Abstract: Processes and systems for thermoforming articles of wear are disclosed. The process can include utilizing a negative pressure generation system to seal an article in a forming material thereby compressing the forming material onto the outer surface of the article. The process can also include exposing the sealed article to an increased temperature followed by exposure to a decrease temperature, while maintaining the compressive force of the forming material on the outer surface of the article. A positive pressure can also be applied to the sealed article while undergoing the heating and/or cooling steps, which can facilitate the removal of bubbles from the article during thermoforming as well as apply additional compressive force to the outer surface of the article.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a pyrolytic oven for processing waste include multiple zones associated with multiple independently-controlled heating sources. The pyrolytic oven may have multiple sensors also associated with each zone. The pyrolytic oven may also include a fuel management system which adjusts a power level of each heating source for each zone independently based on a reading of the corresponding sensor.

Abstract: The present application discloses a common purpose apparatus for carrying out physical and chemical reactions of carbonaceous materials with oxygen bearing gases and preheated gases that is used for carrying out thermo chemical transformation of carbonaceous materials into gaseous and liquid fuels, and for combusting carbonaceous fuels and to recover energy there from, and for remediating hydrocarbon-contaminated materials, and further for producing bio-chars from biomass.

Abstract: A rail heat treatment device includes a cooling header, an oscillation mechanism, and a control system including: a storage unit that stores therein at least information required for a oscillation control; and a control unit that obtains a permissible range of required cooling time for a rail that satisfies a permissible range of hardness of the rail based on a correlation expression representing a correlation between the cooling time for the rail with the cooling header and the hardness of the rail after cooling, controls a stroke and a speed of relative reciprocation of the rail and the cooling header based on the permissible range of the required cooling time, and causes the oscillation mechanism to perform the relative reciprocation of the rail and the cooling header by the stroke and at the speed.

Abstract: A method operates a continuous annealing line for the processing of a rolled good, in particular a metal strip. A property of the rolled good in relation to a point or a section of the rolled good is fed to a computer-aided model as an input variable. The point or the section of the rolled good is located before or in the continuous annealing line. For the purpose of precise control of the continuous annealing process, at least one material property of the rolled good after the continuous annealing process is simulated by the computer-aided model and compared with a specified target value. If the simulated material property deviates from the target value, at least one process variable of the continuous annealing process is controlled as long as the point or the section of the rolled good is located before or in the continuous annealing line.

Abstract: A semi-liquid metal processing apparatus and method are presented in which a semi-liquid metal and/or semi-solid metal is introduced into a crucible and his electromagnetically stirred at a first frequency while cooling, and thereafter sidewalls of a metal charge formed of the semi-liquid metal and/or semi-solid metal are partially melted prior to tilting the crucible for removal of the metal charge.

Abstract: A method is described for obtaining purified 68Ga. The method comprises eluting 68Ga from a sorbent in and/or on which are sorbed 68Ga and 68Ge, so as to generate a crude 68Ga solution. The sorbent should have a higher affinity for 68Ge than for 68Ga. The crude 68Ga solution is then applied to a medium cation exchange resin, and the resin is eluted with an aqueous alcohol so as to retain the 68Ga on the resin and remove unwanted species from the resin. The resin is then eluted with an eluent, which may be an acidic solution, an alkaline solution or a solution of a species capable of complexing 68Ga ions, so as to obtain an eluate comprising purified 68Ga ions.

Abstract: A multiple generator elution system for selectively eluting from a plurality of parent-daughter generators according to an elution schedule it calculates taking into account supply data, demand data, and available activity in each of the generators.

Abstract: The invention adopts a mist cooling apparatus (3) that cools a heated treated subject M by spraying a cooling mist thereto, the mist cooling apparatus including: a first nozzle (35) that sprays a cooling mist; and a second nozzle (45) that sprays a cooling mist having a particle diameter smaller than the particle diameter of the cooling mist sprayed from the first nozzle.

