Abstract: Method and apparatus for separating iron or steel from slag by inductively pumping the iron or steel up an inclined trough away from the non-pumped slag.

Abstract: The invention pertains to method and apparatus for controlling the rate of cooling of metal bars, particularly relating to a cooling bed for receiving metal bars at elevated temperatures resulting from a continuous bar casting and/or rolling operation wherein the rate of bar cooling may be sufficiently retarded that a soft bar results having few internal stresses. The apparatus includes a bed receiving the hot bars at one end and conveyor means laterally transport the bars slowly across the bed, and the heat content on the conveyor is controlled by the bar spacing and speed and a thermal insulated heat barrier means disposed below and above the bed controls the rate of bar cooling wherein a substantially normalized bar exits at the bed discharge end. Control of the rate of cooling is a combination of regulating bar spacing, conveyor velocity and convection and radiation cooling control, and these factors are utilized to produce the desired bar physical characteristics, such as hardness.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of reheating, storing and conveying metal bars or rounds cast by continuous casting processes whereby uniform bar temperature is achieved, lengthwise and cross sectionally, prior to rolling, cutting and other secondary operations, and discloses apparatus for practicing the novel process concepts. Cast metal bars having varying heat content throughout their length and cross section have their local heat content restored by heaters at a variable rate proportional to the energy required to produce a substantially uniform temperature throughout the bar length end cross section. The reheated bars are stored in a inventory control and soaking furnace for a duration at least sufficient to permit the energy absorbed by the bars during reheating to uniformly dissipate throughout the bars, and and bars of uniform temperature are released from the furnace at a controlled rate for subsequent processing.

Abstract: A direct arc electric furnace having a tiltable base for pouring molten metal from the furnace. A refractory lined hearth supported by the base is pivotal with respect to the base for tilting to a degree greater than that capable by the base. The furnace includes shell refractory lining material supported upon the hearth encompassed by a removable shell. Replacement of the shell lining is accomplished by removing the shell, collapsing the shell lining into the hearth, and tilting the hearth with respect to the base sufficiently to dump the collapsed lining from the hearth into the pit adjacent the furnace. Further, the use of the tilting and removable hearth permits the hearth to be removed from the base, inverted in the pit, and the refractory lining of the hearth may then be readily removed for replacement purposes.