US2392806A - Mechanism for controlling the flow of fluid or gas - Google Patents

Description

Jm 1946- J. H. BUC KNAM ETAL 2,392,806

MECHANISM FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW FLUID OR GAS Filed Oct. 8, 19 41 5 Shee ts-Sheet 1 INVENTORS JAMES H. BUCKNAM EDWARD MEINCKE' LLOYD w. YOUNG ATTORNEY Jan. 15, 1946. .1. H. BUCKNAM ETAL I MECHANISM FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW 0F Filed Oct. 8, 1941 FLUID OR GAS 5' Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS JAMES H. BUCKNAM EDWARD MEINCKE LLOYD W. YOUNG ATTORNEY Jan.-15, 1946.

J. H. BUCKNAM ET AL MECHANISM FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF FLUID OR GAS Filed Oct. 8, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS JAMES H. BUCKNAM EDWARD MEINCKE LLOYD W. YOUNG ATTORNEY' J. H. BUCKNAM ETAL 2,392,806

MECHANISM FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF FLUID OR GAS Filed Oct. 8/1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 lll IIIWUHW.

,"IHII HIIIIIW mum INVENTORS JAMES H. BUCKNAM EDWARD MEINCKE LLOYD w. YOUNG ATTORNEY V'BY z I Jan. 15, 1946. BUCKNAM rA I 2,392,806

MECHANISM FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF FLUID OR GAS Filed Oct. 8, 1941 '5 Sheets-Sheet 5 v INVENTORS JAMES H. BUCKNAM EDWARD MEINCKE LLOYD W. YOUNG ATTORNEY Patented Jan 15, 1946 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE,

MECHANISM FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF FLUID 08 GAS James H. Buchnam, Cranford, and Edward Meincke and Lloyd W. Young, Scotch Plains, N. 1., assignors to ThcLinde Air Products Company, a corporation of Ohio Application 0mm 8. 1941, Serial m. 414,0

1: Claims. (cl. zoo-2:)

This invention relate to the art of controlling the flow of fluid or gas under pressure and more particularly to a mechanism for selectively turnin on or oil the flow of gas to a predetermined number of ports, nozzles, and the like in a metal surface conditioning apparatus.

Machines for thermochemically and for thermally conditioning a surfaceof a metal body by applying a gaseous stream against and along such a surface are comparatively well known. Desurfacing machines usually include at least one row of nomles each of which, is adapted to discharge a Jet of oxidizing g is nd one or more jets of combustible gas. which upon ignition, burn to form preheating flames. The nozzles are'preferably so spaced that the lateral portions of the individual jets of oxidizing gas merge to form a substantially sheet-like stream for thermochemically removing a relatively shallow layer of surface metal from a ferrous metal body such as a steel billet. More recently desurfacing machines have been developed for conditioning the longitudinal surfaces of each of a succession of ferrous.

metal bodies of the same size or or diflerent sizes. In such adjustable desuriacing machines, much valuable gas would be wasted if a desurfacing gas stream of maximum width were employed when conditioning surfaces of less width than the maximum width capable of being desurfaced by i said stream.

' ales so that the width of the composite shGQt-HkQ stream of oxidizing gas and preferably the length 'of the row of preheating'flames can be varied in accordance with the width of the surface undergoing treatment.

able means located at a point remote from the desurfacing machine; to provide such a mechanism which can be readily adapted to automatically vary the width of the gas stream produced by a blowpipe in accordance with the width of the work surface; and, to provide such a mechanism which is of rugged construction and is cmvenient to operate and maintain.

These and other objects and novel features of this invention will become more apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a front elevational view of a desurfacing machine embodying the principles of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is aJragmentary view of the top and bottom desurfacing heads and is taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3-13 an enlarged fragmentary view of the desurfacing heads adjusted about a workpiece of smaller size;

Figs. 4 and 4a are enlarged plan views oi the valving mechanism for one of the desuriacing heads and with portions broken away to show 7 the internal structure;

.Figs. 5 and 5a are side elevational views of the valving mechanism of Figs. 4 and 4a; and,

Fig. 6 is a schematic representation of the electrical control means for the valving means for one pair of oppositely disposed desurfacing heads.

