US20190338390A1 - Method and equipment for controlled patenting of steel wire - Google Patents
Method and equipment for controlled patenting of steel wire Download PDFInfo
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- US20190338390A1 US20190338390A1 US16/473,887 US201816473887A US2019338390A1 US 20190338390 A1 US20190338390 A1 US 20190338390A1 US 201816473887 A US201816473887 A US 201816473887A US 2019338390 A1 US2019338390 A1 US 2019338390A1
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- steel wires
- coolant
- liquid
- impinging
- coolant bath
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
- C21D—MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING
- C21D9/00—Heat treatment, e.g. annealing, hardening, quenching or tempering, adapted for particular articles; Furnaces therefor
- C21D9/52—Heat treatment, e.g. annealing, hardening, quenching or tempering, adapted for particular articles; Furnaces therefor for wires; for strips ; for rods of unlimited length
- C21D9/54—Furnaces for treating strips or wire
- C21D9/56—Continuous furnaces for strip or wire
- C21D9/573—Continuous furnaces for strip or wire with cooling
- C21D9/5732—Continuous furnaces for strip or wire with cooling of wires; of rods
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
- C21D—MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING
- C21D1/00—General methods or devices for heat treatment, e.g. annealing, hardening, quenching or tempering
- C21D1/62—Quenching devices
- C21D1/63—Quenching devices for bath quenching
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
- C21D—MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING
- C21D1/00—General methods or devices for heat treatment, e.g. annealing, hardening, quenching or tempering
- C21D1/62—Quenching devices
- C21D1/63—Quenching devices for bath quenching
- C21D1/64—Quenching devices for bath quenching with circulating liquids
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
- C21D—MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING
- C21D9/00—Heat treatment, e.g. annealing, hardening, quenching or tempering, adapted for particular articles; Furnaces therefor
- C21D9/52—Heat treatment, e.g. annealing, hardening, quenching or tempering, adapted for particular articles; Furnaces therefor for wires; for strips ; for rods of unlimited length
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
- C21D—MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING
- C21D9/00—Heat treatment, e.g. annealing, hardening, quenching or tempering, adapted for particular articles; Furnaces therefor
- C21D9/52—Heat treatment, e.g. annealing, hardening, quenching or tempering, adapted for particular articles; Furnaces therefor for wires; for strips ; for rods of unlimited length
- C21D9/54—Furnaces for treating strips or wire
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
- C21D—MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING
- C21D2211/00—Microstructure comprising significant phases
- C21D2211/001—Austenite
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
- C21D—MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING
- C21D2211/00—Microstructure comprising significant phases
- C21D2211/009—Pearlite
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
- C21D—MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING
- C21D9/00—Heat treatment, e.g. annealing, hardening, quenching or tempering, adapted for particular articles; Furnaces therefor
- C21D9/52—Heat treatment, e.g. annealing, hardening, quenching or tempering, adapted for particular articles; Furnaces therefor for wires; for strips ; for rods of unlimited length
- C21D9/54—Furnaces for treating strips or wire
- C21D9/56—Continuous furnaces for strip or wire
- C21D9/573—Continuous furnaces for strip or wire with cooling
Definitions
- the invention relates to methods and equipment for patenting of steel wires in which coolant baths comprising water as coolant liquid are used.
- Patenting of steel wires involves conversion of the steel wire in a furnace or via other heating means into austenite; and cooling the austenite steel wires in a controlled way to a pearlite structure.
- the obtained pearlite structure is a fine pearlite structure, also called sorbite.
- the pearlite structure is uniform over the cross section of the steel wire. It is preferred that the pearlite structure is free from bainite or martensite. The pearlite structure allows drawing of the steel wires to finer diameters.
- EP0524689A1 discloses a process of patenting at least one steel wire with diameter less than 2.8 mm.
- the cooling is alternatingly done by film boiling in water during one or more water cooling periods and in air during one or more air cooling periods.
- a water cooling period immediately follows an air cooling period and vice versa.
