Abstract: A movable car bottom furnace in which premature failure of the metallic components of the movable car bottom are avoided by moving a hinged lower portion of the side wall into engagement with the refractory portion of the car bottom whereby only a refractory to refractory contact is made between the walls and car bottom, with all said contact occurring at a level above the uppermost level of the metallic components of the car bottom.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for production of metals and/or ferro alloys by prereduction of particulate metal oxide co-current with a reducing gas. Reducing gas having a temperature between 650.degree. and 1100.degree. C. and metal oxide particles are supplied at the lower end of a substantially vertical prereduction column which comprises at least two chambers having a substantially circular cross-section, said chambers in their upper and lower ends having a decreasing cross-section and where a ringshaped member for decreasing the cross-section is arranged in the intermediate zone between the chambers. The mixture of reducing gas and prereduced metal oxide particles is collected at the top of the prereduction column, whereafter the prereduced metal oxide particles are transported to a smelting furnace for smelting and final reduction to metallix state by addition of a reduction material.The present invention also relates to a column for treatment of particulate solid materials with a gas.

Abstract: A refractory discharge device includes an immersion nozzle formed substantially of carbon-bonded magnesium oxide or carbon-bonded aluminum oxide or fused quartz. The immersion nozzle has therethrough a discharge passage and has an outer surface and an outlet end. An external reinforcement member is formed entirely separately from the immersion nozzle from a zirconium oxide material that is directly bonded without any carbon and by burning at a high temperature. The external reinforcement member is attached to the outer surface of the outer surface of the immersion nozzle at a position such that during use the external reinforcement member will extend above and below a casting powder covering of molten metal into which the refractory discharge device will be immersed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a delivery assembly for delivering molten metal, to a die-casting machine. The system includes a die-casting liquid metal injector with an operative piston having a cylindrical shuttle valve within the assembly and providing for a lower end portion of the assembly to communicate directly to a reservoir of molten metal, particularly corrosive molten metal such as liquid aluminum or the like. In that respect, the injector surface having contact with the corrosive liquid metal are preferably made of a fine ceramic or composite thereof and in the preferred embodiment by partially stabilized Zirconia. The piston, during its molten metal charging stroke, moves the shuttle away from closing off the inflow conduit which communicates to the liquid metal reservoir supply and the internal cavity defined by the assembly is charged with liquid metal.

Abstract: An iron runner for tapping molten crude iron from a blast furnace is proposed, comprising at least a wear lining which forms a boundary carrying the iron during operation and a permanent lining in which the wear lining is contained, an outer boundary and at least an outer lining with a high coefficient of thermal conductivity which is provided between the outer boundary and the permanent lining, wherein the outer lining is provided with a thickening in the direction of the wear lining, which thickening is applied at the level of the inerface-layer being present during operation between the iron being carried through the runner and a slag layer floating on the iron.

Abstract: A susceptor is located in a treating space of a CVD apparatus with a wafer placed in contact with a first surface of a susceptor. The susceptor is heated by a heating source to impart the heat to the wafer. A treating gas is supplied into a treating space and decomposed in a course of a reaction to form a film on the wafer. A guard ring is located on a second surface of the susceptor which is situated around the first surface of the susceptor. The guard ring and wafer are heated by the susceptor in the same way. The surface of the susceptor is substantially not exposed between the guard ring and the wafer and a temperature on the exposed surface of the guard ring and that on the exposed surface of the wafer are nearly equal to each other.

Abstract: A molten steel pouring nozzle having, along the axis thereof, a bore through which molten steel flows. At least part of an inner portion of the molten steel pouring nozzle, which inner portion forms the bore, is formed of a refractory consisting essentially of:zirconia clinker comprising calcium zirconate: from 40 to 89 wt. %,where, a content of calcium oxide in the zirconia clinker being within a range of from 8 to 35 weight parts relative to 100 weight parts of the zirconia clinker;graphite: from 10 to 35 wt. %; andcalcium silicate: from 1 to 25 wt. %,where, a content of calcium oxide in the calcium silicate being within a range of from 40 to 54 weight parts relative to 100 weight parts of the calcium silicate.

