Abstract: A copper converter which includes: a converter body; a plurality of tuyeres disposed to the converter body, each tuyere having an outer end portion; a first concentrate blowing pipe assembly disposed at least one of said tuyeres, the concentrate blowing pipe assembly including an introducing pipe inserted into the at least one tuyere; a blowing unit, connected to the concentrate blowing pipe assembly, for blowing a material including a concentrate through the introducing pipe into the converter; an air supplying unit, disposed to the tuyeres, for supplying pressurized air to the tuyeres; and formations, disposed to said outer end of each tuyere and said concentrate blowing pipe assembly, for detachably interlocking the introducing pipe with the at least one tuyere.

Abstract: Two sets of heater support members angularly distributed around a central vertical member are radially extendable individually or in groups to position heater elements within a preset distance of the cylindrical walls of any one of a series of pressure vessels having a range of diameters. A convex bottom heater support member is provided for each diameter vessel and is axially telescoped into the central vertical member so that an additional set of heater support members can be installed between the first mentioned two sets of heater support members and the bottom heater support member to accommodate for varying depths of the vessels in the series. Thermocouples are extended from the annealing device by actuators which use a spring or pneumatic pressure to press the thermocouple against the vessel wall with a preset constant force for accurate temperature measurements.

Abstract: A method of producing a hot, carburized metallized iron product in a generally vertical shaft furnace having an upper reducing zone in which iron oxide reacts with a gaseous reductant, and a lower carbon control and product discharge zone, including: establishing a gravitationally descending iron oxide burden in the furnace; reacting hot gaseous reductant with the descending burden to form a metallized iron product and a reacted top gas; and injecting a hydrocarbon gas mixture consisting of hot reformed endothermic gas and cool natural gas to the product discharge section of the shaft furnace; whereby the carbon content of the metallized iron pellet product is controlled by mixing the endothermic gas and natural gas in the proper ratio to balance the endothermic and exothermic reactions within the discharge zone of the furnace.

Abstract: A metal melting furnace equipped with a preheating tower having a plurality of fork-shaped shelf-plates extending into the inside thereof, comprising a gas mixing chamber provided in the lower end portion of the tower, communicating with the upper portion of the melting furnace, a duct for circulating combustion exhaust gas from the top portion of the tower into the gas mixing chamber, a damper arranged in the duct for controlling the amount of the combustion exhaust gas circulated into the gas mixing chamber, and a plurality of nozzles connected to the duct and opening into the gas mixing chamber.

Abstract: Probe for determining the temperatures of the walls of coke oven flues, including an optical pyrometer suspended by a metallic rope from a manipulating device including a drum on which the rope is coiled and uncoiled. The pyrometer is contained in an insulating sleeve of refractory material, and the rope is surrounded by a sheath which is wetted before the measurement takes place, in order to prevent an unacceptable temperature rise during the brief measurement period required. Due to this arrangement, conventional cooling apparatus is eliminated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the heat treating of quench hardenable ferrous alloy workpieces utilizing periodic eddy current excitation and reflection to determine the in-line cooling rate from the critical temperature of the workpiece material and comparing the in-line cooling rate against a standard rate for establishing acceptance or rejection of the quenched workpiece.

Abstract: An apparatus for air-pulverizing high-temperature molten slag by blowing air at high speed through a nozzle into a flow of molten slag that is falling from an inclined container by the intermediary of a turndish. A heat detector is provided for detecting the quantity of heat in the flow of molten slag after being air-pulverized by the high speed air flow, and a feedback control device which is responsive to a detection signal issued from the detector is provided for calculating a desirable inclination angle of the container or the turndish and transmitting a control signal obtained as a result of the calculation to a controller for controlling the inclination of the container or turndish thereby stabilizing the air-pulverizing of the high-temperature molten slag.

Abstract: In heating control method of a heat furnace, three non-linear models, model to calculate furnace temperature based on the fuel flow rate by unsteady heat balance system, model to estimate furnace wall temperature distribution based on the furnace temperature and model to estimate material temperature based on the furnace temperature, are used, linearization is performed by perturbation simulation to vary the flow rate stepwise and the optimization to minimize the fuel flow rate is performed and the optimum furnace temperature per each material is determined, and the mixed combustion ratio of plural fuels obtained by dividing total calorific value of each fuel by total calorific value of all fuels and the furnace temperature setting value are calculated using the optimum furnace temperature per material and then set.

