Abstract: This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for the positioning of thick slabs (2) to be introduced into a furnace, particularly into a walking-beam furnace, the positioning being effected with the aid of optical devices (5, 9, 10) and electronic devices (11, 12). By this method, at each lateral region opposite the furnace mouth (3), onto the upper surface of a slab (2) and at the region of its end faces (102, 102'), there are projected at least two blades of light (6, 7, 8) of a given length, which are normal to the direction of entrance and advance into the furnace and parallel to each other, the ends of which are perfectly aligned on a straight line which is parallel to the direction of entrance and advance into the furnace, the blades (6, 7, 8) producing parallel lines of light (106, 107, 108) on the surface of the slab (2), the lines being interrupted at the end edges (102, 102') of the slab.

Abstract: The method employs a furnace, wherein organic distillation products released from the binder and the gaseous and particulate decomposition products are burned off. Bodies, placed on the ceramic bottom plate of a truck, are introduced into the pre-heating zone of the furnace, covered with protective coverings, and heated to 200.degree.-600.degree. C. in an oxidizing medium. Thereafter, the coverings are removed in a vestibule, in an inert or slightly reducing medium, and the bodies are introduced into the calcining zone, provided with an inert or slightly reducing medium, to be further heated up to a temperature in the 1000.degree. to 1200.degree. C. range. Lastly, the bodies are cooled in a first cooling zone down to 400.degree.-450.degree. C. in an inert or slightly reducing medium, and in a second zone down to room temperature.

Abstract: A method of calcining carbonaceous bodies, in particular electrodes such as those employed in the production of aluminum or steel, in either continuous or intermittent furnaces with the use of containment structures whereinto carbonaceous bodies to be calcined are placed and then covered at least laterally with a carbonaceous powder, is characterized in that the structure walls are caused to collapse from the sides outwards on the occurrence of the expansion whereto the carbonaceous bodies are subjected during calcination.The containment structure which affords implementation of the method comprises a base frame, refractory supports placed on said frame and carrying refractory plates forming the loading platform, and a sideway complying edge formation on expansion of the carbonaceous bodies.

Abstract: The method comprises passing preformed bodies to be calcined, containing pyrolyzable substances, through a furnace having, arranged in succession, a first heating zone, a second or combustion zone wherein volatile substance released by said bodies are subjected to combustion, a third or calcining zone, and a fourth or cooling zone. Separation means between the first and second zones, and between the third and fourth zones, prevent the flue gases from flowing between such zones.

Abstract: Method for calcining carbonaceous blocks into carbonaceous bodies, in which either a continuous or intermittent operation furnace is used. After placing carbonaceous blocks to be calcined onto the loading platform of a cart, a containment structure or enclosure structure is formed around the carbonaceous blocks including a barrier, which is held away from and is adapted to completely enclose the carbonaceous blocks, with the optional exception of barrier formed on the surface of the loading platform on which the carbonaceous blocks rest. The barrier being effective to prevent seepage of air or gases therethrough during calcination.

Abstract: A "jet cooler" device for cooling and recirculating the gas forming the protective atmosphere in the cooling chambers of the furnaces for the continuous annealing of steel strips, comprises vertically arranged boxes (4) which extend in the furnace interior between successive vertically extending parallel strip sections, substantially over the whole length thereof, i.e., throughout the height of the furnace, and which have their walls (104) turned toward the facing adjacent strip sections provided with perforations (5). Associated to each vertically arranged perforated box (4) are a plurality of individual protective gas-cooling and recirculating units (6), which are distributed over the vertical extent of the respective box (4) and are attached to the outside of the furnace sidewalls (1).

Abstract: In a direct current electric arc furnace with at least one movable electrode and at least one part of the bottom of the furnace of electrically conductive material, used as a return electrode, that part of the furnace bottom is formed of an assembly of diverse coacting parts, namely:a easily removable electrically conductive prefabricated element in contact with the metal bath,an intermediate part of electrically conductive granular material,and a terminal metal part, in contact with the intermediate part, electrically insulated from the shell of the furnace, comprising a metal collector plate whose upper surface is in contact with the intermediate part, and having a terminal metal rod on the lower face. That lower face and the metal rod are in contact with a non-conductive refractory material. The extremity of the metal rod protrudes outside the furnace, is cooled and is connected to the power supply. The furnace bottom can also include at least one porous body for blowing gas into the metal bath.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of and a walking beam furnace for the intermediate heating of pipes, or the like, in hot rolling mills, by means of a furnace located between the plug-mill and the sizing mill. According to the invention, in a forehearth (17) of the intermediate heating furnace, at the inlet side thereof, there is maintained a temperature which is lower than that at the outlet side, and which, anyway, is such that the hottest pipes will be cooled down and the coldest pipes will be heated up whereby, when exiting from said forehearth (17) of the furnace, the difference between the temperatures of the various pipes is zero or, at least, is small and, in any case, is smaller than that at the inlet, whereas in the successive chamber (18) of the furnace there is maintained such a temperature as to give the pipes the desired temperature when exiting from the furnace.