Abstract: A vaporizer and extractor apparatus for a laser isotope separation process is arranged as an assemblage of modular components in which equipment subject to maintenance is replaceable via vacuum casks while the apparatus is operational or briefly shut down without loss of vacuum. A vacuum transfer cask is provided for modular extractor substrate assemblies. The substrate assemblies are nestable and are mounted on extensible probes which permit them to be nested in the vacuum transfer cask for transport. During use the substrates extend from the cask, through a vacuum lock and are placed side by side in the vacuum chamber. A vacuum transfer cask is also provided for the vaporizer assembly which is mounted on an extensible arm which in turn positions the assembly in the chamber or retraces the vaporizer assembly from the chamber into the transfer cask, rotating it during the process in order to permit it to fit into the cask.

Abstract: An apparatus for closing and/or regulating the discharge or tapping of molten metal from a metallurgical vessel includes a ceramic stator member to be fixed to a metallurgical vessel and having a pipe-shaped portion having extending therethrough at least one lateral opening, and a ceramic rotor member having a pipe-shaped portion having extending therethrough at least one lateral opening. The stator and rotor members are coaxially assembled with the pipe-shaped portion of one member fitted over and surrounding the pipe-shaped portion of the other member. The pipe-shaped portions have radially confronting respective cylindrical inner and outer sealing surfaces onto which open the lateral openings, such inner and outer sealing surfaces sealingly engaging to define a primary seal to prevent leakage of molten metal. The stator and rotor members have respective axially confronting end sealing surfaces. The rotor member is axially movable, i.e.

Abstract: Apparatus for retaining slag in a tundish or a ladle or similar vessel containing molten metal such as used in the steel industry. A refractory nozzle member and a refractory retainer member are secured to the bottom of the vessel around the molten metal discharge orifice. A refractory plug member of a density between that of the molten metal and the slag is positioned laterally within the retainer member but free to move vertically during discharge of the molten metal from the vessel.

Abstract: A rotary valve for controlling the discharge of molten metal in a substantially downward direction from a metallurgical vessel includes a refractory rotor rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis. The rotor has an outer peripheral surface, either conical or cylindrical, arranged symmetrically about the axis, and the rotor has therethrough a flow channel having inlet and outer ports, at least the outlet port opening onto the outer surface. A refractory stator has therein a recess defined by an inner surface, either conical or cylindrical, complementary to the outer surface of the rotor, the stator having therethrough a discharge channel. The rotor fits within the recess in the stator, with the outer and inner surfaces thereof being complementarily positioned symmetrically about the axis.

Abstract: Nozzles positioned in the bottom portion of tundish barriers, such as baffles, improve the flow of molten metal in the tundish.

Abstract: An improved FIOR processing plant and method for reducing raw iron ore fines into a 90+% metallized briquette product utilizing a multi-stage fluidized bed reactor in which the reducing and fluidizing gases are the products of partial combustion of methane with oxygen, the gases being introduced into an intermediate zone of the reducing tower above the stage or stages where final metallization occurs. Said processing plant including an ore preparation and feed assembly, a mutli-stage reactor assembly, a briquetting assembly, a recycle and fresh reducing gas assembly, and, a heat recuperation assembly.

Abstract: Device to heat the leading end of aluminium ingots to be extruded when hot in extruder presses, with chambers containing the ingots arranged turret-wise with their axes parellel, the device being arranged in cooperation with the frontal end part of a chamber (12) which will cooperate with the extruder die, and in correspondence with the position for loading and readying an ingot (13), this position being located immediately upstream of the extrusion position.Method to heat the leading end (14) of a hot aluminium ingot (13) held in a chamber (12) located in a position to load and position an ingot immediately upstream of the extrusion position in a turret-type extrusion press, the leading end (14) being extracted from the chamber (12) and caused to protrude therefrom (12) and being then heated by induction and re-inserted thereafter in the chamber (12) immediately before the chamber (12) is placed in its extrusion position and the ingot (13) is extruded.

