Abstract: A furnace bottom construction comprises refractory blocks resting atop a seal in turn resting on the top surface of a layer of ramming material in which are embedded cooling ducts resting on a concrete foundation. The seal is composed of thin, fluid-impervious, flexible, ductile sheet material deformed to follow the contours and indentations of the top surface of the ramming material. The bottom surface of the seal and the top surface of the ramming material are in intimate contact along substantially the entire area of said top surface, with substantially no air gaps between the two.

Abstract: An aluminum coated low alloy low carbon killed steel sheet material which exhibits increased resistance to subsurface oxidation at elevated temperatures having incorporated in the low carbon killed steel before rolling and hot-dip aluminum coating an amount of vanadium or a combination of vanadium and titanium at least four times the weight percent carbon in the steel but not more than ten times the weight percent carbon in said steel with said amount being sufficient to combine with all the carbon and nitrogen in the steel and provide an excess of uncombined vanadium in the steel of about 0.1 wt. %.

Abstract: A drawing quality hot-dip coated low carbon aluminum killed steel strip produced by conventional steel strip forming and continuous hot-dip coating procedures wherein the hot rolled coiling temperature is maintained within a temperature range of 1250.degree. F. - 1300.degree. F. and the cold rolled steel strip is continuously heat treated on a Sendzimir-type continuous hot-dip coating line at a temperature of between 1850.degree. F. and 1950.degree. F. before cooling the strip to about the temperature of the hot-dip coating bath and immersing the strip in a hot-dip galvanizing or aluminum coating bath followed by conventional annealing. The microstructure of the drawing quality hot-dip coated steel strip is characterized by spaced islands formed of fine pearlite and fine ferrite having a grain size of about ASTM 9-10 surrounded by areas of large ferrite grains having the grain size of about ASTM 7.5-8.

Abstract: A cooling system for a vessel, such as a blast furnace, containing hot gas. The cooling system comprises a large number of cooling circuits each having one or more cooling members extending inwardly into the blast furnace walls. At the downstream end of each cooling circuit is a device which indicates when a cooling member in that circuit has a leak. Each leak detecting device comprises a container normally filled with water which is displaced from the container by gas from the blast furnace when there is a leak in a cooling member. The displacement of the water by the gas is visually displayed or generates a signal to indicate the occurrence of a leak.

Abstract: A ferrous metal strip is continuously hot-dip coated with a zinc-aluminum alloy by immersing the metal strip in a hot-dip coating bath containing between about 0.2 wt. percent and 17 wt. percent aluminum, between about 0.02 wt. percent and 0.15 wt. percent lead, and between about 0.03 wt. percent and about 0.15 wt. percent magnesium with the balance essentially zinc. In a further embodiment the hot-dip alloy coating can also contain between about 0.1 wt. % and 0.3 wt. % copper. The resulting hot-dip zinc-aluminum alloy coatings when applied to a ferrous metal strip exhibit good resistance to intergranular corrosion and blistering when exposed to a high humidity atmosphere and form smooth surface coatings which have good formability both in the "as coated" state and after prolonged storage in a high humidity atmosphere.

Abstract: A method of continuously producing a one-side-only zinc coated ferrous metal strip initially having zinc coated on both wide surfaces, as by differentially hot-dip coating, and with the zinc on one of the wide surfaces being in the form of a thin film which is transformed into a thin zinc-iron intermetallic layer by applying heat to only the wide surface of the strip having the zinc in the form of a thin film and abrading the surface of the intermetallic layer thus formed by brushing to effect complete removal thereof, leaving the other wide surface of the strip coated with zinc.

Abstract: Structure is provided for pivotally mounting a box used to guide a bar through the rolls of a rolling mill. The guide box is aligned with a guide bell, and the two are mounted in such a relation that cobble forces transmitted to the guide bell are absorbed by the mounting structure and are not transmitted to the guide box or to the bearings which mount the guide box for pivotal movement. In its operative position, adjacent the rolling mill rolls, the guide box is accessible for adjustment and most maintenance work, and the upstream and downstream ends of the guide box are readily visible. The guide box may be pivoted away from and returned to precisely the same operative position, time after time.

