Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and apparatus for thermally cutting rectangular metal slabs along a longitudinal axis of the slab. A metal slab is conveyed along a predetermined path of travel while it is being cut by, for example, an oxygen-flame cutting machine. The means for conveying the metal slab comprises a plurality of rollers transversely disposed relative to the path of travel and the cutting machine is arranged above the conveying means and between two of the rollers. The slag created by the cutting is collected and conveyed by a slag duct disposed below the conveying means. Pursuant to the invention, the slag duct extends from between the two rollers adjacent the cutting machine along an axis transverse to the path of travel. In accordance with another feature of the invention, the side edges of the metal slab are sensed and the cutting machine is transversely aligned relative to the path of travel in accordance with the sensed locations of the side edges.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the recovery and recycling of heat from hot exhaust gases, specifically from exhaust gases in metallurgical processes and from warm gases having an exiting temperature of below about 800.degree. C. According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, warm or hot exhaust fuel gases transfer their retained heat to the lower portions of vertically positioned, capillary-type action heat transfer pipes. Cold air is then directed past the upper portion of the heat pipes, thereby transferring the heat of the heat transfer pipes to the cold air. The now heated air gains further heat, prior to introduction into the blast furnace, by passing over, previously heated refractory gratings.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an apparatus for thermally cutting rectangular metal slabs along a longitudinal axis of the slab. A metal slab is conveyed along a predetermined path of travel while it is being cut by, for example, an oxygen-flame cutting machine. The means for conveying the metal slab comprises a plurality of rollers transversely disposed relative to the path of travel and the cutting machine is arranged above the conveying means and between two of the rollers. The slag created by the cutting is collected and conveyed by a slag duct disposed below the conveying means. Pursuant to the invention, the slag duct extends from between the two rollers adjacent the cutting machine along an axis transverse to the path of travel. In accordance with another feature of the invention, the side edges of the metal slab are sensed and the cutting machine is transversely aligned relative to the path of travel in accordance with the sensed locations of the side edges.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the recovery and recycling of heat from hot exhaust gases, specifically from exhaust gases in metallurgical processes and from warm gases having an exiting temperature of below about 800.degree. C. According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, warm or hot exhaust fuel gases transfer their retained heat to the lower portions of vertically positioned, capillary-type action heat transfer pipes. Cold air is then directed past the upper portion of the heat pipes, thereby transferring the heat of the heat transfer pipes to the cold air. The now heated air gains further heat, prior to introduction into the blast furnace, by passing over, previously heated refractory gratings.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for the continuous longitudinal construction for canals. The apparatus performs a series of sequential operations required for the construction of a canal. The apparatus performs planing of the surfaces of the sidewall slopes of the canal and the canal bed followed by a smooth surfacing of the planed surfaces with a suitable planing material.The apparatus during the canal construction adjusts to the angle defined by the opposed sloped walls of the canal and is adapted so that the ground-engaging carriages are held against the sloped walls. In this manner, the heavy bridging structures which, in the prior art, extend from one berm of the canal, across the canal, and to the other berm, are eliminated. In addition, two or more apparatus frames are pivotally connected one behind the other. In this manner, continuous adjusting at the connecting hinge is performed as the canal is constructed according to the varying parameters of the canal.

Abstract: The invention concerns an electro-metal smelting furnace with at least one taphole located at the bottom with which hole is associated a closure equipped with a drive.

Abstract: Disclosed is a turbulent waterway having boats guided in a trough extending between an uphill starting point and a downhill terminus, a chain conveyor having a series of links extending on a slope between said starting point and said terminus and adapted to travel upwardly therebetween, at least one locking bar with transverse grooves is adapted to mesh with the links of said chain conveyor supporting said links for sliding therealong.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to the construction of a traveling overhead crane, to enable a desired high degree of precision to be maintained in the attachment of wheel-carrying top girders to the opposite ends of a movable bridge girder. The bridge girder is provided with end plates, to which the respective wheel-carrying top girders are bolted. The end plates are formed with machined annular recesses, surrounding the bolt holes through which the top girders are attached. These machined recesses are so formed that the bottoms thereof constitute a common reference plane. Tubular sleeves of known axial dimension, are received in these recesses and serve to accurately locate the top girders with respect to the predetermined reference plane. The tubular sleeves may in some cases be very short, in the nature of thick washers, for example, or they may be elongated tubes extending through and welded to the top girders.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a grab bucket suspended from the cable of a hoisting means. The hosting means includes a first reversible motor drive means to raise and lower the grab bucket and a second motor drive means is associated with the grab bucket for opening and closing the bucket. Pursuant to the invention, a slack line limit switch is arranged and configured to detect a slackening condition in the cable as when the bucket reaches a pile of material. Upon said slackening condition, the limit switch operates to stop the first reversible motor drive means and to start the second reversible motor drive means to commence the closing of the bucket.

