Abstract: An oven temperature monitoring system including a box top and a box body formed out of an alkene fluorocarbon material for monitoring the temperature and duration of a powder coat curing cycle is provided. The box top includes a receptacle in communication with a printed circuit board and an antenna that are secured within a housing on the inward facing surface of the box top. A pair of thermocouples are attached to an item that has been powder coated and communicates temperature data back to the electronic device that can be transmitted out of the oven during curing cycles to a computer monitored by a user. This information can be used to ensure proper curing time and temperature and significantly reduces wasted thermal energy due to incomplete or repeated cure cycles.

Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems described herein provide for generating a radiographic image and ultrasound image depicting parallel planes of an object under examination and may be used in conjunction with radiographic or ultrasound techniques known to those in the field (e.g., x-ray tomosynthesis, computed tomography ultrasound imaging, etc.). An ultrasound frontend component is configured to transmit ultrasound waves in a direction substantially parallel to a trajectory of radiation. In one example, one or more radiographic images of an object are spatially coincident to one or more ultrasound images of the object in the same position and/or geometric shape/volume, and the images may be combined to generate a combined image depicting features of the ultrasound image (e.g., the sensitivity of the ultrasound image) and features of the radiographic image (e.g., the morphological details of the radiographic image).

Abstract: A pressure sensor has a sensor body at least partly formed with an electrically insulating material, particularly a ceramic material, defining a cavity facing on which is a diaphragm provided with an electric detector element, configured for detecting a bending of the diaphragm. The sensor body supports a circuit arrangement, including, a plurality of circuit components, among which is an integrated circuit, for treating a signal generated by the detection element. The circuit arrangement includes tracks made of electrically conductive material directly deposited on a surface of the sensor body made of electrically insulating material. The integrated circuit is made up of a die made of semiconductor material directly bonded onto the surface of the sensor body and the die is connected to respective tracks by means of wire bonding, i.e. by means of thin connecting wires made of electrically conductive material.

Abstract: A device for closed-loop control of process gases (11) in a plant (8) for producing directly reduced metal ores includes at least one reduction unit (10), an appliance upstream of the reduction unit (10) for separating gas mixtures (18), a gas purification appliance (13) connected downstream of the reduction unit (10) for rate control of process gases (11). Process gases (11) are obtained by recycling from the production process itself and from a plant for pig iron generation (1) via a supply conduit (16). An open-loop pressure control appliance (15) upstream of a junction of the supply conduit (16) into a return conduit (14) for the process gases (11) such that a pressure level for the appliance for separating gas mixtures (18) is kept constant and the process gases (9,11) are controlled in a closed-loop manner in a plant for producing directly reduced metal ores (8).

Abstract: Embodiments of methods for vacuum heat treating refractory metal articles (e.g., implantable medical devices), and heat treating apparatuses for use in such methods are disclosed. Heat treating refractory metal articles under high vacuum (e.g., 10?6 Torr) may improve strength and ductility and remove material contaminants (e.g., oxygen or hydrogen) that may be absorbed during manufacturing processes. Heat treating methods include disposing a refractory metal article in a heat treating apparatus, drawing a vacuum therein, and moving the article to a heated zone in the furnace using a drive system that permits movement of the article while the vacuum is maintained in the apparatus. A heat treating apparatus may include an elongate furnace tube that may be sealed and placed under vacuum, a heating element disposed around at least a portion of the tube, and a drive system configured for moving articles disposed inside the furnace tube while under vacuum.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include methods and systems for leaching material from an object. Examples include leaching ceramic from metallic components. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for leaching systems. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application shall become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.

Abstract: The application provides a method for manufacturing melt-spinning alloys and an apparatus thereof, which belongs to the technical field of metal materials and preparation thereof. The main feature of method including steps of melting alloy and jetting the molten alloy for rapid-quenching is that alloy melting and rapid-quenching are respectively implemented in independent environments, and the pressure of the two environments can be adjusted separately. The method can realize uniformity control of rapid-quenching velocity by controlling the melting and quenching pressure respectively, which has the advantages of increased rapid-quenching cooling rate, improved melt-spinning alloys thickness uniformity, reduced probability of nozzle clogging.

