Abstract: In the continuous manufacture of hot strip material, slabs are produced by a pair of continuous casters and heated to a rolling temperature in a bi-level roller hearth furnace. Hot slabs are discharged from the bi-level furnace alternately from its upper and lower roller hearths. The slabs are then scarfed to clean oxide scale from both sides and to heat the slabs to a temperature of about 2300.degree. F. The scarfed ends of adjacent slabs are overlapped and passed through a two high slab mill welder wherein the overlapped ends are joined together. The joined slabs are thereafter finish rolled to strip gauge in a continuous multi-stand hot strip mill.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing hot strip steel includes a continuous slab caster adapted to cast a strand of 4 inches or more in thickness. The strand is cut to slab length and heated in a roller hearth furnace or a walking beam furnace prior to entry into a multi-stand tandem reversing mill. The slab is rolled in a downstream direction through the mill in a first reducing pass. The mill is reversed and the elongated slab is rolled in an upstream direction through the mill in a second reducing pass. The intermediate bar exits the upstream end of the mill and is coiled in a coil box positioned intermediate the furnace and the reversing mill. The bar is then unwound from the coil box for rolling in the downstream direction through the mill in a third and finish pass. The finish gauge strip moves down a run out table downstream from the mill for coiling in a down coiler apparatus.

Abstract: Roll designs for roller hearth furnaces operating at temperatures ranging from under 1200.degree. C. to substantially higher are disclosed. A rotary mounted main roll body may be provided with a plurality of spaced tires for contacting and transporting a charge carried by the roll. An internal coolant circulation system is provided within the main roll body. Insulation may be provided around the main roll body.

Abstract: A roll system for a roller hearth furnace for thin slab casters is disclosed. The roll system includes a plurality of fluid cooled rolls rotatably mounted in the furnace configured to contact and at least partially support a charge transported along a pass line through the furnace. An upper surface of each of the fluid cooled rolls is positioned along the pass line. A plurality of dry rolls is rotatably positioned within the furnace wherein at least one dry roll is positioned between each pair of adjacent fluid rolls. The upper surface of each of the dry rolls is positioned below the pass line.

Abstract: Roll designs for roller hearth furnaces operating at temperatures ranging from under 1200.degree. C. to substantially higher are disclosed. A rotary mounted main roll body may be provided with a plurality of spaced tires for contacting and transporting a charge carried by the roll. An internal coolant circulation system is provided within the main roll body. Insulation may be provided around the main roll body.

Abstract: Roll designs for roller hearth furnaces operating at temperatures ranging from under 1200.degree. C. to substantially higher are disclosed. A rotary mounted main roll body may be provided with a plurality of spaced tires for contacting and transporting a charge carried by the roll. An internal coolant circulation system is provided within the main roll body. Insulation may be provided around the main roll body.

Abstract: A flat flame burner assembly comprises a refractory block having a flaring port and a hollow body, mounted thereon, provided with an inlet for the admission of combustion air and with an air diffuser presenting passages directed so as to cause the combustion air to swirl in the combustion zone of the flaring port; a burner mechanism comprising a lance for feeding the fuel terminating with a burner head extending in the combustion zone, a first pipe for a fluid atomizing agent coaxial to said lance, a second pipe, coaxial to the first pipe, for feeding air for the protection of the burner head from the heat, in communication with a sheath which surrounds the burner head. The burner head consists of a first chamber in which the fuel is admitted by means of a distributor, and of a second chamber, or mixing chamber, in which the fuel is atomized by the atomizing agent, and then sprayed into the combustion zone through a nozzle.