Referring to the drawings which show a desurfacing machine including a gas flow controlling or valving mechanism embodying the princi-,

. ples of the present invention, the steel bodies The principal objects oi the present invention 7 are to provide an improved valving mechanism for quickly and accurately selectively controlling the flow oi gas or fluid to a predetermined num-' ber of ports, in order to delivers fluid stream having any one of a number of diiierent widths; toprovidesuchamechanismior-adiusting the width of a composite gas stream; to provide such amechanism for quicklyandaccuratelyvarying thewidthoiagasstreamsccordingtothswidth ofthesurface against which'such gasstreamls which are'being desurfaced are preferably supported and longitudinally moved past the desurfacing machine D by a roll table conveyor, not shown, of the type generally employed in steel mills for conveying semi-finished steel bodies from one rolling operation to another. The desurfacing machine D preferably includes four,

wheels W by which it is mounted on rails R for transverse movement into and out of 'operative alignment with the path or movement of the steel bodies. The machine D also includes an We deem-facing unit U mounted on a transverse beam E and a similar lower desuriacing unit L mounted onasimiiartransversebeaml". Botholthe beams E and I" are movable both verticallyrand applied; to provide such a mechanilm'which can readily be operated and controlled through suitss facing head II and for conditioning th top horizontally in a' vertical plane perpendicular to the path of the workpiece, whereby the units U and L can be moved toward and away from the workpiece, such as a billet B.

upp r desurfscing unit U includes desurand right-hand longitudinal surfaces of the billet 13. Similarly, the unit L includes desurfacing heads i3 and H for conditioning the bottom and left-hand longitudinal surfaces of the billet. The desurfacing heads ill, H, II, and Il are 50 constructed and arranged that the area of the opening enclosed by the heads may be varied, whereby the longitudinal surfaces of each of a succession of ferrous metal bodies of the same size or of different sizes may be readily desurfaced.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, all of the desurfacing heads are substantially similar and each includes a nozzle block Ii adapted to receive and operatively retain therein a row of nozzles N. Each head also includes a nozzle protecting shoe I I which is fastened to the block i6 and fully encloses the nozzles N except the outlet ends thereof. These desurfacing heads may be the same as, or, similar to the desurfacing heads or blowpipe heads shown and described in United States application Serial No. 334,510, filed May 11, 1940, by A. M. Keller, now issued as United States Patent 2,312,418.

The desurfacing machine D may be of any suitable type and may be similar to or the same as the desurfacing machine shown and described in the copending United States application Serial No. 414,120, filed October 8, 1941, by R. Chelborg et al., now issued as United States Patent Each of the nozzle blocks Ii contains suitable passages for separately supplying oxidizing gas. such as oxygen, to the central, relatively large oxygen passage of each of the nozzles N and also contains suitable passages for separately supplying a combustible gas mixture, such as a mixture of acetylene and oxygen, to the annularly disposed pre-heat passages of each of the nozzles N.

Referring to Fig. 2, preheat acetylene and preheat oxygen are supplied to a mixer through tubes 2| and 22 and are mixed therein to form a combustible mixture of preheat gas. The mixed preheat gases flow from mixer 20 through tube 23 and a corresponding passage in nozzle block i6 to the inlet end of the preheat passage, (or passages), in the corresponding one of the nozzles N. The mixed gases are discharged in the form of one Or more jets from each of the nozzles and upon ignition burn to form preheat flames to heat a starting zone to the oxygen ignition temperature and/or to aid in more efllciently thermochemically removing surface metal. Desurfacing oxygen is supplied through the tube 24 and a asoaeoe placement. Preheat acetylene is supplied to block 26 through a series of gas supply lines or conduits 21. Each conduit 21 communicates through a passage in block 28 with two of the tubes 2| excent the conduit 21 which is nearest the end 2!. Similarly, preheat oxygen is supplied to the block 26 through a series of lines 20 and each of the lines 28 communicates through a passage in block 28 with two of the tubes 22 except the line 28 nearest the end 29. The pair of lines 21 and 20 nearest the end 29 of head I! communicate with a single pair of tubes 2| and 22, respectively. Thus, when the flow of gas through one pair of lines 21 and 28, except for the first pair, is turned off or on, the preheat gases for two of the nozzles N are turned oil or on. Desurfacing oxygen supplied to the block 26 through a series of lines 30 and each line ill communicates with a corresponding one of the lines 24 by means of a suitable passage in the connecting block 26 so that turning on or off the flow of oxygen in one of the connecting passage in the block l6 to the inlet.

end of the central oxygen passage in a corresponding one of the nozzles N so that each nozzle also discharges through a suitable relatively large discharge port a relatively voluminous jet of oxygen which is applied obliquely against and along the surface of the work to thermochemically react with the heated surface metal to remove a relatively shallow layer of such metal. The nozzles N in a row are preferably so spaced that the lateral portions of the individual Jets of oxygen merge to form a composite sheet-like stream of oxygen which will remove a relatively shallow layer of metal substantially uniform in depth.