Abstract: A thermal energy machining (“TEM”) machine gas handling system in which the improvement is a fluid-controlled pressure regulation subsystem for controlling the dispensing of a TEM process gas via the regulation of the pressure of the TEM process gas. Such subsystems include a pressure regulator, a pressure transducer, and a digital controller working in combination to control the process gas outlet pressure of the pressure regulator. The pressure regulator's diaphragm that controls the valve that regulates the process gas outlet pressure is mechanically acted upon by the piston of a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder. Controlling the pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder regulates the output pressure of the process gas. The pressure transducer and the digital controller work in combination to adjust the feed pressure of the pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, which in turn regulates the pressure of the process gas at the outlet of the pressure regulator.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include methods and systems for leaching material from an object. Examples include leaching ceramic from metallic components. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for leaching systems. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application shall become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.

Abstract: A molten metal holding furnace for supplying a constant quantity of the molten metal to a casting machine is composed of a holding chamber having a melt supply port, and a pressurization chamber having an upward melt outlet port. The holding chamber and the pressurization chamber are communicated with each other via an openable/closable first melt flow passage. The pressurization chamber is composed of a outlet section at which the melt outlet port is positioned and a pressurization section positioned on one side closer to the holding chamber. The holding chamber and the outlet section are juxtaposed with the pressurization section interposed therebetween, where the first melt flow passage is formed at a hearth of the pressurization section, and an openable/closable second melt flow passage communicating with the outlet section is formed at a hearth of the pressurization section.

Abstract: A method is described for priming an in-line molten metal filtration unit having a porous ceramic or refractory filter mounted substantially horizontally in a filter box. This filter box has an inlet for molten metal and an outlet for molten metal, the outlet being a closeable outlet in an exit well connecting to the downstream side of the filter. The method of the invention comprises the steps of adding a molten metal to the filter box sufficient to entirely cover the upstream side of the filter with a depth of molten metal and temporarily sealing the outlet in the exit well. A steadily increasing vacuum is then applied to the closed exit well at a rate between 0.1 and 10 kPa per second by withdrawing a stream of air from the exit well by means of a fan or air venturi until molten metal begins to flow through the filter. At that point the vacuum is quickly released and the molten metal outlet is opened.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for cooling metal strips using cooling chambers by blowing a gas, in a continuous heat treatment line, wherein: the chambers (4,4a . . . 4?, 4?a . . .

Abstract: One or more of the following quenching methods and apparatus: a quenching press for quenching a steel ring, a method of quenching a steel ring, a corresponding set of quenching dies for quenching steel rings, a die handling tool and related method to lift the corresponding set of quenching dies, and a die handling apparatus to load and unload dies to a quenching press.

Abstract: A pressure controlling apparatus controls a pressure in a container capable of storing a molten metal and supplying the molten metal to an outside using a pressure difference and includes: a supplying portion for supplying a compressed gas to be supplied to the container; a flow passage for supplying the compressed gas from the supplying portion to the container; a first switching valve, being inserted into the passage, capable of manually switching a first mode that enables the passage of the gas between the supplying portion side and the container side and a second mode that enables the passage of the gas between the container side and the outside; an exhausting portion for exhausting a gas from the container; and a second switching valve for switching a pressure applying mode for applying a pressure to the container and an exhausting mode for exhausting the gas from the container.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a metal alloy, in which in a vessel at overpressure a certain desired content of an alloying constituent, which is gaseous in its normal state, is fed to said metal alloy. The method is designed such that precise addition by alloying of an alloying constituent which is gaseous per se, to a steel alloy subjected to overpressure in a pressure vessel, is made possible.

Abstract: In a heat treating method and furnace used in this method which can prevent disturbance of an atmosphere gas inside a heat chamber, and can prevent deterioration of the processing quality and efficiency of work, a control section 4 first operates a vacuum pump VP to reduce the inner pressure of a purge chamber 3 to a predetermined pressure level, then manipulates a large and small caliber operating valve (13a, 13b) to supply the atmosphere from the interior of the heat chamber 1 to that of the purge chamber 3, and the control section 4 actuates transporting means 5 to transport the work W between the purge chamber 3 and the heat chamber 1 in a state wherein the inner pressures of the purge chamber 3 and the heat chamber 1 have been rendered substantially equal on the basis of detected values from first and second pressure sensors PS1, PS2.

