Abstract: A wall element for furnaces useful in all types of metallurgical furnaces but particularly in electric arc steel refining furnaces is comprised of a metallic block defining a cooling circuit in the interior thereof and a lining of refractory bricks anchored firmly to the cooled metallic block. The metallic block carries anchoring lugs projecting from the internal face of the block, each lug consisting of a foot portion and a retaining portion, which is constituted by an enlarged end of the foot portion opposite the internal face. Each refractory brick has a face adjacent the internal face of the metallic block and defining a recessed portion of a cross section matching that of a corresponding one of the anchoring lugs.

Abstract: A device for detecting the temperature in electric arc and like heat radiation producing furnaces comprises a thermally conductive, refractory tip disposed on an annular support which is mounted in the interior of a double-walled, liquid-cooled tube disposed within the tubular casing and extending along its axis. A thermocouple with a heat sensitive element adjacent the thermally conductive, refractory tip is introduced and received in the guide tube.

Abstract: A furnace for melting metal by the Joule effect to enable extraction of gases contained in the metal comprising a hollow tubular body which constitutes a heater resistor clamped between two electrodes, and a separate crucible for the metal which is supported within the tubular body and out of direct contact with the electrodes.

Abstract: A metallic product free of surface faults is continuously cast in a cooled, conductive ingot mold wherein a liquid metal is rotated by applying a magnetic field turning about the axis of the mold thereto and wherefrom the partially solidified metal product is extracted continuously. The driving action of the magnetic field is optimized by imparting to it a maximum value of frequency of rotation between 4 and 15 Hertz, this value being a function of the form and size of the cast product as well as the thickness and electric conductivity of the mold wall such that any increase in the frequency of rotation above this value brings about an attenuation of the frequency in the mold wall in excess of its positive effect on the rotation of the liquid metal.

Abstract: A metallic product is cast continuously by injecting a liquid metal into a cooled ingot mold, applying a magnetic field turning about the axis of the mold to rotate the metal, and extracting the partially solidified metal product from the mold. Effective stirring is obtained by rotating the magnetic field at a frequency of rotation of 4 to 15 Hertz and using a copper alloy of structural rigidity for the mold, the wall thickness of the mold being kept thin, preferably below 15 mm. The process is particularly useful for casting round metallic products and especially those which are subjected to after-treatments requiring good surface characteristics and a core free of faults.

Abstract: A continuous-casting mold has two long sides each of which is provided with a cooling box through which water is passed in order to cool the copper-alloy sides of the mold. Provided inside this cooling box is a plurality of inductors each wound around a magnetic element that extends between the box on one side and the wall of the mold on the other side so that these magnetic elements can act both as inductor cores and as support struts between these two facing walls. The magnetic elements may be formed as horizontal plates about which are wound elongated coils, or may be cylindrical pins on which cylindrical coils are wound.

Abstract: A tubular mold element is concentrically surrounded by a jacket defining an annular space therewith and a casing defining a chamber with the jacket. A liquid-tight element divides the chamber into a lower inlet chamber for a cooling liquid and an upper outlet chamber for the liquid. The annular space communicates at the respective ends of the jacket with the inlet and outlet chambers so that a cooling liquid film circulates through the space. The liquid-tight element comprises a first annular member affixed to the interior wall of the casing and a second annular member affixed to the exterior wall of the jacket so that the liquid-tight element supports the jacket at its lower end while its upper end is free of support.

Abstract: A mold for continuously casting of billets comprises an inner copper mold and an outer steel envelope surrounding the mold. The outer envelope is affixed to the inner mold by threaded tie rods which are anchored to parallel longitudinally extending ribs on the exterior faces of the inner mold. These ribs define grooves therebetween and the interior faces of the envelope have parallel longitudinally extending ribs facing the grooves. The facing ribs and grooves define therebetween longitudinal channels for a cooling liquid for the mold.

Abstract: A method for continuously casting metal in horizontal direction in which molten metal is continuously discharged from a container through a conduit of refractory material into a horizontally-extending cooled ingot mold axially aligned with the conduit. The flow passage formed by the conduit and the ingot mold increases abruptly at the junction of the conduit and the ingot mold. The outer periphery zone of the stream of molten metal passing through the conduit is accelerated by electromagnetic force so as to enter into the ingot mold in such a manner as to create immediately downstream of the junction an annular space free of metal; and an apparatus for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A method of continuously casting metal in which the metal is subjected during its solidification at a predetermined zone to the action of a magnetic field which is controlled as a function of the withdrawal speed of the metal during the continuous casting thereof to maintain in the region of the solidification of the metal a magnetic pressure between two predetermined limits to thereby agitate the metal during its solidification to improve the structure of the cast product especially in a central axial zone of the product.

Abstract: A layer of electrolyte in pulverulent form is spread over the free surface of a liquid metal to be desulfurized, in which the layer provides cationic conductivity by means of a cation adapted to react with the sulfur contained in the metal. The electrolyte layer is contacted with a first electrode connected to the positive pole of a direct current supply and the metal is contacted by a second electrode connected to the negative pole of the current supply.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for measuring the gas in a metal sample wherein a reference circuit has gas flowed therethrough from a source, a detection circuit including a degassing chamber therein has gas flowed therethrough from the same source, the reference and detection circuits leading to comparison cells of a catharometer and then to a common measuring circuit, and a complementary circuit is connected to the detection circuit with a gas flow therethrough to selectively apply a protective gas curtain to the degassing chamber during introduction and removal of the sample.

Abstract: Process for decreasing the sulfur content of liquid metal using high temperature comprising passing a direct current by means of two electrodes through a solid electrolyte constituting a refractory wall of oxide having anionic conductivity through the oxygen (O.sup.-.sup.-) ions and also cationic conductivity through ions which are capable of reacting with the sulfur, wherein the metal to be purified forms the negative electrode. The process is particularly adapted to desulfurizing iron and ferrous alloys when present in the liquid state.

Abstract: A jacketted mold for the continuous casting of molten metal is surrounded by a laterally confined space holding an electromagnetic inductor for moving the molten metal in the open-ended mold. Liquid cooling medium is supplied to the mold jacket through an inlet chamber at one end and is evacuated therefrom through an outlet chamber at the other end. The outlet chamber is in communication with the confined space so that the liquid cooling medium cools not only the mold but also the inductor.