Abstract: An apparatus for separating molten aluminium from a mixture of molten aluminium and aluminium dross includes a table for supporting an insulated crucible containing the mixture of molten aluminium and aluminium dross. A rotatable frame supports a plurality of tines which can be lowered into the mixture in the crucible for stirring the mixture. Vibration means are provided enabling simultaneous vibration of the crucible and stirring of the mixture. The tines cuts through the dross in a shearing action gently rolling the dross, mixing and tumbling it and causing the droplets of aluminium to coalesce. The aluminium droplets and particles in the dross coalesce to form larger droplets and gradually sink to the base of the crucible. A screening means is disposed to substantially surround the crucible when it is supported by the table, which includes a door to both allow and prevent access to the crucible.

Abstract: Spherical balls, notably microballs of welding alloys, are produced by passing a melted material through vibrating orifices of a granulation pot, in order to form droplets which solidify when falling, by gravity, into a cooling tower filled with an inert gas. To improve the surface condition of the balls, the inert gas comprises approximately 15 to 150 ppm of oxygen. Moreover, the melted material is subject to ultrasound stirring just before being fed into the granulation pot. The balls are, preferably, dampened at the outlet of the cooling tower by brushes composed of polyamide wires. Besides, the control of the vibration frequency of the vibrating orifices in relation to the percentage of balls meeting the standards enables to improve the output.

Abstract: A furnace system for recovering a non-ferrous metal from a charge of material containing the metal. The furnace system having a furnace chamber having walls defining a refractory chamber, the refractory chamber receiving the charge of material and the metal contained in the charge of material being heated into a flowable mode in the refractory chamber. The furnace system having at least one paddle radially projecting from an interior surface of the furnace chamber toward a longitudinal axis of the furnace chamber. Other features of the invention include a door having a closed position adjacent an inlet passage to the furnace chamber, the door having rollers and a suspension. Other features of the invention include a motor and a control unit which monitors torque to rotate the furnace chamber as an indication of viscosity of the charge of material. Methods of operating a furnace system for recovering non-ferrous metal from a charge of material containing the metal are also discussed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for controlling casting parameters and in particular to the control of the metering of the molten metal in a casting chamber of a vacuum die-casting machine. Measurement devices connected to a computer determine the volume and condition of the molten material. An evacuation device and a vacuum valve are controlled in the form of a control circuit.

Abstract: A furnace system for recovering a non-ferrous metal from a charge of material containing the metal. The furnace system having a furnace chamber having walls defining a refractory chamber, the refractory chamber receiving the charge of material and the metal contained in the charge of material being heated into a flowable mode in the refractory chamber. The furnace system having at least one paddle radially projecting from an interior surface of the furnace chamber toward a longitudinal axis of the furnace chamber. Other features of the invention include a door having a closed position adjacent an inlet passage to the furnace chamber, the door having rollers and a suspension. Other features of the invention include a motor and a control unit which monitors torque to rotate the furnace chamber as an indication of viscosity of the charge of material. Methods of operating a furnace system for recovering non-ferrous metal from a charge of material containing the metal are also discussed.

Abstract: An on-line system for measuring the composition of scrap metal, including a loader with a load sensor having a motion compensator linked to a bulk material analyzer such as a prompt gamma-ray neutron activation analyzer. The grade of scrap used to prepare batches for a melt is controlled to provide a batch having desired properties and composition.

