GB2162337A

GB2162337A - A device for the control of a flow of a fluid

Info

Publication number: GB2162337A
Application number: GB8513775A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Institut de Recherches de la Siderurgie Francaise IRSID
Current assignee: Institut de Recherches de la Siderurgie Francaise IRSID
Priority date: 1984-06-06
Filing date: 1985-05-31
Publication date: 1986-01-29
Also published as: CA1285852C; KR890004779B1; AT388885B; ATA170185A; AU4304985A; FR2565709A1; KR860000104A; LU85920A1; JPS613214A; SE8502775D0; IT8509422A0; SE8502775L; ES295988U; FR2565709B1; IT1214912B; ES295988Y; DE3518802A1; GB2162337B; BE902559A; GB8513775D0

Abstract

A device for control of the flow of a cooling fluid in a main conduit (1), comprises a plurality of calibrated conduits (4) arranged in parallel to the main conduit and each being provided with a stop valve (5), these parallel valves (5) having a common control (7) eg. a microprocessor. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A device for the control of a flow of a fluid The present invention relates to a device for the control of the flow of a fluid, more particularly a cooling fluid, in a conduit.

It is well known, e.g., from U.S. Patents Nos. 4,308,881 and 4,312,034, that the success of a cooling treatment by means of a water sheath in producing the qualities desired for steel wire or bars is dependent upon careful management of the parameters of such treatment.

In prior art installations, the flow in the main conduit is normally controlled by means of a motor-driven valve whose continuously adjustable degree of opening defines the section of the flow passage. Such an arrangement is satisfactory when the parameters are stable or change only gradually. However, when the cooling conditions must be altered suddenly, it has been found that there is a more or less extended transitional delay in the response of the valve, which often adversely affects the precision of the flow which is obtained.

An object of the invention is the provision of a system which overcomes or mitigates this disadvantage by means of an extremely rapid flow adjustment which has little or no adverse effect on precision.

According to the invention, there is provided a device for the control of the flow of a fluid in a main conduit, comprising a shuntconnected plurality of calibrated discharge conduits arranged in parallel, each of said discharge conduits being provided with a stop valve. Control means are generally provided for controlling the positions "open or closed" of these valves.

Thus, due to the calibration of the parallel conduits, which calibration can be effected precisely, e.g. by use of existing technology, the flow may be adjusted with great precision, by increments dependent on the calibrated sections which are selected. The calibrated conduits, which may or may not be identical, may be employed in any combination, both as to number and cross section, as may be required in order to produce in the main conduit the quantities of flow required in the cooling treatment.

The use of stop valves (solenoid valves, for example) makes it possible to achieve a response delay which is practically zero.

The control means are preferably a microprocessor which controls obstruction of the valves as a function of a desired quantity of flow input by an operator or calculated automatically from the parameters of the treatment.

Preferably the liquid withdrawn from the main conduit by means of the discharge conduits is recycled to the main conduit upstream of the shunt.

It is also desirable for the calibrated conduits to debouch into a collective discharge conduit inserted in the main conduit. Such an arrangement has proved particularly satisfactory during use, since it avoids any significant hydraulic turbulance in the main conduit.

The invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, in the single figure of which an embodiment of the invention is shown schematically by way of example, and by reference to the following description.

The single figure of the drawing shows a main conduit 1 for supplying cooling water, through the intermediary of an annular distribution chamber 2, to a conduit 9, along the axis of travel of a steel bar 10 to be cooled, surrounded by a sheath of water (not shown) circùlating in either the same or the opposite direction as the said bar 10.

ABcording to this embodiment of the inven to this collection discharge conduit been inserted on the main conduit 1, with parallel calibrated conduits 4 each equipped with a solenoid valve 5. The outputs of the calibrated conduits 4 may be collected in a return collector 6 which recycles the water into the circuit of main conduit 1.

Valves 5 are controlled by a microprocessor 7, which may also control a general stop valve 8 located in main conduit 1 upstream of the point of entry of collection conduit 3 in the direction of flow of the cooling fluid.

The system operates in the following manner: Supply conduit 1 is so dimensioned that, for a given water entry pressure (normally 7 to 10 bars) assuring an adequate speed for the sheath of water in cooling conduit 9, maximum flow in the latter results. Under these conditions, solenoid valves 5 are hence normally closed. Microprocessor 7 then controls the opening of one or more valves 5, in order to reduce the water flow in conduit 9 by a desired amount.

In another embodiment, valves 5 may be in normally open positions, and in that case their closure is controlled when it is desired to increae the flow of cooling fluid.

It will be understood that various combinations of the two described embodiments may be used; the choice may be made on the basis of the types of valves which are available, with the understanding that with one type of valve, the closing operation is faster, and with the other type, the opening operation is faster.

The invention is applicable not only to cooling, or to the cooling of metal products proceeding along a line of travel in a sheath of water, but also to any field in which a flow of non-compressible fluids, such as liquids, is to be altered rapidly and precisely.

Claims

1. A device for the control of the flow of a fluid in a main conduit, comprising a shuntconnected plurality of calibrated discharge conduits arranged in parallel, each of said discharge conduits being provided with a stop valve.

2. A device according to claim 1, which further comprises control means for controlling the operation of the stop valves.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said control means comprise a microprocessor.

4. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein said discharge conduits have diameters substantially equal to each other.

5. A device according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein certain of said discharge conduits have diameters different from each other.

6. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein said discharge conduits are arranged to debouch into a collection discharge conduit arranged in said main conduit.

7. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein each said stop valve comprises a solenoid valve.

8. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein said stop valves are arranged to be a normally closed position.

9. A device according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein said stop valves are arranged to be in a normally open position.

10. A device for the control of the flow of a fluid in a main conduit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

11. A device according to any preceding claim, incorporated into a cooling apparatus for metal bar or wire.

1 2. A cooling apparatus for metal bar or wire incorporating a device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10.

1 3. The features hereinbefore disclosed, or their equivalents, in any novel selection.