Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for oxygen cutting continuously cast billets, in which a cutting member (8) and a trimming member (9) are positioned relative to the billet to be cut (1) by taking a reference directly on the billet (1) by means of a moving clamp (7), after which the cutting member (8) and the trimming member (9) are lowered parallel to the side faces of the billet so as to cut the billet progressively downwards by attacking one of its side faces horizontally, while simultaneously trimming the cutting bead that forms on the other side face by attacking said other side face continuously in a downward direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for eliminating chevron cracks or other imperfections in the surface of elongate billets as billets pass vertically downwardly through a heating chamber, including a plurality of plasma arc torches. The heating chamber contains a billet mold having an opening complementary in size and shape to the cross-sectional shape of the billet. Heat imparted to the billet in the upper portion of the chamber melts surface portions of the billet. Molten material discharged from the surface portions of the billet forms a pool in an area above the mold opening. As the billet passes through the pool, some of the molten material reattaches itself to the billet surfaces. Billet conveyors pivotally movable between horizontal and vertical positions transport billets to and from the heating chamber, and control the rate at which the billets move through such chamber and through a cooling chamber located beneath the heating chamber.

Abstract: Apparatus for scarfing defects in a metal workpiece having an oxygen discharge nozzle terminating in a nozzle discharge orifice adapted to discharge a sheet-like stream of cutting oxygen of uniform intensity across the surface of a metal workpiece and means for admixing a gas with the oxygen to be discharged through the discharge orifice wherein at least one edge of the sheet-like stream of oxygen is of reduced privity insufficient to scarf a workpiece, while the remainder of the sheet-like stream is sufficient to scarf defects from a workpiece surface.