Abstract: An automatic control method for a taphole opener for opening a taphole by giving impact and rotation to a drill unit holding a drilling rod and driving the drill unit forward and backward by a hydraulically driven feed motor, which method comprises the steps of; detecting the driving load in the form of detected hydraulic pressure, stopping the driving but maintaining the rotation when said detected pressure reaches an upper limit set value beyond which buckling may occur, and resuming the driving when said detected pressure falls to a lower limit set value or below. The drilling rod of the drills unit is prevented from buckling and idle hitting and a quicker taphole opening operation and enhanced accuracy of taphole depth can be obtained. Thus remote operation is made possible through the automation of the taphole opening work.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a dynamic control system that maintains an inert gas feed at a constant target gas flow rate sufficient to prevent or reduce alumina or alloy plugging within a slide gate discharge opening. The dynamic control system includes a gas feed line extending between an inert gas supply and the slide gate discharge passageway, a gas flow regulator, a pressure gauge; and a gas feed flow control that detects an amount of incoming inert gas lost through leaks in the system and adjusts the gas flow regulator in response to the detected amount of incoming gas flow loss so that the adjusted incoming gas feed continues to deliver the target inert gas flow rate to the discharge passageway.

Abstract: In a heat treating method and furnace used in this method which can prevent disturbance of an atmosphere gas inside a heat chamber, and can prevent deterioration of the processing quality and efficiency of work, a control section 4 first operates a vacuum pump VP to reduce the inner pressure of a purge chamber 3 to a predetermined pressure level, then manipulates a large and small caliber operating valve (13a, 13b) to supply the atmosphere from the interior of the heat chamber 1 to that of the purge chamber 3, and the control section 4 actuates transporting means 5 to transport the work W between the purge chamber 3 and the heat chamber 1 in a state wherein the inner pressures of the purge chamber 3 and the heat chamber 1 have been rendered substantially equal on the basis of detected values from first and second pressure sensors PS1, PS2.

Abstract: An energy efficient, coal-based method and apparatus that are environmentally friendly which produce under pressure metallized/carbon product and molten metal directly from abundant coal or other carbonaceous material, and low cost fines (or ore concentrate) wherein the metal is devoid of gangue material and possesses the inherent advantage of retaining the heat for subsequent processing. This method and apparatus which are modular and highly integrated significantly reduce capital and operating costs; they also provide the capability selective placement of the reductant for the delivery of high levels of thermal energy input which leads to ease of desulflurization and high productivity. The technology herein disclosed is entirely closed and is applicable to various ores including ferrous and non-ferrous.

Abstract: A system and method for delivering a gas-supersaturated fluid comprising a fluid reservoir, a fluid pump, a gas source, a high pressure gas exchanger, and one or more arrays of capillary channels is disclosed. Suitable controls such as differential pressure gauge and valves are provided to maintain a near constant hydrostatic pressure of the fluid within the semi-permeable membrane gas-fluid interface of the gas exchanger at approximately 1% to 20% higher than the gas partial pressure of the fluid within the gas exchanger. Gas-supersaturated fluid output from the gas exchanger via the capillary channels is at a flow velocity of greater than 0.05 m/sec, thereby facilitating delivery of large flow rates of gas-supersaturated fluids without cavitation inception.

Abstract: The invention concerns a metering oven (1) with a vessel (12) for holding a liquid metal and with a device for detecting a liquid metal level in a vessel. A tubular probe (5) is connected to a gas source (10) for discharging a gas at a predetermined pressure from the gas source through the probe and out of its aperture. The probe is spatially associated in a fixed manner with the vessel such that pressures which can be detected by a pressure-measuring device (9) can be associated with different liquid metal levels inside the probe. At a given pressure threshold value, the pressure-measuring device can emit a signal for a given liquid metal level to be detected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating residual or waste materials that can be recycled energetically, especially light-weight refuse from shredders, which, reduced in size and classified, are stored in bunkers. The residual or waste material is fed by portions from the bunkers to a supply trough in a metal melting furnace, especially an electric arc furnace for melting steel. After a predetermined time, the residual material is placed by portions into a sluice that can be closed in a gas-tight manner. After the sluice is closed, the residual material is subjected to an oxygen-containing gas, the pressure of which is higher than the pressure at the furnace head of the metal melting furnace, until the pressure within the sluice exceed the pressure in the furnace head. The sluice output opening facing toward the furnace vessel bottom is opened after the pressure within the sluice exceeds the pressure in the furnace head and the residual material is conveyed pneumatically into the chamber part.

