Abstract: An orbital pipe machine guiding system to guide the machine around the circumference of a pipe has a link chain having first and second ends and a length equal to at least the circumference of the pipe and has means to attach the link chain to itself around and against the pipe in a circle perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pipe. At least one wheel is operatively connected to the machine, such that when the wheel is positioned for revolving engagement with the link chain, the machine will be guided in the circle defined by the link chain. In one embodiment, the wheel has a continuous slot formed therein extending radially inward from the periphery thereof, and the inside surfaces of the slot slidingly engage the link chain. Any one link chain may be used for several pipe sizes and the fastening arrangement of the link chain is such that surplus chain overlaps a portion of the chain lying against the pipe. The slot in the wheel extends far enough to accommodate such overlap.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mechanically controlling the flame cutting and/or connection welding of workpieces. The difficulty encountered during the mechanized burning of holes in vessels, containers or tanks and the welding of connecting members into these holes is that the cutting and welding apparatus need to be guided in such a way that not only do they not contact the surface of the vessel, container or tank, but they are also kept a fixed distance from this surface. Therefore, control of the cutting and/or welding process is effected in conformity with the actual dimensions of the workpiece that is being worked on. In particular, this control is undertaken in conformity with the circumferential line of the hole for a given connecting member, and also in conformity with the curved surface of the vessel, container or tank. The peripheral line of the connecting member is first sensed and is graphically or electromagnetically recorded.

Abstract: A method of directly softening a rolled machine structural steel is provided. This method is characterized by the fact that it comprises the steps of:hot rolling a steel consisting essentially of 0.2-0.65% C, less than 0.1% Si, 0.2-0.5% Mn, 0.0003-0.01% B, more than 0.5-1.7% Cr, 0.01-0.1% Al, all of the percentages being on a weight basis, and the balance being Fe and incidental impurities, and may contain one or more other alloying elements selected from either one of or both of groups (A) and (B), group (A) consisting of not more than 1% Ni, 0.1-0.5% Mo and not more than 1% Cu, and the other group (B) consisting of 0.002-0.05% Ti, 0.005-0.05% Nb and 0.005-0.2% V,then subjecting said rolled steel to either one of the two softening treatments (1) or (2), the treatment (1) comprises slowly cooling the steel in a temperature range until transformation to pearlite is completed at a cooling rate of less than 15.degree. C.

Abstract: A robot drive for cutting fins having pipes extending on opposite sides therefrom, with the pipes laying in parallel spaced apart rows, comprises a carriage which can move in the longitudinal direction between rows of the pipes. A pair of driven guide rollers is mounted to the carriage for rolling against the pipe of one of the rows. The carriage also carries four spring loaded pressure wheels which bear against the fins of the pipe in an adjacent row so as to press the carriage and guide rollers against the pipe on which the guide rollers roll. A pair of cutting torches or mechanical cutters are connected to the carriage on opposite sides of the guide rollers so that they can cut the fins of the pipes on which the guide rollers roll.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing metal flakes. The process involves entraining the metal powder particles in a carrier gas and passing the powder particles through a high temperature zone at a temperature above the melting point of the powder particles to melt at least about 50% of the powder particles, resolidifying the resulting high temperature treated material by impacting the material against a substrate, and thereafter contacting the material with a non-oxidizing gas which can be nitrogen, argon, hydrogen, helium or combinations of these to remove the material from the substrate in the form of flakes.

Abstract: An ingot-derived unagglomerated (or preagglomerated) tantalum powder composition includes a platelet tantalum powder having an average FSSS of less than two micrometers, preferably in the range of 0.6 to 1.1 micrometers, a Scott density not greater than about 30 g/in.sup.3, and a BET surface area of at least 0.7 m.sup.2 /g. In one embodiment of the invention, such powder is agglomerated and milled to form a tantalum powder product having a particle size of about 2 to 3 micrometers, a BET surface area of about 0.43 m.sup.2 /g, a Scott density in the range of 18 to 27 g/in.sup.3.

Abstract: A continuous casting apparatus providing high precision in the weight of workpieces cut from a continuous casting, includes a track disposed parallel to the casting, and a flame cutting machine movably mounted on the track by a machine carriage and a traveller clampable to the continuous casting. A multiple measuring device is provided at or near the cutting machine to detect data relating to the gross physical characteristics of the continuous casting, which is then used to control operation of the appartaus.

Abstract: A process for producing finely divided spherical precious metal based powders comprises forming an aqueous solution containing a source of at least one precious metal value forming a solid reducible precious metal material from the solution, reducing the solid material to precious metal powder particles, subjecting the precious metal based particles to a high temperature zone to melt at least a portion of the precious metal based powder particles and cooling the molten material to form essentially spherical precious metal based alloy particles.

Abstract: A process for producing finely divided spherical refractory metal based powders comprises forming an aqueous solution containing at least one refractory metal, forming a solid reducible refractory metal based material containing a compound selected from the group consisting of refractory metal salts, refractory metal oxides, hydroxides and mixtures thereof, reducing the solid material to refractory metal based powder particles, subjecting the refractory based metal particles to a high temperature zone to melt a portion of the particles and cooling the molten material to form essentially spherical refractory metal based powder particles.