There is a group of tubes 2|, 22 and 24 for each nozzle in each row, and all of the tubes 2| and 22 and line 24 for each of the heads are connected to a block 26. Block 26 provides means for quickly and easily connecting and disconnecting the gas lines so that the corresponding head can readily be removed from the machine for repair or relines 20 turns on or ofl the flow of oxygen for one corresponding nozzle N.

When steel :bodies of different cross-sectional dimensions are successively desurfaced, the width of the composite gaseous stream from each of the heads II), II, II and I4 must be changed in accordance with the width of the corresponding longitudinal surface. If the width of the steel body to be desurfaced is wider or narrower than the preceding body, the effective width of the top and bottom heads I0 and I! must be changed and similarly, if the vertical thickness of the body to be desurfaced is wider or narrower than the thickness of the preceding body, the effective width of the side heads II and I4 must also be changed accordingly. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, when desurfacing rectangular bodies of different and the same sizes, the opposite heads must be adapted to desurface surfaces of the same width and accordingly electrical connections are provided, which ar more fully hereinafter de scribed, so that the effective widths of the opposite pairs of heads are changed simultaneously and equally.

As described in the previously mentioned copending United States Patent No. 2,323,977, the desurfacing heads are so arranged and supported that the heads can readily be adjusted toward and away from the center of the enclosed area to vary the size and shape of this area in accordance with the cross-sectional size of the body to be desurfaced. To permit such adjustment of the heads, a similar end 29 of each head is positioned inside of the adjacent head so that the effective width and the exposed width of each head is measured from the end 29; thus, when the effective width of a head is to be reduced, the flow of gases to the nozzles farthest from the end 29 are progressively turned off until the effective width has been reduced the desired amount.

As explained, the apparatus according to the present invention provides fluid control mechanism for discharging a fluid stream having any selected one of a number of different widths of a predetermined maximum or less. Separate mechanisms are provided for controlling the effectlve widths of the gas streams discharged by each of the heads and, as these mechanisms are substantially similar, only one such mechanism will be described in detail. These mechanisms may be mounted in any suitable location or may be mounted on the rear of the corresponding desurfacing units U and L, but preferably are r motely controlled.

ascasoe 3 Referring more particularly to Figs. 4 to So showing the control mechanism and valving device for varying the effective width of the bottom desurfacing head I3, such mechanism includes a preheat oxygen valve manifold 32 and a preheat acetylene valve manifold 33. The manifold 32 includes two lengths of tubing 35 and 36 connected together by a T-connection 31 and closed at one end by a cap'39. The other end of the manifold is closed by a packing gland 40 having a piston rod 4| extending therethrough. The inner end of rod 4| has a valve member or piston head 42 attached thereto which is lon' fold tubing 35 so that the gas can flow from tube 44 to these three nozzles without interruption except. when the tube 44 is closed and the entire flow of preheat oxygen is shut off.

A series or four similar collars 45, each having an internal annular groove formed therein, are

attached to the tube 36 by welding or other suitable means so that a gas chamber 41 is formed between the outside of tube 36 and the inside of collar 45. For each collar 45 and chamber 41 there is a gas passage or outlet orifice 48 formed in the wall of tube 36. A nipple 49 is connected to each collar 45 and each nipple is also connected to one end of one of the lines 28. Thus, preheat oxygen can flow from tube 44, pipe 36, and the four lines 26 to the eight nozzles N which are farthest from the end 29. when the piston rod 4| is moved toward the right from the position J shown in Fig. 4a, the flow of gas to the chambers 41 and the corresponding nozzles is progressively shut off starting with the nozzle farthest from the end 29 so that the effective width of preheating flame provided by the head I3 is progressively reduced. With the apparatus shown, the effective width of the head l3 cannot be reduced to less than the five nozzles which are supplied by the three lines 26 connected to tube 35, except when the flow of gas is shut off for the entire manifold 32. However, the range of width variation may be increased, if desired.