Abstract: This invention relates to the walking beam furnaces--particularly of the bilateral-heating type, with fixed and/or walking beams (1, 2) cooled by means of water or other fluid--for the heating of metallurgical products (B), such as billets, blooms or the like. The invention aims to eliminate or minimize the localized cooling effect on metallurgical products where they contact the cooled beams, which cooling generates the so-called skid marks on said metallurgical products.For this purpose, the invention provides a method wherein each metallurgical article is turned over 180.degree. at least once around its longitudinal axis at a region in the furnace which is near the discharge end (18) of the furnace.

Abstract: The burner for metallurgical furnaces comprises a main combustion chamber (7) and an auxiliary combustion chamber (5) presenting a plurality of outlet channels (6) communicating with the main combustion chamber (7). To the main combustion chamber there is fed in a pulsating manner a primary mix of fuel gas and air in stoichiometric ratio, and, during the intervals between the feed pulses, a secondary mix of fuel gas and air with a coefficient of excess air of 1.15 to 1.35 and at a rate of flow corresponding to 1 to 3% of the nominal rate of flow. To the auxiliary combustion chamber (5) there is instead continuously fed an auxiliary mix of fuel gas and air with a coefficient of excess air of 0.65 to 0.85 and at a rate of flow corresponding to 1 to 3% of the rate of flow of the primary mix. The combustion products of the auxiliary mix stay in the auxiliary combustion chamber (5) for a very short time, more particularly for about from 0.005 to 0.01 sec.

Abstract: The invention relates to a walking beam furnace wherein the walking beams can be lowered beyond their operative stroke to a maintenance position. The actuating device for the walking beams comprises a hydraulic, pneumatic or electric assembly (10) and a wheel (16) rotatably mounted around a stationary axis and a preferably flexible drive-transmitting member (20) which is formed, for example, by a cable, a sprocket chain or the like, and is pivotably connected to said wheel (16). The flexible drive-transmitting member can rest on the peripheral surface of the wheel (16) both during the operative stroke of the walking beams (7) and during their lowering stroke to the maintenance position. The ramps, whereon the lifting rollers (6) for the walking beams (7) run, comprise a less-inclined upper stretch (3) and a successive more-inclined stretch (4).

Abstract: In the walking beam furnaces, in order to heat metallurgical materials such as billets, bars and the like, having different temperatures of introduction into the furnace and/or different cross sections, so as to discharge materials at uniform temperatures from the furance, said materials are selected according to their temperature and/or cross section, and are introduced into the furnace through a plurality of side inlet doors while said materials are conveyed along the furnace by means of an external side conveyor, and/or they are discharged from the furnace through a plurality of side outlet doors and are then advanced outside along the furnace by means of an external side conveyor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a walking beam furnace, the hearth of which consists, at least partially, of longitudinal beams arranged side by side and alternately formed as fixed beams and walking beams. Each walking beam is lifted and lowered with the aid of lifting rollers, which run on ramps. The ramps are prolonged downwards by a longer distance than is required for the working lift of the walking beams. The walking beams are depressed, step by step, into a repair and maintenance plane which lies appreciably below the plane of the hearth, by moving down the lifting rollers into the region of the lower prolongation of the ramps.

Abstract: In a rocking-beam type furnace which comprises fixed support beams which extend lengthwise of the furnace and conveyor beams which are parallel to the fixed beams and which can be raised and lowered and moved back and forth, the upper edges of the fixed beams and of the conveyor beams are provided with transverse billet locating notches having inclined billet supporting surfaces so that billets are intermittently and progressively rotated about their longitudinal axes during their passage through the furnace until they have performed at least one full rotation.