Abstract: Pallets for transporting one or more glass substrates in a substantially vertical orientation through a sputtering system. In some cases, a pallet comprising a frame with an aperture and an adjustable grid array within the aperture. The adjustable grid array is configurable to hold a plurality of glass substrates of different shapes and/or sizes. In one case, the adjustable grid array comprises a system of vertical and horizontal support bars, wherein the vertical support bars configured to both support the plurality of glass substrates at their vertical edges, wherein the horizontal support bars are configured to support the plurality of glass substrates at their horizontal edges, wherein the ends of the horizontal support bars are slideably engaged with the vertical support bars.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sidewall for use in a sintering pallet car. The sidewall has a base for connection to a frame of the pallet car and a wall extending upwardly from the base to a top. The wall has opposing ends, opposing interior and exterior faces, and a height as measured from the base to the top. An elongate brace is disposed on the exterior face intermediate of the opposing ends, the brace extending downwards from the top towards the base. The sidewall may include an arcuate protrusion disposed on the interior face intermediate the opposing ends of the sidewall or a cap extending between the opposing ends of the sidewall and joining the exterior and interior faces, the cap having a protruding lip extending from the exterior face. The sidewall may comprise a top segment and a bottom segment, releasably securable to each other.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method of manufacturing direct reduction iron and a reduction firing apparatus. The apparatus has a reduction furnace including a left chamber, a right chamber, a material containing device, a step mechanism, a slag distributing device, a charging device, heating burners, a fume extraction path, a charging device, a material receiving tank and a slag discharging path. The method includes the following steps: distributing and charging the slag in the material containing device; carrying and sending the material containing device through a preheating station, a heating station and a reduction station sequentially. Meanwhile, heating the material to be reduced by a combustion of fuel with the heating burners; discharging the reduced material into the material receiving tank; placing the material device from which the material is discharged into the feeding side of the other chamber, then a next work circulation begins.

Abstract: A multiple moving hearth furnace (10) having a furnace housing (11) with at least two moving hearths (20) positioned laterally within the furnace housing, the hearths moving in opposite directions and each moving hearth (20) capable of being charged with at least one layer of iron oxide and carbon bearing material at one end, and being capable of discharging reduced material at the other end. A heat insulating partition (92) is positioned between adjacent moving hearths of at least portions of the conversion zones (13), and is capable of communicating gases between the atmospheres of the conversion zones of adjacent moving hearths. A drying/preheat zone (12), a conversion zone (13), and optionally a cooling zone (15) are sequentially positioned along each moving hearth (30) in the furnace housing (11).

Abstract: Systems and methods for use in processing raw material (e.g., iron bearing material) include a linear furnace apparatus extending along a longitudinal axis between a charging end and a discharging end (e.g., the linear furnace apparatus includes at least a furnace zone positioned along the longitudinal axis). Raw material is provided into one or more separate or separable containers (e.g., trays) at the charging end of the linear furnace apparatus. The separate or separable containers are moved through at least the furnace zone and to the discharging end where the processed material is discharged resulting in one or more empty containers. One or more of the empty containers are returned to the charging end of the linear furnace apparatus to receive further raw material.

Abstract: A conveying system comprising elements for conveying lumpy, particularly hot, conveying stock and a cover for shielding the conveying stock. Disclosed are measures for inerting the conveying stock. A combined system encompasses a reduction plant for reducing oxides in a continuous process and processing unit for producing liquid metal in a discontinuous process. The reduction product is deliverable from the reduction plant to the processing unit. A method for coupling a reduction method used for reducing oxides in a continuous process and a method used for producing liquid metal in a discontinuous process. A reduction product from the reduction method is fed to the liquid metal production method for processing.

Abstract: A circular traveling grate machine includes rotatable, inner and outer, rail mounted, side frame members forming the sidewalls of an annular hearth region therebetween. A plurality of individually tiltable pallets are positioned in the hearth region and are movable with the side frames along a circular pallet trackway which is positioned within the inner and outer rails of the side frames. A stationary hood is mounted above the hearth region carrying sealing flanges at its lateral edges which extend downwardly in a pair of liquid troughs carried by the rotatable side frames. A stationary windbox is situated below the pallets and is also sealed off by way of lower liquid seals coacting with the side frames. The pallets carry a pair of rotatable hanger brackets at the leading ends thereof which are latched to the undersides of the inner and outer side frames.

Abstract: A pallet construction for use in a circular traveling grate machine of the type having rotatable inner and outer side frames which move with the pallets on either side thereof. Various restraining and float means associated with the pallet hanger brackets and their respective axles, as well as with one of the pallet wheels and its respective axle, restrain and permit relative movement of the pallet axles in given radial and circumferential directions, whereby forces and moments are transmitted by the pallets as they mechanically couple the inner and outer side frames. The aforesaid restraining and float means also accommodate the differentials in thermal expansion and contraction between the pallets and the cooler side frames of the traveling grate. The first axles and hanger brackets include spherical antifriction means which permits the pallets to rotatably tilt during the burden discharge operation in situations where the first axles are axially misaligned due to thermal sagging.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for adjusting pallet wheel track length when the spacing between pallets changes due to temperature changes such as in the sintering of ore. The apparatus comprises pivotable arc segments which can be opened or closed to expand and contract the track length, a wedge-shaped casting positioned between said arc segments and slidable in and out at right angles to said track containing track to mate with said arc segments, drive means for moving said arc segments and wedge and a sensor means for detecting a change in pallet spacing and activating said drive means.

Abstract: In a strand sintering machine, an arrangement and position of drive lifting sprockets, operable in conjunction with two pairs of pallet alignment gears, is disclosed. The drive lifting sprockets are positioned at the feed end of the strand tracks. Two pairs of gears, operable by a common chain drive, are positioned near the discharge end of the strand sintering machine adjacent to the pallet return tracks. The gears coact with the tooth pockets in the pallets to align those pallets with the return tracks and to separate the pallets thus relieving the pressure of pallet accumulation upon the drive lifting sprockets.