Abstract: A rack-changing apparatus for a continuous casting installation, especially for changing the curved guide, support and cooling racks of a continuous casting installation having a plurality of casting lines, has a carriage which is shiftable transversely to the casting lines on rails mounting below the casting floor and preferably extending beyond the installation to a location at which the racks can be deposited and picked up. An arm on the carriage is swingable in a vertical plane about a horizontal axis and is extensible and retractable while carrying on its end a clamping mechanism swingable in a vertical plane about a horizontal axis at the arm end for engagement with the racks.

Abstract: A system for the rapid insertion and removal of a starting chain for the change of format or cross section of a continuous strand casting operation utilizing such starting chains, comprises an arcuate guide into which a portion of the chain can be drawn, a swingable ramp for lifting this portion of the chain into alignment with another arcuate guide at a device for separating the chain into segments or joining a segment of the chain to another portion thereof, and an automatic gripper, lifter and transport system for the chain segments. The latter mechanism is provided at the free end of the second arcuate guide.

Abstract: A method for producing hot briquettes, for example, for use in blast furnaces, and using a briquetting material of non-caking components, such as low temperature coke from bituminous coal and/or lignite, coke dust and/or oil coke and caking fat coal at temperatures between 430.degree. C. and 540.degree. C., comprising, delivering the briquetting material to a briquetting press to form briquette blanks, tempering and degassing the blanks by delivering the blanks into individual chambers in a closed system of several chambers having gas communication with each other so that there is partly changing amounts of gas generated in the individual chambers and the briquette blanks are formed into tempered briquettes, and applying an overpressure to the chambers to conduct the gases away from the chamber with one and the same overpressure.