Abstract: The apparatus comprises an operating station with a rotary work platform, a non-rotary supporting stage supporting the work platform by means of a first bearing, a robot for laying the bricks, a monitoring booth, a device for raising and lowering brick pallets and at least one automatic brick-depalletizing mechanism for transferring the bricks from the pallets towards a stand-by station. This stand-by station comprises a turret which can contain a reserve of bricks of different types and which is supported by the stage by means of a second bearing, so as to be rotatable independently of the stage and the platform about the vertical axis of the vessel. The apparatus is particularly well suited for repairing metallurgical converters.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a work platform movable inside a vessel and associated with a handling robot for handling and laying bricks is presented. The present invention includes at least two hoists placed next to one another, each hoist comprising several telescopic sections. Carriages move along the hoists in order to raise the bricks individually from a depalletizing station located at the foot of the hoist up to platform level. A depalletizing robot, the action of which is coordinated with that of the handling robot, transfers the bricks from a reserve of several brick pallets onto the carriages of the hoist.

Abstract: A blast pipe for delivering refining oxygen to the space above a metal bath in a refining operation is presented. The blast pipe is positioned in a gas supply duct and is provided with a pressure regulating valve. The blast pipe comprises a fixed straight wall portion along which the gas flows in a linear path. The straight wall portion terminates at a sharp edge, constituting a portion of the blast pipe exit orifice. A bent wall segment is located adjacent to and downstream of the straight wall portion and connects the remainder of the straight wall portion to the exit orifice. The bent wall segment preferably has a convergent configuration, upstream of the sharp edge, and a divergent configuration downstream thereof. The exit orifice, in cross section, has the shape of a rectangle, one of the long sides of which constitutes the sharp edge.

Abstract: A nozzle for refining metals or ferroalloys by oxygen blasting from above the melt is presented. The nozzle terminates at a nozzle head and includes at least one central blast pipe for directing a jet of oxygen having supersonic speed. A chamber is interposed between the mouth of the blast pipe and the mouth of the nozzle head. This chamber widens progressively from the mouth of the blast pipe, and narrows toward the mouth of the nozzle head. At least one opening from at least one lateral duct opens to the chamber in the vicinity of the blast pipe mouth. Each lateral duct is connected to a source of gas, and includes an inidividual flow control valve. Preferably, at least three lateral ducts are arranged symmetrically around the blast pipe mouth.

Abstract: A nozzle for the refining of metals by oxygen blasting from above the melt is presented. The nozzle includes a nozzle head having a blast pipe therethrough upstream of the mouth of the nozzle. The blast pipe directs a jet of gas comprised, at least in part, of oxygen, having a supersonic speed onto the melt. The blast pipe includes an inner tube. The lower portion of the inner tube has a throat positioned between a convergent and divergent sections, this lower portion defining a laval nozzle. The blast pipe also includes an outer tube coaxial with the inner tube and having a greater cross section than the inner tube. The mouth of the inner tube is spaced back (downstream) from the mouth of the blast pipe. The inner and outer tubes are each provided with flow control valves, and are connected to sources of pressurized gas. Devices are provided to vary the cross sectional area of the mouth of the inner tube.

Abstract: An automated apparatus for lining the inner wall of a vessel with bricks is presented. This apparatus comprises an operating station which has at least two levels for storing pallets (having bricks thereon) above one another. An automatic device consisting of at least one automatic depalletizing mechanism for transferring the bricks from each of the superimposed pallets onto at least one standby track is provided along with at least one robot equipped with a gripping device for picking up bricks located on the stand-by tracks and for depositing the bricks at the intended location. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the operating station has two automatic depalletizing mechanisms associated respectively with each of the two superimposed pallets.

Abstract: The geometry of rolling-mill rolls is monitored dynamically by projecting light between portions of the two rolls which are formed with circumferential grooves and the resulting light pattern is detected and compared with a pattern prior to start of the rolling operation.

Abstract: The reducing power of gases liberated at the top of the charge of an industrial furnace is determined by a method wherein the energy radiated from the charge in the range, for example between 1 and 6 microns, covering the radiant energy emitted by the compounds CO.sub.2, CO, H.sub.2, and CH.sub.4 is continuously measured in a multiplicity of detection points distributed over the entire upper surface of the charge and outputs are formed corresponding to the energy radiated at each of the points. An energy image of the energy radiated at the points in the range is formed from the outputs. This energy image is converted into respective specific images for the compounds by isolating from the energy image for each detection point the radiant energy emitted by the compounds. The concentration of each of the compounds at each of the points is calculated from the intensity of the respective specific image.