Abstract: A heating furnace system is provided for receiving finite lengths of workpieces from one or more continuous casters and form a supply of heated workpieces at a temperature suitable for rolling in a hot rolling mill. The system includes, in one aspect, a holding furnace receiving a workpiece during continuous casting until it is severed by a cutoff device to prevent unwanted cooling. The workpiece is fed from a holding furnace to a heating furnace wherein it is deposited onto one of a series of vertically spaced supports in a heated section where it remains static throughout the heating process. After heating the workpiece is removed from the stationary supports and returned to rollers of a hearth for discharge from the furnace to a rolling mill. In a second embodiment the holding furnace arrangement provides for separate holding furnaces to receive continuous castings from separate continuous casters and prevent unwanted cooling of the cast workpiece until cut to a finite length.

Abstract: A steel workpiece reheating apparatus and method for raising the temperature of a thin continuously-cast hot workpiece to a required working temperature without causing harm to the workpiece. The apparatus includes a high intensity heating chamber provided at the charging end of a reheat furnace structure which briefly and intensely heats the workpiece above its melting temperature before it enters the remainder of the reheat furnace. The provision of the high intensity heat chamber at the charging end of the reheat furnace structure permits substantial reduction in the length normally required of the reheat furnace to raise the workpiece to the desired working temperature and thus reduces the time spent by the workpiece in the reheat furnace. The high intensity heating chamber uses in its combustion process combustion air preferably preheated by a heat recovery system associated with the heat derived from the combustion occurring within other portions of the reheat furnace.

Abstract: A heating furnace system is provided for receiving finite lengths of workpieces from one or more continuous casters and form a supply of heated workpieces at a temperature suitable for rolling in a hot rolling mill. The system includes, in one aspect, a holding furnace receiving a workpiece during continuous casting until it is severed by a cutoff device to prevent unwanted cooling. The workpiece is fed from a holding furnace to a heating furnace wherein it is deposited onto one of a series of vertically spaced supports in a heated section where it remains static throughout the heating process. After heating the workpiece is removed from the stationary supports and returned to rollers of a hearth for discharge from the furnace to a rolling mill. In a second embodiment the holding furnace arrangement provides for separate holding furnaces to receive continuous castings from separate continuous casters and prevent unwanted cooling of the cast workpiece until cut to a finite length.

Abstract: A metallic workpiece is continuously cast and is conveyed through a furnace using a plurality of flexible driven rollers which deflect to a catenary configuration to support the workpiece. The workpiece is rolled using a single rolling mill train. The rolled workpiece is cooled and coiled.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an insulated furnace roller includes providing the roller with an insulating refractory castable between the spaced apart tires of the roller and between the outermost tires and the furnace walls, the castable being secured to an arbor of the roller by metal anchors having outer ends that terminate inwardly of the outer surface of the castable, and wherein between the tires and the castable spacer discs are provided and between openings formed by the discs and tires insulation is inserted, the arbor being also wrapped with insulation before the castable is formed on the arbor.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an insulated furnace roller and a method of manufacture thereof, in which the roller is provided with an insulating refractory castable between the spaced apart tires of the roller and between the outermost tires and the furnace walls, the castable being secured to an arbor of the roller by metal anchors having outer ends that terminate inwardly of the outer surface of the castable, and wherein between the tires and the castable spacer discs are provided and between openings formed by the discs and tires insulation is inserted, the arbor being also wrapped with insulation before the castable is formed on the arbor.

Abstract: A metallic workpiece is continuously cast with a thickness of 1.5 to 2.5 inches. The workpiece is conveyed through a furnace using a plurality of flexible driven rollers which deflect to a catenary configuration to support the workpiece. The workpiece is rolled to a thickness of 0.1 to 0.6 inches using a single rolling mill train. The rolled workpiece is cooled and coiled.

Abstract: An air knife formed of a plurality of independently controllable pressure chambers for permitting gas in an assortment of differential pressures to be simultaneously discharged from separate segmental portions along the length of the air knife nozzle in order to produce an essentially uniform and desired coating thickness on a continuously moving and continuously coated workpiece regardless of strip thickness, width, camber, and velocity. The air knife includes a plurality of baffles positioned inside the barrel of the air knife for dividing the barrel into at least three distinct pressure chambers. The baffles are adjustably positionable along the length of the barrel in order to establish the desired segmental lengths along the air knife nozzle from which the differentially pressurized gas is discharged from the air knife. In the preferred embodiment, a computer continuously adjusts and controls the pressure in each chamber, and the position of air knife with respect to the workpiece.

Abstract: There is provided a roller apparatus for use in a metallic workpiece heating furnace or the like, the apparatus serving to guide and convey the workpieces through the furnace while at the same time avoiding localized cooling of the workpieces during heating thereof. The apparatus comprising an elongated arbor formed of two concentric tubes having internal openings for coolant extending in the axial direction of the arbor. The arbor further has secured there around a series of spaced wheel-like workpiece supporting structures each including hub members having toe portions welded to the outer concentric tube and head portions which are free to slide relative to the outer concentric tube. Positioned along the outer concentric tube between and outside of the wheel-like workpiece supporting structures are packets of parallel abutting ring or disc members formed of thermally insulating material.

Abstract: A walking beam apparatus such as used in a reheat furnace for processing of steel slabs wherein a walking beam transfer structure includes a traversing beam assembly which is moveable both vertically and horizontally to contact, support, and laterally traverse a load through a given increment of distance, and a support beam assembly which supports such a load when not supported by the walking beam assembly, and which support is moveable at least vertically to move out of supporting engagement with the load upon attainment of supporting engagement thereof by the walking beam assembly, whereby the load is supported continuously in a predetermined, substantially horizontal plane throughout repeated operating cycles of the apparatus.

