Abstract: An apparatus for removing compressed snow and the like, includes a steam cutter provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending steam pipes connected to a steam header, with each of the steam pipes having a steam discharging opening formed in its undersurface, and an excluding blade located behind the steam cutter. The blade is disposed at an angle of inclination with respect to an advancing direction of the removing apparatus, which angle can be adjusted.

Abstract: A continuous annealing furnace for a strip which is provided with a first treating furnace of horizontal type including at least a heating zone and a soaking zone, and a second treating furnace of vertical type disposed adjacent to the first treating furnace. The first treating furnace further includes a floating type transporting means which is composed of plural stages of floating type supporting devices for supporting the strip to be treated on them in a floating state, and a plurality of direction changing devices for transporting the strip from an upper stage towards a lower stage of the supporting devices, and the second treating furnace includes a plurality of rolls for transporting the material in a zigzag manner on vertically arranged multi-row passage.

Abstract: A continuous annealing furnace for a metallic strip, wherein each of a direct firing type non-oxidizing furnace and a forced convection type preheating zone is vertically disposed, with an inlet portion of the former being connected to an outlet portion of the latter, through a radiation type preheating zone which is provided with a direction changing roller at its upper end portion.

Abstract: A heat treating furnace for a metallic strip, which includes a heat exchanging zone and a heating/soaking zone provided within a furnace body by dividing the furnace body with a partition wall disposed in a widthwise direction so as to transport the metallic strip in a confronting state through the heat exchanging zone. The heat exchanging zone is further provided with nozzles for jetting atmospheric gas of the heat exchanging zone onto opposite surfaces of the metallic strip being transported, an atmosphere supply duct for the nozzles, and a circulation fan so as to utilize sensible heat discharged or dissipated from the metallic strip during pre-cooling for pre-heating the metallic strip.

Abstract: An improved floatation-type pressure pad is described as having lines of jet nozzles which are so arranged at the opposing ends of the pad that streams or jets of gas, emitting from the nozzles and striking a strip of material passing nearby, tend to stretch the material in a crosswise direction to flatten the strip and eliminate any crosswise distortions in the strip. Ancillary to this, is vertically offsetting pairs of adjacent pads to momentarily form in the strip of material, an inclination or wave in a lengthwise direction to help flatten the strip and eliminate such distortions in the strip.

Abstract: An improved floatation-type pressure pad is described as having lines of jet nozzles which are so arranged at the opposing ends of the pad that streams or jets of gas, emitting from the nozzles and striking a strip of material passing nearby, tend to stretch the material in a crosswise direction to flatten the strip and eliminate any crosswise distortions in the strip. Ancillary to this, is vertically offsetting pairs of adjacent pads to momentarily form in the strip of material, an inclination or wave in a lengthwise direction to help flatten the strip and eliminate such distortions in the strip.