Abstract: An arrangement is provided for feeding a liquid alloyed metal under protective atmosphere into a high speed continuous casting machine for casting a strip of alloyed metal, preferably calcium lead which is subsequently formed into battery grids and the like. The arrangement includes a melting pot and specifically a resilient skid ramp in the melting pot which permits metal hogs to be charged into the melting pot in a nondestructive manner while supporting the hog at a fixed level in the melting pot bath to insure homogeneous mixing of the alloyed elements in the hog during melting thereof.

Abstract: A metal treatment gun for selectively introducing particulate metal treating material into a metallic melt below its surface which has a discharge member defining a first chamber therein closed at its upstream end and open at its downstream end so that the metallic melt will be in communication with the chamber when the downstream end is inserted below the surface of the metallic melt, an injection member defining an injection passage therethrough communicating with the first chamber intermediate its ends along with fluid drive means for forcing a fluid propellant through the passage in the injection member and into the chamber in the discharge member with feed means for introducing the particulate metal treating material into the fluid propellant flowing through the injection passage in the injection member in response to the pressure of the fluid propellant in the injection member, and pressure relief means for controlling the pressure in the chamber and the discharge member when its downstream end is in co

Abstract: A stopper plug for a converter tap hole comprising a molding of a refractory material, a fibrous substance and a binder.

Abstract: A method of refining crude cadmium by vacuum distillation in which crude cadmium is passed into a reflux condenser in which higher boiling point impurities are condensed together with a portion of pure cadmium vapor, this condensate flowing in counterflow with the crude cadmium vapor. The remaining portion of the pure cadmium vapor is subsequently condensed. The apparatus comprises an inverted U-shaped vacuum chamber having an evaporator and a reflux condenser in one leg and a further condenser in the other leg. A feed pipe for liquid crude cadmium enters the one leg adjacent the evaporator and a residue outlet pipe leaves the one leg, the feed pipe and the residue pipe being arranged so that no back-flow takes place from the residue pipe to the feed pipe. An outlet pipe for the refined cadmium issues from the other leg of the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for cooling rolled wire after rolling by the application of a liquid treatment medium, which apparatus requires substantially less space and retention time for treatment than previous devices utilizing liquid mediums, but which still accommodates the rolled product issuing from a high speed large capacity production line. This is achieved by coiling the wire and simultaneously continuously immersing it in the container holding the liquid treating medium, so that at the moment each coil of wire is completed, it is also properly treated. Also included are means for sequentially coiling and removing each coil of rolled wire from the liquid treatment container.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for treating molten aluminum and aluminum alloys to remove solid and gaseous impurities therefrom are disclosed. Molten metal is flowed through an integrated series of successively arranged purification stages including a deslagging stage wherein relatively large particulate impurities are removed from the molten metal by filtering the same through a woven refractory filter, a fluxing stage for removing entrapped and dissolved hydrogen from the molten metal, an adsorption stage wherein the molten metal is passed over a plurality of impurity-adsorbing refractory plates and a final filtration stage wherein the finer particulate impurities are removed by filtering the molten metal through a rigid, porous refractory filter medium.

Abstract: Heating apparatus for a continuous moving strand characterized by a plurality of pairs of opposed spaced apart heating panels between which said strand is caused to move, where at least one of said panels consists of a single burner recessed from the panel wall adjacent the moving strand.

Abstract: Method of and plant for patenting steel wire bundles, according to which a cooling vat is heated by a heating fluid to a temperature of e.g. 500.degree. C considered as cooling temperature for patented steel wire bundles. Into this cooling vat is then introduced the steel wire bundle to be patented which in this way is pre-heated. The thus pre-heated steel wire bundle is subsequently introduced into a hot fluid containing heating vat where the wire bundle is heated to a patenting temperature of e.g. 900.degree. C. After the wire bundle has been patented in this heating vat, it is returned to the cooling vat where it is cooled to the cooling temperature prevailing therein while the cooling vat due to the absorption of heat from the wire bundle being cooled substantially maintains its cooling temperature from one cooling step to the next cooling step.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating and recovering metallic zinc from an ash-like solid substance composed of a mixture of metallic zinc, zinc oxide and other zinc containing materials is disclosed. This apparatus comprises a saucer-like container of an inverse cone form for receiving dross and a plurality of agitating scraper plates disposed in said container to squeeze out metallic zinc from the dross, discharge means for metallic zinc and discharge means for secondary dross being mounted on an opening formed on the bottom of said cylinder.

Abstract: A cementation apparatus is provided wherein the reaction surface thereof can be increased without changing the outer dimensions. There is provided at least one inner cylinder which is freely mounted in an outer cylinder and placed one within the other. The inner cylinders are perforated along their outer surfaces and are preferably open at both ends as is the outer cylinder. In the cylinder assembly, all the cylinders as well as the cylinder assembly are rotated. A slurry containing material to be treated as well as the amalgam is fed into the cylinders and on rotating the cylinders, the slurry is picked up by the surface of each of the cylinders so as to provide a reaction area for cementation which is equal to the sum of the surface area of all the internal cylinders and inner surface area of the outer cylinder.