Abstract: An enclosure or housing for a furnace structure or the like such as for a reheat furnace of the type used in steel rolling operations, the furnace enclosure being comprised of a self-supporting arch structure preferably of sheet material such as steel and having thermal insulation extending continuously over the inner or concave expanse thereof, the arch structure forming an elongated, arched furnace enclosure which provides improved thermal energy distribution, simplified design, and enhanced overall economy.

Abstract: A generally O-shaped track extends through the central axial opening of a cylindrical object along the ends of a cylindrical object and along its outer cylindrical surface. A trolley moves along the track and carries a roll of strip wrapping material. As the trolley travels along the track and the strip material is paid off the roll, it is wrapped around the interior surface of the central opening, the ends of the cylindrical object, and its outer cylindrical surface as the cylindrical object itself is rotated about its axis. This produces successive, overlapping laps of strip material such that the entire cylindrical object is covered. Means are provided for maintaining the tension of strip material substantially constant as the trolley travels around the track.

Abstract: A process for selective vaporization of oxides from recovered waste dust collected from a bag house. Pellets are formed from the waste dust and dried to permit charging in an oxidizing chamber wherein an oxidizing atmospheric is maintained. The chamber is heated to a temperature sufficient to vaporize lead oxide and, if present, also oxides of cadmium, potassium and sodium. The vapors are cooled and separated from furnace gas. The residual oxidized mass is cooled after removal from the oxidizing chamber and fed into a reduction chamber wherein a reducing atmosphere is maintained. The reduction chamber is heated to a temperature of between 1800 and 2000 degrees Fahrenheit to reduce zinc oxide and form zinc vapors which are cooled and separated from furnace gas. Lead oxide particles recovered from the oxidizing process are reduced to lead.

Abstract: Spaced-apart skid frames support workpieces in a reheat furnace. Each skid frame includes a plurality of spaced-apart rails arranged to extend along the path of travel of the workpieces in the furnace for engaging the underside faces of the workpieces. A tubular top cord member carries rail members. Two horizontally-spaced tubular lower cord members extend parallel and below the top cord member. Tubular web members extend angularly between joints which intersect with the top and lower cord members to form a lattice structure having triangular open spaces between the top cord member in each of the lower cord members for passage or radiation to heat the underside faces of workpieces along either side of the skid frames. Coolant is supplied to each of the top and lower cord members and the tubular web members to prevent overheating.

Abstract: While the leading end of a first heated workpiece is processed in a rolling mill, the trailing end is joined to the leading end of a second heated workpiece. End portions of the workpieces at the gap therebetween are held by clamp members at a spaced-apart location so that both workpieces advance at the same speed toward the rolling mill. The end portions of the workpieces are cleaned to remove scale and then a mold is positioned to span the gap and contact the end parts of the workpieces. Liquid-weld metal is introduced into the mold and allowed to at least partially solidify before the mold is removed while the rolling operation continues. The weld metal substantially solidifies and is passed through the rolling mill.

Abstract: A dual flow distribution header system in which the flow is divided into two paths before the distribution header but after a metering device. The flow is controlled by separate butterfly valves in each path, whereby the control function is magnified and becomes more precise in each path. The invention is particularly adapted for use with industrial heating furnaces employing dual burner systems.

Abstract: Skids used to support a workpiece in a reheat furnace are adjustably positioned and anchored to resist longitudinal movement of the skids while workpieces are moved therealong. The anchor apparatus includes a rectangular housing, one end of which is attached by an anchor rod to a foundation while the other end has an aperture to pass an anchor rod into the space between the side walls of the housing. An internal bearing wall subdivides the space in the housing into two cavities. A bearing plate on the movable anchor rod in one cavity is forced by a piston and cylinder assembly to move the rod into the housing to thereby adjust the position of a skid to which it is attached. Shim plates are placed in the second cavity within the housing between an internal wall and a bearing flange attached to the movable anchor rod. Other shim plates are inserted between the end wall of the housing and the actuator to maintain an effective range of adjustment by the actuator.

Abstract: A system to supply high temperature blast air and a method for providing preheating of a cold air blast by gas-to-air heating in a tube-type heat exchanger with heat from waste products of combustion. Such combustion products are recovered in a header by the use of valves at different times to form a continuous supply from a plurality of horizontal regenerators. The regenerators are horizontal metal vessels wherein a mid-portion is filled with checkerbrick forming horizontal flow spaces. Each regenerator has a burner to generate hot products of combustion for heating the refractory of the checkerbrick and recovery by the header. The burner is turned OFF when the checkerbricks are highly heated and preheated air is directed by valves through a header and into the regenerator by the checkerbricks. The resulting hot air blast, which may be tempered with cold air, is fed by a main to a blast furnace.

Abstract: Walking beam assemblies used to advance workpieces in a reheat furnace include upper and lower runs of coolant pipes spaced and joined together by web plates to extend along each of the opposite lateral sides of a body of refractory that contacts the workpieces. The web plates support clip members that have a bent midportion to wrap around the upper run of the coolant pipe. A leg section of each clip member extends along the side of the refractory material to an elevation spaced below the workpiece-engaging face of the refractory. Support members including gusset plates are carried by the refractory support member to engage the lower run of the coolant pipe and extend along the web plates for support.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for closing bottom-entry slab furnaces in which a door is pivotably connected to the slab elevator by a horizontally arranged hinge. The door is provided with a cam follower that cooperates with a cam apparatus to controllably swing the door between closed and open positions as the door is moved vertically past the cam apparatus.