Abstract: A monorail system having a rail surface that is provided for small vehicles traversing an incline or slippery areas, with the surface having a plurality of spaced recesses positioned in those areas to form gripping edges for the drive wheels of the vehicles. The recesses may be of a variety of shapes and positioned in different ways to provide the proper grip. The recesses may be mechanically punched into a separate elongated flat bed riveted in appropriate locations to the rail. The punching may be done in such a way so as to form raised ramp-like edges adjacent the recesses to help with the gripping action. The ramp faces face downwardly in inclined areas. The drive wheels of cooperating vehicles may have elastic treads to help with the gripping action.

Abstract: Transport apparatus is provided for heavy duty equipment which allows for the interchangeable connection of the caterpillar power drive units used for transport of a plurality of supporting frames holding different pieces of heavy equipment. A lesser number of expensive drive units is required for moving a lot of equipment. This is achieved by providing separate support bases or feet for each of the supporting frames. Each of the bases include a mechanism for lifting the supporting frames so that the power drive units can move under the supporting frame being transported. Also, each of the caterpillar power drive units include a connector device for connection to the supporting frame to be supported. Each connector device, in turn, includes hydraulically operated arms for relative vertical displacement between the drive unit and the support frame and universal relative horizontal displacement.

Abstract: An ozone pipe is provided for use in a large production plant employing a large number of such pipes in parallel. The pipe of the invention avoids the usual drawbacks for such pipes in large plants in having the metal electrodes melt without discharge of the fuse, or having the fuses discharge in a large number of pipes simultaneously without any indication in the glass pipes of the cause. The above is achieved by the use of a fuse with a capacity within the range of between about 0.63 and 0.15 amperes, and by providing a resistance in each tube mounted in series with the fuse in the power supply.

Abstract: A truck is provided for transporting and lifting heavy metallurgical vessels from one place to another. The truck combines two functions ordinarily provided by two different trucks, in that the truck of the invention lifts and/or removes the vessel from its tilting mount for relining and when replacing it on the mount also refits the bottom plate and cover onto the vessel, the latter function usually being carried out by a separate truck. The arrangement includes a separate bottom plate carrying device configured to be positioned on the truck. The carrying device is positioned to be non-displaceable on the lifting mechanism and to be, when thus placed, subject to the centering and lifting mechanisms of the truck of the invention.

Abstract: A support is provided for a metallurgical vessel, in which paired tie rods are provided superimposed upon each other to absorb the stress resulting from thermal expansion and contraction in the support. By superimposing pairs of the tie rods upon each other and pre-stressing them, a substantial capacity is provided for absorbing built-up stresses in the support while requiring relatively less space for accommodating the tie rods. The paired compression heads and tie rods are positioned concentric to each other on the same axis.

Abstract: A method is provided for inhibiting the development of friction fatigue stress between the mating surfaces of paired machine parts, and particularly those subject to oscillatory loads. This is achieved by maintaining the mating surfaces separated by placing between them a material either of a different crystal structure than the parts separated, or a material of a greater hardness. The separating material may be in the form of a connecting element, or it may be coated onto one of the mating surfaces.

Abstract: The invention refers to an overload control device between two revolving machine parts having substantially semicylindrical lugs or extensions uniformly distributed over the circumference. Two lugs, pertaining to two different machine parts, form cylinders with partition areas parallel with the direction of rotation of the machine parts, surrounded by hollow power-transmitting carrier drive links connecting the machine parts, and severing the connection by breaking in case of an overload. The carrier drive links consist of hollow cylinders made of high-duty, inflexible material mounted upon and surrounding the lugs under an initial stress.

Abstract: Compact pollution control and/or dust removal apparatus is provided for removing entrained dust particles and/or other dry pollutants from an air or gas flow. The apparatus provides for a single pollutant particle discharge in a first or initial removal housing with a plurality of secondary removal housings mounted in spaced fashion circumferentially around the initial removal housing. The construction is such that the gas flow being treated is subjected to two reverse flow patterns for particle removal. Collected pollutants may be flushed from the secondary removal housings by a counter-current flushing action and the use of a simplified valving arrangement wherein the collected pollutants are accumulated into a single area for discharge. The compact arrangement eliminates long horizontal flow pipes which have a tendency to clog with accumulated particles.

Abstract: A step control switch for variable speed electric motors and the like is provided in which several spring forces are utilized in various combinations in order to reduce the velocity of the thrust force of the control button in either increasing or decreasing the speed of the device being controlled. By utilizing a spring between the push button and the control body of the switch which is placed under an initial stress, and countering the force of that spring with several combinations of springs in the opposite direction, a smooth transition is achieved among the several positions of the switch.

Abstract: Reciprocating apparatus is provided for a strand casting mold which is simplified and less expensive to produce. This is achieved by mounting the mold supports in resilient bearings, and reducing the length of the drive train from the drive motor to the rocker gear. Moreover, provision is made in the drive train of the invention for accommodating expansion and contraction caused by extreme temperature variations at the operating site.