Abstract: Apparatus for casting in a vacuum has a single evacuable furnace chamber 10 in which the charge melting and mould heating takes place. The charge is melted in a crucible 24 by an induction coil 20, while the mould is heated by resistance heaters 18 which are made from a FECRALLOY (Registered Trade Mark) material and can be operated in air or vacuum. In operation an empty mould 16 and a charged crucible 24 are positioned in the furnace 14 and the furnace chamber is sealed. The heaters 20 and 18 are operated while the furnace is pumped down. A control device 40 ensures that the charge is not melted until the appropriate vacuum level has been reached. After pouring the filled mould is withdrawn into a withdrawal zone 25 and as soon as the casting has solidified to the extent that air can be admitted to the chamber without detriment, the vacuum is released and the mould and charge replaced.

Abstract: In a plant for the production of vertically divided casting moulds consisting of flaskless mould parts, produced successively in a pressing chamber having pressing plates carrying exchangeable pattern boards. Carriers are arranged laterally of the pressing chamber with a view to allowing a quick changing of said pattern boards, one of the carriages serving to automatically feed and insert "new" pattern boards while the other one picks up and pulls away "used" pattern boards. The various operations are controlled by an electronic control system in dependence on a code on the pattern boards whereby to reduce waste of time to a minimum and avoid risk involving manual operations.

Abstract: Method of manufacturing a low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp (1) comprising a discharge envelope, the glass wall of which comprises at least an (alkaline earth) alkali constituent, a silicon dioxide-containing transparent layer (4) being produced on the inner wall of the discharge envelope.In the method, such a direct current is maintained through the glass that the (positive) (alkaline earth) alkali ions move away from the inner wall and upon heating the said silicon dioxide-containing transparent layer (4) is produced.

Abstract: A support stirrup 7 is rotatably mounted by horizontal shaft 8 at one end of a machine for centrifugally casting iron pipes 41 having end sockets 42a in a chill-mould 1. A ring assembly 31, CL is mounted between the arms of the stirrup for rotation about an axis Z--Z perpendicular to the shaft axis, but the plane of the assembly is tilted from its rotation axis by an acute angle D via an offset arm 34. With the stirrup raised to an intermediate position and the ring assembly rotated 90.degree. (FIGS. 3, 6) an operator can easily and safely mount a relatively heavy socket core 36 to the ring assembly, whereafter the latter is reverse rotated 90.degree. and the stirrup lowered to position the core in the end of the mould (FIGS. 1, 4). The stirrup can be fully raised (FIG. 2) to enable pipe extraction and visual inspection during casting.

Abstract: An improved balanced fishing rod is disclosed having line-tension-responsive indicating means operable to produce a visual indication when tension on the fishing line exceeds a predetermined value. The indicating means includes a rechargeable direct-current voltage source having a pair of terminals sealed to the fishing rod, a charging diode enabling the voltage source to be recharged while remaining sealed to said fishing rod, and a light-emitting diode connected in parallel with the charging diode. The charging diode is reversely positioned with respect to the light-emitting diode so that an electric current emanating from the voltage source will pass through and light the light-emitting diode and not pass through the charging diode, while an electric current emanating from a charging battery will pass through the charging diode and not the light-emitting diode to recharge the voltage source without lighting the light-emitting diode.

Abstract: An electrical signalling device for a fishing rod holder having an open topped rod support channel spaced forwardly of a rod handle receiving rim portion, includes a switch housing adapted for support on the rod holder, an electrical circuit in the housing including an electrically actuated signal means, a power source and an electrical connection therebetween including a normally open switch, a switch lever adapted for engagement by the handle of a rod supported in the fishing rod holder and bias means urging the lever downwardly whereby the switch is closed in response to upward movement of the switch lever against the urging of the bias means when a fish strikes on the line of the fishing rod. The switch lever may include a depending flange having a pair of downwardly and outwardly flaring inclined contact surfaces so that even lateral forces will result in upward movement of the switch lever to actuate the signalling device.

Abstract: This is a process of fabricating directionally solidified turbine blades for combustion turbines. It is an improvement to the type of process where a mold containing molten metal is cooled in a controlled fashion such that solidification occurs slow enough to allow directional solidification beginning at the airfoil end. In the improved process solidification is monitored and magnetic mixing of the remaining molten metal is started at approximately the beginning of solidification of said root section and the rate of cooling of said blade is increased to a rate faster than at which directional solidification occurs. A blade is produced with a directionally solidified airfoil section and a fine grained root section and without a substantially inhomogeneous portion at the interface between the airfoil and root sections.

Abstract: In a conveyor for the stepwise advance of a vertically parted boxless mould through a pouring and cooling zone of a guideway each side of this guideway is composed of mutually reciprocable rods or rails, at least some of which are operative to carry along the mould in its advance step and which during the advance movement as well as during the periods of standstill keep the mould permanently compressed in its transverse direction to the benefit of the accuracy of the castings produced. For the purpose of limiting the effect of possible expansion forces on the castings before full hardening thereof, at least some of the guideway rods may comprise aligned sections which in case of longitudinal expansion of the mould may be drawn apart against spring resistance.

