Abstract: A magnetic separator has a support defining an upright axis, two stationary pole pieces spaced from and around the axis on the support, and a stationary inner ferromagnetic piece extending between the pole pieces and axially bridging same. This inner piece defines with the outer pieces respective angularly offset separation gaps. Means is provided, normally in the form of coils, for energizing the pole pieces and thereby creating a magnetic field extending radially across the gaps and through the inner piece. An annular rotor centered on the axis extends through the gaps. This rotor is formed of an endless angular succession of groups of nonradially extending and spaced-apart rotor elements. It is rotated about the axis to orbit the groups of rotor elements through the gaps and particulate material including magnetically attractable particles is fed axially down through the rotor as it rotates. Particles are then washed from the elements at a location angularly offset from the gaps.

Abstract: A rotating shear for cutting a rapidly moving wire has a pair of cutter heads rotatable about parallel axes and having respective blades. A drive synchronously counterrotates the heads about the respective axes with close juxtaposition of the blades on each revolution. Thus when the wire is between the heads level with the blades it is severed thereby. A guide tube surrounds the wire upstream of the heads and has a downstream end movable generally parallel to the axes and positioned adjacent and between the cutter heads. The wire exits from the guide tube in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane of the head axes. A guide head fixed to one of the cutter heads is formed with a generally helical guide groove centered on the respective axis. An axially and radially displaceable but angularly generally nondisplaceable follower can move between a position engaged in the groove and axially entrainable thereby and a position clear thereof. An actuator displaces the follower between the positions.

Abstract: In the production of cement, the ground raw material is de-acidified in a calcinator and subsequently burnt in a kiln and before being de-acidified in the calcinator is preheated by a multistage heat exchange with exhaust gas streams coming from the kiln and from the calcinator, respectively, and conducted in two parallel series of heat exchange stages. Up to the heat exchange stage which directly precedes the calcinator and receives the exhaust gas stream from the kiln, the stream of ground raw material is conducted from each heat exchange stage of one series to a heat exchange stage of the other series. In order to provide equal conditions in both series of exhaust gas-handling heat exchange stages, part of the hot exhaust gas stream from the calcinator is admixed to the hot exhaust gas stream from the kiln before or adjacent to that heat exchange stage which directly precedes the calcinator.

Abstract: A process of applying and drying a liquid lubricant on a metallic material to be mechanically worked has the steps of passing a metallic material through a coating container with a lubricant so that the lubricant coats the metallic material and the latter exits from the coating container through an opening, removing the superfluous portion of the lubricant without contacting the same with outside air, and advancing the lubricant coated metallic material through a drying channel in which air is urged in disturbed state. An arrangement for performing the method is also provided.

Abstract: A wire shear has a pair of vertically superposed cutter drums defining a nip and having at least one cutter blade. These drums have parallel axes defining a vertical plane. A swingable elongated guide tube has a downstream end closely juxtaposed with and directed into the nip. This tube is mounted at its upstream end for swinging about vertical and horizontal axes at the upstream end. A wire is fed into the upstream end at high speed. A cooling sleeve surrounding the guide tube has lateral openings through which a coolant is introduced into the interior of the sleeve to cool the tube and the wire in it. An upstream guide is engageable upstream of the plane with the downstream end and with the wire issuing therefrom and extends into the drum nip substantially to the plane. A downstream guide downstream of the plane is aligned with the upstream guide and has a floor plate extending upstream substantially to the plane and a guide wall extending upstream past the plane and past the downstream end.

Abstract: A steel wire directly from the rolling mill is formed into a horizontally advancing helix having a succession of upstanding turns. This helix is fed into a horizontally opening end of an elbow and a roller at the short side of the elbow deflects the helix so that it exits from the downwardly opening outlet end of the elbow. An upright cooling tube is provided immediately at this downstream end and has a multiplicity of throughgoing holes each aligned with a respective nozzle for spraying of liquid on the descending coil so as rapidly to cool it and to transform at least the surface of it into martinsite. At the lower end of the tube the cooled coil, at a temperature of 500.degree. C.-600.degree. C. as compared with the starting temperature of 750.degree. C., is carried horizontally away by a conveyor.