- the speed of cooling in water is high, while the speed of cooling in air is much lower.
- the high speed of cooling in water poses a serious risk for wires with a diameter less than 2.8 mm.
- Cooling in air in between cooling in water sections is performed in order to slow down the cooling of the steel wires.
- the number of the water cooling periods, the number of the air cooling periods and the length of each water cooling period are so chosen so as to avoid the formation of martensite or bainite.
- WO2014/118089A1 entitled “Forced water cooling of thick steel wires” discloses a forced cooling process on straight steel wires having a diameter larger than 5 mm. An impinging liquid immersed inside a coolant bath is directed to the steel wire to accelerate the cooling speed of the heated steel wire. This “forced” cooling zone in the coolant bath is followed by a cooling zone in which an undisturbed (this means without impinging liquid on the boiling film around the wire) boiling film cools the wires further.
- the first aspect of the invention is a method of continuous controlled cooling of a plurality of heated steel wires having an austenite microstructure and of transformation to a pearlite microstructure of the steel wires.
- the plurality of steel wires comprises—and preferably consists out of—steel wires having a diameter larger than 2.8 mm.
- the method comprises the steps of
- the impinging liquid decreases the thickness of or destabilizes the steam film around each of the plurality of steel wires, resulting in an increase of the speed of cooling over said length L.
- the intensity of the impinging liquids is individually set and/or controlled for each individual steel wire or for subsets of the plurality of steel wires;
- the required parameters for the cooling in patenting processes depend on the diameter of the steel wire and on the steel alloy.
- the parameters are less critical, as the transformation from austenite to pearlite occurs isothermal, thanks to the properties of the lead bath.
- parameter setting becomes much more critical in order to obtain proper transformation to fine pearlite when treating at the same time steel wires of different diameter and/or different steel alloy. It is a benefit of the invention that steel wires of different diameter and/or of different steel alloys can be patented at the same time; each to an optimum microstructure. It is a further benefit that the microstructure of each of the steel wires is more constant over the length of the wire.
- the steel wires can comprise a plurality of subsets, parallel to each other.
- Each subset of wires can consist of wires of specific diameter and specific alloy.
- each steel wire even steel wires of the same diameter and same alloy—can be optimally patented taking differences in wire positions in the equipment and in previous process steps (e.g. in the heating furnace, in pickling . . . ) into account.
- the stabilizing additive is provided to increase the stability of the vapor/steam film around the steel wires.
- the stabilizing additive may comprise surface active agents such as soap, stabilizing polymers such as polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol and/or polymer quenchants such as alkalipolyacrylates or sodium polyacrylate.
- the additives are used to increase the thickness and stability of the vapor film around the steel wire.
- the impinging liquid has the same composition as the coolant liquid of the first coolant bath.
- the impinging liquid is taken from the first coolant bath. More preferably, the impinging liquids are continuously recirculated and controlled by pumps and a flow rate control system.
- the diameter of each of the steel wires is between 2.8 mm and 20 mm.
- the impinging liquids can be provided via nozzle openings in a plate provided horizontally and below the steel wires in the first coolant bath.
- the method comprises—after cooling the plurality of steel wire in the first coolant bath by means of the impinging liquid—the additional step of guiding the plurality of steel wires along individual paths parallel to each other through a second coolant bath.
- the second coolant bath comprises a second coolant liquid.
- the second coolant liquid comprises water and a stabilizing additive.
- no turbulence is present in the second coolant bath.
- the steam film created in the second coolant bath around each of the steel wires is undisturbed.
- the temperature of the first coolant liquid in the first coolant bath is substantially the same as the temperature of the second coolant liquid in the second coolant bath.
- the composition of the first coolant liquid is the same as the composition of the second coolant liquid.
- the second coolant liquid can e.g. be refreshed via an overflow and supply of new second coolant liquid via a laminar flow. More preferably, the second coolant liquid is continuously recirculated.
- an air gap is provided between the first coolant bath and the second coolant bath, such that the plurality of steel wires is cooled by air in between the first coolant bath and the second coolant bath.