Abstract: Method for operating a shaft furnace, whereby an upper section of the shaft furnace is charged with raw materials which due to gravity descend inside the furnace while the atmosphere prevailing within the shaft furnace causes part of the raw materials to melt and/or to be reduced, and in a lower section of the shaft furnace a process gas is injected so as to at least partly modify the atmosphere prevailing in the shaft furnace. The pressure and/or volume flow of the injected process gas is dynamically modulated within a time span of 40 s. Also, a shaft furnace operable by said method, thus achieving improved through-gassing.

Abstract: The present invention provide a manufacturing method of a hot-rolled steel sheet capable of providing a target temperature for temperature of a rolled material in a final stand in a row of hot finishing mills, even when disposing a cooling device capable of cooling from inside the row of hot finishing mills. The method comprises: rapidly cooling the rolled material by spraying cooling water at inside of the final stand on a lower process side of the final stand in the row of hot finishing mills; obtaining an entry-side surface temperature of the rolled material on an entry side of the final stand; and calculating a target surface temperature on the entry side of the final stand, from a target surface temperature on the exit side of the final stand, based on generated heat and temperature reductions by contact of work rolls with the rolled material and by air cooling.

Abstract: A method for controlling a ladle to pour molten metal into a mold. The method comprises producing a mathematical model describing a relationship between a measured electrical voltage supplied to a servomotor for tilting the ladle and a flow rate of the molten metal flowing out of the ladle when the ladle is tilted; solving an inverse problem of the mathematical model; estimating the flow rate of the molten metal using a state observer having an exponential damping that uses an extended Kalman filter, based on the measured electrical voltage and a weight of the molten metal poured into the mold; processing the flow rate of the molten metal and a target flow rate of the molten metal with a gain-scheduled PI controller; obtaining a target electrical voltage to be supplied to the servomotor; and controlling the servomotor based on the target electrical voltage.

Abstract: A molten metal flow controller (10) for a metal melt furnace having a tap hole (T) to release the molten metal from the furnace, where the controller (10) is configured to controllably release the flow of molten metal through the tap hole (T) using an actuator (14) that controllably moves a plunger (110) into and out of the tap hole (T) in response the increase or decrease in the molten metal flow rate through the tap hole (t) as measured by a sensor (130).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing direct reduction iron and a reduction firing apparatus. The apparatus may be a dual-chamber stepping reduction furnace, a single chamber stepping reduction furnace or a single hearth down-draft reduction furnace, wherein the dual-chamber stepping reduction furnace includes a left chamber, a right chamber, a material containing device, a step mechanism, a slag distributing device, a charging device, heating burners, a fume extraction path, a charging device, a material receiving tank having a sealing cap and a slag discharging path.

Abstract: A tilting-type automatic pouring method for pouring molten metal from a ladle with an outflow position into a mold. The method includes tilting the ladle forward to pour molten metal into the mold, measuring a weight of poured molten metal, calculating a flow rate of the molten metal flowing out of the ladle based on the measured weight of poured molten metal, estimating a weight of molten metal that will be poured during a backward tilting. The method also includes estimating a total weight of molten metal based on the measured weight of poured molten metal and the estimated weight of molten metal that will be poured during the backward tilting and comparing the estimated total weight of molten metal to a predetermined weight. When the estimated total weight is equal to or larger than the predetermined weight, the backward tilting is started.

Abstract: A steel production facility and a method of uninterrupted, or at least cyclical, steelmaking in the facility. In the case of uninterrupted steelmaking at least the first three of the following steps and in case of cyclical steelmaking all five steps are performed: charge materials are molten uninterruptedly or cyclically in an electric arc furnace; the charge materials (e.g.