The preheat acetylene valve manifold 33 is substantially the same as the manifold 32. The manifold 33 includes two lengths of pipe 35 and 36' connected by a T-connection 31' and closed at one end by a cap 39' and at the other end by a packing gland 40'. Acetylene gas is supplied to the manifold 33 from a suitable source through a tube 52 connected to the manifold through the T-connection 31'. A piston rod extends through the gland 40' and has a piston (not shown) on its inner end which can be moved longitudinally in the pipe 36' to turn on or oil" the flow of acetylene gas'through thevcollars 45' to the four lines 21 and the eight nozzles farthest from the end 29 of head l3. Acetylene gas flows without interruption through pipe 35' and the I three lines 21 connected thereto-to the five nozzles nearest the end 29-exce'pt when the entire flow of gas is shut off.

The desurfacing oxygen manifold 53 includes by a cap 51 and at the other end by a gland 59.

A piston rod 60 extends through the gland 59 into the tube 55 and has attached to its inner end a piston 62 including a gasket 63. The rod is longitudlnally movable and the gasket 63 prevents escape of gas past the piston 62. Desurfacing oxygen is supplied to the manifold 53 from a suitable source through the pipe 64. Eight collars 66 are attached to the outside of tube 55 by welding or other suitable means so as to form annular chambers 61. For each collar 66, a pas-"2 sage 68 is formed in the, wall of tube 55 so that desurfacing oxygen can flow from the tube to each of the chambers 61. An elbow, connection 10 is connected to each of the collars 66 and to one of the lines 30 which supplies desurfacing oxygen to one of the nozzles N. Five of the lines 30 are connected directly to the tube 54 so that oxygen can flow without interruption to the five nozzles nearest the ends 29. except when the entire flow of desurfacing oxygen to the manifold 53 is shut off. 7

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the outerends of the piston rods 4|, 5|, and 66 are fastened together by the member so that they move in unison. The desurfacing oxygen is shut off in increments of one nozzle whereas the preheat'gases are shut off in increments of two nozzles so that, for instance when the composite desurfacing oxygen stream has been reduced to eight nozzles, the

preheat flames are on for nine nozzles. The preheat gases are turned on and off for two nozzles at a time to reduce the number of connections but the number of connections could be readily increased so that preheat gases ould be turned on or off for one nozzle at a time.

A rod I3 is slidingly mounted in the bearing 14 and is attached to member A portion 15 of rod 13 has teeth out therein to form a rack for meshing with a pinion l6 keyed to theshaft 11 which is directly connected to the output shaft of a speed-reducer I9 operativel connected to the reversible motor M. When the motor M is energized, the shaft l1 and pinion 16 are rotated to move the piston rods 4|, 5| and 60 either toward the right or toward the left to reduce or increase the effective width of the head la depending upon whether the motor M is so energized as to rotate in a forward or rearward direction.

On the shaft 11 there is keyed a spur gear meshing with a spur gear 6| keyed to a shaft. On the shaft there is mounted both a rotating switch 64 and a reversing switch 65. The contact engaging arms -of both switches 64 and 65 are connected to shaft 82 so that when shaft 32 is rotated, the arms of switches 64 and 65 are moved in unison. The contact arm of switch 64 is progressively moved into engagement with the different contacts 86 and the contact arm of switch may be moved into engagement with one of the contacts 61 or I20; All of these contacts are connected by wires in conduit 90 to an operator device or nozzle selector switch of the control mechanism as will now be more fully,

top and-bottom heads lll'and l3. The switch 95. includes a movable contact-engaging arm 36 and a series of contacts numbered 5 to l3 and when the arm is moved into engagement with an one of these contacts the number of the engaged contact corresponds to the number of nozzles in each of the top and bottom heads which are discharging gas jets and corresponds to the effective width of the top and bottom heads as measured by the number of effective nozzles. The contacts of switch 95 are directly electricall connected to similarly numbered contacts of the switch N which in turn controls the motor M which actuates the piston rods 4 I, I, and N to cut in or out the desired number of nozzles. The contacts of switch 95 are also electrically connected to simi larly numbered contacts of the switch ll which controls a motor M. The motor M is similar to motor M and similarly actuates a similar con trol or valving mechanism for the top head so I that the nozzle selector switch 88 controls the effective width of both the top and bottom heads I0 and I3,