Abstract: In steel-making, there are conflicting processing requirements at different stages of the process. The method and apparatus of the invention creates different processing conditions at different stages of the process. Molten ferrous material (2) is stirred by bubbling a gas therethrough. A refractory ring (10) is first partially immersed in the molten steel within a substantially slag free portion of the surface of the molten ferrous metal to form a bounded substantially slag-free area. The molten steel is then heated by the introduction of exothermically reacting heating agents such as aluminium and oxygen through an oxygen gas line (7) and an aluminium delivery tube (9), respectively. The refractory ring (10) is then removed from the molten steel when the steel has reached a predetermined temperature and air is then excluded from the volume above the molten steel by placing a hood (16) over the ladle containing the molten steel. Sulphur is then removed from the steel.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for recovering free aluminum from a metal bearing dross containing free aluminum metal and oxides of the metal. Hot dross is collected from a hot dross source into a vessel, and the vessel is placed into a sealable storage container. The storage container is insulated to maintain heat generated by the hot dross within the interior of the storage container to maintain the dross at or near its temperature when first placed in the storage container. An inert gas is then introduced into the container to purge the container of all gasses other than the inert gas. The inert gas reduces thermiting of the hot dross and limits the cooling of the hot dross in order to maintain the hot dross at an elevated temperature while the hot dross remains in the storage container. The dross is then removed from the vessel and introduced dross into a dross processing device such as a furnace.

Abstract: This invention relates a refractory gas purging device for the introduction of gases through a metallurgical vessel to molten metal therein, the device having improved wear indication, safety, and performance. In particular, the refractory gas purging device has a porous refractory inner wear indicator which indicates the end of the useful life of the device. Further, the refractory gas purging device has directional gas passages which do not extend throughout the entire length of the device to prevent molten metal leaks from the metallurgical vessel and such directional gas passages being designed to improve the performance of the device.

Abstract: Molten metal is pumped from a furnace to a place where it is utilized using a gas-plunger pump having a container holding the chamber with an inlet for drawing metal from the furnace to the chamber, and with an outlet for forcing metal out of the chamber to the place of use. The inlet and outlet are disposed at the bottom of the chamber. A suction and pressure system includes a closed circuit containing a vacuum tank, a pressure tank, a vacuum pump/compressor unit connected between them, and a first valve. The closed circuit is connected to the chamber via a conduit. A control system alternately connects and disconnects the vacuum tank and pressure tank and substantially synchronously alternately opens and closes the inlet and outlet by actuation of valves associated with the inlet and outlet.

Abstract: In a vacuum heat treating oven operating with hydrogen under pressure as the cooling medium, especially for the quenching of greatly heated metal workpieces (5), a method is provided for the automatic control of the progress of the process and for monitoring safety of operation. The housing (4) of the heat treating oven is for this purpose connected to gas inlet lines (9 and 10), one for the admission of the cooling gas and one for the admission of the flushing gas (H.sub.2 and N.sub.

Abstract: The top-submergable injection lance has an elongate conduit which extends between upper and discharge ends and defines a bore, for the supply of reactants, through the conduit and an annular, alloy steel tip at the discharge end. The conduit comprises an inner pipe defining the bore, an outer pipe, and a third pipe which divides an annular volume between the inner and an outer pipes for circulation of coolant fluid. The tip is defined by inner and outer peripheral surfaces merging at a sharp lower edge and a top surface extending between the peripheral surfaces. The top surface of the tip joins the inner and outer pipes so as to be contactable by the coolant fluid. The frusto-conical inner peripheral surface provides a continuation of the bore which increases in cross-section to an opening at the lower edge.

Abstract: A quench system which can be used to quench a continuous reaction such as the continuous digestion of titaniferous ores with sulphuric acid is provided. The quench system comprises a pressure vessel (1) equipped with a full bore outlet valve (5) connected to a reaction vessel (7) which may require quenching. The pressure vessel is partly filled with a liquid (18) and the ullage is occupied by a gas under pressure, the pressure being sufficient to discharge the liquid through the outlet valve (5) when open. The reaction vessel is equipped with means to detect cessation of stirring therein or power failure and the full bore valve is equipped with means (19) to open when cessation of stirring or power failure is detected.Operation of the quench system enables a reaction to be rapidly cooled and diluted to prevent solidification and the problems associated therewith in the event of the reactants being unstirred.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for performing thermomechanical processing of gears in which precise control of the thermal, metallurgical and mechanical action during the forming process is maintained. The apparatus comprises an induction heating system which reaustenitizes the surface of the gear with minimum decarburization, a material transfer system which provides timely operations on the work piece, tooling and fixture adjustments which provide accurate initial conditions for forming, and a process control architecture that provides the precise sequence and timing necessary to achieve metallurgically sound and dimensionally accurate gears. Using this invention the induction heating cycle can be controlled from the peak, average or minimum gear surface temperature detected with a high response optical pyrometer. An inert environment is maintained around the workpiece during the induction heating and transfer to quenching above the M.sub.s temperature.