Abstract: A fishing line clip for holding a fishing line suitable for use with all I.G.F.A. line classes comprising a pair of identical members, each member comprising a jaw portion and a handle portion, coupled together about a transverse pivot, the jaws being held by one or more encircling O-rings and the handles diverging.

Abstract: An arc furnace and investment casting apparatus includes a copper base with an integrally formed crucible having a passage therethrough. A vacuum chamber is positioned on the top of the copper crucible with a non-consumable cathode projecting into the chamber to effect melting of metal placed in the crucible. A vacuum chamber is also suspended beneath the crucible for support of a mold to receive molten metal flowing through the passage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for pouring molten metal in a neutral atmosphere into an ingot mold, a trumpet funnel for bottom poured ingots or a tundish box for a continuous caster or like vessel is disclosed wherein the receiving vessel is closed about a ceramic sleeve through which the molten metal is poured and wherein the normal atmosphere is replaced by vaporized hexamethylene or cyclohexane as it is sometimes called. The closure about the ceramic sleeve through which the molten metal is introduced into the receiving vessel is positioned on top of the receiving vessel and supports the ceramic sleeve and is provided with break lines or scores that permit the edge portions of the sheet-like closure to be moved in hinged relation thereto when the sheet-like closure is pushed downwardly into the receiving vessel to a point on or near the surface of the molten metal.

Abstract: An elongate hollow body of frusto conical tubular formation having a plurality of internal prongs resiliently projecting obliquely into the hollow of the body obliquely away from the larger body end, and a closure on the smaller body end, the body being constituted of longitudinal sections swingable relative to each other for opening the body to remove an occupant.

Abstract: A mold of copper or copper alloy for continuously casting steel comprises a rough inner surface, a plating of nickel, cobalt or alloy thereof formed over the inner surface and a chromium plating formed over said plating. The mold has a prolonged mold life, gives steel slabs with improved qualities and reduces amounts of lubricating material used in the molding operation.

Abstract: In a process for compacting foundry mold making material, and more specially wet foundry sand, by the violent effect of gas pressure on the free surface of the mold material heaped on to the pattern, the compacting effect may be made better and the height of extra material on the pattern may be better controlled by placing a gas-permeable further or auxiliary mass on the free surface of the mold material. The further material is made up of separate pieces of material that may be moved in relation to the surface of the mold material, the gas pressure taking effect on the free surface of the further mass. The further mass may be used in compaction processes in which the pressure wave is produced by expansion of gas from a receiver and processes in which the wave is produced by an explosion.

Abstract: A gas venting arrangement incorporated into a mold for use in a die casting or injection mold machine, having a passage for venting gases including by-pass passages and a valve chamber consisting of a forward portion formed in the mold where the valve is slidably received and a rear portion formed by a member separate from the mold. The valve and the passage are designed so that the valve is forced to move from an opened position to a closed position to shut the passage upon axial impingement of a melt from a cavity of the mold. The arrangement has a first system for biasing the valve into the opened position, a second system for biasing the valve into the opened position upon the melt impingement, and a system for releasing the valve from the second biasing means to return from the opened position to the closed position.

Abstract: A body portion has a buoyant area at one end and a weight at the other end. The weight has sufficient mass to cause the body portion to submerge and in its submerged position the arrangement of buoyant area and weight causes the body member to stand on end. The pole line is hooked to the buoyant end whereby when a pull is imparted to the body portion by the pole line, the body portion in its initial movement lifts off the bottom and does not snag. In one embodiment the device employs side wings which cause the sinker to rise at substantially a steep angle. In another embodiment, the body portion has a stabilizing fin to minimize wobbling.

Abstract: A molding box apparatus having a horizontal tubular body and a pair of pattern plates having pattern surfaces complementary to the mold chambers to be formed fitting in the tubular body, at least one of the pattern plates being slidable in the tubular body. The apparatus further has a well pattern provided on the pattern surface of one of the pattern plates and a runner pattern provided on the well pattern and extending from one end of the latter substantially perpendicularly to the pattern surface. The end of the runner pattern is adapted to be slidingly received by a guide hole formed in the other pattern plate. With this apparatus, it is possible to easily produce a mold part of a vertical split type flaskless mold assembly.

Abstract: This invention relates to a self-propelled, preprogrammable fishing lure which utilizes a first timer whose interval of operation may be varied by the user to control a second timer which in turn operates a propulsion means over a predetermined period of time, and which allows for an interval period of deactivation of the pump and motor by causing the variable interval of operation of the first timer to be greater than the operation period of the propulsion means.

Abstract: A metal supporting structure is disposed just beneath the mold of a continuous casting machine for supporting and cooling hot metal coming down from the mold. The structure comprises a backing frame which is disposed just beneath the mold of the continuous casting machine for defining a cavity leading from the exit of the mold. The backing frame is formed therein with a number of through openings. A number of spray nozzles are arranged at the back of the backing frame and which are directed to spray cooling water through the openings onto the skin of the metal being continuously drawn from the mold into the cavity of the backing frame. A wear lining is disposed to line the inner wall of the backing frame.