As shown in Fig. 6, the nozzle selector switch 55 has been manually set for eleven nozzles and the motors M and M have actuated the respective control mechanisms so that there are eleven effective nozzles adjacent the end 2! for each of the heads I 3 and III. When the number of nozzles for which the switch 95 is set have been cut in, the relay 99 is energized to stop the motors M and M. The relay 99 is energized by completing the circuit from line LI, line I", contact arm 95, and contact No. 11 of switch 85,1ine I02, switch 84, line I03, relay 89 and line I N to line L2 and the normall closed contacts I" are opened and the normally open contacts I" are closed which short circuits the armature a of motor M so that it acts as a brake. Similarly, when the motor M has opened the predetermined selected number of nozzles for which the switch 95 has been set, the relay 9! is energized to short circuit the motor M.

The nozzle selector switch can also be operated to reduce the number of effective nozzles. Assuming that the motors M and M have been running in a forward direction, that is, the number of nozzles was increased from nine to eleven and assuming that the number of effective nozzles must now be reduced to seven, the contact arm 86 of the switch 95 is manually moved from engagement with contact No. 11 to engagement with contact No. 7 of switch 9!, which breaks the circuit to relays 99 and 99 and the normally closed contacts I08 and IN are closed and the normally closed contacts III and III are opened. When the relay 9! is de-energized, the circuit to the motor M is completed from line L2, motor field I, line IIII, contacts III, line III, the motor armature a, line II 3, contacts H5, line Ill. contacts I08, lines I I! and Hi to the line LI which causes the motor M to run in the forward direction. Similarly, when the relay 9! is de-energized the circuit for the motor M is completed througha similar circuit.

As the'motor M runs in a forward direction, it moves the contact arms of switches 84 and ll in unison and in the anti-clockwise direction. When contact arm of switch I engages the contact I20, the time delay III is energized and after a predetermined time delay, the normall open contacts I22 are closed to energize the relay III to open the contacts III and II! and close the contacts I24 and I2! which reverses the motor M. As the motor M rotates in a reverse direction the contact arms of switches N and "are moved in the clockwise direction which moves the contact arm of switch I! out of engagement with the contact 620 so that relays HI and III are de-energized but the position of the contacts tive nozzles.

III, III, I24 and I" does not change. When the contact arm of switch N has moved far enough in the clockwise direction to engage its contact No. 7, the relay 9! is energized to stop the motor at which time there will be seven effec- The electrical circuit for the motor M'is similar to the circuit of motor M so that when the motor M is reversed the motor M' is reversed and the effective width of the top and bottom heads is always the same.

lift is again desired to increase the number oi nozzles, the nozzle selector arm 00 can be manually moved into engagement with contact No. 10, for instance, and the motor M will be energized soas to rotate in the reverse direction until the contact arm of switch I! engages contact If to complete the circuit to the time delay relay III. After a short interval the contacts I2. are closed to energize the relay I" to open contacts I25 and I and close contacts II! and III which reverses the motor M and causes it again to run in the forward direction.

Thecircuit for the motor M is the same as the circuit for the motor M and the latter circuit will not be described in detail.

The operator can readily operate the nozzle selector switch to cut in or out the desired number of nozzles and vary the effective widths of the top and bottom heads. A similar selector switch and electrical circuit is provided for changing the effective widths of the side heads.

To operate the desurfacing' machine D, the nozzle selector switch as and a second similar switch (not shown) are manually operated to ad- Just the effective widths of the heads in accord ance with the widths of the corresponding longitudinal surfaces. The workpiece, such as a billet B or a slab B, is moved into the starting position and by means of a suitable control switch, the desurfacing units are moved inwardly toward the workpiece and the heads are urged into contact with it so that the heads center themselves about the workpiece to completely enclose it as shown in Figs. 1 or 3. The preheating gases are turned on and lighted and after a short pause while the preheat names heat a starting zone to the ignition temperature, the desurfacing oxygen is turned on and simultaneously the longitudinal movement of the workpiece past the heads is started, thereby progressively removing surface metal from each of the four ion8itudinal surfaces of the workpiece. After the desurfacing operation is completed, the gases are turned off and the desurfacing units are moved outwardly away from each other. If the next body to be desurfaced is of a different size. the effective widths of the heads are changed as described above, to correspond to such size.

