Abstract: The invention provides a tin-containing iron base powder comprising iron base particulates each having tin-rich portions on the surface in which at least a part of the tin forms a compound with iron, wherein the total tin content ranges from 1 to 20% by weight of the powder. The invention also provides a process for making such a tin-containing iron base powder by mixing an iron base powder with a powder tin compound capable of generating metallic tin upon thermal decomposition, and heating the mixture to a temperature of 450.degree. to 700.degree. C. in a reducing or non-oxidizing atmosphere. Using this tin-containing iron base powder as a sintering material, there can be obtained sintered products having a high density and excellent magnetic properties.

Abstract: A laser beam machining device employs a laser for generating a laser beam, a chopper device for intermittently blocking the laser beam for intermittently irradiating the laser beam onto the surface of a work, and an assisting gas discharge device for injecting assisting gas toward the point, on which the laser beam is irradiated. By locating the chopper upstream of the primary condenser and away from the assist gas flow, the assist gas to be discharged toward the predetermined point of the work, on which the laser beam is irradiated, is not disturbed which otherwise would cause turbulence to degrade the precision of the laser beam machining operation. In addition, the assisting gas discharging device is so arranged as to direct the assist gas flow substantially along the axis of the laser beam to be irradiated onto the work surface.

Abstract: A covered arc welding electrode includes a steel core wire and a flux which is applied to the outside periphery of said steel core wire. The welding electrode can form a superior crack-resisting weld zone even if fluctuating stresses are continually applied to a base metal while the base metal is welded. The flux includes 40 to 60% metal carbonate, 10 to 25% metal fluoride and 4 to 25 metal oxide by weight. The flux comprises 24 to 32% of the total weight of said electrode. The composition of the welding electrode includes 0.005 to 0.05% carbon, 0.1 to 1.1% silicon, 1.5 to 2.5% manganese, not more than 0.007% sulfur and not more than 0.25% nickel by weight and the manganese/sulfur ratio is more than or equal to 350 to 1. In addition, the welding electrode can include 0.01 to 0.10% rare earth metal by weight. In which case, the Mn content may be 1.0 to 2.5% by weight and the manganese/sulfur ratio may be more than or equal to 270 to 1.

Abstract: A conductor roll for electroplating is provided on its circumferential outer surface with a conductor ring and a pair of rubber linings, with a step formed between the outer sufaces of the conductor ring and the rubber lining. The profile of the roll is adjusted by cooling the conductor roll with coolant passing through the interior of the roll, and controlling the temperature of coolant in response to the information indicative of the step to thereby control the step to a predetermined value.

Abstract: Methods of measuring the thickness or thicknesses and the composition or compositions of an alloy plating having one layer or two layers different in composition from each other, wherein the alloy plating includes a metal identical with a substrate metal, suitable for use in analyzing a Zn--Fe group one layer or two layer alloy-plated steel plate. Characteristic X-rays and white X-rays irradiate an object (112, 10, 210) to be measured. A diffraction angle (2.theta.) of diffracted X-rays of the characteristic X-rays, which are diffracted by an intermetallic compound of the alloy plating, is measured; the composition of the alloy plating is measured from the diffraction angle, an intensity or intensities of fluorescent X-rays from an object to be measured are detected, wherein the flourescent X-rays generated by the white X-rays; and the thickness or thicknesses of the alloy plating are measured from the intensity or intensities of the fluorescent X-rays and the composition of the alloy plating.

Abstract: The invention provides an efficient method for controlling the flow rate of a particulate material through a pneumatic transportation pipe at a preset value with a high accuracy and rapid response to an external disturbance added to the system by controlling the flow rate of the booster gas. Different from conventional methods in which the flow rate of the booster gas is controlled with the feedforward factor of the variation in the actual flow rate of the particulate material, the inventive method utilizes the variation in the pressure in the receiving unit as the feedback to control the flow rate of the booster gas so that the above mentioned advantages are obtained in the accuracy of control and rapidness of the response to an external disturbance.

Abstract: In detecting surface defects of a hot metal body, e.g. hot-rolled steel sheet, by using a first video signal derived from radiation spontaneously radiated from a target area of the hot metal surface and a second video signal derived from external light projected on and reflected from the same target area of the hot metal surface, the rate of false detection by the influence of noise signals attributed to metal oxide present on the hot metal surface is greatly reduced by converting the first and second video signals respectively into first and second binary signals, synchronously feeding the first and second binary signals to an AND circuit and detecting the locations of such defects based on the output of the AND circuit. Preferably near-infrared region of the radiation is used in producing the first video signal and visible light as the external light.

Abstract: A method of producing ferrous sintered alloys comprises the steps of preparing mixed alloy powder containing Fe-P-C eutectic alloy powder which includes phosphorus within the range of 2.0% to 3.0% by weight, carbon not more than 4.0% by weight and one of molybdenum within the range of 8.0% to 11.0% by weight and boron within the range of 0.5% to 3.0% by weight, graphite, and ferroalloy powder containing chromium within the range of 11% to 14% by weight; causing the mixed alloy powder to be subjected to compression molding to have a green compact; and sintering the green compact to have a ferrous sintered alloy containing compound carbides in a matrix structure thereof. The graphite is so selected that the sum total of the graphite and the carbon included in the Fe-P-C eutectic alloy powder constitutes a part within the range of 5% to 8% by weight of the sum total of the graphite and the Fe-P-C eutectic alloy powder.