Abstract: A process for producing finely divided spherical metal low melting temperatures powders comprises forming an aqueous solution metals, forming a reducible solid material from the solution, reducing the solid to metal powder particles, subjecting the metal particles to a high temperature zone to melt a portion of the metal powder particles and to form droplets and cooling the droplets to form essentially spherical metal particles.

Abstract: A headed steel pin for a multi-grip fastener of the pin and swageable collar type has a homogeneous microstructure, and consists substantially entirely of sorbitic tempered martensite. Suitable coarse-grained medium carbon steel is shaped to form a headed pin having a plurality of identical, regularly spaced, annular, combination grooves each able to function alternatively as a locking groove, a pulling groove, or a breaker groove. The shaped pin is heat treated, the steel rendered homogeneously martensitic and then tempered at a temperature approaching as closely as practicable to the lower critical temperature of the steel, to convert the martensitic steel entirely to sorbite. The finished pin has a suitable balance of brittleness, toughness, ductility and impact strength, and tends to break cleanly and reliably at a selected one of the combination grooves when the fastener is installed in a workpiece.

Abstract: A powdered material and a process for producing the material are disclosed. The powdered material consists essentially of precious metal based spherical particles which are essentially free of elliptical shaped material and elongated particles having rounded ends. The material has a particle size of less than about 20 micrometers. The process for making the spherical particles involves mechanically reducing the size of a starting material to produce a finer powder which is then entrained in a carrier gas and passed through a high temperature zone above the melting point of the finer powder to melt at least about 50% by weight of the powder and form spherical particles of the melted portion. The powder is directly solidified.

Abstract: A powdered material and a process for producing the material are disclosed. The powdered material consists essentially of copper based spherical particles which are essentially free of elliptical shaped material and elongated particles having rounded ends. The material has a particle size of less than about 20 micrometers. The process for making the spherical particles involves mechanically reducing the size of a starting material to produce a finer powder which is then entrained in a carrier gas and passed through a high temperature zone at a temperature above the melting point of the finer powder to melt at least about 50% by weight of the powder and form the spherical particles of the melted portion. The powder is directly solidified.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing essentially spherical metallic powder particles. The process involves mechanically agglomerating a mixture comprising powders wherein the powders are selected from the group consisting of metals, metal alloys, metal-ceramic composites, ceramics, and wherein at least one of the powders is a relatively ductile and/or malleable metal. The resulting mechanically agglomerated powder particles are entrained in a carrier gas and passed through a high temperature zone at a temperture above the melting point of the lowest melting component of the mixture to melt at least about 50% by weight of the mechanically agglomerated particles and form essentially spherical powder particles of the melted portion, followed by resolidifying the resulting high temperature treated material.

Abstract: The invention is for an oxy cutting torch holder having a frame with a pair of vertically adjustible posts with bearing wheels at their lower ends. A nozzle-receiving passageway is disposed in the frame with a novel nozzle retaining device. Provision is made for replacement of a post by a transversely extending arm carrying an extension with a pointed end to enable cutting in a circle.

Abstract: A process for the thermal cutting of profiles with a cutting torch which is guided by a control unit in accordance with the workpiece contour includes storing the contour in the control unit. The absolute values of the profile are determined by means of measuring devices in the vicinity of the profile. These values are transmitted to the control unit for determining the actual workpiece contour and the control signals for the torch.

Abstract: A guide assembly for a torch tip for a hand held cutting torch with the guide assembly being operable to locate the torch tip a preselected distance from a workpiece whereby the tip will be substantially precluded from engaging the heated workpiece surface and with the guide assembly being selectively adjustable to vary the preselected distance and being actuable to guiding and non-guiding conditions.

Abstract: A reduction process for producing tantalum powder wherein a tantalum compound is introduced, in a continuous or incremental manner, to a reactor, during the course of the reduction reaction.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing finely divided spherical metal powders. The process comprises forming a coating of a surface active agent which can be of the nonionic or anionic type on the surfaces of the particles of a metal powder, feeding the coated particles and a carrier gas into a high temperature zone and maintaining the particles in the zone for a sufficient time to melt at least about 50% by weight of the particles and to form droplets therefrom, and cooling the droplets to form metal particles having essentially a spherical shape with the majority of the particles having a size less than about 50 micrometers.

Abstract: An instantaneous scarfing cut on the surface of a metal workpiece can be made by:(a) causing relative motion between the workpiece and a stream of scarfing oxygen gas, and simultaneously therewith(1) impinging at least one laser beam on the work surface so as to produce a heated path of desired length across said surface relative to its direction of motion, said heated path being produced by the laser beam heating a series of points on said surface to their oxygen ignition temperature, and(2) impinging a stream of scarfing oxygen onto said heated path, thereby causing an instantaneous scarfing cut to begin along said path, and(b) continuing the flow of scarfing oxygen until the desired length of cut has been produced.