Automatically controlled billet retrieval from a continuous furnace

Billets for a rolling mill were usually heated in a furnace where filling, inner transport and retrieval of the billets were performed by means of a manually controlled chain conveyer belt. The operator had to check visually the state of a retrieved billet to manipulate the drives at the necessary moments. Application of a radiometric radioactive relay has made the automatic control feasible. A multipurpose radioactive relay made in DDR has been employed. The emitter was placed in the unloading funnel and the probe was put over the furnace roof. The system permits both mannual and automatic control of the billet pusher and the chain conveyor belt. Four-years operation of the system has demonstrated its high reliability, safety and considerable operators job facilitating