Abstract: An open-top, heat-resistant container, such as a molten metal ladle for filling the shot sleeve of a die casting machine, having a block rigidly attached to the ladle and partly submerged into the surface of the molten metal in the container or ladle for reducing a major portion of at least half of the area of the exposed surface of the molten metal in the container. The block may be vertically adjustable for varying the amount of immersion into the molten metal when the predetermined amount of molten metal retained in the container has been reached by flow over a weir edge of the container or ladle. A fraction of a centimeter difference in level of molten metal in the container multiplied by the exposed area of molten metal in the container can amount to a kilogram difference in the molten metal measured by the tilt and weir of the container or ladle. Thus, the less the exposed area of the surface in the container, the more repeatable the measured amount of molten metal can be poured from the container.

Abstract: A closing and/or regulating apparatus for tapping molten metal from the interior or a metallurgical vessel includes a vertical inner pipe having extending through a wall thereof at least one opening for the passage of molten metal. An outer pipe is fitted over the inner pipe and has extending through a wall thereof at least one opening. One of the pipes is to be mounted stationarily with respect to a metallurgical vessel, and the other of the pipes is displaceable relative to such one pipe in a vertical axial direction through a working stroke at which the openings of the pipes may be brought into alignment to thereby discharge molten metal downwardly through the interior of the inner pipe. The dimension of the opening in the stationary pipe in such direction is greater than the dimension of the opening in the displaceable pipe in such direction.

Abstract: A method for determining the relative HAZ toughness of steel. The method comprises determining at least two thermal cycles of the steel for at least one weld heat input value and then simulating the HAZ that would result if the steel were actually welded in accordance with those thermal cycles. The steel is then fractured to determine various fracture properties, each of which may be used to determine the midpoint transition temperature associated with the fracture property used. The midpoint transition temperature is compared to a previously determined standard maximum midpoint transition temperature and if it is greater than the standard, the steel may have low HAZ toughness, but if it is less than the standard, the steel may have a high HAZ toughness.

Abstract: A high temperature gas fired heat transfer system ideally suited for melting metals is disclosed. The system generates a heated, reducing furnace atmosphere which prevents formation of metal oxides when the metal is melted. A unique arrangement is provided to draw a portion of the reducing atmosphere from the furnace and combust the drawn furnace atmosphere with high speeds jets of preheated combustion air which convectively impinge and heat the surface of an object to a super heat temperature. That surface is then moved into the furnace enclosure to indirectly heat by radiation and melt the metal at high throughput rates.

Abstract: A unit for controlling the discharge of molten metal from a metallurgical vessel includes a valve having a refractory stator fixed to refractory material of the unit constituting lining of the vessel and a refractory rotor disposed in the stator and movable relative to the stator between open and closed positions of the valve. The stator and the rotor have flow control passageways extending therein which can place the interior of the metallurgical vessel in communication with a discharge opening of the valve. A seal is established between the stator and the rotor over a portion thereof that surrounds the flow control passageways such that molten metal may not pass from the flow control passageways into an area between the stator and the rotor.

Abstract: Apparatus for commutating an electrical current to an electrically conductive rod of an alloying element during the feed thereof to a body of molten metal for purposes of changing the alloy composition of the metal. The apparatus includes a power supply capable of providing electrical current in amounts sufficient to melt a free end of the rod of alloying material into the molten metal, and a pair of parallel adjacent shafts of substantial cross-section. A pair of commutation wheels are mounted respectfully on said shafts for rotatably engaging the rod between the wheels and for conducting current to the rod. Means are provided for forcing the wheels against the rod to provide intimate electrical and physical contact between the rod and wheels. A plurality of stationary brushes are disposed to physically engage each of said shafts along the length thereof for supplying current to the shafts from the power supply, and from the shafts to the wheels engaging the rod.