Abstract: A sliding closure (10) at the outlet of a metallurgic container is provided with a housing (12), at least one closing plate arranged therein, a longitudinally displaceable closing plate and a cover (15), fastened to the housing (12) by means of a bracing mechanism (20). The closing plates can be pressed against one another by the bracing mechanism (20) via the cover (15). The bracing mechanism (20) having at least one spring member (33) is provided with clamping levers (21, 22) pivotably housed on either side at the housing (12) and supports (23, 24) which cooperate with same, with the result that, by pivoting these clamping levers (21, 22), the cover (15) can be fastened to, or released from, the housing. In this way, the closing plates, which often need to be exchanged, can also be braced, always uniformly and optimally, against one another, even after many operational uses.

Abstract: A downhole robotic shuttle includes multiple modules coupled together in series to be conveyed through a cased geologic borehole. One or more of the modules includes: a coupling mechanism to couple one module to an adjacent module, a movement mechanism to enable conveyance of the module having the movement mechanism through the cased borehole; a steering mechanism to steer the module comprising the steering mechanism to achieve a selected orientation within the cased borehole; a motor configured to power the movement mechanism and/or the steering mechanism; an actuator to perform a selected action; a sensor to sense a selected parameter; a memory to receive instructions for performing at least one of the selected action and another action; and a controller to control at least one of the motor, steering mechanism, robotic arm, or sensor in accordance with the instructions received from the memory and sensed data received from the sensor.

Abstract: A downhole robotic shuttle includes multiple modules coupled together in series to be conveyed through a cased geologic borehole. One or more of the modules includes: a coupling mechanism to couple one module to an adjacent module, a movement mechanism to enable conveyance of the module having the movement mechanism through the cased borehole; a steering mechanism to steer the module comprising the steering mechanism to achieve a selected orientation within the cased borehole; a motor configured to power the movement mechanism and/or the steering mechanism; an actuator to perform a selected action; a sensor to sense a selected parameter; a memory to receive instructions for performing at least one of the selected action and another action; and a controller to control at least one of the motor, steering mechanism, robotic arm, or sensor in accordance with the instructions received from the memory and sensed data received from the sensor.

Abstract: In a method for automated maintenance by means of a robot the precise position of a metallurgical vessel and a sliding closure (10) at the maintenance location is automatically determined and thereafter a drive is mounted by this on the sliding closure (10). The sliding closure is then released by the drive and at least one refractory closure plate (19, 21) can be inserted by the robot into a slider unit (20) and in a housing (11) of the sliding closure (10) or can be removed from this. It is possible to change from this automated maintenance by the robot to a manual maintenance of the sliding closure (10) at the maintenance location and vice versa. During automated maintenance, the closure plates (19, 21) are inserted together with a cassette (15, 25) into the housing (11) and into the slider unit (20) or are removed from this.

Abstract: A component for a fastening arrangement of a gas turbine engine, the component comprising: a first abutment member; a second abutment member; a spring member between the first and second abutment members; a conduit comprising a throughole through the first and second abutment members and the spring member; the component being configured such that a shaft of a fastener passes through the throughole, a head of the fastener abuts the first abutment member and a part to be fastened by the fastening arrangement abuts the second abutment member, when the component is in the fastening arrangement.

Abstract: A downhole flow meter includes a body including an inlet exposed to downhole fluids, an impeller rotatably supported in the body, the impeller including at least one vane, at least one magnet mounted to the at least one vane, and a switch responsive to the at least one magnet arranged in the body.

Abstract: A method of designing (300) an optimised component (100) for a load-bearing application comprises the steps of: analysing (302) a solid component (200) having an external shape to determine a stress distribution in the solid component (200) in response to an applied load; and defining (304), based upon the determined stress distribution in the solid component (200), a structure for an optimised component (100) comprising an outer skin layer (108) and an internal filament structure (110). The outer skin layer (108) forms an external shape substantially identical to the external shape of the solid component (200) and the internal filament structure (110) is enclosed by the outer skin layer (108), such that the optimised component (100) is configured to bear the applied load.

Abstract: Slide closure for a container containing molten metal includes a housing part that can be fastened to the container and a slider unit that can be displaced longitudinally relative to it, into which a fireproof plate can respectively be inserted. The slider unit is held by holding units fastened to the housing part perpendicular to the slider unit such that it can be displaced longitudinally. The holding units are individually fastened releaseably to the housing part such that in the braced state of the slide closure, they can be released from the housing part in almost every position of the slider unit. In addition, the housing part has walls running close to the plate in the longitudinal direction and projections that protrude to the side, in which walls bearings of the individual holding units can be accommodated.

Abstract: A downhole flow meter includes a body including an inlet exposed to downhole fluids, an impeller rotatably supported in the body, the impeller including at least one vane, at least one magnet mounted to the at least one vane, and a switch responsive to the at least one magnet arranged in the body.