Abstract: The magnesium melting furnace (1) has a plurality of chambers. The material to be melted is fed into a melting chamber (2) through a charging chute (20), one end of which terminates under the surface of the melting bath. The melt is slowly transferred into a holding chamber (4) through a passage (3) situated in the lower third of a dividing wall (11) above a layer of impurities settling at the bottom (14) of the melting chamber (2). The melt slowly flows through the holding chamber (4), with impurities rising to the surface or settling on the bottom (15). The purified melt flows through a second passage (5) situated in the lower third of a second dividing wall (12) into a metering chamber (6). The melt can be removed from the metering chamber (6) through a transfer pipe (28) using a metering pump (27). The magnesium melting furnace (1) makes it possible to simultaneously melt, purify and remove the magnesium in metered quantities.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating fine ore in which fine ore is dried by aid of a hot drying gas flowing around the ore particles. After having flown around the ore particles, the drying gas is purified while releasing entrained dust ore particles. The dust ore particles are collected and admixed to the dried fine ore. In order to avoid process disturbances in the further processing of fine ore due to excessive portions of dust ore particles present without the fine ore, drying is effected in the whirl-bed method under simultaneous wind-screening of the fine ore. The drying gas is passed through the fine ore under formation of a whirl bed and the speed of the drying gas is fixed at a rate at which entraining of dust ore particles having dimensions below a predetermined dimension is effected. The dust ore particles entrained in the drying gas are separated, collected and admixed to the dried fine ore in dosed amounts. The apparatus includes a fine ore whirl-bed drying means including a drying-gas feeding means.

Abstract: An apparatus for dissolving zinc by means of acid-containing liquid electrolytes includes a container for zinc particles to be dissolved, inlet and outlet devices for continuously admitting and discharging fresh or zinc-enriched electrolytes, and collecting and discharging devices for the gases produced during the dissolution of zinc, such as, hydrogen. The apparatus container for receiving the electrolyte has in its lower portion an intermediate screen floor for placing the zinc particles filling thereon. The inlet devices for the fresh electrolyte are arranged below the intermediate screen floor. An overflow for the zinc-enriched electrolyte is arranged in the upper portion of the container. Filters and catch containers are arranged following the overflow. A gas collecting chamber with discharge device is arranged above the apparatus container.

Abstract: A slag control shape is releasably mounted on a cover for a molten metal vessel. An actuator is connected to a slag control shape release member to move the release member from a first position engaged with the slag control shape to a second position disengaged from the slag control shape to allow the slag control shape to descend into the molten metal vessel. Upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition, such as a predetermined weight of molten metal in the vessel or a predetermined total time of molten metal discharge from the vessel, a controller generates a signal to the actuator to automatically release the slag control shape into the vessel. The controller is located remote from the actuator and transmits the activation signal to the actuator by radio frequency signals, directly through an electrical conductor, or to a light emitter which transmits a light beam to a photodetector mounted on the cover.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and apparatus for manufacturing low-gas and pore-free aluminum casting alloys by vacuum degasification and densification of the melt. Contact between the aluminum melt and the atmospheric humidity of the alloying process, from refining to continuous casting of the cast bars, is kept extremely short, so that effective vacuum degasification, and a high cooling rate, can prevent the formation of gas pores. After the metal melt is alloyed in a smelting furnace, the melt is fed through a system of gutters directly to at least one vacuum furnace. Refining components are added in the vacuum furnace and heating is conducted to provide the pouring temperature required for continuous casting.

Abstract: The invention relates to a drive for an automatic lance-changing device, such as is used in the top-blowing steel-making process. Such a lance-changing device comprises two lance-receiving hooks pivotable about a horizontal axis of rotation, means for the synchronous vertical displacement of these hooks relative to the lance carriage and to the coupling head, means which, during this displacement of the hooks, cause these hooks to execute a pivoting movement about their said axis of rotation, and means for detecting by measurement the load acting on each hook, the latter being a function of the force with which the lance top part is pressed against said coupling head by the hooks. The drive of this invention is a lifting-spindle system, by means of which a vertically displaceable suspension ring for suspension hooks of the lance top part is driven.

Abstract: In a control method of material dumping at top of a blast furnace, in which material stored in a furnace top bunker is dumped through a flow rate control gate into a blast furnace in a specified time, value of initial material weight before the transfer start, divided by the specified time is set to first target dumping speed, and opening of the flow rate control gate is feedback controlled based on the measured material weight during dumping, so that the actual dumping speed after the dumping start is coincident with the first target dumping speed, and further, if necessary, remaining material weight in the furnace top bunker on the way of dumping is actually measured and value of the remaining material weight divided by the remaining time is set to second target dumping speed, and opening of the flow rate control gate is feedback controlled, based on the measured material weight during dumping, so that the second dumping speed after the measurement of the remaining material weight is coincident with the sec

