Abstract: In arc welding of aluminum using an inert gas, such as argon or a mixture of argon and helium, 80 to 250 ppm of a mixture of N.sub.2 and N.sub.2 O is added to the inert gas to improve the welding process and the welding result.

Abstract: In secondary steel refining, in addition to the process gas oxygen, the gases nitrogen and argon are employed as treatment gases in the bottom blowing converter. Oxygen and argon can be partially replaced by inexpensive CO.sub.2. The invention provides a process which makes it possible to completely replace nitrogen and argon by CO.sub.2.

Abstract: A separator to separate products finely ground in a mill from a gas current consists of a housing which can be attached to the mill discharge site, having a tubular cylindrical insert which extends into the housing. The gas current is led into this tube and returned along its outer side. By sharply deflecting the gas current at the outlet of the tube, the product is separated and collected. In order to improve the efficiency of separation, the insert is designed so as to be formed by an inner tube and an outer tube, which form an annular space which serves to return the gas. A plate shapes the annular space as a spiral flow channel. There are slits in the outer tube located at the height of the bottom of the flow channel formed by the plate. As a result of centrifugal and inertial forces, through these slits, the particles which are still unseparated reach the space between the outer tube and the housing, and settle there.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the protection of a diaphragm during the generation of electron-beam pulses by means of alternately deflecting the electron beam onto the diaphragm and onto a processing site.In order to prevent damage to the diaphragm from the thermal effect of the electron beam, the electron beam is distributed with respect to space and/or time over an enlarged striking surface.

Abstract: Metal pieces such as blooms, continuously cast billets and cogged ingots, are cut by a deep-frozen, liquid cutting medium, in particular liquid oxygen, exiting from a nozzle at high pressure. The workpiece is moved in the longitudinal direction and the nozzle is moved in the crosswise direction at an acute setting angle with respect to the longitudinal direction. As a result, it is possible to dispense with the travel segment of the workpiece and of the cutting nozzle in the longitudinal direction of the workpiece during the cutting process.

Abstract: A polishing device has a working area into which cold gas is fed continuously in order to cool the partial work-piece surfaces where work is to be performed to a temperature at which no changes occur to the work-piece surface except for polishing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process to electrically excite a laser gas, especially a CO.sub.2 --He--N.sub.2 mixture, which is admitted at an angle, preferably perpendicular, to the axial laser gas discharge gap, and which is ignited by means of bunched microwaves. In order to avoid the formation of wall boundary layers during the microwave excitation of a laser gas and in order to achieve a homogeneous, large-volume glow discharge, the microwaves are axially bunched into the laser gas discharge gap in the area of the laser gas inlet so that the microwaves and the ignited laser gas spread over the axial laser gas discharge gap.

Abstract: A process for supporting rod-shaped workpieces shaped as U-, I-, L-, T- or bulb profiles includes placing the workpieces on support rollers of a longitudinal conveyor with their flanges or bulbs facing downward. The web surfaces and flanges of the workpieces contact elements fixed perpendicular to the support surface of the rollers.

Abstract: The process for hardening ballasts and other heaped structures calls for an adhesive, which is pourable at ambient temperatures, to first be transformed into the solid state by means of cooling. Then, the application of the liquid adhesive onto the heaped structure is time-dosed by the thawing of the cooled adhesive.

Abstract: A welding process for joining aluminum materials in a horizontal welding position, without preheating, this process being highly economical and characterized by minimal environmental pollution, good strength and toughness of the welded joint, in which process the arc, as in submerged arc welding of steel plates, is covered by a flux layer and burns in a closed cavity, this process being realized by the use of a flux having a flux composition of 20-70% potassium chloride (KCl), 20-70% of an alkaline earth metal chloride, preferably calcium chloride and/or magnesium chloride (CaCl.sub.2 and/or MgCl.sub.2), 1-20% of calcium fluoride (CaF.sub.2) and preferably 1-15% of a substance capable of lowering the melting point and/or releasing gas.

Abstract: Workpieces, such as structural steel, are cut under water by a plasma burner having a needle electrode with the plasma arc slightly under the water level and the plasma arc being enveloped during the ignition and cutting by a compressed air sheath outside the nozzle which strongly contracts the plasma cutting arc.

Abstract: The initial height of a flame cutter to a workpiece located under a liquid is automatically adjusted by jointly moving the flame cutter and a sensor toward the workpiece before the cutting operation until the sensor touches the workpiece surface whereupon a signal is sent for turning off the height adjustment device and for removing the sensor from the workpiece.

Abstract: An arc welding or plasma cutting apparatus has a current source as well as a set of controls for the welding or cutting process and includes a diagnosis apparatus which can be hooked up to the current source and/or the controls.

Abstract: The useful life is increased of gas scavenging lances having porous graphite flush heads for non-ferrous metal melts by flowing an inert gas, immediately after scavenging, through the lance in a de-energizing cage which surrounds the graphite parts of the lance while forming a narrow gap therewith until a temperature below the ignition temperature of graphite is obtained.