Abstract: To provide a heat treatment providing a product with quality as desired, high frequency induction heating treatment equipment capable of temperature control to provide such heat treatment includes temperature controlling means for adjusting in temperature an object to be treated, and quenching means for determining when the object heated should be cooled. The temperature controlling means includes heating means, temperature measuring means involved in temperature control, and temperature adjusting means. The quenching means includes temperature measuring means involved in quenching, and heat treatment adjusting means.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for heating a workpiece. An induction heating system is used to induce magnetic fields in a workpiece to inductively heat the workpiece. The induction heating system may comprise a portable power source, a portable power source controller, a fluid-cooled induction heating cable, and a portable cooling unit. The induction heating system may be used to perform a variety of induction heating operations, including: annealing, surface hardening, heat treating, stress-relieving, curing, shrink-fitting, etc.

Abstract: A dual outlet injector is disclosed for use in a dual lance or dual port desulfurization station, whereby reagent from a given injector vessel may be injected into two separate supply pipes respectively corresponding to the dual lances or dual ports. The dual outlet injector enables a desulfurization station to be configured comprising only one supply vessel for powdered magnesium reagent and only one supply vessel for a carrier reagent such as powdered lime.

Abstract: Diagnostic methods and systems are used to determine operating condition and performance of a cooling element in a metallurgical reactor during operation of the reactor. A system can include sensing means, processing means and display means. The sensing means is located in or approximate the cooling element for sensing operating conditions of the cooling element. The processing means is in communication with the sensing means for receiving data corresponding to the sensed operating conditions and for processing the data to determine a relative condition indicator of the cooling element. The display means is in communication with the processing means and displays the relative condition indicator to a user of the diagnostic system. The display means can display a first, second or third state representative of the relative health indicator.

Abstract: A precious metal recovery device is revealed. A robot arm holds a cover of at least one loader for opening and moving the cover so as to put an object in or move an object out the loader. The loader is a pentagonal prism with an opening on one side thereof. The area of the opening is enlarged for convenience of loading objects containing precious metal. The loader is to receive the object containing the precious metal. By means of a conveying device, the loader is carried to an immersion device, at least one dissolver and at least one water cleaning device in sequence so as to recover precious metal from the objects containing precious metal. The precious metal recovery device recovers the precious metal continuously and automatically. Therefore, the speed of precious metal recovery is improved and the amount of precious metal recovered is increased.

Abstract: A thermally efficient cover for the molten metal held in a furnace, tundish, ladle, crucible or other containment vessel. Through substantially horizontal movement, this cover allows for periodic removal, particularly by retraction, for accessing contents of that furnace from a top aperture in the containment vessel. This invention further relates to a covered furnace system and methods of use.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of conditioning a thermally activated shape memory alloy wire for use in an application, wherein the apparatus includes an adjustable hard-stop and the preferred method includes pre-determining a minimum activating current, allowable strain, and a loading magnitude and form based on the wire configuration and application, and further includes applying a double-exponential model to determine a final recoverable strain over fewer cycles.

Abstract: The temperature (T) of a metal (1) can be influenced directly or indirectly by at least one actuator (2) which is actuated in accordance with a control variable (S). The control variable (S) and starting values (TA, p1A, p2A) for a temperature of the metal (1) and phase proportions in which the metal (1) is at least in a first phase or a second phase, respectively, are predetermined for a material model (5). A heat conduction equation and a transformation equation are solved in real time within the material model (5), taking account of these variables (TA, p1A, p2A) , and in this way expected values (TE, p1E, p2E) are determined for these variables. As part of the transformation equation, the Gibbs' free energies (G1, G2) of the phases of the metal (1) are determined, a transformation rate of the metal (1) from the first phase to the second phase is determined therefrom, and the expected proportions (p1E, p2E) are determined from the latter.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a hollow turbomachine blade made from a type TA6V titanium alloy includes a hot forming step in which an element of the blade is isothermally shaped in a press at a temperature between 700° C. and 940° C. under the action of at least two stamps and a holding-clamp which press the blade element on a shaping die, while ensuring a controlled deformation rate so as to obtain a lengthening of the fibers, that is to say the elongation of the different fibers of the element, with a controlled distribution on both sides of the central fiber. A multiple-action furnace-press designed for carrying out the process is also described.