- first coolant bath and the second coolant bath are the same bath. It is meant that the steel wires do not run through an air gap between the first coolant bath and the second coolant bath, but are continuously submerged in coolant liquid when moving from the first coolant bath into the second coolant bath, which is the same bath.
- the intensity of the impinging liquid is individually set and/or controlled for each individual steel wire of for subsets of the plurality of steel wires by means of setting and/or controlling the flow rate of the liquid flows creating the impinging liquids.
- This can e.g. be implemented by controlling the flow rate of the pump or pumps creating the liquid flows for the impinging liquids; or by controlling or setting one or a plurality of valves or orifices.
- one or a plurality of sensors are provided. Control of the intensity of the impinging liquids for each individual steel wire or for subsets of the plurality of steel wires is provided by means of a measurement by the one or the plurality of sensors for or at each individual steel wire; or for or at subsets of the plurality of steel wires. Setting of or feedback control of the flow rate of the liquid flows creating the impinging liquids is performed using the measured signals and a controller.
- the sensor or sensors comprise or consist out of pressure sensors.
- the pressure sensors are provided for measurement of the liquid pressure at the nozzles creating the impinging liquids; and the sensor measurements are used for setting of or feedback control of the flow rate of the liquid flows creating the impinging liquids.
- the sensor or sensors comprise or consist out of flow sensors.
- the flow sensors are provided for measurement of the flow at the nozzles creating the impinging liquids; and the sensor measurements are used for setting of or feedback control of the flow rate of the liquid flows creating the impinging liquids.
- one or a plurality of magnetic sensors are provided to measure the magnetic response of one or of subsets of the steel wires; and to provide feedback to adapt in a closed loop control the impinging liquids in the first coolant bath.
- the first coolant bath is provided with partitioning walls separating the steel wires or the subsets of steel wires in the first coolant bath along the full length of the steel wires along which the steam film around the steel wires is affected by the impinging liquids.
- impinging liquid onto a first steel wire do not affect the steam film around a second steel wire.
- the setting or control on the impinging liquids is more effective, as no effect on the cooling of the steel wires is derived from the impinging liquids of neighboring steel wires or neighboring subsets of wires.
- the impinging liquids can be provided via nozzle openings in a plate provided horizontally and below the steel wires in the first coolant bath; and the partitioning walls are provided vertically; and positioned onto the plate; and preferably attached onto the plate.
- the impinging liquid is immersed below each steel wire itself along each individual path; or the impinging liquid is immersed partially below some of the plurality of steel wires along their individual paths.
- the length of the individual paths of each of the steel wires through the first coolant batch and/or through the second coolant bath is adjustable.
- the speed of the steel wires through the continuous process is individually adjustable in order to optimize the transformation of each of the steel wires in function of their diameter and/or alloy composition.
- the length through which each of the steel wires runs through the first coolant bath is the same.
- the steam film created in the second coolant bath around each of the steel wires is undisturbed.
- the steel wires are guided out of the second coolant bath and further cooled to room temperature in air.
- a second aspect of the invention is equipment for performing the method of the first aspect of the invention.
- the equipment comprises
- FIG. 1 illustrates an example of the invention.
- FIG. 2 shows a cross section along line II-II of FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a preferred method and equipment according to the present invention.
- FIG. 2 shows a cross section along line II-II of FIG. 1 .
- the cooling length with impinging liquid in the first coolant bath (CB 1 ) is fixed.
- the first coolant bath comprises a first coolant liquid.
- the first coolant liquid comprises water and a stabilizing additive.
- the first coolant liquid in the first coolant bath has a temperature of more than 80° C.
- a short air gap (AG) has been added to separate the first coolant bath (CB 1 ) and the second coolant bath (CB 2 ).
- the second coolant bath (CB 2 ) is adjustable in length.
