Abstract: New and retro-fit systems utilized on a chemical fuel-powered vehicle that converts the vehicle into a hybrid chemical fuel-electric vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a scrap steel preheating type electric arc furnace and a method for improving a heating cold region of a side wall charging electric arc furnace. This invention includes an electric arc furnace body and an inclined scrap steel preheating chamber. An included angle between the inclined scrap steel preheating chamber and a horizontal plane is 30° to 65°. Flue gas enters the inclined scrap steel preheating chamber, penetrates through the material blocking tooth rake and the scrap steel and is sucked out. The preheated scrap steel slides to a center of the electric arc furnace body along a slot bottom of the inclined scrap steel preheating chamber. The present invention overcomes a problem of lateral stacking of the side wall charging electric arc furnace, reducing impact force of the scrap steel to the device and greatly enhancing reliability of the device.

Abstract: A method for operating a change converter unit of an oxygen steel-making plant, in which, for the change process, a worn converter, including the entire converter unit, made up of not only the converter, but also the converter carriage, carrier ring, tilting drive, bottom flushing device and, if present, a carrier ring cooling device, is moved out of the steel-making stand into an empty delivery and waiting stand for repair, and, at the same time, a further structurally identical complete converter unit, made up of a repaired, ready-to-use converter, is moved from a further delivery and waiting stand into the steel-making stand.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of high efficient slag scooping-up from liquid iron and a device for implementing said method. The two wings of slag rake mounted to the front end of cantilever descend side by side until beneath the surface of the liquid iron at a certain depth. The two rakes make swing movement respectively along the surface of liquid iron. When gradually moving close to each other in the course of swing movement, they get put together and clamp the solid slag. Then, driven by the cantilever, the two slag rakes which clamp the sold slag are brought to ascend until above the surface at a certain height. Finally they leave the space over the ladle and discharge the slag. The deslagging rate can reach over 90%. It just takes less than 3 minutes for the whole process of slagging-off. Additionally, the iron carried away in the process of slagging-off could be greatly reduced. The iron loss rate can be strictly controlled within 0.1%.

Abstract: Method of building a direct smelting plant comprising a metal smelting vessel (11) and ancillary plant components such as the components of a hot air supply station (24), an offgas treatment station (32), a solids feed station (41), a hot metal desulphurization station (47) and hot metal and slag launders extending from the smelting vessel (11). The ring track (53) of a ringer crane (51) is installed in front of location at which vessel (11) is to be installed. Crane boom (54) is laid out along elongate stretch of the building site which becomes a corridor (60) between major ancillary components when plant is fully erected. Boom (54) is connected to crane carriage (52) and hoisted to provide high lift capacity over a ground area embracing proposed site of vessel (11) and ancillary components. Prefabricated components are then lifted by crane (51) into appropriate position for final installation.

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: Provided is a complex sintering furnace to sequentially perform a bake-out process and a sintering process for molding ceramic products. The complex sintering furnace includes: a support frame; a pair of furnace bodies supported on the top of the support frame and having a built-in heat insulator covered by a disc-shaped cover; a pair of rails arranged under the support frame in parallel in a length direction along arrangement of the furnace bodies; a rotating base horizontally transferred along the rails and rotatably connected to bottoms of the furnace bodies when the rotating base is vertically transferred directly under the bottoms of the furnace bodies, the rotating base including a separately rotating setter mounted the top thereof; and an ascending/descending apparatus mounted under the rotating bases and having a ball-screw type rotation shaft to vertically ascend/descend the rotating base at the same time of the separate rotation of the setters.

Abstract: A steel manufacturing facility and method are disclosed which utilize ground mobile equipment, as opposed to overhead cranes. At least one material container is loaded with a steel making product and picked up with a transport vehicle that is movable throughout the facility and adapted for various uses within the facility. The material container is placed within an interior chamber of a furnace coupling shell assembly utilizing the vehicle such that the material container is supported by a support mechanism of the apparatus. The shell assembly and the material container are moved together to the furnace utilizing the vehicle. A bottom opening of the shell assembly is positioned over the top opening of the furnace utilizing the vehicle. The furnace is then charged with the steel making product through the top opening. The material container and shell assembly are then removed together from above the furnace using the vehicle and then the furnace can be operated.