Abstract: Device and method for feeding molten metal for the pressure casting of metal products.The device for feeding molten metal to a mould 1 of a continuous pressure-casting installation comprises a vessel 2 equipped with a cover 7 carrying a spout 3, the said vessel resting on a frame 4 and comprising a framework 9 for supporting a ladle 10 of molten metal, means for weighing the said ladle and means 20 for raising the said framework.The casting method implementing this device is characterized in that, during the cast, when the quantity of metal in the ladle 10 is greater than a specific quantity, the ladle is held in a low position (position according to reference 32) and, when the quantity of metal becomes less than the said specific quantity, the ladle is raised (position 32') so as to hold the lower end 31 of the spout below the level of the metal contained in the ladle.

Abstract: A sublimer-reactor system for reducing Group IVB metals with magnesium has a sublimer spaced from a reactor with a gas flow control valve in piping interconnecting them. A load cell weighs the feed in the sublimer and outputs a signal to the control valve to control the vapor flow of feed vapors to the reactor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring reflective ash deposited on a furnace wall to be cleaned, comprises an infrared video camera or other mechanism for taking an infrared image of the furnace wall. The image must include an area to be cleaned by the waterblowing as well as a surrounding uncleaned area. Photo detectors or other mechanisms are utilized to measure the image intensity at locations on the cleaned and uncleaned areas with a ratio between the intensities being taken. The cleaned area has low reflectivity and is dark compared to the uncleaned area which is white and has high image intensity. The image intensity ratio between the cleaned area and the uncleaned area thus rises from a low level immediately after waterblowing to a high level which approaches unity as the initially cleaned area becomes as unclean as the uncleaned area.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the operation of a water lance for water cleaning a furnace wall comprises a sensor or calculation equipment to derive the furnace wall emissivity and equipment that compares the emissivity to a programmed low setpoint that represents an unclean furnace wall and poor furnace operation. Water lance operation is initiated when the low setpoint is reached. The speed at which the water lance operates is also adjusted according to peak emissivity levels which are measured or derived from the furnace walls after each cleaning.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of initiating and terminating the cleaning of a furnace wall to remove reflective ash which been deposited thereon, comprises a video or infrared monitor which monitors the light being reflected from the furnace wall or the ratio of the reflected to the incident light, the intensity of reflected light or ratio of the reflected to the incident light increasing as additional reflective ash is deposited. When the reflected light intensity reaches a selected value, cleaning is initiated and measurement of the reflected light is continued to monitor when the reflected light reaches a low substantially constant intensity. At that point, the cleaning operation is terminated since the constant reflected light intensity indicates a substantially clean condition.

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: A continuous preheat charging method including the steps of transferring scrap from a receiving point to a discharge point, preheating scrap adjacent the discharge point prior to delivery of preheated scrap to one of a pair of melting furnaces, and alternately feeding preheated scrap to the pair of melting furnaces. A continuous preheat charging system is also disclosed which includes a scrap charge transfer conveyor having a scrap receiving end and a scrap discharge end together with a weigh feeder station at the scrap receiving end and a preheating station at the scrap discharge end. After scrap is weighed at the weigh feeder station and fed to the transfer conveyor, the scrap is preheated at the preheating station and delivered to a furnace feeder station to be fed on an alternating basis to one of a pair of melting furnaces.

Abstract: An automatic lance changeover device is presented wherein a radially guided ring is axially vertically displaceable by two lifting spindle systems provided on each side of the ring and bears pivotable hooks for receiving the lance and for pressing the latter axially against a sealing surface on the coupling head. The hooks are connected to the stationary coupling head via pivotable connecting rods whose length is alterable, these connecting rods being eccentrically articulated on the support pin of the hooks with the bearing bore at the coupling head end of the connecting rods having a larger diameter than the associated wrist pin. When the ring is axially displaced, the hooks, which have swung out, in a first phase, initially surround the supporting pins on the upper part of the lance as the ring is displaced further, the hooks, without executing any further pivoting movement, pull the lance head into sealing contact with the coupling head.