- the second coolant bath comprises a second coolant liquid; which has in this example the same composition and the same temperature as the first coolant liquid. No turbulence is present in the second coolant bath; the steam film created in the second coolant bath around each of the steel wires is undisturbed. Laminar flow of coolant liquid is present in the second coolant baths, ensuring refreshment of coolant liquid in the second coolant baths.
- the first coolant bath is provided with partitioning walls separating the first coolant bath in different “lanes”; each subset of steel wires is treated in a separate lane (or even one single steel wire per lane). Preferably, as shown in FIG.
- the impinging liquid generators and the air gaps along each individual path have a fixed length and the length of the second coolant baths is adjustable for each of the subsets of steel wires.
- a plurality of steel wires is patented at the same time, parallel to each other.
- the intensity of the impinging liquids in the first coolant bath is individually set and controlled in each lane, thus for each subset of steel wires.
- steel wires 10 are led out of a furnace 12 having a temperature T of about 1000° C.
- the wire running speed can be adjusted according to the diameter of the wire, e.g. about 20 m/min.
- the first coolant bath 14 of an overflow-type is situated immediately downstream the furnace 12 ; the steel wire is led between partitioning walls in the first coolant bath.
- a plurality of jets 16 from the holes 20 of a perforated plate 22 immersed inside the first coolant bath are forming an impinging liquid, whose flow rate is set and controlled by a circulation pump and control system 18 outside the first coolant bath.
- the cooling rate is adjusted by tuning the coolant flow by means of the pressure in front of the jets, via control of the pumps providing the liquid flow for the impinging jets.
- pressure sensors can be used at the perforated plate to measure the coolant liquid pressure; the measurement signal can be used in a closed feedback control system towards the pump generating the liquid flow for that subset of steel wires.
- the flow rate can be set individually for each subset of steel wires.
- the flow rate of the jets for forced cooling and the length of air gap region are so chosen as to avoid the formation of martensite or bainite.
- the partitioning walls can be provided vertically; and positioned onto the perforated plate and attached onto the plate to avoid that impinging jets acting on one subset of wires in a lane affect the boiling film present on steel wires in another lane, meaning in another subset of steel wires.
- the impinging liquid under pressure from the holes 20 is jetting towards the steel wire 10 .
- the first length L 1 is the distance from the exit of furnace 12 to the impinging liquid.
- the second length L 2 indicates the length used for forced coolant cooling process—forced coolant cooling length—in the first coolant bath.
- the steel wire 10 is then led out of the first coolant bath and subjected to an air gap region with a length L 4 as indicated in FIG. 2 .
- the immersion length of the steel wire 10 in the second coolant bath 17 is indicated as L 5 .
- the length L 5 can be variable depending on the diameter and the desired tensile strength of the steel wire 10 .
Abstract
Description
- The invention relates to methods and equipment for patenting of steel wires in which coolant baths comprising water as coolant liquid are used.
- Patenting of steel wires involves conversion of the steel wire in a furnace or via other heating means into austenite; and cooling the austenite steel wires in a controlled way to a pearlite structure. Preferably, the obtained pearlite structure is a fine pearlite structure, also called sorbite. Preferably, the pearlite structure is uniform over the cross section of the steel wire. It is preferred that the pearlite structure is free from bainite or martensite. The pearlite structure allows drawing of the steel wires to finer diameters.
- Traditionally, the cooling step in patenting of steel wires is performed in a molten lead bath, which allows isothermal transformation of the austenite in fine pearlite. Because of environmental and health issues, lead patenting is more and more replaced by alternative cooling techniques; of which the use of water based coolant baths is one example.
- EP0524689A1 discloses a process of patenting at least one steel wire with diameter less than 2.8 mm. The cooling is alternatingly done by film boiling in water during one or more water cooling periods and in air during one or more air cooling periods. A water cooling period immediately follows an air cooling period and vice versa. The speed of cooling in water is high, while the speed of cooling in air is much lower. The high speed of cooling in water poses a serious risk for wires with a diameter less than 2.8 mm. Cooling in air in between cooling in water sections is performed in order to slow down the cooling of the steel wires. The number of the water cooling periods, the number of the air cooling periods and the length of each water cooling period are so chosen so as to avoid the formation of martensite or bainite.
