Abstract: To improve the reliability of fire resistance with regard to wood materials containing a fireproofing treatment agent such as a semi-incombustible wood material while also improving both the ease of procuring raw materials and mass productivity, a panel board includes front/back veneers constituting the front and back thereof and a core veneer layer between the front/back veneers. The veneer fiber direction of the front/back veneers is substantially parallel to the lengthwise direction of the panel board. The core veneer layer is a layer obtained by stacking a plurality of sheets of core veneer in the thickness direction. The veneer fiber directions of all of the sheets of the core veneer are substantially orthogonal to the lengthwise direction of panel board. The front/back veneers has a thickness of 1.5-4.0 mm, and the thickness of the core veneer layer 31 is equal to or greater than the total thickness of the front/back veneer 21.

Abstract: The present invention improves the reliability of fire-resistance performance, and suppresses a drop in strength and a drop in Young's modulus for bending, with regard to a structural LVL containing a fireproofing chemical for fire-resistant structural wood material-use. The present invention is the LVL 61 for structural use comprising a plurality of raw material veneers 51 layered in the front-back thickness direction via adhesive layers therebetween. Each of the raw material veneers 51 is a wood material having a fireproofing chemical injected to the interior thereof and is constituted from a site of sapwood part alone, a site of heartwood part alone, or, a site wherein a sapwood part and a heartwood part are mixed. Injection holes 62 are provided, each having a circular cross section and extending in the thickness direction from each of the front surface and the back surface of the LVL 61. The injection holes 62 traverse through the plurality of raw material veneers 51 and the adhesive layers.

Abstract: In order to provide a steering wheel in which the strength of a wooden member is enhanced and the appearance of the wooden member is improved, a steering wheel comprising: a substantially annular metal core; and a wooden member comprising a plurality of wooden pieces, the wooden pieces being formed from a pure wooden material and bonded together to surround a part or the whole of the metal core when mounted on the metal core; wherein the wooden pieces are formed from a single pure wooden material, and the wooden pieces that are bonded together are formed from adjacent sites of the single pure wooden material, is provided.

Abstract: Hardware attaching means is disclosed in the form of a support assembly for attaching hardware to a panel structure. The assembly includes one or more doubler plates adhered to the exterior of the panel structure to distribute hanging and service forces thereto. Spacer means is provided in the assembly to prevent excessive compression and bearing stress of the panel structure when the assembly is held in supporting relationship therewith.

Abstract: A substantially spherically-shaped electric melting furnace includes a carbon-lined crucible. The interior of said crucible is sealed from the atmosphere outside the crucible and a vacuum pump and venturi device control the atmosphere within the crucible by removing oxygen therefrom. A feeder lock allows material to be fed into the crucible without interfering with the atmospheric control of the crucible and a tap hole adjacent the lower portion of the crucible allows molten material to be removed. When used in the manufacture of mineral wool insulation, slag is fed into the crucible to be melted and the molten slag from the tap hole is delivered to a fiberizing device.

Abstract: An electrically conductive refractory lined crucible is covered by a refractory lined roof. At least one electrode supported by the roof extends downwardly into the crucible for melting the flux within the crucible. The crucible lining itself functions as the second electrode. The roof and the crucible are air-tight thereby preventing air from entering the crucible. An exhaust port located in the upper portion of the roof is connected to a vacuum device for exhausting fumes from the crucible and for controlling the atmosphere within the crucible.

Abstract: A graphite lined crucible includes an upper horizontally extending flange having a seal ring around its periphery. The crucible may be raised by a hydraulic cylinder so as to bring the seal ring into engagement with the inside of a refractory lined roof. Electrodes supported by the roof extend downwardly into the crucible for melting the flux within the crucible. The roof and the crucible are air-tight thereby preventing air from entering the crucible. An exhaust port located in the upper portion of the roof is connected to a vacuum device for exhausting fumes from the crucible and for controlling the atmosphere within the crucible.

Abstract: An air tight sleeve is adapted to be moved between an inoperative position and an operative position wherein it extends between the top of a crucible of an electroslag melting furnace and the bottom of the furnace head. A seal is formed between the top of the crucible and the bottom of the sleeve and between the top of the sleeve and the bottom of the furnace head so that the atmosphere within the space between the furance head and the crucible can be controlled. Additionally, the sleeve is electrically connected to the bottom of the furnace head and to an electrically conductive water guide within the crucible wall so that the sleeve also functions as the return conductor.

Abstract: An air tight sleeve is adapted to be moved between an inoperative position to an operative position wherein it extends between the top of a crucible of an electro-slag melting furnace and the bottom of a furnace head. A seat is formed between the top of the crucible and the bottom of the sleeve and the top of the sleeve and the bottom of the furnace head so that the space between the furnace head and the crucible is air tight. A vacuum pump or similar device controls the atmosphere within the space surrounded by the sleeve.

Abstract: An elongated tubular member extends downwardly into the annular space between a consumable electrode and the crucible of an electroslag furnace. The tubular member guides pre-melted starting flux downwardly through the annular space to the bottom of the crucible while preventing the flux from contacting the inside walls of the crucible or the electrode.

Abstract: Load cells continuously measure the weight of a consumable electrode as it is being melted in an electroslag melting furnace. This information is compared to similar information obtained from load cells measuring the weight of a supply of granular slag and/or alloy additions intended to be added to the molten slag in the furnace. The addition of the granular slag and/or alloy is controlled based on the results of this comparison.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for bundling firewood. Relatively large pieces of wood, preferably first split and cut into convenient lengths, are compressed and while compressed have a strap applied therearound after which the applied pressure is released to form a bundle of firewood that is tightly banded. The apparatus includes a base section having a pair of spaced upwardly opening U-shaped members upon which the pieces of firewood are stacked with the end portions of the firewood supported by the U-shaped members. A pressure platen section is mounted above the base section and includes a second pair of U-shaped members that are downwardly directed and aligned with the U-shaped members of the base section so that, as the pressure platen is moved downwardly, the pieces of wood therebetween are compressed. The pressure platen section is moved upwardly and downwardly by a hydraulic ram and about eight tons of pressure is preferably exerted to compress and contour the wood into a cylindrical bundle.

Abstract: A consumable electrode furnace crucible is disclosed which utilizes a coaxially disposed crucible body, intermediate water guide, and outer crucible jacket disposed upon a base. The bottom portion of the water guide is electrically interconnected to the bottom portion of the crucible body and is otherwise electrically insulated from the crucible jacket and crucible body to provide a coaxial return current path providing substantial magnetic field cancellation. The inner surface of the intermediate water guide is spaced close to the outer surface of the crucible body to define a narrow passage which forces the cooling water to pass across the surface of the crucible body at an ultrahigh velocity to sweep away steam.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for bundling firewood. Relatively large pieces of wood, preferably first split and cut into convenient lengths, are compressed and while compressed have a strap applied therearound after which the applied pressure is released to form a bundle of firewood that is tightly banded. The apparatus includes a base section having a pair of spaced upwardly opening U-shaped members upon which the pieces of firewood are stacked with the end portions of the firewood supported by the U-shaped members. A pressure platen section is mounted above the base section and includes a second pair of U-shaped members that are downwardly directed and aligned with the U-shaped members of the base section so that, as the pressure platen is moved downwardly, the pieces of wood therebetween are compressed. The pressure platen section is moved upwardly and downwardly by a hydraulic ram and about eight tons of pressure is preferably exerted to compress and contour the wood into a cylindrical bundle.