Abstract: A rail guidance system is provided for railway vehicles using a combination of rimless support wheels running on horizontal surfaces, and guided by special opposed guide wheels and direction control wheels running on vertical surfaces on each side thereof in which the main vehicle guiding surfaces recede from their regular vertical plane in those areas where branch lines interconnect in the guidance system to avoid jamming of the guide wheels between the opposed main guiding surfaces and the auxiliary guide surfaces provided at such branch connections. The system includes additional cam control surfaces for camming the direction control wheels into engagement with auxiliary guide surfaces at the branch connections. The wheels of the invention, in addition, are comprised of lightweight materials such as aluminum, for example, or resins to reduce the degree of inertia involved when the wheels change direction of rotation from one guiding surface to another.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for protecting the supporting rolls of continuously moving freshly cast heavy metal strands (e.g., continuously cast billets and slabs), so that the rolls are not damaged by cutting torches while the strands being supported are being worked upon by those torches. This is achieved by sequentially pivoting individual ones of the supporting rolls out of the support path only momentarily as the cutting torch passes in the vicinity thereof, while continuously rotating the retracted support roll, and returning the roll to normal position after the torch has passed. Pivoting movement of a support roll, either in the retracting or return direction is caused to take place during the moments of highest exposure of the roll to flying slag from the torch in order to minimize the time of such exposure. This pivoting sequence of individual rolls takes place while still maintaining proper support of the strand by means of adjacent, operative support rolls.

Abstract: A method is provided for lengthening the life of electric arc furnace linings in the production of steel from scrap, while at the same time introducing sponge iron pellets to shorten the melting time. This is achieved by predetermining the increase in power at the arc-molten bath interface upon introduction of the sponge iron and automatically reducing the power factor in the circuits feeding the electrodes according to the predetermination, upon each introduction of sponge iron.

Abstract: The invention covers methods and apparatus for controlled flue gas combustion during operation of a closed electric arc reduction furnace to produce metals and metal alloys while feeding a burden to the furnace chamber. The furnace chamber is closed by means of a flue gas hood of reduced height, complete with electrode conduits, gas exhaust pipes and charge devices. The flue gas hood is provided with one or more controlled recycled combustion gas and air supplies, through which combustion air and recycled gas enters the furnace chamber at spaced points thereover for maintaining a reduced temperature level adjacent the hood ceiling surface. The quantities introduced depend upon the prevailing temperature and/or gas analysis of the flue gas in the furnace chamber.

Abstract: In a closed circuit system for circulating cooling water to various parts of a shaft type furnace, particularly a blast furnace, the closed circuit includes a water cooling device and two separate feed lines disposed in parallel and each arranged to cool different parts of the furnace. Two tanks are connected to the closed circuit, one located above and the other below the circuit. An electric pump circulates the cooling water during normal operation. If a power failure occurs, the electric pump is shut down and one feed line is automatically cut out of the closed circuit and receives flow from the upper tank and discharges it into the lower tank. The other feed line continues to receive the cooling water circulated through the closed circuit including the cooling device by an internal combustion driven pump which is started up when the power failure occurs.

Abstract: This invention provides apparatus for slowing down the forward speed of severed head pieces or sample pieces issuing from a rolling mill at rolling mill speed, so that the severed pieces may be removed from the main processing line. This is achieved by providing a separate channel or track which may be switched into and out of the main processing line to receive the severed pieces, with the switching channel being in the form of a loop. Because of this shape, the forward speed of the pieces is reduced rapidly in a switching channel requiring very little space, not only because of its shape, but also because the curved course of the channel increases frictional engagement with the severed pieces, as opposed to a straight switching channel.

Abstract: An overload control coupling between two rotating machine elements, particularly the driving part and the driven part of a coaxial shaft mechanism with at least two essentially semi-cylindrical extensions radially arranged at the interface of the coupled machine elements and uniformly distributed over the circumference, the extensions each comprising portions from the coupled machine elements, which portions form cylinders having a separation plane or interface parallel with the rotation plane of the machine elements, the extensions being embraced by annular power-transmitting carrier links connecting the machine elements. In the case of overload, the machine elements may separate and disrupt the connection by the breaking of the carrier links at predetermined excessive stress levels.