Having described one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is obvious that various modiiications and alterations can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For instance, the principles of the improved control mechanism disclosed herein may be used in combination with other types of surface-conditioning machines; the flow of other fiuidsand/cr gases can be controlled with this control mechanism; and this control mechanism may be used to control the flow of a single gas or fluid to other types of mechanism. The terms "i'iuid and "gas" as used herein and in the claims are in erchangeable and all inclusive.

We claim:

1. A fluid flow controlling mechanism comprising, in combination, a body having a chamber asa'aaoo formed therein; an inlet passage formed in said body and communicating with said chamber for sages being spaced apart; a piston movably sunported in said chamber; a mechanism including an electrical motor for moving aid piston to such a position in said chamber as to shut of! the flow of fluid from said inlet'passage to said outlet passage and for moving said piston to such a position in said chamber as to permit the flow of fluid from said inlet passage to said outlet passage; a selector switch in the electrical circuit of said motor and selectiveLv adjustable to a predetermined setting to normally energize said motor; and a control switch in the electrical circuit of said motor and automatically operable 'by movement of said piston to de-energize said motor when said piston is in the desired predetermined position corresponding to the setting of said selector switch;

2. A gas flow controlling mechanism for turning on oroif the flow of gas to a predetermined number of a plurality of discharge ports and comprising, in combination, a valve body having a chamber formed therein; at least one inlet passage discharging into said chamber; a plurality of outlet orifices discharging from said chamber; passage means connecting said outlet orifices with such discharge ports; a substantially gas-tight piston mounted in said chamber for movement therein; an electric motor operatively connected to move said piston; an adjustable selector switch in the electrical circuit of said motor and adapted to be selectively set inaccordance with the number of desired operative ports; a control switch in the electrical circuit of said motor and operatively connected to said motor, said switches being so'electrically interconnected that said control switch stops said motor and said piston when said piston is moved to the position corresponding to the setting of said selector switch.

3. A gas flow control mechanism as claimed in claim 2 in which said selector switch includes a plurality of contacts corresponding in number to the number of said ports, and a selector arm adapted to be moved into engagement with a selected one of said contacts; and in which said control switch includes a plurality of contacts equal in number to the number of said selector switch contacts, and an arm operatively connected to said motor to be progressively moved into engagement with said control switch contacts, said selector switch contacts and said control contacts being so interconnected that said motor is de-energized when the control switch arm engages a contact corresponding to-the selector contact engaged by said selector switch arm.

4. In apparatus-for thermochemically desurfacing at least one surface of each of a succession of ferrous metal bodies of different and the same sizes, the combination of at least one desurfacing head containing a row of discharge ports substantially equal-in length to the widest surface to be desurfaced and adapted to discharge a substantially sheet-like gaseous stream obliquely and'a control mechanism adjustable to a setting selectable to correspond to the width of a particular body to be desurfaced, said control mechanism being operative'ly connected with said power-actuated device and saidvalving means to automatically adjust said valving means in accordance with a change in the setting of said control mechanism whereby the width of said stream is adjusted to correspond to the width of said particular body to be desurfaced.

5. Desurfacing apparatus according to claim 4 in which said control mechanism is constructed and arranged to initiate movement of said poweractuated device in a direction toward such adjusted condition and to automatically stop such movement when such adjusted condition is attained.

6. Apparatus for conditioning at least one surface of a metal body and comprising, i combination, a conditioning head having a row of discharge ports constructed and arranged to discharge a substantially sheet-like gaseous stream surface to be conditioned; valving means for seagainst a surface of such body, said row of ports being of a length substantially equal to the widest le'ctively controlling the flow of gas to said ports; a motor for adjusting said valving means; an adjustable selector adapted for adjustment to a set-' ting in accordance with the width of the surface to be conditioned, and switch means operatively interposed between said motor and said selector and constructed and arranged to effect operation of said motor in a direction and for a period to cause said valving means to supply gas to a sufli cient number of said ports until the width of said stream corresponds to th setting of said selector and to the width of the body to be desurfaced.

