Abstract: Disclosed herein is an improved new product and a process for its manufacture. The new product is a continuous cast steel bar having improved surface quality when compared to prior art continuous cast steel bars. The improved product is produced by means of a continuous casting machine of the known type having a rotating casting wheel with a peripheral groove which is closed along a portion of its length by a metal band.

Abstract: A vertical shaft furnace for continuously melting metal materials, such as scrap, copper cathode pieces and the like is disclosed. The furnace comprises an elongated cylindrical melting chamber having an opening in the upper portion thereof for intermittently gravity-charging the furnace with metal pieces, which form a descending metal column in the melting chamber. A plurality of plasma arc generators is mounted in the sidewalls of the melting chamber extending inwardly thereof in a downwardly inclined attitude. The plasma arc torches are arranged in upper and lower vertically spaced planes for respectively preheating and melting the metal charged to the furnace. Protective refractory shrouds are provided which extend inwardly from the inside wall of the melting chamber and at least partly surround the plasma arc torches to substantially prevent damage to the torches by the descending or dropped metal charge.

Abstract: An improvement in wheel-band type continuous metal casting machines wherein a stationary corner filling device is used in combination with the usual moving mold members, such as the wheel and band, to modify the mold geometry so as to prevent corner cracking of the cast bar due to the uneven solidification stresses present in conventionally molded shapes having sharp or square edges, especially useful in modifying the usual trapezoidal cross sections of prior art molds for the casting of steel alloys.

Abstract: An improvement in wheel-band type continuous metal casting machines wherein a corner filling device or material is used in combination with the mold members such as the wheel and band to modify the mold geometry so as to prevent corner cracking due to the solidification stresses present in conventional mold shapes having sharp or square edges, especially useful in modifying the usual trapezoidal cross sections of prior art molds. Ablative, conductive, or insulating materials, selected in accordance with the desired change in solidification pattern, may be introduced into the mold either separate from, or attached to the moving mold members such as the endless band or the casting wheel.

Abstract: What is disclosed herein is an apparatus for producing a hot-formed product from a cast metal without homogenizing of the cast metal between a casting means and a hot-forming means. The apparatus includes a conditioning means for reducing the cross-sectional area of the cast metal with a single compression by at least 36% as the cast metal passes at substantially hot-forming temperature between the casting means and the hot-forming means. The reduction of the cross-sectional area of the cast metal by at least 36% substantially destroys the as cast dendritic structure of the cast metal prior to the cast metal being hot-formed in the hot-forming means and results in hot-forming being achieved without the splitting and cracking of the cast metal which would otherwise occur in the absence of conventional homogenizing.

Abstract: A vertical shaft furnace for continuously melting metal materials, such as scrap, copper cathode pieces and the like is disclosed. The furnace comprises an elongated cylindrical melting chamber having an opening in the upper portion thereof for intermittently gravity-charging the furnace with metal pieces, which form a descending metal column in the melting chamber. A plurality of plasma arc generators is mounted in the sidewalls of the melting chamber extending inwardly thereof in a downwardly inclined attitude. The plasma arc torches are arranged in upper and lower vertically spaced planes for respectively preheating and melting the metal charged to the furnace. Protective refractory shrouds are provided which extend inwardly from the inside wall of the melting chamber and at least partly surround the plasma arc torches to substantially prevent damage to the torches by the descending or dropped metal charge.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for continuously casting molten metal are disclosed wherein a flexible belt is used to enclose the peripheral groove of the casting wheel of a wheel-belt type machine and the useful life of the belt as well as the heat-transfer rate of the molten metal are increased by providing a continuous length of ablative material on the surface of said flexible belt which contacts the molten metal.

Abstract: Reducing or overcoming frictional drag on a rod moving through an enclosing tube by utilizing viscous drag of a liquid medium flowing through the tube in the direction of rod movement. Heated metallic rod moves through a hollow support tube leading from the output of a rolling mill to a mechanism for coiling the rod. The rod leaving the rolling mill is at an elevated temperature which places the rod in an extremely flexible state, so that the rod tends to become twisted within the tube to create "cobbles" or entanglements preventing further movement of the rod through the tube. The present apparatus and method, as applied to the disclosed embodiments of the invention, provide a flow of liquid medium through the tube in the direction of rod movement at a velocity sufficient to impart substantial force to the rod through the effect of viscous drag between the moving liquid medium and the rod.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for continuously casting molten metal are disclosed wherein the flexible band element used to enclose the peripheral groove of the casting wheel of a wheel-band type machine is relatively untensioned and supported along at least a portion of its path of travel by a highly flexible porous support belt through which a coolant may be directed to impinge upon the external surface of the flexible band. The flexible band element, in cooperation with the support belt, provides improved cooling efficiency and a longer life expectancy for the band.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing an adjustable flow of quenching fluid to a traveling rod or the like. The rod travels through a quench housing assembly having a fixed valve surface surrounding the path of travel of the rod. A movable valve member having an internal passage aligned with the direction of rod travel is supported within the housing assembly for a limited extent of axial travel, and the movable valve member provides a valve surface which is in confronting relation to the fixed valve surface. A cam engages a slot on an exterior surface of the movable valve member. The cam is connected to a cam shaft which extends to a location outside of the housing assembly. The cam, when rotated by the cam shaft, axially moves the valve member to adjust the fluid flow aperture defined by the confronting valve surfaces.