Abstract: An electric composite rotating machine haveing two rotors, capable of developing mechanical power and of runing on two rotational direction at selfadjutable speeds, of differential type, with 40% increase of output, doubling the torque at 30% reduction of used electrical energy.

Abstract: A method and lifting transfer apparatus for dismantling an existing blast furnace body by dividing it into a plurality of furnace-body ring blocks, and efficiently transporting each of the ring blocks to and from a furnace-body disassembly site and back to the hearth for assembly of a repaired or rebuilt furnace body.

Abstract: A metallurgical unit for smelting metal charge material and for post-treatment of the molten metal, which is tiltable from a starting position in a positive tilting direction (8) about a tilt axis (7), includes a melting vessel (1), with a furnace hearth (12) for receiving the molten metal (13), and a treatment vessel (2) disposed laterally on the melting vessel for metallurgical treatment of the molten metal. The molten metal (13) which flows away out of the melting vessel (1) upon tilting of the unit in the positive direction (8) can be transferred into the treatment vessel (2) by way of a passage (26) connecting the furnace hearth of the melting vessel (1) to the receiving chamber of the treatment vessel (2).

Abstract: A melting vessel plant, in which the melting vessel is a converter vessel, to which a vessel cover with a pipe connection for removing the flue gases is attached. Either an oxygen lance with an auxiliary cover or electrodes with an auxiliary cover are introduced into the melting vessel through the vessel cover. The spherical melting vessel is lined with a lining. It is arranged on running rails as a traveling melting vessel, and it is mounted on an inner running rim and an outer running rim. The melting vessel is fastened to the inner running rim by support elements arranged on the circumference. Both running rims are interlocked by shear wedges. With the melting vessel locked, a cable winch with traction cables makes possible the tilting movements of the melting vessel both in the direction of steel tapping on the running rails and back into the upright position.

Abstract: A melt shop for melting scrap steel comprises a pair of primary melting furnaces and a pair of refining facility stations. The layout for the primary melting furnaces, refining facility, associated support, and peripheral equipment and caster is a single-aisle layout with general longitudinal alignment of the major constituent elements. Scrap delivery to the primary melt furnaces may comprise trackways running perpendicular to the longitudinal layout, the discharge end of each trackway being proximate to a primary melt furnace. A single trackway is preferably provided for a pair of overhead cranes running longitudinally from the caster to the primary melt furnaces.

Abstract: A coke oven communication and control system uses high frequency spread spectrum transceivers which are land based (connected to a central controller) and machine based (on a charging car, door machine, pusher, or quench car). Each land based transceiver communicates with a single corresponding machine based transceiver, there being different frequencies for each of the machines. Except for the quenching car transceivers, the other land and machine transceivers all are selectively connected to a pair of antennas which are alternately used to overcome interference. An advantageous communication technique is used to send data between a central controller, known as a battery programmable logic controller (PLC), and the machines. Control strategies are used to minimize malfunctioning of the coke oven battery.

Abstract: A plant is provided for producing molten pig iron or molten steel pre-products from lumpy, iron-ore-containing charging substances. The plant comprises a reduction shaft furnace for receiving lumpy, iron-ore-containing charging substances, the plant including a melter gasifier for receiving the reduction product formed in the reduction shaft furnace. The plant also includes a first charging device for at least one of iron ore and ore dust and a second charging device for solid carbon carriers, the melter gasifier being provided with a device for flow-connecting the first charging device for at least one of iron ore and ore dust and the second charging device for charging carbon carriers to at least one dust burner.

Abstract: A copper smelting apparatus for processing of copper concentrates to produce blister copper requiring relatively low capital cost and land area. The apparatus combines batch smelting processing to produce copper matte with continuous processing to produce blister copper, and all the components of the facility are built above ground level. The apparatus includes a batch operated smelting furnace, a transport facility for transporting molten matte, and a continuous converting furnace for continuous production of blister copper by continuously receiving and processing the matte received from the transport facility. A holding container may be provided for temporarily holding the molten matte transported by the transport facility. The matte is delivered by gravity from the transport facility or the holding container to the continuous converting furnace through a first launder.