Abstract: This method of preheating scrap iron mixed with plastic, rubber and resinous, i.e. organic, materials and intended for electric furnaces, in particular electric arc furnaces, is characterized by transforming the plastic, rubbery or resinous and like materials or organic nature present in the scrap iron, to advantageously eliminate them by a path able to produce thermal energy usable for preheating the scrap to be melted, said path consisting of pyrolysis in an environment fed both with the the scrap to be melted and with said organic materials, the whole being previously shredded.

Abstract: A method for controlling a flow rate of gas for prereducing ore comprises the steps of prereducing ore in a prereduction furnace having a fluidized bed with a gas generated in a smelting reduction furnace and controlling a pressure of gas generated in the smelting reduction furnace and introduced into the prereduction furnace, thereby controlling the actual flow rate of gas introduced into the prereduction furnace. An apparatus for controlling a flow rate of gas for prereducing ore comprises a flow passage for introducing gas generated in a smelting reduction furnace into a prereduction furnace and a gas pressure control valve positioned in the flow passage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for separating the constituents of an alloy, especially an alloy comprising a refractory base metal and at least one nonrefractory additive metal, which consists in:heating said alloy by means for preferably continuous melting and casting of metals, while avoiding any chemical action on said alloy, and to at least one temperature and under controlled atmosphere permitting the boiling of at least one additive metal,collecting the distillation vapors of at least one additive metal, andcollecting, at the exit of said means for preferably continuous melting and casting, the substance resulting from the removal of at least one additive metal from the alloy.It also relates to a device for separating the constituents of an alloy comprising a refractory base metal and at least one nonrefractory additive metal.

Abstract: The invention provides a new stirring apparatus for stirring the liquid metal contents of a furnace, particularly the shallow furnaces used in the processing of aluminum and its alloys. The apparatus consists a reservoir separate from the furnace of relatively large horizontal cross-section and volume, into which a vaccuum draws metal from the furnace through a nozzle, the metal then being returned by gas pressure forcibly into the furnace through the nozzle in the form of a horizontally directed jet. The cycle is repeated at sufficiently close intervals to ensure that the furnace bath is quickly and effectively mixed. The nozzle directs the molten metal entering the reservoir tangentially to swirl the metal and reduce the accumulation of dross. The reservoir comprises a bottom static part including the nozzle and a readily removable top cover carrying heaters for heating the reservoir interior and the dross that deposits on the side wall to ease its removal.

Abstract: An exhaust processing apparatus comprises a cracking furnace for cracking and solidifying exhaust discharged from a reactor for forming crystals on a semiconductor substrate, a first collecting device for collecting relatively large components solidified in the cracking furnace, a second collecting device for collecting relatively small solidified components passed through the first collecting device, and a chemical or a physical adsorbing member for chemically or physically adsorbing the exhaust passed through the first and second collecting devices.The apparatus may be provided with bypass piping for bypassing a particular section of the apparatus, a shutoff member for opening and closing the bypass piping and a control device for controlling the shutoff member.

Abstract: The process controls the cooling of a metal sheet so as to impart thereto a predetermined crystalline structure. The sheet to be cooled is passed through a case containing a mass of regularly renewed cooling fluid. The flow of the cooling fluid is controlled as a function of the inlet temperature of this fluid, in accordance with the thickness of the sheet to be cooled and the desired cooling rate.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring and regulating the variable pressure furnace gas chemistry is described. The apparatus uses a mass spectrometer for measurements, in the preferred form of the invention, in which gas species percent composition is obtained quantitatively independent of total furnace pressure variation. Using such a real time measurement capability, active control of batch process furnace operations is possible by intrinsic measurement of the part outgassing rather than by assumption of batch part status as a function of extrinsic parameters such as temperature and total pressure. Thus, by a combination of batch process temperature ramp control and variable admittance of suitable gas into the furnace, uniform batch processing is possible by closed loop control, due to renormalization of furnace residual gas chemistry from day to day drift and from batch part chemistry variation.

Abstract: A converter pressure control device for use in a converter waste gas disposing device wherein a calculator determines the difference between the pressure in a converter and atmospheric pressure and sets an operating parameter according to the detected difference. A pressure controller generates a control signal in accordance with the operating parameter and the difference in converter pressure and a predetermined value. The control signal is used to operate a damper to control the flow of waste gas through the converter.

