Abstract: The present invention aims to prevent heating and ignition of a material powder of a rare-earth alloy while reducing the oxygen content thereof so as to improve the magnetic properties of the rare-earth magnet. A rare-earth alloy powder is compacted by using a powder compacting apparatus including: an airtight container capable of storing a rare-earth alloy powder therein; an airtight feeder box moved between a powder-filling position and a retracted position; and an airtight powder supply device capable of supplying the rare-earth alloy powder from the container into the feeder box without exposing the rare-earth alloy powder to the atmospheric air.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting molten slag in a tap stream between a steel making vessel such as a basic oxygen furnace (BOF) and corresponding ladle. An infrared (IR) imaging or detecting device(s) is used to image/view the BOF-to-ladle tap stream, the stream transmitting energy indicative of whether molten steel and/or slag is in the stream at a given time. Gray scale analysis is performed on pixels viewed from the tap stream to determine the number of steel pixels and the number of slag pixels in the stream at a given time. When the ratio or percentage of slag pixels exceeds a predetermined value or amount, an alarm may be actuated to cause an operator to tilt the converter upward to stop tapping, or the converter may be automatically tilted upward to stop tapping.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting molten slag in a tap stream between a steel making basic oxygen furnace (BOF) and corresponding ladle. BOFs are used in the manufacture of steel. An infrared (IR) imaging or detecting device is used to image/view the BOF-to-ladle tap stream, the steam transmitting energy indicative of whether molten steel and/or slag is in the stream at a given time. The imaging device uses mainly long IR wavelengths (e.g. wavelengths of from about 8 to 14 .mu.m) when imaging the molten tap stream, because these wavelengths are less susceptible to being blocked or absorbed by airborne gases and particles frequently found in BOF environments. In certain embodiments, all IR wavelengths other than those greater than about 8 .mu.m are filtered out and are not used to detect slag in the tap stream.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting molten slag in a tap stream between a steel making basic oxygen furnace (BOF) and corresponding ladle. BOFs are used in the manufacture of steel. An infrared (IR) imaging or detecting device is used to image/view the BOF-to-ladle tap stream, the steam transmitting energy indicative of whether molten steel and/or slag is in the stream at a given time. The imaging device uses mainly long IR wavelengths (e.g. wavelengths of from about 8 to 14 .mu.m) when imaging the molten tap stream, because these wavelengths are less susceptible to being blocked or absorbed by airborne gases and particles frequently found in BOF environments. In certain embodiments, all IR wavelengths other than those greater than about 8 .mu.m are filtered out and are not used to detect slag in the tap stream.

Abstract: The method for preventing the inclusion of slag into the molten steel tapped from a converter is disclosed. Such method comprises immersing an elongated stopper in a molten steel contained in the converter until the stopper is positioned at a predetermined height above the inside opening of a tap hole, always directing the elongated stopper to the inside opening irrespective of tilting of the converter such that the stopper could maintain the predetermined position while allowing a constant flow-out of the molten steel into the tap hole through the space formed between the stopper and the inside opening of the tap hole, and lowering the elongated stopper to close the tap hole when the slag floating above the molten steel is about to flow into the tap hole through the space, whereby the inclusion of the slag into the tapped molten steel can be prevented effectively. The apparatus which can efficiently conduct the above method is also disclosed.

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 method and apparatus for producing modified grey iron, and particularly nodular cast iron, is disclosed. The apparatus comprises refractory elements including an inclined flow course for continuous reception of molten grey iron, a V-shaped inclined receptacle interposed in said course into which a predetermined supply of modifying agent, such as magnesium, is injected to react with said iron, and means for controlling the egress of iron from the receptacle in order to sequentially stage the build-up and dissipation of a pool of iron in said receptacle facilitating chemical reactions and thorough mixing for attaining and improving the homogeneity of the modified iron elements. The product and composition uniquely is characterized by about 3.5 carbon, by weight, 2.5% silicon, 0.2-0.9Mn sulfur no greater than 0.015%, the remainder being essentially iron; the composition is devoid of carbide and dross or slag and has a graphite nodule count of at least 400 per square millimeter in a 1/2inch section.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for continuously homogenizing and quenching aluminum billets in an in-line tandem system. The billets are conveyed into a furnace and transported through a series of stages therein where they are heated to obtain a uniform crystalline structure, and then immediately conveyed into and through a quench chamber where they are rapidly cooled to obtain improved metallurgical properties. The quench chamber includes a series of ring-shaped spray headers having a plurality of spray nozzles disposed thereabout for emitting a cooling fluid evenly about the billets as they pass through the rings in order to prevent warpage. The spray rings are vertically adjustable by means of a common linkage so that they will be concentric with respect to the longitudinal axes of billets of different diameters adapted to pass therethrough.