- WO2014/118089A1 entitled “Forced water cooling of thick steel wires” discloses a forced cooling process on straight steel wires having a diameter larger than 5 mm. An impinging liquid immersed inside a coolant bath is directed to the steel wire to accelerate the cooling speed of the heated steel wire. This “forced” cooling zone in the coolant bath is followed by a cooling zone in which an undisturbed (this means without impinging liquid on the boiling film around the wire) boiling film cools the wires further.
- The first aspect of the invention is a method of continuous controlled cooling of a plurality of heated steel wires having an austenite microstructure and of transformation to a pearlite microstructure of the steel wires. The plurality of steel wires comprises—and preferably consists out of—steel wires having a diameter larger than 2.8 mm. The method comprises the steps of
- a) providing a first coolant bath. The first coolant bath comprises a first coolant liquid. The first coolant liquid comprises water and a stabilizing additive. Preferably, the first coolant liquid in the first coolant bath has a temperature of more than 80° C.;
- b) guiding the plurality of previously heated steel wires parallel to each other along individual paths through the first coolant liquid contained in the first coolant bath; and directing impinging liquid immersed inside the first coolant bath towards each of the steel wires over a certain length L. The impinging liquid decreases the thickness of or destabilizes the steam film around each of the plurality of steel wires, resulting in an increase of the speed of cooling over said length L. The intensity of the impinging liquids is individually set and/or controlled for each individual steel wire or for subsets of the plurality of steel wires;
- c) guiding the plurality of steel wires parallel to each other through air for further cooling.
- The required parameters for the cooling in patenting processes depend on the diameter of the steel wire and on the steel alloy. When cooling using a lead bath, the parameters are less critical, as the transformation from austenite to pearlite occurs isothermal, thanks to the properties of the lead bath. When using water based cooling media, this is no longer the case. Therefore, parameter setting becomes much more critical in order to obtain proper transformation to fine pearlite when treating at the same time steel wires of different diameter and/or different steel alloy. It is a benefit of the invention that steel wires of different diameter and/or of different steel alloys can be patented at the same time; each to an optimum microstructure. It is a further benefit that the microstructure of each of the steel wires is more constant over the length of the wire.
- In the method, the steel wires can comprise a plurality of subsets, parallel to each other. Each subset of wires can consist of wires of specific diameter and specific alloy. By setting and/or controlling the intensity of the impinging liquids for each subset of the plurality of steel wires; the steel wires in each subset can be optimally patented.
- It is even possible to set and control the intensity of the impinging liquids for each individual steel wire. Such embodiments allow high flexibility of the method in that more steel wires of different diameter and/or alloy can be patented at the same time. In addition, each steel wire—even steel wires of the same diameter and same alloy—can be optimally patented taking differences in wire positions in the equipment and in previous process steps (e.g. in the heating furnace, in pickling . . . ) into account.
- The stabilizing additive is provided to increase the stability of the vapor/steam film around the steel wires. The stabilizing additive may comprise surface active agents such as soap, stabilizing polymers such as polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol and/or polymer quenchants such as alkalipolyacrylates or sodium polyacrylate. The additives are used to increase the thickness and stability of the vapor film around the steel wire.
- Preferably, the impinging liquid has the same composition as the coolant liquid of the first coolant bath.
- Preferably, the impinging liquid is taken from the first coolant bath. More preferably, the impinging liquids are continuously recirculated and controlled by pumps and a flow rate control system.
- Preferably, the diameter of each of the steel wires is between 2.8 mm and 20 mm.
- As an example, the impinging liquids can be provided via nozzle openings in a plate provided horizontally and below the steel wires in the first coolant bath.