Abstract: Particulized coal is subjected to a series of processing operations to produce a formed coke product. Among the operations are a single stage heating process comprising both carbonizing and calcining operations or, alternatively, a heating process in which carbonizing alone or carbonizing and calcining are conducted in separate stages. At least the carbonizing operation is conducted in the absence of extraneous gas so that the valuable by-product gases driven off from the coal during heating are unadulterated; and the carbonizing operation is conducted with gradual heating in the single stage heating process.

Abstract: Coal fines are separated from a mixture containing liquid and coal fines in an apparatus comprising a combination surge tank and flotation tank employing air bubbles to urge the coal fines toward the overflow from the flotation tank.

Abstract: A ferrous metal strip is continuously hot-dip coated by immersing the metal strip in a hot-dip coating bath containing between about 0.2 wt. percent and about 17 wt. percent aluminum, between about 0.02 wt. percent and about 0.15 wt. percent antimony while excluding lead in amounts more than 0.02 wt. percent, and the balance being essentially zinc. Smooth bright coatings are formed which are highly resistant to intergranular corrosion and blistering when exposed for an extended period to a hot humid atmosphere, have good formability in both the as coated state and after prolonged exposure to a hot humid atmosphere, have a markedly reduced susceptibility to the formation of white rust, and have a reduced rate of general surface corrosion without any diminution of the mechanical properties of the coating.

Abstract: Leaded steel bar containing 0.05-0.70 wt. % lead. No substantial amount of complex macroinclusions in immediate sub-surface region, the machinability of which is relatively high. Process for making such leaded steel is described.

Abstract: A ferrous metal strip having a continuous hot-dip coating consisting essentially of the zinc-5% aluminum eutectic alloy which contains as the only metallic additive a metal which reduces the surface tension of the coated bath, such as lead, antimony or tin, with the total amount of the metallic additives being a maximum of about 0.1 wt. %, and said coating being formable and exhibiting good corrosion resistance when exposed to marine-type environments and having a bright, smooth surface free of ripples and spangles which interfere with paintability and weldability.

Abstract: A ferrous metal strip is continuously hot-dip coated with a zinc-aluminum alloy by immersing the metal strip in a hot-dip coating bath containing between about 0.2 wt. percent and 17 wt. percent aluminum, between about 0.02 wt. percent and 0.15 wt. percent lead, and between about 0.03 wt. percent and about 0.15 wt. percent magnesium with the balance essentially zinc. In a further embodiment the hot-dip alloy coating can also contain between about 0.1 wt. % and 0.3 wt. % copper. The resulting hot-dip zinc-aluminum alloy coatings when applied to a ferrous metal strip exhibit good resistance to intergranular corrosion and blistering when exposed to a high humidity atmosphere and form smooth surface coatings which have good formability both in the "as coated" state and after prolonged storage in a high humidity atmosphere.

Abstract: A continuous casting process and slab plate mold for casting an endless solidified steel shell enclosing a liquid core which is formed of spaced parallel longitudinal wall plates having held therebetween spaced inwardly tapered transverse wall plates provided with specially contoured inner surfaces comprising flat sections extending inwardly from each longitudinal edge disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal wall plates and having a length about equal to the thickness of the wide walls of the casting shell at the lower end of the mold with the inner ends of said flat sections being connected by a convex section whose curvature is such that the convex section is maintained in supporting contact with said casting as the casting is moved downwardly through said mold; whereby the pressure of the casting shell on the transverse wall plates is evenly distributed so that uneven wear is avoided and the working life of the transverse wall plate substantially extended.