Abstract: In casting molten metal into open recesses in moving molds for forming plate-shaped metal parts, the molds extend between and are supported on individual links of a pair of laterally spaced link chains forming a conveyor having an upper run and a lower run and trained over a pair of spaced rolls. The upper run of the conveyor in which the molten metal is poured and cooled, travels in a rectilinear horizontal path. The links are supported on hinge pins and rollers mounted on the hinge pins ride along guide rails. Each pair of adjacent molds abut at a joint located in a vertical plane which passes through the hinge pin interconnecting the links supporting the mold. Each mold plate has a transversely arranged separating edge defining a spacer between the recesses in adjacent molds. The separating edge can be located at the end of the mold or at a location intermediate its ends.

Abstract: A dual braking system is provided for high speed sleds in which the center of gravity of the operator is placed between fore and aft brake shoes, which are operated simultaneously by the operator without the need for shifting positions. Thus, the brake system is effective even though the operator is naturally shifted forward by the braking action. Also included in the brake system is a wheel assembly, which may be operated by the single brake lever to accommodate fast acceleration. Operating the brake lever to shift the wheel assembly into effective operative shifts the center of gravity of the operator over the wheel assembly. The dual brake shoes pivot around horizontal axes and are disposed adjacent the longitudinal centerline of the sled to avoid lateral deflection of the sled when the brakes are applied.

Abstract: A protective housing is provided for electrical rails and the like, namely, reaction (secondary) rails and slide pick-up lines for operating electro linear propulsion motors for monorail vehicles. The new and improved housing is of simplified construction and enables comparatively large protective plate members to be assembled in the form of a tight housing on elevated monorail structures. The protective plates may be readily removed and slidingly displaced to expose the normally protected electrical components for maintenance, replacement or repair.

Abstract: A plurality of longitudinally extending straight and curved, slide segments, the upper ends of consecutive ones of which are overlapped by the lower ends of the preceding segment to define a continuous, sledding run having a predetermined configuration, including straight and curved portions. Each segment is of generally trough-like configuration and has a cross-sectional configuration comprising a shallow, concave central sled-supporting portion terminating in convex side rail portions. The convex side rail portions have a generally inverted U-shape cross section with depending flanges extending integrally and downwardly from the outer portion thereof. Butt straps removably fastened to the depending flanges interconnect each slide segment to an underlying support. The underlying supports consist of universally mounted and adjustable struts each having a tube-shaped rail insertable in the inverted U-shape of the slide rail portions.

Abstract: A vessel particularly suitable for shipping liquid metals such as pig iron is provided with a cover which has a cross-sectional configuration in the shape of a compound curve, with an annular extension wall of the cover extending in overlapping relationship about the body of the vessel. The cover comprises a circumferentially extending inwardly protruding packing strip which is arranged to bear against the upper edge of the vessel with a packing member being interposed between the vessel edge and the packing strip. Connecting means extending between the vessel body and the cover include means for receiving fastening wedges which hold the cover on the vessel, with the fastening wedges extending tangentially of the vessel body.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a coiling stand arranged to receive hot wire-like material, directly from a rolling mill or other forming mill and to wind the material into convenient coils. The coiling stand is positioned to receive wire-like material tangentially, and includes a novel and highly effective sleeve-like guide bell, which surrounds a portion of the spool. As a fresh end of hot wire-like material leaves the coil stand at high speed and approaches the coiling stand, it is directed into the space between the spool and the surrounding guide bell. The leading end of the material is thus captured and guided to the desired position, as the winding operation is initiated. As soon as a few convolutions of the coil are wound, the guide bell may be retracted axially. Desirably, however, it is not fully retracted, but continues to isolate the initial one or two convolutions, for easy subsequent access.

Abstract: An improved impact-type tool driven by pneumatic or similar power means is provided with a hand grip assembly which is substantially insulated from impact and shaking movements of the drive portion of the tool when the latter is in operation. Both the hand grip assembly and a supplementary weighted ring are disposed coaxially around the tool drive housing and are individually mounted for axial movement with respect thereto. The hand grip assembly is divided into upper and lower chambers by means of an intermediate annular guide member. A first spring disposed in the upper chamber interconnects the hand grip assembly with a flange on the upper portion of the tool drive housing, while a second spring disposed in the lower housing interconnects the hand grip assembly with the weighted ring. The characteristic frequency of the subsystem including the second spring and the weighted ring is chosen to be equal to the normal impact frequency of the tool when the latter is in operation.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an improved trolley truck traveling on a monorail having spaced horizontal surfaces, in which a frame of the truck supports at least one supporting or traction wheel on the upper surface of the rail and a counterwheel on the lower surface of the rail, the separation of the wheels being greater than the vertical spacing of the horizontal rail surfaces to accommodate rapid and easy placement of the truck upon and/or removal of the truck from the monorail.