Abstract: In a melt shop for melting scrap to make steel, increased tonnage output for continuous casting for a given primary melt capacity can be obtained by stacking heated ladles of molten steel in inventory at a holding station before the ladles are transferred the ladle refining station or stacking refined ladles, or both, in advance of commencement of casting.

Abstract: An apparatus for metallurgically heat treating a plurality of discrete individually movable aluminum alloy parts includes a plurality of successive stations for heat treating the parts. The plurality of stations are arranged in a line of travel. Infrared radiation lamps are provided at each station. A conveyor mechanism places and holds a part in a station for heat treatment. The conveyor moves the part to a subsequent station for further heat treatment. The conveyor mechanism holds the part stationary relative to the line of travel while the part is in a station being heat treated.

Abstract: For quenching heated metallic work pieces with a quenching intensity that lies in the region of H values from 0.2 to 4, which is typical for oil or water quenching, a cooling gas is used as the quenching medium in the form of discrete jet streams issuing from a nozzle field and impinging on the work piece surface to be cooled. With limiting of the blower power for the cooling gas serving a predetermined maximum limit of about 1000 kW per square meter of nozzle field the quenching intensity, with suitable selection of gas jet parameters, in particular the gas velocity w, the gas pressure p, the gas jet cross-section and the number of impinging jets per unit of surface is brought to an H value between 0.2 and 4.

Abstract: A steel bar and billet heating system located upstream of shears for further processing comprises a conventional fuel operated heating furnace up to a material temperature of 780.degree.-1000.degree. C., followed by at least two subsequent individual induction heating stations up to the shearing or hot-pressing temperature of 1150.degree.-1300.degree. C. The system further comprises induction furnace monitoring and thermal control means, product forwarding means within the combustion furnace and from the latter to the shears through the induction furnaces, adapted as well to move the bars and billets backwards, in the opposite direction, there being provided a waiting area inside the furnace, a loader for the slugs coming back from the shears, and means for traversing the latter so that they do not interfere with the path of the pieces.

Abstract: An apparatus for heat-treating metallic workpieces, which includes two successive furnaces, a feeding device for feeding workpieces to the first furnace, and conveyor means from transporting workpieces from the first to the second furnace. Both furnaces are equipped with gas-tight inlet and out doors. The conveyor means are also gas-tight. The furnaces are each equipped with means for controlling temperature, dwell time and atmosphere.

Abstract: The heat treatment system includes a plurality of small-sized heat treating furnaces, having uniform heat treatment periods which are controlled to start the heat treatments in the respective furnaces with constant time lags. A lifting device is provided in front of the furnaces for introducing and discharging the workpieces. The lifting device is provided with a plurality of arms which project toward the furnaces, for supporting the workpieces. Untreated workpieces are stored in a front pool device and carried toward the lifting device by a conveyor, so that the lifting device inserts the workpieces into the furnaces. The workpieces, upon being completely heat treated, are removed from the furnace, moved downward onto the conveyor, and carried to a back pool device by the lifting device. The above series of operations are controlled by a single control unit.

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: A machine for the thermo-mechanical treatment of parts made of memory alloys contains: a thermally insulated chamber connected to a source of gaseous fluid and a support, capable of being introduced into a chamber, for carrying a plurality of crowns superimposed on one another. The parts made of memory alloy are placed between the crowns where the gaseous fluid passes through. Tension is applied to the crown in a controlled operating cycle.

Abstract: A method of skull-melting comprises the steps of:a. providing a vessel adapted for a skull-melting process, the vessel having an interior, an underside, and an orifice in connecting the interior and the underside;b. disposing a waveguide in the orifice so that the waveguide protrudes sufficiently into the interior to interact with the skull-melting process;c. providing a signal energy transducer in signal communication with the waveguide;d. introducing into the vessel a molten working material;e. carrying out the skull-melting process so that a solidified skull of the working material is formed, the skull and the vessel having an interface therebetween, the skull becoming fused to the waveguide so the signal energy can be transmitted through the waveguide and the skull without interference from the interface;f. activating the signal energy transducer so that a signal is propagated through the waveguide; and,g.

