Abstract: A coated steel roof cladding panel comprises upwardly projecting, inverted channel, edge and stiffening ribs with essentially flat pans between the ribs. At or near each junction of a rib and panel there is a small bead extending in the same direction as the ribs, and projecting downwardly. If the panel is walked upon after or while being laid on supporting purlins, the beads deform sacrifically and prevent unsightly transverse marks forming in the pans due to flexing of the panel.

Abstract: An electromagnetic drag pad, particularly for providing all the drag force needed where slit ferrous strip is to be coiled at a coiling station, comprises a panel of drag friction material covering pole faces of an electromagnet which magnetically attracts the moving ferrous strip into frictional engagement with the panel of drag friction material thereby establishing a back tension to permit satisfactory formation of a stable coil of each strip at a coiling station; the electromagnet has a core comprising a multiplicity of elongated spaced apart substantially parallel pole elements defining therebetween gaps which accommodate an electric winding which is connected to a power supply (such as a low voltage DC high amperage supply) for energizing the electromagnet, the pole elements having respective pole faces which provide an alternating array of north and south poles.

Abstract: A method of building a triangulated frame structure of the kind composed of a plurality of subsidiary members (12) joined by their ends to a plurality of main members (7,8,11) intermedially of the ends of the main members (7,8,11). The method comprises forming the ends of the subsidiary members (12) as protrusile tongues (13); providing the main members (7,8,11) with locator slots (14) each able to accept one of the tongues (13), and located in the main members (7,8,11) at points to which the end of a subsidiary member (12) is to be joined; arraying the main members (7,8,11) and the subsidiary members (12) together substantially in correspondence with the position they are to occupy in the finished frame structure, entering the tongues (13) into that one of the slots nearest to it when the members (7,8,11,12) are in the arrayed position; and bending the entered tongues (13) so that they are at least partially restrained against withdrawal from the slots 14.

Abstract: A method for automatically controlling the thickness of product emerging from a rolling mill. Signals indicative of total roll force (F), rollgap position (S), angular position of one mill roll (v) and downstream product thickness (h) are utilized to obtain an output signal indicative of roll eccentricity affecting the true instantaneous rollgap position as a function of the measured mill roll angular position. The output signal may be use to compensate an estimate of instantaneous thickness of the product for the purpose of controlling the gap between work rolls. If preferred the output signal may be further processed to obtain an output signal indicative of the periodic roll eccentricity of a set of rolls having a common period of rotation or of a plurality of such sets.

Abstract: A method for facilitating the determination of the thickness of a coating on an article, especially a highly elongate article such as a wire, having a ferromagnetic substrate for the coating, the coating being electrically conductive and of substantially lower magnetic permeability than the substrate, includes disposing in proximity to the article an inductively wound wire coil while applying an alternating electrical current to the coil. An electrical property of the coil is monitored for deriving a signal or other indication representative of the monitored property. The thickness of the coating may be determined from this indication. Apparatus for performing the method includes an inductively wound wire coil positionable in proximity to the article; a circuit for applying an AC current to the coil; and circuitry for monitoring the electrical property and deriving the signal or other indication.

Abstract: The invention provides a composition for application to a metal surface, the composition comprising an inorganic nitrite, a benzoate and a carbonate in aqueous solution. The composition may advantageously be used as a lubricant or coolant during metal working, for example temper rolling, and for protection of coil or sheet packs of steel against corrosion.

Abstract: In gas stripping excess coating material (such as molten zinc) from rising sheet material (such as continuous steel strip) uneven coating adjacent the strip edges is deterred by a baffle plate having a vertical portion held close to but not touching the strip and disposed normally to the strip edge, and a remainder portion trended away from that edge. The baffle plate is fixed on one end of a carrier plate suspended on a truck spring urged towards the sheet. The carrier plate extends further from the strip edge than does said remainder portion and the horizontal length of the carrier plate is from 10 to 20 times the width of said vertical portion.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for removal of an excess of a liquid metal coating from a substrate, such as a hot dip coated metal substrate, and in preferred embodiments, for control of metal coating thickness.The method involves moving the substrate through a stationary pulsating or alternating magnetic flux. The flux is directed in a path which enters the coating at an entry zone and exits from the coating at an exit zone, those zones being on the external surface of the coating and spaced apart in the direction of advance of the substrate. The frequency and intensity of the flux are controlled so as to exert on the coating surface a force opposing the viscous drag forces exerted in the coating by the moving substrate. Apparatus for use in performing the method is described.

Abstract: To ensure positive inter-engagement of the free edge of a male rib at one side of a roof or wall cladding sheet with an internal shoulder formed in, and longitudinally of, a female rib at one side of an identical sheet, the said free edge has a series of outwardly displaced abutments formed on it so that engagement between the two is confined to those points at which the abutments are placed.

Abstract: A vehicle decking bearer, by comparison with existing bearers, is better able to withstand the stresses due to normal work loadings, and is more easily incorporated in a vehicle structure, by reason of it consisting of a Z-sectioned longitudinal runner and a plurality of bolting stations by which it is U-bolted to the vehicle chassis. Each of the bolting stations comprises a bolt-hole able to receive the crotch of a U-bolt and located substantially in or near the neutral axis of the runner, and a bridge member secured to the runner so that a web portion of it, upon which the mentioned crotch rests, horizontally intersects said bolt-hole.

Abstract: For use in a rolling mill, a deformable, deflection roll with a continuous, unitary surface and a system for detection of roll deflection when a strip of sheet material is passed over the roll. The roll construction may include a dimpled or perforated surface or a multilayered roll may be provided of appropriate materials. The deflection detection system typically employs an optical scanning technique.This invention relates to the processing of metal strip particularly that which has been reduced to its final thickness by cold rolling. Ideally, metal strip should be of constant thickness throughout and should also be completely flat. This flatness should also be retained even after the strip is sheared or slit into smaller portions, for this operation frequently releases residual stresses in the metal.In practice strip flatness is extremely difficult to accomplish, and there is a tendency to overroll portions of the strip giving rise to the formation of centre or edge waves.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting the roll separation and roll speed of the roll stands of a tandem rolling mill so as to control the position of interstand looper arms without creating undesirable thickness changes. Each looper position is controlled by simultaneous adjustment of the roll separation and roll speed of the downstream stand, and adjustment of the roll separation of the upstream stand.