Abstract: Coal particles are heated and further particulized at a preheat stage employing a preheat gas. Some of the finer coal particles are puffed up by the preheating step. Most of the preheated coal particles are separated from the preheat gas, but some of the finer coal particles remain with the preheat gas. The coal particles separated from the preheat gas are oiled and eventually transported by a carrier gas through a pipeline into a coke oven. The preheat gas and the finer coal particles remaining therewith are separated from each other utilizing a wet scrubber at which the finer coal particles undergo flocculation. Oil vapor vented from the coal particles headed for the coke oven is directed to the wet scrubber to aid in the flocculating step. The flocculated coal particles are separated from the scrubber liquid in a flotation cell. The overflow from the flotation cell is filtered, and the filter cake comprising coal particles is employed as a fuel.

Abstract: Combined strengthening and corrosion protection of a ferrous metal pipeline is obtained by means of a wrap of ferrous metal strip, the strip being coated with a less noble metal, such as zinc or aluminum or a zinc alloy or an aluminum alloy, and the strip being under sufficient tension to strengthen and reinforce the pipe or to arrest fracture propagation. The less noble metal coating of the strip is electrically connected to the pipe to provide cathodic protection for the pipe. A coating of electrically insulating material may be interposed between the pipe and the wrap. An external power source may be utilized for primary cathodic protection in which case the coated strip is relied upon as a secondary or back-up system.

Abstract: A cooling system for cooling steel slabs or the like comprises an elongated tank with parallel rollers for conveying the heated slab horizontally beneath the surface of a water bath. Water curtains from angularly directed upper and lower nozzles seal the entry opening in the end of the tank through which the slab is introduced into the tank and also supply cooling water to the tank. The rollers have axially spaced disk portions for supporting the slab in spaced relation above guide plates or aprons extending between the rollers. Inlet cooling water from the lower water curtain impinges against the lower surface of the slab and is diverted into and flows at high velocity through the restricted cooling channel defined between the guide plates or aprons and the underside of the slab. In a continuous form of the cooling system, a water curtain sealed outlet opening for the slabs is also provided in the opposite end of the tank. Intermediate cooling water nozzles may also be provided between the ends of the tank.

Abstract: An apparatus for electrolytically treating an endless steel strip comprising an electrolytic treating tank having guide means associated therewith which are adapted to guide a continuously moving endless strip into and out of the interior of the tank and having at least one electrode disposed within the tank directly facing only one of the wide surfaces of the endless strip while the strip is being guided through said tank by the guide means and at least one cathodic electrode spaced from the anodic electrode and disposed within said tank directly facing only the opposite wide surface of said endless strip. The anodic electrode is connected with the positive terminal of a first source of direct current, such as a plating rectifier, and the cathodic electrode is connected with the negative terminal of a second source of direct current, such as an etching rectifier, which is independent of the first source of direct current.

Abstract: A closure device for use in preventing leakage of molten steel or other metal from the nozzle of a metal ladle comprises a pair of generally vertical elongated jaw members spaced and hinged at their bottom ends to a base member, the jaws and the base member being sized to permit insertion of the assembly into the bore of the nozzle. Immediately below the base member, there is positioned a washer plate having a size sufficient to block the bore of the nozzle. Passing upwardly through the plate and extending into the space between the jaw members there is a threaded rod provided at its upper end with an enlarged head contacting the opposed inner faces of the jaw members. The lower end of the rod below the washer is threadedly engaged to a wing nut which is manually operated.

Abstract: A process of making a one-side-only coated endless metal sheet in which a sheet initially having a protective metal coating, such as zinc, on both lateral surfaces thereof is subjected to an electrolytic treatment which removes the protective metal coating from only one side of the metal sheet by continuously passing the metal sheet through an electrolytic treating chamber containing as an electrolyte bath a strongly acidic aqueous solution, such as sulfuric acid, having a pH from about pH 0.1 to 2.0, and preferably about pH 1.