Abstract: A control system operates an automatic ladling apparatus for conveying molten metal from a furnace to a die casting machine or the like. The control system includes a plurality of adjustable speed control settings so that the speed of the apparatus can be varied according to operating conditions. The rate at which molten metal is poured into the die casting machine may also be varied. The position of the apparatus is monitored so that speed is automatically varied according to the position, and these positions are programmable. The control system includes an abort sequence to pour molten metal back into the furnace automatically if the die casting machine is not ready to accept the pour.

Abstract: An oxygen blow steelmaking furnace comprises a device for supplying materials for blowing into the furnace, a plurality of sensing devices, and a computer control device. The supplying device supplies into the furnace oxygen and fluxes from above and, as occasion demands, at least one of oxygen, carbon dioxide and inert gas from below. The sensing devices individually respond to different properties that represent the blowing condition. The computer control device sets a program for the blow based on the charging and blowing-out conditions, responds to the sensing devices, and outputs the operating instructions to the supplying device.

Abstract: A holding or smelting furnace for discharging measured quantities of molten metal includes a furnace wall defining a furnace chamber adapted to contain molten metal having an upper free melt level, and at least one melt outlet channel extending from the furnace chamber through the furnace wall at a level below the free melt level. A sliding gate valve is mounted on the furnace wall at the outlet channel and is movable between a closed position blocking the outlet channel and an open position unblocking the outlet channel. Control structure maintains the free melt level at a constant level within the furnace chamber, and thereby maintains the hydrostatic pressure of the molten metal within the furnace chamber at a constant value during discharge of the molten metal. Regulating structure is operable independently of the operation of the control structure and moves the sliding gate valve between the closed and open positions thereof at a predetermined timed cycle.

Abstract: An automatic positioning apparatus comprises a smoothing means. The smoothing means is adapted to connect smoothly a 3-dimensional path based on the preceding and succeeding four taught points irrespective of a straight line or a curved line, while correcting a driving system with a delay of a system of a means being controlled, thereby to achieve a control in consideration of not only inertia but also a response characteristic.

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: 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: A ferrous melt, e.g. of steel, is refined beneath a slag layer by blowing from above with an oxygen-containing gas through a lance and by bubbling an inert gas through the melt from the bottom. According to the invention, the consistency of the slag layer and/or its level is continuously detected on the one hand and the rate of decarburation of the bath is detected on the other hand and in response to these measurements the volume rate of flow of the bubbling gas is controlled on the one hand to maintain a predetermined spacing of the slag layer from the head of the lance and, on the other hand, a fluid consistency of the slag.

Abstract: Carbonaceous combustion products (i.e., principally carbon dioxide) and water are removed from nitrogen generator gas by molecular sieve adsorption thereof. The molecular sieve material is regenerated by an initial extended purging with ambient air under vacuum followed by a short burst of pure nitrogen under vacuum to remove any entrapped oxygen.

Abstract: In a method of treating a coil spring to improve its performance and reliability when operating at elevated temperatures, the spring is first stressed by applying a load of preselected magnitude and then, while the load is maintained, the spring is heated until it relaxes or collapses to a predetermined extent at which stage the heating is automatically discontinued and the applied load is afterwards removed. Apparatus for carrying out the method in relation to compression springs includes a spring supporting base, an overhead operating head with a vertically movable ram or plunger for applying the predetermined load, means for passing an electric heating current through each spring while beneath the operating head, and limit switch means which responds to the position of the ram or plunger and terminates the supply of heating current when the loaded spring has reached the required predetermined value of relaxation or collapse.