Abstract: In a method for melting and treating metals and metal alloys, especially steels, solid charge material is melted in a ladle. Then while passing a gas through the melt at least part of the time, at least one of the treatments of decarburization, dephosphorization, deoxidation, desulfurization, alloying and removing nonmetallic inclusions is performed in the same ladle. An apparatus for the practice of the method has two tracks (W1, W2) for the ladle (5), which are aligned in an approximate T-shape to one another, a preheating station (9) and a slag removal station (14) being arranged in the top part of the T and, at the intersection between the top part and the stem between the preheating station (9) and the slag removal station (14), the first treatment station (10) with a heating system is disposed, and at the free end of the stem of the T a second treatment station (16) for the vacuum treatment is disposed.

Abstract: The apparatus includes casting stations disposed around a melt chamber of a furnace. Each casting station has a tundish for selectively transporting melt to the desired casting station. The apparatus is provided with apertures in the walls of the melting chamber to allow the tundishes to enter the melt chamber through fixed vacuum seals to receive molten metal from a tiltable melting unit and to convey the melt through the vacuum gate valve to the desired casting station.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling drive or operation of a quenching car and/or a bucket car for a coke oven and a method therefor, capable of effectively accomplishing the automatic control of the operation of the quenching car/bucket car. A quenching car/bucket car is adapted to travel on a track due to traction by a wire rope through a winch structure, to thereby reduce the load of the quenching car/bucket car applied to the track surface to prevent positional variations on the track surface. This results in the relative positional relationship of the track surface to a quenching tower, a coke wharf/CDQ and the like being ensured.

Abstract: A system for inerting a casting vessel, such as a traversable ladle or torpedo vessel, used for transporting molten metal, the vessel being positioned below the molten metal outlet opening at a transfer station, and the vessel cavity being flushed with an inert gas both prior to the molten metal inletting and during the inflow of the molten metal in such a manner as to avoid contact between the molten metal surface and the vessel and the atomospheric oxygen. A blowpipe is arranged in the vicinity of the molten metal outlet opening but does not intersect the molten metal stream, is located outside the free space profile of the vessel at least during the approach and return of the vessel, and terminates a distance from the vessel inlet opening and produces at its terminal end an inert gas stream which enters the cavity of the vessel adjacent the molten metal stream at an acute angle.

Abstract: The loading car (25) transfers the batch and deposits it on the plug (10) of the furnace (1).The batch is introduced into the furnace (1) and the latter is closed by means of the lift (12) which is lowered after the treatment to an intermediate position, from which moment the furnace (1 ) can be displaced horizontally, the lower belt (4) pushing the grid at the bottom of the batch over the cover (17) and the platform (22) of the lift (18) being in the upper position. The cover (17) ensures the imperviousness of the furnace opening to the gases protecting the batch.This lift allows the batch to be introduced into the hardening vat then brought back into a drain position and deposited on the unloading car (38) which moves along the track (36, 37).

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling drive or operation of a quenching car and/or a bucket car for a coke oven and a method therefor, capable of effectively accomplishing the automatic control of the operation of the quenching car/bucket car. A quenching car/bucket car is adapted to travel on a track due to traction by a wire rope through a winch structure, to thereby reduce the load of the quenching car/bucket car applied to the track surface to prevent positional variations on the track surface. This results in the relative positional relationship of the track surface to a quenching tower, a coke wharf/CDQ and the like being ensured.

Abstract: Two tundish cars, each detachably carrying a tundish, are supported on continuous circular rails for movement between a pouring position and a standby position spaced along the rails from a pouring position and provided with guide rails mounted above the circular rails and extending radially outwardly therefrom to a slag discharge position and to tundish reconditioning apparatus, both spaced radially outwardly of the circular rails. A shuttle truck moveable along the guide rails and provided with a hoist, lifts a tundish from its car in the standby position, transports the lifted tundish to the slag discharge position, to the reconditioning apparatus, and returns the emptied, reconditioned tundish to its car.