- Preferably, the method comprises—after cooling the plurality of steel wire in the first coolant bath by means of the impinging liquid—the additional step of guiding the plurality of steel wires along individual paths parallel to each other through a second coolant bath. The second coolant bath comprises a second coolant liquid. The second coolant liquid comprises water and a stabilizing additive. Preferably, no turbulence is present in the second coolant bath. Preferably, the steam film created in the second coolant bath around each of the steel wires is undisturbed.
- Preferably, the temperature of the first coolant liquid in the first coolant bath is substantially the same as the temperature of the second coolant liquid in the second coolant bath.
- Preferably, the composition of the first coolant liquid is the same as the composition of the second coolant liquid.
- Preferably, in the second coolant bath laminar flow of the second coolant liquid is present. The second coolant liquid can e.g. be refreshed via an overflow and supply of new second coolant liquid via a laminar flow. More preferably, the second coolant liquid is continuously recirculated.
- In a preferred embodiment, an air gap is provided between the first coolant bath and the second coolant bath, such that the plurality of steel wires is cooled by air in between the first coolant bath and the second coolant bath.
- In a preferred embodiment, the first coolant bath and the second coolant bath are the same bath. It is meant that the steel wires do not run through an air gap between the first coolant bath and the second coolant bath, but are continuously submerged in coolant liquid when moving from the first coolant bath into the second coolant bath, which is the same bath.
- Preferably, the intensity of the impinging liquid is individually set and/or controlled for each individual steel wire of for subsets of the plurality of steel wires by means of setting and/or controlling the flow rate of the liquid flows creating the impinging liquids. This can e.g. be implemented by controlling the flow rate of the pump or pumps creating the liquid flows for the impinging liquids; or by controlling or setting one or a plurality of valves or orifices.
- More preferably, one or a plurality of sensors are provided. Control of the intensity of the impinging liquids for each individual steel wire or for subsets of the plurality of steel wires is provided by means of a measurement by the one or the plurality of sensors for or at each individual steel wire; or for or at subsets of the plurality of steel wires. Setting of or feedback control of the flow rate of the liquid flows creating the impinging liquids is performed using the measured signals and a controller.
- Even more preferably, the sensor or sensors comprise or consist out of pressure sensors. The pressure sensors are provided for measurement of the liquid pressure at the nozzles creating the impinging liquids; and the sensor measurements are used for setting of or feedback control of the flow rate of the liquid flows creating the impinging liquids. As an alternative—or in addition to—pressures sensors, the sensor or sensors comprise or consist out of flow sensors. The flow sensors are provided for measurement of the flow at the nozzles creating the impinging liquids; and the sensor measurements are used for setting of or feedback control of the flow rate of the liquid flows creating the impinging liquids.
- Preferably, one or a plurality of magnetic sensors are provided to measure the magnetic response of one or of subsets of the steel wires; and to provide feedback to adapt in a closed loop control the impinging liquids in the first coolant bath.
- Preferably, the first coolant bath is provided with partitioning walls separating the steel wires or the subsets of steel wires in the first coolant bath along the full length of the steel wires along which the steam film around the steel wires is affected by the impinging liquids. This way impinging liquid onto a first steel wire do not affect the steam film around a second steel wire. This way, the setting or control on the impinging liquids is more effective, as no effect on the cooling of the steel wires is derived from the impinging liquids of neighboring steel wires or neighboring subsets of wires. As an example, the impinging liquids can be provided via nozzle openings in a plate provided horizontally and below the steel wires in the first coolant bath; and the partitioning walls are provided vertically; and positioned onto the plate; and preferably attached onto the plate.
- Preferably, the impinging liquid is immersed below each steel wire itself along each individual path; or the impinging liquid is immersed partially below some of the plurality of steel wires along their individual paths.
- Preferably, the length of the individual paths of each of the steel wires through the first coolant batch and/or through the second coolant bath is adjustable.
- Preferably, the speed of the steel wires through the continuous process is individually adjustable in order to optimize the transformation of each of the steel wires in function of their diameter and/or alloy composition.
- Preferably, the length through which each of the steel wires runs through the first coolant bath is the same.
- Preferably, the steam film created in the second coolant bath around each of the steel wires is undisturbed.
