Abstract: A force take-off device which is particularly suitable for use in a brake actuating device for a pedal driven vehicle comprising inner and outer rotatable elements having a formation between said elements which has engaged and disengaged conditions, said condition being determined by the direction of rotation of one of said rotatable elements.

Abstract: A furnace product is permitted to flow out by gravity from the opening defined between the lower end of a furnace wall and a furnace bottom and to accumulate on the circumferential portion of the furnace bottom with a reposing angle inherent to the product, with the accumulation being drawn out of the furnace from the circumferential portion of the furnace bottom. The furnace bottom is formed with a diameter larger than the inside diameter of the lower end of the furnace wall and vertically spaced from the lower end of the furnace so as to provide an opening therebetween through which the furnace product is allowed to pass a discharging device comprising a reciprocating raking arm with its end movable across the circumferential portion of the furnace bottom operates to remove product therefrom.

Abstract: A hood for diverting the flue gases and smoke when pouring molten metal from a tiltable metallurgical vessel into a ladle hanging from a crane, has an opening through which the vessel lip projects into the hood interior, at least one recess through which the ladle carrying means can be moved, and a structure that covers the ladle mouth and the carrying means on all sides.

Abstract: A converter bottom-fastening mechanism to be used in a converter construction with a removable converter bottom, a converter jacket and a supporting construction connected to the converter jacket. The bottom-fastening mechanism includes a plurality of rocker-like clamping levers peripherally arranged about the converter bottom and fastened to the converter jacket or to the supporting construction. The levers are axially movable into and out of engagement with the converter bottom. Bracing devices are provided to support the ends of the clamping levers facing the converter jacket with respect to the converter jacket or the supporting construction.

Abstract: A right-angle electric contact plug in which a right-angle body comprises a first tubular part comprising an end radial notch, a second tubular part debouching into the said notch, and a removable closure element fastened to at least one of the two parts of the body and intended to close off the notched end of the first part of said body. The plug is characterized by the fact that the two parts of the body are removable, that the two edges of the radial notch of the first part of the body form a slide, that the base of the second part of the body forms a slide, that the notched end of the first part of the body is threaded, and that the closure element is a threaded plug.

Abstract: An open topped, refractory lined metallurgical converter vessel has a metallic shell. A cooling jacket is affixed to the frusto-conical nose portion of the shell and comprises a plurality of right angle members affixed to the shell in a side-by-side relation and extending generally in the axial direction. The members have their edges respectively affixed to the shell surface and to the side of the next adjacent member such that one leg of each member is perpendicular and the other is parallel to the vessel surface. An opening is formed in the perpendicular leg of each angle member with the opening in adjacent members located at opposite ends to define a serpentine water flow path therethrough. Plate sections are affixed to the upper end of the angle members and to the shell to define a nose cooling ring and return flow path for cooling water. Further arcuate plate sections which at least partially surround the vessel at the lower ends of the angle members define water inlet and return flow paths.

Abstract: An indirectly fired vertical shaft furnace suitable for use as a volatilizing furnace for recovering metals from their ores, a crop drying or roasting furnace or a heating furnace is comprised of two concentric cylindrical metal shells each of which is closed at the upper end. The outer shell is completely lined with a lightweight insulating material and the lower end of the shell is connected to the upper end of an annular fire chamber having an upwardly open U-shaped cross-section cast from firebrick material. Two tangentially directed burners extend into the chamber to produce a swirling action of the hot gases in the heating chamber between the two cylindrical members. Conduits are provided through the top walls of both cylindrical member for withdrawing the material from the bottom of the central chamber.

Abstract: An articulated boom assembly is mounted on a vehicle for swinging movement about a vertical axis. A shear-grapple unit is pivotally attached to the free end of the boom assembly so that after a standing tree has been cut, it may be tilted from a vertical position to a horizontal position. When the cut tree is positioned horizontally above the vehicle, it can be lowered into a stationary delimbing head and also at the same time to a clamping mechanism that travels longitudinally of the vehicle for the purpose of feeding the tree toward a shear mechanism, the delimbing of the tree taking place as this is done. When advanced to a predetermined distance beyond the shear mechanism, the shear mechanism is actuated to sever the first bolt which drops onto an inclined annular plate that has a U-shaped yoke projecting upwardly through its central opening. When the yoke is rotated through 90.degree., a spring yields under the weight of the bolt so that the bolt is free to roll into a collector.

Abstract: A molten metal container, e.g. a tundish, consists of an outer metal casing, usually a relatively permanent refractory lining and an inner expendable lining of refractory heat-insulating slabs, behind which slabs is a loose fill of particulate refractory material. In order that the loose fill material does not pass through the joints between the slabs, leaf-seals are provided at the joints between the slabs.