Abstract: There is disclosed a plant for treating and melting metals, metal compounds and/or metal alloys or for producing calcium carbide. It includes a burden-receiving shaft and a melting furnace arranged below the shaft and including a heating means. A passage opening is provided between the shaft and the melting furnace, which passage opening serves to introduce the burden present within the shaft into the melting furnace.In order to be able to introduce the hot burden into the melting furnace without difficulties and without operational failures due to charging means, a gas-permeable supporting plate rigidly arranged on the melting furnace is provided at the passage opening, corresponding to at least the shaft cross section by its cross section. A clearance is provided beside the supporting plate. The shaft is designed as a structural unit separate from the melting furnace. The shaft and the melting furnace are relatively movable with respect to each other in the direction of the clearance and back.

Abstract: Two tundish transport trucks move in alternate relation between a pouring position and a tundish preheating position. A swivel table is disposed at the forward end of a transport rail which extends laterally from the pouring station for guiding the tundish transport truck for movement thereon. Provided on the swivel table are a pair of swivel rails such that one of the rails is connected to the travel rail and the other is positioned in corresponding relation to a tundish preheating device. When the swivel table turns with the tundish transport trucks mounted on corresponding swivel rails, a preheated tundish is delivered to the pouring position and a used tundish is subjected to repair and preheating so as to be ready for a next tundish changing operation.

Abstract: A steel mill system includes a metallurgical furnace and a further processing system such as a continuous casting system and/or one or more stations for treatment of the steel melt. At least one steel ladle is loaded with steel melt below the metallurgical furnace and is moved between the metallurgical furnace and the further processing system. The steel melt is then emptied into the further processing system. In the region of its upper half, the steel ladle is equipped with a carrying mechanism which includes diametrically oppositely disposed running wheels. The steel ladle is movable in a suspended position between the metallurgical furnace, and the further processing system on rails which are adapted to the carrying mechanism.

Abstract: An upper line comprises three furnaces 1, 2, 3 and a washing machine 4, in straight side-by-side arrangement. A lower line comprises movable treatment elements 7, 8, 9 movable on conveyor track 5, and fixed vat 17. Car 6 permits feeding all the elements of the upper line, as well as materials handling equipment 11, from entry station 20. Elements 7, 8, 9 and 17 can be fed either directly from the furnaces 1, 2, 3 via the materials handling equipment 11.

Abstract: A light-weight ladle lid cooperates with a lifting assembly positioned to remove the ladle lid as the ladle moves toward a filling location, and to allow the lid to be drawn back down onto the ladle when the latter retraces its path. The assembly has ramp-like fingers which engage horizontal pins supported from the lid. The lid is hinged to the ladle by pins received in but disengageable from slots.

Abstract: In the operation of mills for the production of steel from molten pig iron and solid ferrous carriers, it is sought for economic reasons to increase the portion of solid ferrous carriers. To supply thermal carriers, such as fossile fuels, as is known, involves the disadvantages of extended charging times and of undesired accompanying elements introduced into the process.To avoid these disadvantages, the invention provides for a combination of at least one steel converter with a direct reduction plant, a meltdown gasifier and a cupola. Therein, sponge iron discharged from the direct reduction plant is melted to pig iron in the meltdown gasifier, on the one hand, and is used as solid charge for the converter. Scrap, together with coke, is melted in the cupola to blown metal, the latter, together with the pig iron produced in the meltdown gasifier, being supplied to the converter as liquid charge.

Abstract: Device to handle ladles in cooperation with the casting zone (45) in continuous casting, casting into ingot moulds or forms or mixed casting, such device providing independent, coaxial arms able to rotate by a continuous 360.degree. rotation and to support the ladle (14), such rotary arms (27) also handling the ladle (14) in a tapping station (43) in cooperation with a smelting furnace (11).