- When a second coolant bath is provided, preferably the steel wires are guided out of the second coolant bath and further cooled to room temperature in air.
- A second aspect of the invention is equipment for performing the method of the first aspect of the invention. The equipment comprises
-
- a first coolant bath for comprising a first coolant liquid,
- means for guiding the plurality of previously heated steel wires parallel to each other along individual paths through the coolant liquid contained in the first coolant bath,
- impinging liquid generator(s) immersed inside the first coolant bath(s), wherein the impinging liquid generator(s) are adapted to direct impinging liquid towards the steel wires over a certain length L;
- means for individually setting or controlling the intensity of the impinging liquids for each individual steel wire or for subsets of the plurality of steel wires; and
- means for guiding the plurality of steel wires parallel to each other through air for further cooling.
-
FIG. 1 illustrates an example of the invention. -
FIG. 2 shows a cross section along line II-II ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a preferred method and equipment according to the present invention.FIG. 2 shows a cross section along line II-II ofFIG. 1 . The cooling length with impinging liquid in the first coolant bath (CB1) is fixed. The first coolant bath comprises a first coolant liquid. The first coolant liquid comprises water and a stabilizing additive. The first coolant liquid in the first coolant bath has a temperature of more than 80° C. A short air gap (AG) has been added to separate the first coolant bath (CB1) and the second coolant bath (CB2). The second coolant bath (CB2) is adjustable in length. The second coolant bath comprises a second coolant liquid; which has in this example the same composition and the same temperature as the first coolant liquid. No turbulence is present in the second coolant bath; the steam film created in the second coolant bath around each of the steel wires is undisturbed. Laminar flow of coolant liquid is present in the second coolant baths, ensuring refreshment of coolant liquid in the second coolant baths. The first coolant bath is provided with partitioning walls separating the first coolant bath in different “lanes”; each subset of steel wires is treated in a separate lane (or even one single steel wire per lane). Preferably, as shown inFIG. 1 , in the first coolant baths, the impinging liquid generators and the air gaps along each individual path have a fixed length and the length of the second coolant baths is adjustable for each of the subsets of steel wires. A plurality of steel wires is patented at the same time, parallel to each other. The intensity of the impinging liquids in the first coolant bath is individually set and controlled in each lane, thus for each subset of steel wires. - As shown in
FIG. 2 —which shows a cross section along line II-II ofFIG. 1 —,steel wires 10 are led out of afurnace 12 having a temperature T of about 1000° C. The wire running speed can be adjusted according to the diameter of the wire, e.g. about 20 m/min. Thefirst coolant bath 14 of an overflow-type is situated immediately downstream thefurnace 12; the steel wire is led between partitioning walls in the first coolant bath. A plurality ofjets 16 from theholes 20 of aperforated plate 22 immersed inside the first coolant bath are forming an impinging liquid, whose flow rate is set and controlled by a circulation pump andcontrol system 18 outside the first coolant bath. The cooling rate is adjusted by tuning the coolant flow by means of the pressure in front of the jets, via control of the pumps providing the liquid flow for the impinging jets. To this end, pressure sensors can be used at the perforated plate to measure the coolant liquid pressure; the measurement signal can be used in a closed feedback control system towards the pump generating the liquid flow for that subset of steel wires. The flow rate can be set individually for each subset of steel wires. The flow rate of the jets for forced cooling and the length of air gap region are so chosen as to avoid the formation of martensite or bainite. The partitioning walls can be provided vertically; and positioned onto the perforated plate and attached onto the plate to avoid that impinging jets acting on one subset of wires in a lane affect the boiling film present on steel wires in another lane, meaning in another subset of steel wires. The impinging liquid under pressure from theholes 20 is jetting towards thesteel wire 10. As illustrated inFIG. 2 , the first length L1 is the distance from the exit offurnace 12 to the impinging liquid. The second length L2 indicates the length used for forced coolant cooling process—forced coolant cooling length—in the first coolant bath. Thesteel wire 10 is then led out of the first coolant bath and subjected to an air gap region with a length L4 as indicated inFIG. 2 . Thereafter, thesteel wire 10 is guided into asecond coolant bath 17 to further cool down. The immersion length of thesteel wire 10 in thesecond coolant bath 17 is indicated as L5. The length L5 can be variable depending on the diameter and the desired tensile strength of thesteel wire 10. After the second coolant bath, the steel wires are guided through air to be further cooled.