Abstract: A flame-cutting machine having a moving torch carriage includes a scrap-cutting arrangement which is mounted directly on the torch unit and is activated in accordance with the movement of the flame-cutting machine.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for protecting the supporting rolls of continuously moving freshly cast heavy metal strands (e.g., continuously cast billets and slabs), so that the rolls are not damaged by cutting torches while the strands being supported are being worked upon by those torches. This is achieved by sequentially pivoting individual ones of the supporting rolls out of the support path only momentarily as the cutting torch passes in the vicinity thereof, while continuously rotating the retracted support roll, and returning the roll to normal position after the torch has passed. Pivoting movement of a support roll, either in the retracting or return direction is caused to take place during the moments of highest exposure of the roll to flying slag from the torch in order to minimize the time of such exposure. This pivoting sequence of individual rolls takes place while still maintaining proper support of the strand by means of adjacent, operative support rolls.

Abstract: An improved cupola furnace waste gas recuperative system and method for collecting waste furnace gases, cleaning them for the purpose of safely burning same either in a recuperator-heat exchanger for preheating incoming furnace blast air or for other heating purposes. The improvement consists of a method and means to control the pressure inside of the gas take-off chamber of an open, top charged, cupola furnace for the purposes of preventing gases from escaping through the charging hopper, preventing the indraft of excessive amounts of air, preventing explosive combustion and flashback of the waste gas and maintaining cleaning efficiency at any gas flow rate. Means include the controlled recirculation of a variable portion of the waste gas through part of the gas cleaning system and control of the furnace top gas pressure as a function of the incoming cupola furnace blast air.

Abstract: An exhaust duct for use with a direct evacuation exhaust decontamination system of a blast furnace or steel converter. The exhaust duct includes a main support coolant inlet conduit and a plurality of coolant return conduits arranged in a generally circular pattern to define an exhaust duct having a circular cross section for the evacuation of exhaust gases from a furnace. The inlet conduit and the return cooling conduits are connected to a distribution manifold on one end so that all of the coolant enters the exhaust duct through the main coolant supply conduit and is returned and discharged through the smaller cooling conduits which thereby serve to maintain the exhaust duct at a relatively low temperature to prevent oxidation or destruction of the duct walls by the exhaust gases. The discharged coolant may be directed into the exhaust gases at the end of the exhaust duct for use in a "wet" exhaust cleansing system or collected in a trough or manifold when used with a "dry" exhaust cleansing system.

Abstract: A tuyere and tuyere punch assembly on a converter for processing metals includes a quick disconnect coupling connection for a variable length conduit assembly through which blowing gas is supplied to the tuyere from a blowing gas supply manifold having a connection spaced a fixed distance from the quick disconnect coupling connection. The variable length conduit assembly includes a corrugated tube having one end portion slidably received in fluid sealing engagement with a sleeve portion of a plug member having a locking nose cooperable with a socket on the quick disconnect coupling connection. The variable length conduit assembly provides easy insertion and removal thereof between the two connections and special easily replaceable elastomeric coupling seals minimize malfunction of movable parts on the quick disconnect coupling.

Abstract: A carriage with a crucible for tapping molten metal from aluminum electrolyzers and the like includes a movable tapping tube adapted to be inserted downwardly into the metal melt from which tapping shall take place, ejector means for sucking molten metal through the tapping tube, and a discharge tube for delivering collected metal from the crucible. There may also be provided compressed air means for discharging collected metal through the discharge tube. The tapping tube is mounted pivotably substantially in an inclined plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the carriage and extending downwardly and outwardly to the side of the carriage from a tapping opening in a tapping head located on the crucible, to which tapping head the upper end of the tapping tube is coupled in the tapping position.

Abstract: An automatic leaching system for the hydrometallurgical production of zinc comprising a pH meter and means for detecting the feed rate of calcine. The pH meter is provided with means for automatically washing the electrodes thereof so as to be capable of continuously and automatically detecting the pH value of the slurry obtained by mixing a spent electrolyte with the calcine. The system comprises a feedback control circuit and a feed-forward control circuit in which the flow rate of the spent electrolyte supplied to the system is the manipulated variable, and the pH value of the slurry is the controlled variable. These control circuits are used for the pH control so that the pH value of the slurry can be maintained constant by controlling the flow rate of the spent electrolyte.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing an adjustable flow of quenching fluid to a traveling rod or the like. The rod travels through a quench housing assembly having a fixed valve surface surrounding the path of travel of the rod. A movable valve member having an internal passage aligned with the direction of rod travel is supported within the housing assembly for a limited extent of axial travel, and the movable valve member provides a valve surface which is in confronting relation to the fixed valve surface. A cam engages a slot on an exterior surface of the movable valve member. The cam is connected to a cam shaft which extends to a location outside of the housing assembly. The cam, when rotated by the cam shaft, axially moves the valve member to adjust the fluid flow aperture defined by the confronting valve surfaces.

Abstract: Apparatus for making an instantaneous or flying scarfing start on a moving metal workpiece, including:A. a wire feed mechanism for feeding and contacting a spot on the workpiece where the reaction is to begin, with the end of the wire,B. a mechanism for preheating the end of the wire to its oxygen ignition temperature,C. a blowpipe for discharging a high intensity jet of oxygen at a point on the workpiece behind said spot, andD. a scarfing oxygen nozzle, directed at the workpiece at an acute angle so that the scarfing oxygen stream strikes the surface slightly behind the point.

Abstract: A furnace for producing steel from steel scrap and the like is constructed in a manner such that the interior surface of the furnace wall upward from a level spaced apart by a predetermined distance from the surface of a slag layer formed on the molten steel is lined with carbonaceous bricks, and water-cooling means are provided in this part of the furnace wall.