Abstract: The invention concerns cooling apparatus for strip metal of the kind comprising a series of spaced cooling rolls around which the strip metal is passed such that it follows a serpentine path and is cooled by contact with the rolls, and elongate gas jet devices disposed widthwise of the strip opposite the outer surface parts of respective cooling rolls in contact with the strip.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and an apparatus for preparing binder-free hot-briquets for smelting purposes from ferrous pyrophorous, finely divided solids, such as dry steelmaking-filter dust or slightly granular sponge iron from direct-reduction plants. Before the briquetting stage, oxidizing gas is blown at a temperature of more than 200.degree. C. through the finely divided dry solid containing more than 4% by weight of metallic resin. The flow rate of this gas is controlled in such a way that oxidation of some of the metallic iron raises the temperature of the finely divided solid to 450.degree. C. to 650.degree. C. This is followed by hot-briquetting.

Abstract: A method and oven equipment for cooling a charge after thermal treatment. The charge, which is located within a closed chamber, is cooled by blowing in cooling gas. The cooling occurs as a function of the actual conditions of the charge at a predetermined speed, and a uniform distribution of temperature within the charge is assured. For this purpose, the temperature distribution in the charge is measured by temperature sensors, and the intensity and/or direction of the flow of the cooling gas can be changed if deviations from the predetermined theoretical values occur. The wall of the closed treatment chamber of the oven equipment contains a plurality of gas passages which can either be closed off, or are permeable for gases yet impermeable for heat rays. Cooling gases are conducted through the chamber via control valves. The cooling gas is circulated with the aid of a blower unit along with a gas cooler.

Abstract: A normalizer for linear welds in continuous pipes, to travel along the side a pipeline during operation. The normalizer comprises an induction heater supported on a mounting assembly. A power source is provided for the induction heater and an electrical control means controls the power from the power source to the induction heater. A mechanical means continuously controls the elevation and lateral placement of the mounting assembly and induction heater with respect to those of the pipe. A mechanical control means enables continuous control of the lateral placement of the mounting assembly and induction heater with respect to the pipe weld to be normalized and ensures proper placement of the induction heater over that weld. A spacer means permits adjustable spacing of the induction heater a predetermined distance from the pipe weld to be normalized, to provide a predetermined air gap between the induction heater and that weld.

Abstract: The structure of the present invention rapidly heats metal strapping, wire and the like to a temperature in the range of about 800.degree. F. up to about 1800.degree. F. while maintaining accurate control on the final temperature using a simple control system. The heating process is also relatively simple and easily installed and controlled. The process and structure is easily adjusted for other applications such as paint drying. Short wave high intensity lamps have been closely spaced to provide for the rapid increase in product temperatures and gas flow through the heat zone maintains the structural elements at temperatures well below the heat treating temperatures and preferrably below about 500.degree. F.

Abstract: Railroad rails having improved wear resistance, are produced by controlled forced cooling from above the austenite transformation temperature, to produce rails having a fine pearlite metallurgical structure in the head portions of the rails. Apparatus comprising a series of cooling headers utilizing a liquid cooling medium, such as unheated (i.e., cold, or ambient temperature) water, alternating with a series of air zones, is preferably arranged in line with the production rolling mill, to receive hot rails as they emerge from the mill, without the necessity of intervening reheating. A roller type restraint system transports the rails through the cooling apparatus, while restraining them in the appropriate position.

Abstract: A furnace control for a reheating furnace or the like is disclosed. Desired material temperature parameters are established for at least one location within the furnace and predetermined heating rates are calculated to provide the desired temperatures. The furnace burners are set in accordance with the predetermined rates. Actual temperature readings of the material are taken in the furnace and compared to the desired temperatures. Revised heating rates are established on the basis of that comparison and the predetermined rates are replaced with the revised rates. The furnace burners are continuously adjusted and updated in accordance with the revised rates thereby increasing furnace efficiency and control.

Abstract: Two sets of heater support members angularly distributed around a central vertical member are radially extendable individually or in groups to position heater elements within a preset distance of the cylindrical walls of any one of a series of pressure vessels having a range of diameters. A convex bottom heater support member is provided for each diameter vessel and is axially telescoped into the central vertical member so that an additional set of heater support members can be installed between the first mentioned two sets of heater support members and the bottom heater support member to accommodate for varying depths of the vessels in the series. Thermocouples are extended from the annealing device by actuators which use a spring or pneumatic pressure to press the thermocouple against the vessel wall with a preset constant force for accurate temperature measurements.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement for following and controlling the progress of heat treatment of cold worked metals in an annealing furnace uses the changing electrical resistivity of the cold worked metal during the annealing process as a process control parameter. A sample of the cold worked metal is placed in a slave furnace along with a sample of the cold worked metal which has been previously annealed. The temperature of the slave furnace is controlled to follow and duplicate the temperature at any point of interest in the annealing furnace, and the differential resistivity between the two samples is measured to follow and control the progress of annealing.