Abstract: A method of controlling independently of each other the stirring strength of a jet of oxygen gas and the flow rate of the oxygen gas to be blown onto a molten metal bath in a top-blowing oxygen furnace is disclosed. The method comprises providing an oxygen supplying conduit with a means of detecting the temperature of the supplied oxygen gas, a means of detecting the pressure thereof, and a means of heat-exchanging with the supplied oxygen gas, controlling the temperature and pressure of the oxygen supplied so that the stirring strength of the jet of oxygen gas and/or the flow rate of the oxygen gas are controlled independently of each other with the top-blowing lance being kept at a predetermined position.

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-insulating box houses a telemetry system of high accuracy for use within a high-temperature vacuum furnace. The container includes an inner box formed by a block of rigid heat-insulating material having a cavity which contains a telemetry system chassis and its components, including such items as batteries, transmitters, switches, thermocouple elements including transition tubes, isothermal double-layer terminal strips, and the like. A plurality of very fine thermocouple conductors of dissimilar metal extend from the thermocouple junction tips on work pieces outside of the box through the heat-insulating inner block to the thermocouple transition tubes, and then, by way of the isothermal double-layer terminal strip to the transmitters. An antenna lead is carried through the wall of the box to a transmitting antenna mounted on the front wall of the box. Pressure switches in the cavity within the box control the ON-OFF condition of the transmitters.

Abstract: A pressure probe for an arc furnace having a roof provided with an access opening. The probe is located above the opening and includes side and end walls defining a bottom periphery for sealing the opening and an upper periphery which is sealed by a removable cover. The open cover and side walls are releasably secured in surrounding relation to the furnace roof by cross bars and threaded tie rods. A plurality of holes are formed in each of the side walls and each hole is adapted to be coupled to a conduit for communicating a pressure measuring device to the openings. A baffle is fixed to each side wall and is disposed between the opening and the holes to shield the holes from any direct line of sight from within the furnace but does not prevent pressure communication between the furnace interior and the holes.

Abstract: This process and this installation permit taking samples of blast-furnace gas from a series of orifices (T1, T2 . . . ) located at different levels along a generatrix of the body of the blast-furnace. There are performed, in sequence, operations for preparing sampling lines, operations for the analysis of the gases in a device (G), and pressure measuring operations in a pressure sensor (P). These various operations are managed by a programmable automaton (A) and the data obtained are used in a computer (C) in accordance with an embodiment of the installation.

Abstract: A vacuum heat treating furnace and quench system in which a load hanger rod with attached load is suspended vertically from the vacuum chamber top cover assembly, and at the end of the heating cycle segment is unlatched and permitted to free-fall through the opened passageways into the quenching medium.

Abstract: This process enables the recovery of mercury from waste containing plastic material, e.g. batteries. The waste is slowly heated while an inert gas is being introduced in a vacuum for fractionating extraction of the products of the decomposition of the plastic. The waste gases must pass through an afterburner chamber incorporating a specially shaped burner where the plastic vapors are fully combusted. The waste gases are conducted from the afterburner chamber through a cooling trap and then through a cold trap in which the mercury is condensed and can be drained off. The final stage of the process is carried out in a pulsating vacuum by the inert gas.The device in which the process takes place consists of a heated heat isolated treatment chamber (2), an afterburner chamber (6), a cooling trap (7), a cold trap (18) and a vacuum pump (23, 24) connected with pipelines (5, 12, 21).

Abstract: A gasification apparatus utilizing a molten metal bath is disclosed.

Abstract: For a dust-collecting plant, in which a plurality of gas streams are sucked from spaced apart dust sources and are delivered in a manifold to a dust-collecting unit and the gas is delivered by a controllable exhaust fan to an exhaust gas chimney, a method is provided wherein the automatic control and the operation of the plant are improved whereas the power requirement is minimized. A feedback control system having an individually adjustable desired value r.sub.i is associated with each gas source. An overriding feedback control system is provided for controlling the exhaust fan. The pressure drop R to be maintained by the exhaust fan is changed in dependence on the position of the final control elements associated with the several dust sources.

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: The buoyancy change of a probe as it is lowered into a molten metal melt is detected and the lowering of the probe terminated a predetermined time after the detection of the buoyancy change to precisely position the probe at a predetermined level below the surface of the melt without the need for a contact detector which actually touches the melt.