Abstract: A composite floor or ceiling structure which comprises a profiled steel deck supported by a plurality of I-section steel beams each having an upstanding web bordered by upper and lower flange plates and covered in situ with concrete. The deck comprises a plurality of side-by-side elongate profiled deck members each including an upper generally horizontal surface bordered by downwardly and outwardly inclined side surfaces. The upper flange plate of each beam has formed in its upper surface a plurality of grooves in a pattern to increase bonding between the beam and its covering of concrete. Preferably, each supporting beam is rolled as a single piece with the width of its lower flange plate greater than that of its upper flange plate to define a supporting platform for the steel deck.

Abstract: A method of producing a wear and rolling contact fatigue resistant bainitic steel product whose microstructure is essentially carbide-free. The method comprises the steps of hot rolling a steel whose composition by weight includes from 0.05 to 0.50% carbon, from 1.00 to 3.00% silicon and/or aluminum, from 0.50 to 2.50% manganese, and from 0.25 to 2.50% chromium, balance iron and incidental impurities, and continuously cooling the steel from its rolling temperature naturally in air or by accelerated cooling.

Abstract: An annular bulkhead for separating the inner and outer generally coaxial pipes of a double walled pipe structure wherein the bulkhead is in the form of an annular resilient member dimensioned to fit, in use, the annular space between the pipes, wherein the annular resilient member is supported on each axial side thereof by means of at least partial annular rigid rings divided into separate segments and secured together through the resilient annular member.

Abstract: A connector which provides a joint between two double skin composite panels of a structure. Each double skin composite panel comprises a pair of metal icing plates joined together by a plurality of cross-members and filled , at least partially, with a cementitious filler material. Each cross-member is connected to both facing plates and the connector comprises one or more seamless sections.

Abstract: A method of sequentially welding a plurality of metallic cross-members in spaced rows to facing plates of a double skin composite panel includes the steps of causing the plates to separate to enable each cross-member in turn to be positioned therebetween, applying clamping forces to both facing plates to align the plates approximately normal to the cross-members to be welded thereto, subjecting the inner faces between the cross-member and the facing plates to a welding operation, and, at the same time, controlling the force transferred between the cross-member and the facing plates.

Abstract: A double skin composite panel comprising two steel facing plates of thickness between 2 mm and 32 mm is joined together by cross-members. Each cross-member is aligned generally normal to the facing plates and is spaced from its neighboring members by a distance of between 10 and 80 times the thickness of the centers of the facing plates, the separation between the facing plates being between 30 mm and 800 mm. A filler material, e.g. concrete, is introduced into the spacing between the facing plates.

Abstract: A rail for use in a railway which has in section, a head having a traffic carrying surface and a foot, wherein the head comprising a traffic carrying surface is composed of low carbon martensite.

Abstract: An entry nozzle for transporting liquid metal from a tundish to a mould for the continuous casting of thin slab disposed therebelow, wherein the nozzle has a hollow channel therethrough, and at least at its lower outlet end, is, in plan section, of large aspect ratio of width to thickness, and is hollow substantially across its width, the entry nozzle being provided at positions at its lower outlet end arranged in operation to be submerged within the casting mould, with at least one exit port from the hollow channel disposed on each elongate side of the nozzle, and, with the nozzle in its operational disposition, so shaped as to direct metal into the mould from the nozzle transverse to its vertical disposition. With the process in its operating state the controlled effective liquid metal pressure head of the metal in the tundish provides a flow of such metal to the mould that, with the extraction rate of the solidifying metal from the metal forming means, creates a required level of metal within the mould.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the shape of a surface of, for example, a metal strip moving over a support surface comprises a laser operable to direct onto the surface of the moving strip a plurality of light beams. From these laser-generated light beams a plurality of light patterns are produced each of which is scanned across the width of the strip and is spaced from the other light patterns in the direction of strip movement. An array of line-scan cameras extends across the width of the strip and is positioned to view and record the projected light patterns. Recorded data from the camera array is processed in parallel to provide a measure of the shape of the strip surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for ultrasonically testing sheet material comprising rotating at least one ultrasonic sensor, mounted on a rotatable test head, about an axis of rotation substantially normal to the plane of the sheet material as it moves therepast.

Abstract: A method of producing continuous lengths of metallic strip comprises the steps of forming a spray of molten metal particles, causing the particles to be deposited onto a surface of a hollow receptor roll, rotating and internally heating the receptor roll to form continuous lengths of metallic strip, holding the deposited particles in contact with the receptor roll surface by means of a roll positioned immediately upstream of the knife in the direction of rotation of the receptor roll, and peeling from the receptor roll surface such continuous lengths of metallic strip by means of a knife positioned adjacent to or in contact with the receptor roll surface. Apparatus for performing this process is also disclosed.