Abstract: In the gas carburization of steel, a steel part is exposed in a carbon-enriched atmosphere of a furnace to a diffusion process to form a boundary layer with an increased carbon content, determined as a function of the distance from the surface. The values of importance for the diffusion process are determined intermittently and used as control parameters to affect the diffusion process. The flow of carbon diffusing directly through the surface of the steel part serves as the measured value. The supply of the carburizing gas is controlled as a function of this value.

Abstract: For recovery of heat, aggregates of metallic articles through which gas can flow are carried in a succession of baskets through a preheat zone, a treatment zone and a cooling zone of a heat treatment furnace and a heat transfer gas is constrained to flow vertically through the baskets in succession, beginning with the basket farthest advanced through the furnace, so far as concerns the basket in the cooling and preheat zone, the baskets having bottoms through which the gas can flow into or out of the aggregates. The heat transfer gas flows directly from the cooling zone. This may be done through the treatment zone where it may pick up additional heat. Heat may be removed from the heat transfer gas in a return circulation path outside the furnace.

Abstract: An apparatus for quenching a butt-welded portion of a rail, includes an inverse U-shaped cooling box for covering from above and throughout a butt-welded portion of a rail, and for quenching the butt-welded portion by cooling air. The cooling box is divided into a head cooling chamber, a web left cooling chamber, and a web right cooling chamber each having a plurality of cooling air nozzles directed toward the butt-welded portion. A cooling air supply mechanism supplies cooling air to the cooling box, the cooling air supply mechanism including a cooling air source, a solenoid valve operatively arranged in a cooling air supply pipe, a head cooling air regulating valve, a web cooling air regulating valve, and a valve opening controlling mechanism which opens each of the head cooling air regulating valve and the web cooling air regulating valve according to a predetermined program.

Abstract: A method of sequentially annealing and then hardening long metal components (1,2,3,4) made of fine or special steel with an austenitic structure, said method including at least one annealing operation by supplying heat from the outside in a reducing or neutral atmosphere and one quenching operation by contact with a flow of cooling fluid and an apparatus for putting said method into practice.The flow rate and the temperature of the cooling fluid are adjusted so that the components undergo no transformation of their austenitic structure during hardening.Application to annealing and hardening armoured electric components with conductor cores, inorganic insulant coatings and outer sheaths made of austenitic steel.

Abstract: A hot isostatic pressing apparatus which includes a pressure vessel, a heater and a heat-insulating layer interposed between the pressure vessel and heater. The heat-insulating layer is formed of at least two layers, i.e., an inner layer and outer layer. The inner layer embraces an object, which is under treatment, and the heater. The inner layer is loadable in and unloadable from the pressure vessel together with the object and heater while maintaining a space, which is embraced by the inner layer, in a state hermetically isolated from the surrounding atmosphere. However, the outer layer is held within the pressure vessel. When the hot isostatic pressing apparatus is incorporated in a modular HIP system, the cooling time is considerably shortened and the efficiency of the HIP treatment is hence improved to a considerable extent.

Abstract: A refractory protection tube for immersion molten metal parameter determining devices having a thin perforated metal tube with a coating of refractory fibers and a binder to provide thermal insulation, freedom from out-gassing and mechanical strength.

Abstract: An analyzer is provided for use in determining the volatile matter content of coal and coke. The analyzer automatically adjusts a position of a crucible containing a coal or coke sample relative to a furnace depending upon the temperature of the crucible. The crucible is supported and the temperature of the crucible and sample is sensed by means of a thermocouple arranged as a sling for contacting the crucible. The sensed temperature is compared with a predetermined and desired temperature. A comparison difference triggers a vertical movement of the crucible and sample, within the temperature profile of the furnace, using a servomotor until the crucible is positioned such that the sensed temperature and desired temperature correspond.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided whereby maximum options for the treatment of steel rod in direct sequence with rolling are available within a single piece of equipment, all on a single treatment line, and all at convenient, labor free, push-button control. Maximum application of heat to the rod is provided for heat treating, slow-cooling or intermittent reheat cooling or treating, and alternatively maximum application of cooling air is available by means of individually controllable air ducts and guides associated with each roller conveyor for applying air at different pressures both across and/or along the conveyor. Special means for applying forced air to the rod through outlets in contact with the rod assure maximum penetration of cooling air into the dense parts of the lay. Special forms of rollers are provided for applying cooling air to the rod and to the rollers as well as for supporting rod during heat treatment.