Abstract: A steel strip which has been cooled through a cooling zone in a continuous heat treating line is finally cooled by immersing in cooling water in a cooling tank under the controlling in accordance with the following formula:- ##EQU1## With such controlling of cooling, any dirt adhesion on the surface of the strip caused by contacting with a sink-roll is prevented.

Abstract: Molten metal is discharged without slag from a ladle, vessel or the like having a closable bottom tap by weighing the vessel continuously and forming from the measuring values respective earlier and later average values as well as the difference thereof; that difference directly indicates the onset of inclusion of slag in the outflow so that the bottom top of the vessel can be closed when slag appears.

Abstract: An aluminum melt is processed by the injection of a sparging gas through a spinning nozzle into the melt in a preheat, conditioning and processing step sequence, with a predetermined proportion of hydrogen being employed with the sparging gas during the processing step to assure that the hydrogen content of the melt is such that the density of the solidified product is within a desired range on a repeatable basis. The conditioning step is employed to facilitate the attaining of the desired result on such repeatable basis in an advantageous manner such as to minimize the processing time and the amount of the hydrogen/sparging gas mixture necessary for the desired density control.

Abstract: A continuous process for forming aluminum-lithium alloys is disclosed which comprises continuously monitoring the ingot casting rate and continuously adding a measured and controlled amount of molten lithium beneath the surface of a molten aluminum stream as it flows toward an ingot casting station. The amount of molten lithium to be added is based on the ingot casting rate, the ingot size and the lithium content of the alloy being cast.

Abstract: A method of charging relatively large briquettes of metal scrap to a melting system at a substantially constant feed rate is disclosed. The method comprises providing a pumping bay, a charging and melting bay, and a molten metal furnace from which molten metal is recirculated from the furnace through the pumping bay to the charging and melting bay. The briquettes are transferred onto a first conveyor adapted to store and convey a controlled weight of briquettes to a second conveyor. The briquettes are conveyed from the first conveyor to a second conveyor mounted on load cells which intermittently stops the first conveyor to maintain a controlled weight in the second conveyor. The briquettes are transferred from the second conveyor to a third conveyor where they are aligned and accumulated. The briquettes are then discharged individually at a substantially constant rate into the melting bay.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the pouring of molten metals in a pressure-type furnace is provided. The furnace includes a reservoir for storing the molten metal, a first passage for supplying the metal to the reservoir, and a second passage for supplying the metal stored in the reservoir to a pouring chamber where they are poured into a mold. A gas having a predetermined pressure is supplied to a pressure chamber disposed above the reservoir. An output signal from a load cell is generated representative of the amount of the metal contained in the furnace. The output signals are processed in a sampling circuit to obtain a rate of variation signal representative of variations in the amount of the metal stored in the furnace. The rate of variation signal is compared in a comparator circuit with a reference value to generate a replenishment signal indicating that the molten metal is being replenished.

Abstract: A reduced iron installation includes transportable container having a charge/discharge mouth section provided with a sealing valve and a plurality of support legs and is arranged for 180.degree. rotation between a charge condition under a furnace to a discharge condition supported over the mouth of a storage tank via its legs, a weighing device for said container in its discharge condition, and a cluster remover disposed in the storage tank mouth and having a sealing valve which opens and closes, in response to detection signals from the weighing device indicating that the container is charged or empty, respectively. The cluster remover includes a grizzly feeder disposed obliquely within a cylindrical casing which is supported via an anti-vibration mounting on a fixed support surface, and a vibrating machine mounted on the casing.

Abstract: A method and means for improving the efficiency of the process for directly reducing ore containing iron oxide in a rotary kiln using a solid carbonaceous reducing agent, such as coal, introduced from the ore feed and discharge ends of the kiln, as both fuel and reductant, is disclosed wherein the charred coal or char found in the discharge product is recycled into the process at the discharge end of the kiln rather than the feed end as in the prior art. In particular, the recovered char, both coarse and finer particles, are transported to a recycle bin from which they are returned at a preselected rate to the kiln process by being injected along with the coal blown into the discharge end of the kiln. Alternatively, the recycle char alone may be fed without any coal at the discharge end of the kiln.