Abstract: The present control system and method for a slab heating furnace is operative in relation to a predicted travel time of a theoretical control slab in the charge zone of the furnace and a predicted travel time of a theoretical control slab in the heat zone of the furnace as based upon the cycle time of an associated rolling mill. This operation is in relation to a desired distribution of heat content supplied by the charge zone and heat content supplied by the heat zone, and in consideration of a related temperature profile within each slab, for the determination of a temperature control setpoint for the charge zone and a temperature control setpoint for the heat zone such that a desired total heat content is provided within each slab before it enters the soak zone of the slab heating furnace.

Abstract: An arrangement for storing and distributing a fluid on board a rotary reactor such as a rotary kiln. The application discloses a rotary reduction kiln for reducing a metallic oxide such as iron oxide to a lower state of oxidation. A liquid hydrocarbon is used as a reductant in the reduction process for the metallic oxide. The kiln includes a cylindrical chamber adapted to receive the charge of material which is being subjected to the reduction process. A plurality of rows of nozzles are mounted on and supported by the kiln in hydraulic communication with the interior of the reduction chamber. Flow of hydrocarbon liquid to each row of nozzles is controlled by a corresponding flow control valve in accordance with the position of the corresponding row of nozzles relative to the charge of material in the kiln. A plurality of hydro-pneumatic accumulators having the hydraulic sections thereof connected to a common manifold are mounted on and rotatable with the kiln.

Abstract: Flow control valves are mounted with corresponding axial rows of nozzles about the periphery of a rotary kiln. A metering cylinder is mounted on the kiln and rotates therewith. A piston member is moveable in the metering cylinder in alternately opposite directions to deliver a predetermined measured volume of a liquid hydrocarbon such as fuel oil from said cylinder equally in each direction of movement of said piston member. A first hydraulic circuit interconnects each of said liquid flow control valves with a liquid fuel supply and with one end of said metering cylinder on one side of said piston member, and a second hydraulic circuit interconnects each of said liquid flow control valves with an opposite end of said metering cylinder on an opposite side of said piston member and with a plurality of nozzles in the row of nozzles corresponding to the given flow control valve.

Abstract: The control system according to the invention has a number of control units, namely: a control unit for checking the installation for start-up readiness, a control unit for starting the installation, a control unit for synchronizing the electric-generator frequency and the power-line frequency, a control unit for increasing the load of the gas turbine, a control unit for monitoring the heating of the blast-furnace gas, a control unit for shutting down the installation, and a control unit for filling and emptying the installation, these units being appropriately interconnected. The proposed control system makes it possible to achieve fully automatic control of the installation for utilizing the energy of the outgoing blast-furnace gas pressure to improve the reliability thereof and to prevent damage to the equipment and hazards to the supervisory personnel.

Abstract: A flexible cam system characterized by the use of flexible guide tracks provided with balance weights attached thereto. The guide tracks are connected to a supporting frame through regulating drive mechanisms provided therefor and mounted on opposite sides of the frame. The drive mechanisms are connected respectively with one end of each of said guide tracks rigidly, and with the other end thereof, movably, through guide rollers fixed thereto.

Abstract: The method for heating the furnace chamber produces high momentum levels during the heat treating cycle so as to obtain substantially uniform temperature throughout the charge. The method includes initially firing a plurality of high velocity burners at substantially maximum fuel input and in substantially stoichiometric ratio. Thereafter, the fuel input is reduced while maintaining the stoichiometric ratio at least during the high input portion of the cycle. Excess air is introduced external of the combustion zones of the burners on a predetermined signal such as a given fuel input reduction to maintain the desired momentum level within the furnace. The apparatus comprises a high velocity burner having associated therewith an excess air unit for discharging excess air external of the combustion chamber or port block of the burner.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the delivery of fuel and air to a rotary reduction kiln wherein both the fuel and air flow through the same fluid distribution nozzle. Separate fuel and air valves control the flow through the nozzles. Two separate means are provided about the kiln for operating each valve as the kiln rotates. Each of these means is individually adjustable to a first position where the valve setting is sequentially altered as the kiln rotates and to a second position where the valve setting is unaltered as the kiln rotates.