Abstract: In controlledly cooling steel strip in a continuous annealing line, the heat transfer rate needed for attaining the desired cooling rate is calculated from an equation including strip thickness, the cooling starting and finishing temperatures, and the desired cooling rate, and the obtained heat transfer rate is corrected according to the effect of natural cooling in idle-pass zones preceding and following the coolant spray zone. The flow rate of coolant is determined and set by using an equation expressing the predetermined relationship between the heat transfer rate and coolant flow rate. The length of the coolant spraying region extending in the direction of strip travel is calculated from the running speed of the strip, the cooling starting and finishing temperatures, and the desired cooling rate. The nozzles are set to turn on and off so that the coolant is sprayed from such a number of nozzles as correspond to the length of the spraying region thus calculated.

Abstract: A refractory clad metallurgical lance comprises a temperature sensing thermocouple means in combination with an internal gas conduit encased within exterior refractory cladding material wherein the conduit provides a passage way for transmitting inert gas under pressure. The thermocouple means is disposed within the refractory cladding and directed radially outward toward the outer peripherary of the refractory cladding whereby the temperature sensing portion is located near the peripheral surface of the cladding. The thermocouple is disposed within a ceramic protective tube which in turn is embedded within the refractory material secured around the internal gas conduit. In use, the metallurgical lance is operative to process molten metal by submerging the lower portion of the lance below the molten metal surface and bubbling inert gas through the metal while simultaneously directly measuring the temperature of the molten metal.

Abstract: In the heat treatment of aluminium alloy strip, in which hardening of the material is effected by heat treatment to dissolve pre-existing precipitates in the metal matrix followed by quenching and ageing, the electrical conductance of the strip after quenching is measured using a conductivity probe scanned across the width of the strip, the heating being controlled in accordance with the measured conductance so as to obtain uniform electrical conductance across the width of the strip. This measured electrical conductance has a close correlation with the required mechanical properties. A transmitter producing an electromagnetic field is moved across the strip and a receiver, picking up signals due to the eddy currents in the strip, provides an output automatically controlling the movement of flux modifiers of a transverse flux induction heater to control the strip heating.

Abstract: The temperature of hot-rolled wire is controlled by passing the wire through a primary coil and a secondary coil continuously while energizing the primary coil with a high frequency alternating current (preferably 100 kHz) so that a temperature-control voltage is induced in the secondary coil. The secondary coil is connected to a comparator receiving a setpoint signal representing the desired temperature and the error signal from the comparator is fed via a temperature controller to the coolant control valve of the cooling stretch.

Abstract: In the walking beam furnaces, in order to heat metallurgical materials such as billets, bars and the like, having different temperatures of introduction into the furnace and/or different cross sections, so as to discharge materials at uniform temperatures from the furance, said materials are selected according to their temperature and/or cross section, and are introduced into the furnace through a plurality of side inlet doors while said materials are conveyed along the furnace by means of an external side conveyor, and/or they are discharged from the furnace through a plurality of side outlet doors and are then advanced outside along the furnace by means of an external side conveyor.

Abstract: An improvement for a system used to measure temperature of hot gases that are laden with entrained solids. The system involves use of a pyrometer that is mounted outside of a sight hole through the wall of a vessel containing the laden hot gases. And, the improvement concerns a projecting shelf above the sight hole to divert molten slag in order to keep the sight hole clear. Also there is a sloped recess at the bottom of the sight hole to drain any slag away from the lower portion thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process and apparatus for hot working metals whereby a finer and more uniform grain structure is produced in the wrought product. In conventional hot working operations, the workpiece is initially heated to an elevated temperature within the hot working temperature range of the particular metal or alloy, and the heated workpiece is then hot worked by deformation until the workpiece becomes chilled, thereby necessitating reheating prior to further hot working. In accordance with the present invention, the reheating of the workpiece is accomplished by subjecting the chilled workpiece to electric induction heating at a frequency preselected to concentrate the induced heat in the chilled outer portions of the workpiece to thereby rapidly return the workpiece to the optimum hot working temperature throughout so that continued hot working can be reinitiated before appreciable grain growth can occur.