'7. In apparatus for conditioning at least one surface of each of a succession of ferrous metal bodies, the combination of a conditioning head having a row of discharge ports collectively constructed and arranged to discharge a substantially sheet-like gaseous stream against a surface of such a body, said row of ports being of a length substantially equal to the widest surface to be conditioned; an adjustable selector means adapted for adjustment to a predetermined setting in accordance with the width of the surface to be conditioned; valving means constructed and arranged to control the flow of gas to a plurallty'of said ports to deliver a gas stream having any one of a numberof widths less than and including the maximum; and mechanism for adjusting said valving means in accordance with th setting of said selector means to adjust the width of the as stream to correspond to the width of a particular surface to be conditioned.

8. Apparatus for simultaneously desurfacing the four longitudinal surfaces of each of a succession of rectangular ferrous metal bodies of the same size, or of different sizes, said apparatus comprising, in combination, four desurfacing heads adapted to enclose a rectangular passage through which such bodies are propelled, each of said heads having a row of nozzles constructed and arranged to discharge a sheet-like gaseous stream substantially equal in width to the .widest corresponding surface to be desurfaced; means supporting said heads for movement toward and away from the center of said passage whereby the transverse dimensions of said passage are adjustable in accordance with thetransverse dimen sions of the body to be desurfaced; and poweractuated, remotely controlled valving means for selectively controlling the flow of gas to a predetermined number of each of said rows of nozzles andto vary the width of the streams discharged by such rows of nozzles in accordance with the widths of the corresponding surfaces undergoing desurfacing.

9. Apparatus for simultaneously desurfacing the four longitudinal surfaces of each of a succession of rectangular ferrous metal bodies of the same size or of different sizes, said apparatus comprising, in combination, four desurfacing heads adapted to enclose a rectangular passage through which said bodies are adapted to b propelled, each of said heads having a row of nozzles substantially equal in width to the widest corresponding surface to be desurfaced and constructed and arranged to discharge a sheet-like gaseous stream against said corresponding surface; means supporting said heads for movement toward and away from the center of said passage whereby the transverse dimensions of said passage are adjustable in accordance with the transverse dimensions of the body to be desurfaced; valving means for selectively controlling the flow of gas to each of said rows of nozzles and for varying the widths of the streams discharged therefrom in accordance with the widths of the corresponding surfaces; power-operated means for adjusting each of said valving means; two selector means each adjustable to a predetermined setting in accordanc with a transverse dimension of the body to be desurfaced, each of said selector means being so constructed and arranged as to cause said power-operated means to adjust the valving means for the corresponding oppositely disposed pair of heads only when adjusted to a different setting; and control means for each of said power-operated means and operable by adjustment of said valving means to stop the adjustment of said valving means when said valving means is adjusted in accordance with the setting of the corresponding selector means.

10. In apparatus for discharging a fluid stream against a zone extending across work surfaces having any one of a number of different widths of a predetermined maximum or less width, from a row of fluid discharging ports collectively constructed and arranged to deliver a fluid stream of said predetermined maximum or less width, mechanism for changing the width of said stream to correspond substantially with the width of the work surface to be treated, said mechanism comprising valving means constructed and arranged to control the flow of fluid to a plurality of said ports in said row, to deliver a fluid stream having any one of a number of widths less than and inteluding said maximum width; a power device for actuating said valving means; and means operable by actuation of said valving means by said power device to stop said actuation when the width of said stream has been changed a predetermined amount,

11. In apparatus for discharging a fluid stream against a zone extending acros work surfaces having any one of a number of different widths of a predetermined maximum or less width, from a row of fluid discharging ports collectively constructed and arranged to deliver a fluid stream of said predetermined maximum or less width,-

mechanism for changing the width of said stream to correspond substantially with the width of the I work surface to be acted upon, said mechanism comprising valving means constructed and arranged to shut off successively the flow of fluid to a plurality of said ports, beginning with an valving means including a fluid supply manifold having outlets spaced lengthwise thereof, passages providing communication between said outlets and said ports, and a. valve member movable along said manifold from adjacent one end thereof toward the other end thereof to positions for stopping fluid flow through one or more of said outlets to one or more of said ports, means for,

shifting said valve member to any one of said positions and maintaining said valv member in such one position during treatment of a work surface, an operator device movable to positions corresponding to any one of said different widths of work, and means operatively connecting said valve member shifting means with said operator device for adjusting said valve member according to the position of said operator device.