Abstract: An internally cooled cylindrical roller for use in continuously casting strands of partially or wholly solidified metal is formed with a plurality of longitudinally extending coolant-conveying bores which extend over the entire length of the roller. An annular manifold in the form of an end cap is secured within a recess formed in each end face of the roller and includes a plurality of discrete pathways each of which places the open ends of two longitudinally extending bores in communication one with another and at least one additional pathway positioned to place the open end of one bore in communication with a coolant inlet or coolant outlet passageway of the roller.

Abstract: For the measurement of the temperature of a body (e.g. a melt) whose temperature is such that radiation is emitted from the body surface, a camera sighted on the body surface produces a real image from a selected area of which electronic signals are derived representative of the magnitude of a plurality (preferably three) of color components of radiation. These derived signals are subsequently processed to provide a measure of body temperature.

Abstract: Apparatus for constraining the flow of molten metal from a tundish to a mould along the inner periphery of a tube mounted between them. A vertically movable stopper rod is seated at its lower end in a nozzle at the entrance to the tube the end being so designed as to cause an annular discharge of metal into the tube upon the stopper rod lifting from its seating, gas being injected through the stopper whereby to generate a gaseous void within the interior of the tube to promote the maintenance of the metal flow path of along the length of the inner periphery of the tube.

Abstract: A vessel is provided having a first chamber 1 open to atmospheric pressure for receiving liquid metal and a second chamber 2 from which the metal is dispensed interconnected with the first chamber. The second chamber is sealed and coupled to means 4, 6 for reducing the pressure therein to sub-atmospheric whereby to create a higher level of metal in said second than said first chamber.The first and second chambers may be interconnected via a refractory filter.

Abstract: This invention provides a device for visually displaying magnetic patterns assumed within or recorded on a planar medium, e.g. electrical steel sheet, comprising a transparent plate and a membrane secured to and spanning the plate defining a sealed area therebetween housing magnetic particles suspended in a liquid carrier. A field is applied by permanent magnet(s) disposed around the periphery of the plate or by an energized coil for subjecting said particles to a magnetic field in a direction normal to the plate whereby, when placed in juxtaposition with the planar medium the particles agglomerate to assume positions in conformity with the magnetic patterns.

Abstract: A rail which has secured to it a composite body for absorbing vibrational energy whereby to reduce noise generated by vehicular traffic on the rail. The composite body comprises a visco-elastic damping medium 5 bonded to, and sandwiched between, both the rail and a constraining member, e.g. a steel strip 6, substantially stiffer in tension than the damping medium.

Abstract: The invention relates to a means of purifying molten metal, particularly steel, by the removal of impurities/inclusions during continuous casting.The molten metal (3) is passed in a tundish (1) through a vertical array of baffles (8) that are spaced apart transversely across the tundish to provide restricted flow channels (12). The baffles (8) may be flat boards or tiles (9a, 9b) and are preferably used in contact with a weir (7) and dam (10), upstream and downstream respectively of the baffles.The speed and direction of flow of the molten metal can thereby be controlled and directed to give more effective dwell time in contact with a surface covering layer (11) of flux.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of observing the interior of a furnace by viewing, at a remote location, the image depicted by a pinhole camera sited in or within the furnace housing. The image may be real and viewed directly or via a reflective or fibre optic transmission system, or alternatively a video camera may be employed, in this instance the `screen` of the camera may be constituted by light responsive elements, e.g. charge coupled devices. The camera may typically be sited in the furnace wall or roof and a pressurized blast of air or an inert gas, e.g. nitrogen or argon, may be employed for maintaining the integrity of the pinhole.

Abstract: A regenerative burner system comprises two burners alternately fired and each having an air and fuel supply thereto traversing separate heat exchangers. The arrangement is such that the hot gases exhausted from the furnace during firing of the one and the other burners traverse the heat exchangers associated with the other and the one burners, respectively, relinquishing heat thereto whereby both the fuel and the air supply to each burner extracts heat from its associated heat exchanger during the firing cycle of that burner. By heating both the fuel and the air input to the regenerative system, fuels of low calorific value, e.g. blast furnace gas or any gases low in or devoid of hydrocarbons may be efficiently utilized to provide a stable high temperature flame without the need for enrichment with `pilot` fuels.