Abstract: In a method for continuous heat treatment of separated elongated metallic material said material is conveyed stepwise through a single furnace chamber. Said furnace chamber comprises a heating section and an adjacent holding section. In the heating section the material is heated up to a treating temperature and in the holding section the material is held at the treating temperature both in an atmosphere of forced circulation of hot gas common to both furnace sections. The temperature of the circulated hot gas is automatically feedback-controlled at the location of the transition between the heating section and the holding section, the hot gas being set into forced motion in a single circulating zone and being heated up in a single heating zone with respect to the direction of passage of the material.

Abstract: A vertical continuous annealing furnace has two furnace covers vertically spaced away from each other. Each furnace cover is laterally slidable with respect to the furnace proper and has two long narrow openings through which strip is passed. There is a relatively small pre-chamber between the first furnace cover above and the second furnace cover below. The space below the second furnace cover constitutes a heating chamber. A partition extends from the undersurface of the second furnace cover to near the bottom of the furnace, dividing the heating chamber into a heating zone and a soaking zone. In charging and discharging the strip, the two furnace covers are alternately opened and closed, thereby keeping the heating chamber out of exposure to the outside air.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for cleanly and efficiently fabricating winged lawn mower blades from unfinished milled blade blanks. The unfinished blades are positioned in a magazine and fed one after the other to a heating station where they are inductively heated from one side only to increase the effective thickness of material available to support the flux. When a preselected temperature above the curie temperature of the blade metal is reached the blade is automatically moved to a press and hot-formed therein. The blade then is delivered edgewise into an agitated non-polluting quench solution containing polyalkylene glycol and vigorously sprayed to assure a consistent Rockwell C hardness. A conveyor delivers the blades from the quench tank to a tempering furnace for further heat-treatment.

Abstract: A continuous cold rolling and annealing apparatus for a steel strip so that interruption of a cold rolling mill part does not directly cause a continuous annealing furnace part to be interrupted, in which apparatus at least one cold rolling mill is located upstream of the entrance of a continuous annealing furnace and an intermediate reel for supplying a spare steel strip coil to said continuous annealing furnace, is arranged between the cold rolling mill and the continuous annealing furnace.

Abstract: A blast furnace having a cooling device between its hearth bottom and its foundation. The cooling device includes top and bottom groups of cooling fluid passages with a heat-insulating layer disposed therebetween, the top and bottom groups having independently regulable cooling capacities. Also provided is a method for operating a blast furnace including the steps of measuring a temperature in the hearth bottom, and controlling the cooling of the hearth bottom so that the specification point of the molten product in the hearth bottom maintains a predetermined level.

Abstract: A temperature controlling method for heating, with a heating furnace having at least one heating zone provided with a controllable heating means, materials charged into the heating furnace such that an aimed temperature of the material is reached by the time when the materials leave the heating furnace. The characteristic feature of the invention resides in that the instructions for changing the operating condition of the heating furnace in response to a change in the rolling condition of the rolling line connected to the heating furnace is treated as a change in the period of stay of the material in the heating furnace. In the controlling system in accordance with the invention, determination of the material temperature rise pattern in response to the change in the staying period of the material in the furnace is made to minimize the supply of fuel to the heating means, and the set temperature of each heating zone is calculated from the thus determined temperature rise pattern.

Abstract: A metallurgical container has a refractory lining for containing a molten metal. A plurality of combination electrodes are provided at various positions of the refractory lining. Each combination electrode includes a refractory body having the property of high electrical conductivity at normal temperatures of the molten metal, and at least one electrical conductor embedded within the refractory body. Refractory material having a low electrical conductivity is positioned between the combination electrodes. A power source is connected to the electrical conductors of the plurality of combination electrodes to achieve first electrical resistances through the refractory bodies from the interior of the metallurgical container to the electrical conductors and second electrical resistances between the electrical conductors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the direct reduction of iron in a shaft furnace using gas from the gasification of solid fossil fuel, such as coal, in which the fuel gas is desulfurized and upgraded in the shaft furnace and direct reduction of iron oxide is carried out in the same furnace. Clean export fuel can be produced by this method along with direct reduced iron. The apparatus includes means for controlling the temperature of the process gas entering the furnace.