12. In apparatus for surface conditioning metal bodies of different widths, which apparatus has at least one surface conditioning head adapted to discharge a composite sheet-like gas stream on a zone extending across a surface of such a metal body, said stream being discharged from ports in said head arranged in a row of sufficient length to condition the widest ofsuch metal bodies; a valving means controlling the flow of gas to a plurality of said ports; operator means adjustable to predetermined settings corresponding to the width of any of such metal bodies including the widest; and mechanism for adjusting said valving means in correspondence with the setting of said operator means to adjust the width of the gas stream to correspond to the width of the particular metal body to be conditioned.

13. In apparatus for surface conditioning metal bodies of different widths, which apparatus has at least one surface conditioning head adapted to discharge a composite sheet-like gas stream on a zone extending across a surface of such a-metal body, said stream being discharged from ports in said head arranged in a row of sufllcient length to condition the widest of such metal bodies; controllable means for supplying gas to said ports including a source of supply, passages for. conducting gas from said source to one or more of said ports for providing a gas stream having a width corresponding to the width of the narrowest of such bodies to be conditioned, a manifold valve independent of said passages and connected to receive gas from said source, other passages for conducting as from said manifold valve to each of the remaining ports in said row, said manifold valve being operable to deliver gas selectively to none or any number of said remaining ports, and mechanism for operating said manifold valve to deliver gas to a suflicient number of said remaining ports to provide a gas stream having a width corresponding to the width of a particular metal body to be conditioned, said mechanism including valve adjusting means, an operator device that is movable to positions corresponding to any one of said different widths of work, and means operatively connecting said valve adjusting means with said operator device for adjusting said valve device according to the position of said operator device.

14. In apparatus for surface conditioning metal bodies of different widths, which apparatus has at least one surface conditioning head adapted to discharge a composite sheet-like gas stream on a zone extending across a surface of such a metal body, said stream being discharged from ports in said head arranged in a row of sufficient length to condition the widest of such metal bodies; controllable means for supplying gas to said ports including a source of supply, a manifold valve connected to receive gas from said source, passages for conducting gas from outlets of said manifold valve to a plurality of said ports, said manifold valve comprising a cylinder ,with said outlets arranged lengthwise thereof, a piston movable lengthwise of said cylinder for successively opening or closing said outlets, mechanism for moving and positioning said piston at selectable positions along said cylinder, a selector having stop positions corresponding to outlets of said manifold valve, and means operatively connecting said selector with said mechanism and so constructed and arranged that movement of said selector to any of said stop positions effects movealong said cylinder.

15. In a desurfacer employing oxidizing gas to desurface longitudinal surfaces of metal bodies, banks of gas discharge ports, adjustable valving mechanism for controlling the delivery of gas to any predetermined but variable number of said ports, and selector means responsive to an electrical impulse for automatically controlling said valving mechanism.

16. In a desurfacer employingoxidizing gas to desurface at least two oppositely disposed longiill ment of said piston to corresponding positions tudinal surfaces of equal width on a metal body,

a bank of. uniformly spaced gas'discharge ports for each of said oppositely disposed surfaces, adjustable valving mechanism for controlling the delivery of gas to any predetermined but variable number of said ports in each of said banks, and commonly operable means responsive to a dynamic impulse for automatically adjusting said fluid stream of said predetermined maximum or less width; an adjustable valving device constructed and arranged to control the flow of fluid to a variable number of said ports in said row;

and mechanism for adjusting said valving device according to any one of said widths to supply fluid to a suflicient number of said ports for changing the width of said stream to correspond substantially with the width of the zone of the work'surface to be conditioned; said mechanism including valve adjusting means, an operator deagainst a zone of such body surfaces of anyone of a number of different widths including a maximum width; a source of supply of said gas; an adjustable manifold valve connected to receive ga from said source, said manifold valve being at an appreciable distance from said ports; elongated gas passages connecting said maniiold valve to ports in said row, said manifold valve being adjustable to deliver said gas selectively to all or any number of said passages connected thereto;

and mechanism for adjusting said manifold valve according to any one of said widths to change the width of said gas stream to correspond substantially with the width of the zone of the work surface to be conditioned; said mechanism including valve adjusting means, an operator device that is movable to positions corresponding to any one of said diflerent widths of work, and means'operativeiy connecting said valve adjusting means with said operator device for adjusting said manifold valv according to the position of said operator device.

JAMES H. BUCKNAM.

EDWARD MEINCKE.

LLOYD W. YOUNG.

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