Abstract: A hood suitable for a steel processing vessel particularly one utilizing argon-oxygen decarburization where the hood has a fixed part and a movable part, the movable part facilitating replacement of the vessel, the movable part also having a draft damper providing for different exhaust air flow for different operating conditions.

Abstract: Electrochromic display device manufacture method wherein electrochromic material is deposited in a single layer on a single film of conductive material over the whole area of glass substrate and then the electrochromic material and conductive material are successively etched through a single mask which defines a display segment pattern and remains in position throughout the whole etching process, whereby etched edge portions of the different materials are in excellent alignment and there is therefore small plate area for a reverse emf cell and good display device performance is achieved. The electrochromic material may be etched by the solution employed for developing the photoresist, whereby an etching process step is eliminated.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for case hardening of ferrous metal work pieces is described in which the work pieces to be processed are placed inside a metal vacuum chamber which is evacuated with a mechanical pump and then backfilled with a partial pressure of a gas containing nitrogen, such as nitrogen or ammonia, or a hydrocarbon such as methane, or mixtures thereof. The work pieces to be processed are electrically connected to the negative (cathode) terminal of a D.C. power supply, the positive terminal being connected to the chamber wall and to ground. The power supply is energized and some of the gas is converted to ions. The work pieces are heated to temperatures of approximately 650.degree. to 1100.degree. F for ionitriding or to temperatures of approximately 1650.degree. to 1900.degree. for ion carburizing. The heating is effected at least in part by the ion activity.

Abstract: A converter for refining a liquid metal bath using simultaneous heating and blowing in comprises a metal vessel internally lined with refractory material, having an upwardly open mouth and having a generally cylindrofrustoconical shape which is a body of revolution about an axis, the vessel being mounted on, and rotatable about, its axis of revolution relative to a pivotable cradle, the vessel having a pouring spout and a set of tuyeres extending through a wall thereof, and a separate frustoconical cap connected to a gas collection hood for surmounting the vessel and provided with an opening through which a heating device can extend into the vessel, the arrangement being such that in the `normal` position of the vessel, for simultaneous blowing in and heating, the axis of revolution of the vessel is at an angle between 35.degree. and 55.degree. to the vertical, the pouring spout is upwardly directed, the tuyeres extend upwardly from the bottom of the vessel and the vessel is surmounted by the cap.

Abstract: A crucible for an induction heating apparatus has a base pan and a collar between which lies a refractory lining. Respective lower and upper mounting rings secured to the base pan and the collar are vertically interconnected by an annular array of non-round-section tierods that are tubular so a coolant can be passed through them. These tierods further have angularly juxtaposed sides which define spaces of outwardly decreasing angular width. Wedge-shaped blocks of refractory and electrically insulating material tightly fit between the sides of the rods and are of outwardly decreasing angular width. Inside these blocks the crucible is lined with further layers of refractory material.

Abstract: A pair of metallurgical vessels are each coupled by a gas collecting hood having a movable skirt to a gas cleaning system which includes an exhaust fan and a quencher and scrubber each having flow varying means. Each vessel is surrounded by an enclosure having an access door toward which the open upper end of the vessel may be tilted for receiving a metal charge. A secondary gas collecting hood is disposed in each enclosure above the access door for creating an indraft when the door is open. A valve system permits the selective connection of the secondary hood of one enclosure to the fan of the other to increase the indraft during furnace charging, sampling and pouring.

Abstract: A tunnel furnace comprises an elongate hollow structure inclined to have one end higher than the other and is reciprocable about an axis parallel to its length, heaters for heating material to be treated being incorporated in the structure.

Abstract: A molten metal processing vessel is surrounded by a trunnion ring. A plurality of flat beam members are affixed at one end to the trunnion ring and their other ends are each apertured for pivotally engaging one of a plurality of pins extending fixedly from the vessel.

Abstract: An aluminium/dross separator comprising a container or drum having one or more mixer blades mounted therein, drive means being provided to produce relative rotary movement of the container and blades characterized in that the drive means are positioned below and/or, to the side of, the container and do not extend over the top thereof.

Abstract: Processes and compositions for soldering aluminum-containing workpieces wherein the solder contains components which lower the surface tension and the viscosity of the molten solder, and which lower the interfacial tension between the solder and the aluminum-containing workpieces. Useful components are bismuth, strontium, barium and antimony. The solder may be used with or without flux.

Abstract: A cooling plate for circulating fluid for cooling the walls of shaft furnaces and particularly blast furnaces, and being placed between the refractory material to be cooled and the facing of the furnace to be protected and comprising a flat thin-walled panel made of cast steel and forming a tightly sealed enclosure through which passes an independent stream of cooling fluid, this enclosure being divided up into tubular passages with the aid of partitions which delimit a single circulatory path for the cooling medium which circulates in a vertical upward sinusoidal movement, that face of the plate which faces the interior of the blast furnace to be protected being lined with a high-strength refractory material.