Abstract: A plant for producing enameled wire using an inline process has, placed in order a wire pay-off system, a wire drawer, an annealer, an enameled dope coater, an enamel processing unit and an enameled wire take-up unit. The annealer and the dope coater are placed together in a single oven housing, which has a drying space, a curing space and a return shaft in which a circulating air blower, a heating unit and a catalyst are placed. The blower is responsible for producing a heated air current moving through the heating unit of the annealer and through the catalyst, the air current furthermore moving in the opposite direction to the direction of the wire through the curing space and the drying space. The wire makes its way through an annealing tube and the return shaft into waste gas pipe joined therewith and through a wire cooler, which is full of inert atmosphere as produced by a unit.

Abstract: Sonde apparatus for a blast furnace whose wall is provided with a lance ingress and egress port through which a lance is able to enter into the furnace and withdraw therefrom wherein a gas check valve, lance cutting means, lance cooling means, lance straightening means, and gas seal means are provided in succession and in communication with one another, and drive means for inserting and withdrawing the lance is further provided in succession therewith, all said elements being arranged along a line which is an extension of the axis of the lance ingress and egress port.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling furnace temperature particularly in an annealing furnace used for annealing elongated product, such as pipe and tubing, on a continuous basis. The apparatus includes a pyrometer used to produce an electrical signal proportional to the temperature of the workpiece immediately after heating by an induction coil in the furnace, means for comparing this electrical signal to a set point signal proportional to the desired temperature of the workpiece and if these signals differ a control signal is produced to either increase or decrease the power input to the induction coil to correspondingly increase or decrease the temperature of the workpiece to the desired temperature.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for compensating for local temperature difference of a steel product which has been previously heated above room temperature because of the preceding operation such as rolling and which is to be heat-treated. Upper, lower and edge burners are arranged in opposed relationship with a path of travel and are selectively ignited depending upon the surface temperature distribution of the steel product detected before it enters the apparatus, in such a way that the steel product is heated uniformly to a desired temperature.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of continuously drawing and annealing wire in a slip mode. The method comprises the steps of directing a wire successively through a plurality of drawing dies of a continuous wire drawing machine, and from the next to the last die of the machine continuously directing the wire to and through apparatus for annealing the wire. From the annealing apparatus the wire is continuously returned to the machine for a final drawing operation. Before the wire is returned to the machine, however, the temperature of the wire is controlled to provide the wire with metallurgical properties suitable for further processing, such as the final drawing operation.

Abstract: Metal scrap such as aluminum scrap can be economically processed so as to recover the metal in the scrap by concurrently passing the scrap through a rotary kiln together with a recycled stream of hot gas. The heated scrap is separated from the gas stream at the discharge end of the kiln and is fed to a melter used to recover the metal. The separated gas stream is burned in an appropriate burner or incinerator used to provide the recycled gas stream.

Abstract: A device for gradient heating of a wire includes a vacuum chamber with a thermostatically regulated base and a means for producing a temperature gradient arranged thereinside. The means for producing a temperature gradient is designed in the form of a metallic cylinder with one end thereof having an electric heater and the other end being attached to the thermostatically regulated base of the vacuum chamber, serving as a cooler. The surface of the metallic cylinder is furnished with transverse grooves intended for locating therein a wire being heated and interconnected by a longitudinal groove intended for passing the wire from one transverse groove into the other.

Abstract: An infrared heat-image camera is aimed at a hot surface not perpendicular thereto but instead in a direction almost parallel to the surface, presenting to the camera a heat image of the surface not cartesian but instead highly distorted in accordance with the laws of optical perspective. The camera's output data is correspondingly non-cartesian and distorted with respect to organization and content, but the data is applied to a computer which transforms it to cartesian organization and corrects content, and then a corrected cartesian display is generated, simulating the heat image which would be presented to a perpendicularly aimed camera. Alternatively, the camera's scanning mechanisms are programmed to follow a non-cartesian scanning schedule, the geometry of which itself causes the camera output data to have the cartesian organization of a perpendicularly aimed camera.

Abstract: Apparatus for heat treatment of metal pieces such as billets, ingots, bars and the like, by pre-heating using hot gas impingement in a pre-heating furnace, and then transference into a holding furnace using forced hot air circulation where the metal pieces are held for the time required at the desired heat treatment temperature.

Abstract: A gate arrangement, especially for counterpressure blast furnaces, including a seal lid having an annular soft seal-insert and a steel seal-ring arranged at the lower end of the gate, which corresponds to the soft seal-insert. The arrangement also includes heating means operatively connectible to the steel seal-ring about its periphery.