Abstract: There is provided an improved process for forming high purity carbon monoxide wherein a product of substantially uniform purity is obtained. A waste gas containing at least CO, CO.sub.2 and N.sub.2 is treated by pressure swing adsorption in two stages to remove CO.sub.2 and CO, respectively. The CO content of at least the feed gas and the second stage product gas are monitored and an amount of second stage product gas is recycled to the feed gas and/or the first stage product gas sufficient to assure substantially uniform CO content in the second stage product gas withdrawn from the system.

Abstract: A burden distribution monitoring apparatus, according to the present invention, includes a hollow cylindrical sonde having an inner end radially movable within the internal space of a furnace, such as a shaft furnace. The sonde carries a burden layer depth sensor and/or a burden grain distribution sensor for radially shifting working ends of the sensors. With the foregoing construction, burden depth and/or grading of the burden can be monitored in a plurality of radial points in the furnace.

Abstract: When a light emitted during the irradiation by a laser beam onto the surface of steel is spectrally separated and elements contained in the steel are analyzed quantitatively:an infrared pulse laser beam irradiates a sample such that an energy density on the surface of the sample becomes 2.0.times.10.sup.9 W/mm.sup.

Abstract: A connector, for example for connecting a tubular member such as a pipe, comprises a male member which has an external frusto-conical surface provided with a thread and a female member having an internal frusto-conical surface provided with a thread for engagement with the thread of the male member. The members are provided with sealing surfaces which are brought into sealing abutment under an axially directed compressive force when the members are fully engaged together, as a result of which one member, as shown in FIG. 3 the male member, is partly compressed and the other member, as shown in FIG. 3 the female member, is partly tensioned.

Abstract: A method of controlling the rolling efficiency in a continuous hot rolling process. A rolling schedule and a conveying schedule are determined on a mill line for the slabs arranged in succession based on an aimed extraction temperature of the slabs from a heating furnace and a predetermined temperature at the exit of a finish mill. A minimum extraction pitch is calculated for the slabs from the heating furnace under restriction of the side of the mill line, and a different minimum extraction pitch is calculated for slabs from the heating furnace under restriction of the side of the heating furnace based on slab temperature charged to the heating furnace and the aimed extraction temperature. An optimum extraction pitch is determined for slabs from the heating furnace by comparing both of the minimum extraction pitches. With such a method, the continuous hot rolling operation is carried out under an optimum condition.

Abstract: This improved ignition device for a moving grate type sintering machine is an inexpensive, compact combustion device which can form a strip of flame extending uniformly and continuously over the width of the strand. This ignition device can provide a uniform ignition intensity, and the ignition conditions of the raw mix can be controlled optimally by moving the burner and a hood therefor vertically and/or rotatably in accordance with the operational conditions of the sintering process. The ignition device thus contributes to prevent the sintered ore from being unevenly sintered, and to save heating energy.

Abstract: A furnace for heating pipes each having an upset portion at least at one of its opposite ends includes a housing defining a heating chamber filled with high temperature gas, and a conveying apparatus for sequentially conveying the pipes in the housing in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the pipes. A blowing device is provided on one side of a path of the upset portion, and a waving plate is provided on the other side of the path, whereby the upset portion, when passing through a space between the blowing device and the plate, is heated locally by the high temperature gas blown out from the blowing device and also by the reflected high temperature gas and radiant heat from the plate.

Abstract: Helper rolls in a continuous annealing furnace are divided by a master speed hearth roll serving as the boundary into a plurality of control blocks disposed forwardly and rearwardly of the master speed hearth roll, and the speed of rotation of the master speed hearth roll is used as a reference speed. Tension of a steel strip are continuously controlled on the basis of values detected by a tension meter in the plurality of control blocks towards the inlet of the furnace for the helper rolls disposed forwardly of the master speed hearth roll and towards the outlet of the furnace for the helper rolls disposed rearwardly of the master speed hearth roll.

Abstract: A process for separating carbon monoxide from a feed gas .[.comprising.]. .Iadd.including .Iaddend.CO.sub.2, CO and less adsorbable component than CO through PSA by using at least two adsorption columns in two stage adsorption operation which .[.comprises.]. .Iadd.includes .Iaddend.a first adsorption stage for removing CO.sub.2 from .[.said.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.feed gas and a second adsorption stage for separating CO from gaseous mixture withdrawn from the first adsorption stage:(1) the first adsorption stage comprising a pressure swing adsorption repeating adsorption and desorption, and(2) the second adsorption stage comprising:(i) pressurization by the first stage product gas,(ii) adsorption,(iii) depressurization,(iv) purge by product gas,(v) evacuation for recovering product gas, and(vi) pressurization by gas withdrawn in other column, periodically switching the flow between or among .[.said.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.