Abstract: The invention relates to a distribution apparatus for throat closures of shaft furnaces, in particular blast-furnace closures, with a lock chamber arranged within the furnace dome, at the entrance of which is arranged a funnel tube and underneath which, opening out above the charging surface is arranged a distribution pipe which may be swung around the pivot axis by means of a horizontal pair of swivel pins, within a frame, whereby the frame is arranged by means of a hollow shaft or a shaft pin normal to the pivot axis, also extending horizontally and penetrating the furnace dome to which it is sealed and connected to a swing drive, and the pivot drive for the distribution pipe is connected to a drive shaft penetrating the hollow shaft and connected with a pin of the swivel-pin pair.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a claw clutch mechanism, comprising opposing, interengaged clutch halves, each having axially projecting claws extending into the other. Cylindrical elastic bumpers are interposed between adjacent claws to absorb shock and accommodate axial displacement of the clutch halves. The clutch halves are of pressure cast aluminum construction, formed to provide large radius transitional fillets or roundings at the base of the claws, which correspond in radius to the contours of the cylindrical elastic bumpers. Integral reinforcing rings connect the angularly arrayed claws of each clutch half, both on the outside and the inside of the claws, to provide mechanical support for about half the length of the claw. The reinforcing rings also serve to confine the elastic bumpers, and may be provided with opposed flat surfaces at positions corresponding to bumper locations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cover for a vessel for a metal melting furnace, in particular an electric arc furnace, with cooling-pipe coils connected to the cover frame and distributed across it, at least one of which cooling-pipe coils is exposed to the furnace hearth, all of which coils lie adjacent to each other.

Abstract: An apparatus for the manufacture of steel by direct reduction of iron ore dust comprises a single reactor vessel and a tubular reduction dust extending into the vessel to a point closely adjacent to the bottom of the vessel. The reactor vessel is provided with a source of reducing gas containing a monoxide and a predominant amount of H.sub.2. Heating mechanisms for the reduction dust, the iron ore dust, the source of reducing gas and the vessel are provided. The apparatus also includes a mechanism for the recycling of heat and the components of the waste gases of the reactor vessel.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatus for manufacturing steel from iron ore dust by direct reduction. The iron ore dust is preheated, then reduced with a gas mixture contaning monoxide. Thereafter, the reduced product is charged by means of a gaseous aid or adjuvant into an iron smelt below the bath surface.

Abstract: A brake surface is provided for slide coaster sleds in which the brake surface is configured to be an elongated surface of much greater length relative to the width. The braking surface is particularly useful for use on wet slide surfaces because the foremost sections of the brake surface remove the moisture at the brake-slide interface and dry the surface through frictional contact. Therefore, the following brake portions of about two-thirds of the length are available to bring about effective braking action. Preferably, the elongated brakes are formed in a U-shape in cross section with a central groove for containing moisture. Also, it is preferred to have two spaced apart brake surfaces positioned on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the sled.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for laying out and evenly distributing the coils of severed hot strands of wire emerging from a rolling mill. In order to maintain the line in continuous operation and in order to distribute the severed cooled strands to the subsequent bundling apparatus, the arrangement herein provides for dual conveyors each preceded by its own laying tube and a switch for selectively feeding the strands to one or other of the conveyors. By controlling the speed of one relative to the other of the dual conveyors, the strands may be selectively converged in even distribution for subsequent processing. The dual conveyors may be side by side or superimposed one above the other. With the latter arrangement, the upper conveyor may be mounted to pivot into and out of the line of the lower conveyor for the sequential feeding of the coils to the following line.

Abstract: A transportable hoisting support is provided for a mobile bulk goods delivery system. The support is in the form of a three-legged frame with two legs positioned at one end of the bulk goods delivery system and the remaining leg at the opposite end. The two ends are connected by the frame which bridges the conveyor system and the recess formed to receive the bulk goods. The support of the invention includes hoisting means for elevating the conveyor for transporting it from place to place and transport means in the legs thereof for moving the support with the associated delivery system. The invention provides support for movement of the belt conveyor delivery flow equalizer from place to place, while at the same time eliminating structure required previously for transport of the conveyor, which caused the upper delivery end of the conveyor to be too high for drop delivery of the goods to the next processing station in a bulk goods production line for certain applications.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for the positive activation of a switching device operated to function after a predetermined number of revolutions of a drive shaft to deactivate a drive prior to the apparatus reaching a stopping point, such as in finishing machines. Two camshafts are provided, with one driven slowly and one driven rapidly through appropriate gearing from the drive shaft of the apparatus. One or more cams are spaced on each camshaft with the slow cams having a short actuating surface and the fast cams having a long activating surface. Each slow and fast activating surface engages, respectively, one end of a toggle lever, which in turn moves a thrust rod to open the switch. Each toggle lever must be engaged simultaneously with a short and a long activating surface to activate the switch.