Abstract: In the case of a system for detecting excessively heated wheel bearings and/or wheel tires of rail vehicles, a device is inserted into the path of the beam extending from a measuring point to a heat radiation sensor that distorts the resulting image and, in particular, widens it at least uniaxially. This device also serves to detect the measuring point when wheel axles shift in an axial direction. A system of this type may be formed by using a distorting optical device (6) which permits the imaging of a correspondingly widened field (4).

Abstract: In the case of a device for detecting the spatial orientation of excessively heated points of wheel bearings and/or wheel running treads of rail vehicles, it is suggested that a deflecting device, such as an oscillating mirror 5, that can be varied periodically in its slope, be inserted into the path of the rays from a measuring point to a heat radiation sensor 7. The ray that is deflected when the slope of the deflecting device is changed can in this way also arrive on reflecting surfaces 10 for the purpose of autocollimation, thereby enabling an improvement in measuring precision. Radiation emitted from the detector is periodically reflected back onto the detector to provide a reference signal.

Abstract: A closure mechanism includes a conical discharge nozzle and a shielding tube fitted over the exterior of the discharge nozzle. A snug conical joint is formed by closely complementary conical surfaces of the discharge nozzle and the shielding tube. At least one ring-shaped seal is provided in such joint to prevent exterior air from entering between the discharge nozzle and the shielding tube into the interior of the shielding tube. The ring-shaped seal comprises an annular recess formed in one of the conical surfaces, thereby defining an annular chamber, and an inert gas filling such chamber.

Abstract: A rotary excavating head is provided with a plurality of peripherally spaced tool holders supporting respective picks, each pick having a shank which is rotatable about its own axis and limitedly shiftable within a socket formed by the respective tool holder. A space of variable volume, formed between the shank end and the bottom of the socket, communicates via a check valve with a source of water whose supply pressure urges the pick outward, this space opening onto a restricted passage that terminates at a nozzle through which the water is sprinkled onto a mine face or tunnel wall attacked by the head when the respective pick is forced back against the water pressure by its encounter with the mineral matter to be fragmented. The restricted passage may include a pressure-relief valve; the nozzle may be constituted by a narrow annular clearance separating the shank of the pick from the cylindrical wall of the socket.

Abstract: A device is described for directly making liquid pig-iron from coarse iron ore. Hot sponge-iron particles are directly conveyed by a worm conveyor (17) through a communicating passage (19) from a direct-reduction blast-furnace shaft (2) into a smelter-gasifier (1), and a stream (24) of gas flows, after cooling to below 950.degree. C., in counter-current to the sponge-iron particles, from the smelter-gasifier (1) to the blast-furnace shaft (2), this gas stream having a volumetric flow-rate not more than 30 percent of the total reduction-gas flow reaching the blast-furnace shaft (FIG. 1).

Abstract: A process and a device are described for directly making liquid pig-iron from coarse iron ore. Hot sponge-iron particles are directly conveyed by a worm conveyor (17) through a communicating passage (19) from a direct-reduction blast-furnace shaft (2) into a smelter-gasifier (1), and a stream (24) of gas flows, after cooling to below 950.degree. C., in counter-current to the sponge-iron particles, from the smelter-gasifier (1) to the blast-furnace shaft (2), this gas stream having a volumetric flow-rate not more than 30 percent of the total reduction-gas flow reaching the blast-furnace shaft (FIG. 1).

Abstract: Metallurgical melting apparatus with a blow-nozzle or burner capable of swivelling in different directions. The blow-nozzle or burner comprises at least one tube. The nozzle-head (12) has a bulge, in the example described a spherical calotte (13), which is retained between two ring-seats (14 and 15) (the FIGURE).

Abstract: A pressure container forms a shaft gasifier for receiving coarse coal in the form of a coal bed. A burner extends through the pressure container into a chamber therein and produces at least one primary gas jet directed against the coal bed, thereby gasifying the coal and generating a product gas and forming liquid slag. The liquid slag collects in a slag bath tank having an overflow weir over which the collected slag flows and falls freely toward a cooling water bath beneath the chamber. A water jet nozzle directs at least one water jet against the liquid slag as it falls freely between the weir and the cooling water bath. This atomizes the liquid slag, thereby cooling the slag and generating steam. At least a part of the steam is supplied as process steam to the coarse coal.

Abstract: A pressure container forms a shaft gasifier for receiving coarse coal in the form of a coal bed. A burner extends through the pressure container into a chamber therein and produces at least one primary gas jet directed against the coal bed, thereby gasifying the coal and generating a product gas and forming liquid slag. The liquid slag collects in a slag bath tank having an overflow weir over which the collected slag flows and falls freely toward a cooling water bath beneath the chamber. A water jet nozzle directs at least one water jet against the liquid slag as it falls freely between the weir and the cooling water bath. This atomizes the liquid slag, thereby cooling the slag and generating steam. At least a part of the steam is supplied as process steam to the coarse coal.

Abstract: A closure mechanism includes a conical discharge nozzle and a shielding tube fitted over the exterior of the discharge nozzle. A snug conical joint is formed by closely complementary conical surfaces of the discharge nozzle and the shielding tube. At least one ring-shaped seal is provided in such joint to prevent exterior air from entering between the discharge nozzle and the shielding tube into the interior of the shielding tube. The ring-shaped seal comprises an annular recess formed in one of the conical surfaces, thereby defining an annular chamber, and an inert gas filling such chamber.