Abstract: A slide closure (10) for a container containing molten metal is provided with a housing part (1) that can be fastened to the latter and a slider unit (2) that can be displaced longitudinally relative to it, into which a fireproof plate (4 or 5) can respectively be inserted. The slider unit (2) is held by a number of holding means (6a, 6b; 7a, 7b) fastened to the housing part (1) perpendicular to the slider unit such that it can be displaced longitudinally. The holding means (6a, 6b; 7a, 7b) are individually fastened releasably to the housing part (1) such that in the braced state of the slide closure (10) they can be released from the housing part (1) in almost every position of the slider unit (2). In the event of a breakdown opening of the latter is thus made possible without the holding means and/or other parts having to be destroyed.

Abstract: Slide closure for a vessel containing molten metal includes a slide housing and a slide unit that can be displaced longitudinally towards the slide housing, at least one refractory closure plate can respectively be inserted into the slide housing. The closure plates can be pressed against one another by the slide unit being braced against the slide housing. The closure plates can respectively be fixed or centered therein by a placement device having a displaceable positioning element. These placement devices are respectively designed such that upon bracing the slide unit against the slide housing, placing of the positioning element and clamping or centering of the respective closure plate is brought about therein. Therefore, despite easier operation, increased operating reliability is guaranteed because the closure plates are clamped and centered mechanically.

Abstract: Pressing device for a casting pipe at the spout of a metallurgical container, wherein the pressing device is provided with spring-loaded pressing elements that can be pressed against guide surfaces of a casting pipe. The casting pipe includes a tubular part and an upper plate. The guide surfaces are arranged on the underside of the plate on both sides of the tubular part and are directed downward at an angle. They form a plate cross-section that is tapered downward. The pressing elements are each provided with a head that is convexly curved in the adjustment direction of the casting pipe and can be pressed against a guide surface of the casting pipe, which is curved in the longitudinal direction of the pressing element or in the adjustment direction. Compressive forces exerted by the pressing pins are optimally transmitted, more toward the casting pipe opening and therefore acting more evenly.

Abstract: A slide closure for a vessel containing molten metal comprises a slide housing (11) and a slide unit (12) that can be displaced longitudinally towards the latter, into which at least one refractory closure plate (13, 14) can respectively be inserted. The latter can be pressed against one another by the slide unit (12) being braced against the slide housing (11). The closure plates (13, 14) can respectively be fixed or centred therein by means of a placement device (30) having a displaceable positioning element (33). These placement devices (30) are respectively designed such that upon bracing the slide unit (12) against the slide housing (11) placing, as it were, of the positioning element (33) and so clamping or centring of the respective closure plate (13, 14) is brought about therein. Therefore, despite easier operation, increased operating reliability is guaranteed because the closure plates are clamped and centred mechanically.

Abstract: The pouring spout changer according to the invention is characterized in that it is provided with a dummy plate (14) for closing the casting channel of the casting device in an emergency. The dummy plate (14) can be brought into the closed position by the same actuation member (11) by means of which a worn pouring spout (21) is replaced by a new pouring spout (22) during normal operation. The changing device can also be used as a casting nozzle changer, preferably with a nozzle gripper for removing the worn casting nozzles.

Abstract: The pouring spout changer according to the invention is characterised in that it is provided with a dummy plate (14) for closing the casting channel of the casting device in an emergency. The dummy plate (14) can be brought into the closed position by the same actuation member (11) by means of which a worn pouring spout (21) is replaced by a new pouring spout (22) during normal operation. The changing device can also be used as a casting nozzle changer, preferably with a nozzle gripper for removing the worn casting nozzles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pressing device for a casting pipe at the spout of a metallurgical container, wherein the pressing device is provided with spring-loaded pressing elements (2) that can be pressed against guide surfaces (10) of a casting pipe (1). The casting pipe (1) comprises a tubular part (4) and an upper plate (5). The guide surfaces (10) are arranged on the underside of the plate (5) on both sides of the tubular part (4) and are directed downward at an angle. They form a plate cross-section that is tapered downward. The pressing elements (2) are each provided with a head (2a) that is convexly curved in the adjustment direction (A) of the casting pipe (1) and can be pressed against a guide surface (10) of the casting pipe (1), which is curved in the longitudinal direction of the pressing element or in the adjustment direction (A). Thus, the compressive forces exerted by the pressing pins are optimally transmitted, more toward the casting pipe opening and therefore acting more evenly.

Abstract: In a computer network having a central computer, a plurality of peripheral computers, and a time-shared common memory accessible to the network computers over a single bus connected to the common memory, an electronic switch of the telephone type is connected to all of the computers so that direct links may be established between respective members of one or more selected pairs of computers. Data is transmitted between computers via the direct links effected by the switch, and the bus is thus primarily reserved for access to the main memory for each of the computers. Direct links for transmitting data from a peripheral computer and another computer are established in accordance with connection orders sent from the peripheral computer to the central computer via the common memory. If the other computer is available to receive data, the central computer instructs the electronic switch to connect the peripheral computer directly to the receiving computer.