Abstract: A method and means for maintaining optimum operation of the process for directly reducing iron oxides in a rotary kiln, using a solid carbonaceous reducing agent, such as coal fed at both the charge feed end and discharge end as the source of fuel and reductant, and oxygen-containing gases is disclosed wherein the DRI product, charred coal or char, and fine waste found in the kiln discharge materials from the discharge end are separated and measured for fixed carbon content and the process parameters may be adjusted to optimum by establishing an appropriate percentage by weight, in the range from 5% to 15%, of fixed carbon in the total of these discharge materials.

Abstract: A slide-articulation bearing, in particular for tiltable converters, with an inner race placed on a shaft, an outer race inserted in a bearing housing, and sliding elements inserted between the inner and outer races so as to permit a relative movement of these races, has the sliding elements embedded in recesses of the inner or outer race, which recesses are vertically directed towards the cylindrical surface of the shaft.

Abstract: A slide-articulation bearing for supporting a shaft, in particular for tiltable converters, has a circular-cylindrical sliding face forming a unit with the shaft, sliding elements held by a cage contacting the sliding face, and an outer race with a spherical inner face for accommodating wobbling movements of the shaft. The cage is provided with radially directed recesses that are open towards the cage inner and outer sides, the sliding elements being inserted therein so as to project out of the recesses. The sliding elements have outwardly projecting ends provided with spherical outer faces that contact and cooperate with the spherical inner face of the outer race.

Abstract: A bearing arrangement for a tilting trunnion of a metallurgical vessel, in particular a converter in a steel making plant, has an inner race, an outer race, bearing bodies arranged therebetween, and at least one sensor device with a sensor pin. The sensor device penetrates the outer race and contacts the inner race forming a sensing point. Also, the sensor device has a fixed point with the sensor pin being movable relative to the fixed point and the distance between the sensing point and the fixed point being measurable.

Abstract: A dead band and a feed forward control are part of a closed loop system for converting the batch flow of sinter into an accumulating hopper into a steady flow of sinter out of this hopper.

Abstract: A tiltable metallurgical vessel arrangement, in particular a converter for a steel making plant, has carrying trunnions, a fixed bearing, an expansion bearing, bearing housings for the bearings, and force measuring means resting on a supporting construction with bearing housings resting on the force measuring means. Vertical sliding faces provided on each bearing housing and on the supporting construction at both sides of the carrying trunnion axes form guides and counter-guides that engage each other so as to prevent horizontal motion of the bearing housings in the direction of the axes of the carrying trunnions.

Abstract: The weight of a vessel having trunnion shafts supported by bearings fitted with pressure pads is determined as a function of the fluid pressure necessary to raise the shafts a constant distance and maintain the distance constant.

Abstract: A molten metal pouring device is disclosed, wherein there are provided two pairs of link mechanisms whose links are adapted to be moved in parallel relation to each other, so that, regardless of an inclined angle of a ladle, a molten metal-dropping locus may follow a constant path when a molten metal is poured from a ladle into a mold. The molten metal pouring device equipped with these link mechanisms can be readily automated, as well as permits the reduction in cross sectional area of a sprue of a mold. Thus, temperature drop of a molten metal is avoided, with the result of production of castings of an improved quality.

Abstract: A tiltable metallurgical converter arrangement, with a fixed bearing and an expansion bearing for the carrying trunnions, has bearing housings arranged on load cells that rest on a supporting construction designed as a sole plate. The bearing housings are secured relative to the supporting construction by adapted to accommodate tensile forces and connecting means arranged in a horizontal plane opposite each other. Thus a strictly vertical force impact on the load cells is guaranteed.

Abstract: An automatic leaching system for the hydrometallurgical production of zinc comprising a pH meter and means for detecting the feed rate of calcine. The pH meter is provided with means for automatically washing the electrodes thereof so as to be capable of continuously and automatically detecting the pH value of the slurry obtained by mixing a spent electrolyte with the calcine. The system comprises a feedback control circuit and a feed-forward control circuit in which the flow rate of the spent electrolyte supplied to the system is the manipulated variable, and the pH value of the slurry is the controlled variable. These control circuits are used for the pH control so that the pH value of the slurry can be maintained constant by controlling the flow rate of the spent electrolyte.