Abstract: A process is described for removing oil from oily metal chips. Hot pressurized liquid water is continuously passed over a bed of the chips contained in a pressurized vessel. In one embodiment, the water is expanded over the chips to partially vaporize the liquid water and greatly reduce the density of the flowing stream. The density reduction increases the velocity of the stream flowing over the chips and increases the frictional cleaning effect of said stream. A water-oil mixture is continuously removed from the vessel.

Abstract: This scrap metal preheat apparatus includes a conveyor made from deck plates which are of generally U-shape in vertical section, and an apertured or wire mesh metal support layer positioned on and conforming to the contour of the interior of the deck plate but spaced therefrom, which deck plate and support screen are of flattened U-shape in section, and supports for the deck plate, the apertured support layer being operatively secured to the supports and/or deck plate at the upper edge portions of the apertured support layer which overlap upper edges of the deck plate, and the apparatus includes support members for the support layer aiding in spacing it from the deck plate.

Abstract: A metal heating apparatus including a plurality of flattened U-shaped in section metal desk plates positioned in longitudinally overlapped relation to form a metal conveyor and an article receiving unit, a plurality of metal support plates or saddles below the deck plates and having complementary recessed upper surfaces contoured to receive and receiving the deck plates therein; bolt anchor means are positioned on the lower surfaces of the deck plates, and offset support means are secured to the saddle plates whereby bolt means can be attached to the support means and extend to and be secured to the bolt anchor means for anchoring the deck plates to the support means, but to permit some relative movement therebetween upon changes in heating and cooling conditions.

Abstract: A metal batch preheating method comprises positioning an elongate mass of metal scrap on a conveyor in a tunnel furnace for heating such furnace having longitudinally spaced transversely extending zones of greater and lesser heat, the conveyor being loaded with metal for the length of the tunnel furnace except for the last heat zones therein. The metal is thereafter moved through a plurality of "advance and heat" movements in the furnace during the batch heating cycle so that the metal is exposed to both greater intensity and lesser intensity heat zones as it is preheated after which the metal is discharged for use or further processing.