Abstract: An improved tilting lug assembly for a metallurgical ladle includes an elongated hooking link having one end portion pivotally mounted on the sidewall of the ladle by a rigid support bracket positioned substantially 90.degree. circumferentially from the ladle trunion axis, with an open eye on the other end of the hooking link. The hooking link is normally biased to a substantially horizontal position with the open eye projecting outwardly from the ladle sidewall in position to be easily engaged by the lifting hook of a crane for tilting the ladle, with the link being freely pivotable in an upward direction on application on an upwardly directed force and being pivoted downward from the normal horizontal position against the biasing means upon application of a downward force whereby engagement of the hooking link with an obstruction during raising or lowering the crane will not result in inadvertent tilting of the ladle.

Abstract: A vehicle for transporting heavy loads on parallel tracks is disclosed. Two of the wheels of the vehicle are fixedly mounted to the vehicle frame, while the remaining wheels are mounted so that they can vertically adjust to deviations in the height of the rail track. In this manner, heavy loads can be transported on the rail tracks without any particular wheel becoming overloaded.In the preferred embodiment, the adjustable wheels are supported by bell crank levers which are themselves connected to one another by a parallelogram linkage arrangement.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating metallic zinc from zinc-containing residues includes a tank which is coolable by the flow of air through a helicoidal conduit that is open radically to the outside via upper and lower orifices and formed within a chamber surrounding the tanks internal refractory coating. A radial flow of molten material against the tank walls is produced by the driven blades of a paddle wheel. Air is supplied to the tank via an air intake in the closure cover. An upper annulr chamber around the cover's seating communicates with the tank's interior via the cover and has an external orifice for connection of a suction conduit.

Abstract: A method of treating, in a vertical grate furnace, raw materials in an iron reduction process is disclosed. The raw materials are fed onto a grate-containing section which is separated from at least one other section of the grate furnace. Subsequently, the grate-containing section is attached to the other section or sections by moving the other section or sections upwardly or downwardly so as to achieve and maintain gastight conditions between the grate-containing section and the other section(s). The raw materials then undergo preliminary heat treatment in the grate furnace. Finally, the grate is tilted to discharge the treated materials from the grate furnace through an outlet provided on the side wall of the furnace.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for emptying bottle cars 22 of hot metal and slag. A rotatable bottle 24 is mounted to a railroad car for movement of molten iron between a blast furnace and a steel making facility such as a basic oxygen furnace or the like. To facilitate emptying the bottle, a section 32 of railroad track, shorter than the length between the wheels of the car, is moved transversely from beneath the bottle to one side of the car and the bottle rotated as much as 180.degree. to pour contents of the bottle from a central opening into a receiving ladle 14 below the track. The path of the contents passes through the area from which the track section was removed. Stops 50 prevent movement of the bottle car after the section has been moved.

Abstract: An improved digester method and apparatus particularly useful in the digestion stage of a process for the beneficiation of titaniferous iron ores and the like. A discharge nozzle is connected to a portion of the digester and the digested material is pumped from the digester via a pump connected to the discharge nozzle. In one aspect, fluid from a fluid source is passed through a portion of the discharge nozzle and into the interior of the digester for dislodging any solid-like masses prior to discharging the digested material and, in another aspect, fluid from the fluid source is passed into the discharging digested material from the digester.

Abstract: A method for producing steels within a very close analysis tolerance in which the raw materials are melted down in a first vessel, the melt is then tapped into a second vessel in which deslagging is accomplished, and thereafter the melt is subjected to treatment under a vacuum. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also described.

Abstract: Apparatus for collection of tapping gases to prevent worker exposure to them is disclosed.The apparatus comprises a plurality of screens in combination with an opening in the floor positioned so that tapping gases are removed by the smoke hood without the need for separate tapping gas removal apparatus.

Abstract: Arrangements of apparatus are provided for the automatic sequential additive treatment of metal smelts in a metal smelting plant in order to control and alter the component materials of the smelts, without the need for the physical transfer from the main production line plant to other areas for processing. Moreover, the arrangement herein brings about the required results without blocking or otherwise hindering the conventional access areas of the main production line, and provides a more accurate control of processing temperatures of the smelts during treatment procedures. This is achieved by incorporating a treatment station either in or adjacent the main production line, which station includes a plurality of treatment areas as required with branch lines parallel to or perpendicular to the main production line.