers and a metallic product moving relative to the testing apparatus along a predetermined pathway; which apparatus comprises guide means defining the pathway to be followed by the metal product, one or more reservoirs being the pathway each incorporating a top opening through which water can overflow to contact successive parts of the piece to be tested, located thereabove and a plurality of ultrasonic transducers located in one or more groups within the reservoir or reservoirs and directed towards the edge or body of the piece to be tested so that they may be static, adjustable transverse to the direction of movement of the product along the pathway, or reciprocate in a sinusoidal manner to traverse all or part of the pathway.

Abstract: This invention provides apparatus for measuring the thickness profile of steel strip comprising a radiation source reciprocally movable in a stepwise fashion across the strip width on one side thereof and a single elongated detector on the other side of the strip aligned with the scanning source. This detector may be a fluorescent scintillator which is responsive to the incident radiation, the amount of which is in turn dependent on the degree of absorption by the strip. Means are provided for sensing the degree of excitation in the detector in synchronism with the scanning source whereby to provide an output representative of the thickness profile of the strip. The profile may conveniently be displayed in analogue fashion on a television screen. A conventional thickness gauge, e.g. of the X-ray type, may conveniently be used in conjunction with the profile gauge to compensate the output of the latter for any variations in the strip thickness along the length of the coil.

Abstract: A method of controlling the depth of immersion of an oxygen lance in a molten bath within an electric arc furnace where noise emitted from the furnace during lancing in an acoustic spectrum ranging between 1 kHz and 15 kHz defined by a plurality of selected frequency bands is monitored. The position of the lance with respect to the bath surface is controlled by reference to the amplitudes of the output signals emitted from each of the selected frequency bands. There is a distinct change in the relationship of particular bands to provide a "lance out" signal which is directed to a control for a lance drive mechanism. Apparatus for practicing the method includes a microphone, a filter unit, a microprocessor and a lance drive responsive to signals from the microprocessor.