Abstract: A thermocouple probe assembly for a billet furnace is provided with replaceable contact tips joined to the shanks of the probe rods within a surrounding insulator to inhibit oxidation of the junctions. Two pairs of probes are used, each pair being associated with an independent control circuit as a safety backup system. The assembly is preferably mounted on a bracket that is extendable on an angle forty-five degrees to the horizontal to provide correct probe positioning for various sizes of billets, and has a heat shield correspondingly adjustable along the probe assembly to accommodate various degrees of penetration of the probe assembly into the furnace.

Abstract: Apparatus for breaking foam on the surface of a liquid, such as in a sewage aeration tank is disclosed. A rotating cylindrical brush is mounted in a housing at the water surface with the brush rotation bringing foam under an edge of the housing into contact with the brush and with the brush fingers splitting the bubbles and compressing the resultant liquid into the water. The apparatus includes floats for supporting the housing and brush and a pivoting frame for supporting the housing and brush in position in the tank.