Claims (16)
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
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EP17151117.3 | 2017-01-12 | ||
EP17151117 | 2017-01-12 | ||
PCT/EP2018/050389 WO2018130499A1 (en) | 2017-01-12 | 2018-01-09 | Method and equipment for controlled patenting of steel wire |
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US20190338390A1 true US20190338390A1 (en) | 2019-11-07 |
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US16/473,887 Abandoned US20190338390A1 (en) | 2017-01-12 | 2018-01-09 | Method and equipment for controlled patenting of steel wire |
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EP (2) | EP3568500B1 (en) |
JP (2) | JP7029458B2 (en) |
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CN (2) | CN110191969A (en) |
ES (1) | ES2954319T3 (en) |
PL (1) | PL3568500T3 (en) |
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WO (2) | WO2018130498A1 (en) |
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EP3568500B1 (en) * | 2017-01-12 | 2023-06-07 | NV Bekaert SA | Lead-free patenting process |
BE1027482B1 (en) | 2019-08-07 | 2021-03-08 | Fib Belgium | Tank for heat exchange liquid bath and installation comprising such a tank |
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GB1276738A (en) | 1969-08-21 | 1972-06-07 | Sumitomo Electric Industries | Method for heat-treating of hot rolled rod |
JPS5938284B2 (en) * | 1977-10-28 | 1984-09-14 | 川崎製鉄株式会社 | Continuous heat treatment method and equipment for high carbon steel strips |
GB8523882D0 (en) * | 1985-09-27 | 1985-10-30 | Bekaert Sa Nv | Treatment of steel wires |
ZA924360B (en) * | 1991-07-22 | 1993-03-31 | Bekaert Sa Nv | Heat treatment of steel wire |
BE1014869A3 (en) * | 2002-06-06 | 2004-05-04 | Four Industriel Belge | Cooling and / or flushing son and / or |
BE1014868A3 (en) * | 2002-06-06 | 2004-05-04 | Four Industriel Belge | METHOD AND DEVICE patenting STEEL SON |
JP2007056300A (en) | 2005-08-23 | 2007-03-08 | Sumitomo Electric Ind Ltd | Direct heat treatment method and apparatus for hot-rolled wire rod |
CN100387731C (en) | 2006-03-03 | 2008-05-14 | 上海诸光机械有限公司 | Tendon running-water quenching method and apparatus |
US8506878B2 (en) | 2006-07-14 | 2013-08-13 | Thermcraft, Incorporated | Rod or wire manufacturing system, related methods, and related products |
CN101967548A (en) * | 2010-11-19 | 2011-02-09 | 江苏巨力钢绳有限公司 | Water bath heat treatment method for steel wire |
PT2951327T (en) | 2013-02-01 | 2020-04-21 | Bekaert Sa Nv | Forced water cooling of thick steel wires |
EP3568500B1 (en) * | 2017-01-12 | 2023-06-07 | NV Bekaert SA | Lead-free patenting process |
-
2018
- 2018-01-09 EP EP18701671.2A patent/EP3568500B1/en active Active
- 2018-01-09 PT PT187016712T patent/PT3568500T/en unknown
- 2018-01-09 EP EP18701258.8A patent/EP3568499A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2018-01-09 CN CN201880006289.4A patent/CN110191969A/en active Pending
- 2018-01-09 JP JP2019536530A patent/JP7029458B2/en active Active
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- 2018-01-09 KR KR1020197019847A patent/KR102492108B1/en active IP Right Grant
- 2018-01-09 WO PCT/EP2018/050389 patent/WO2018130499A1/en unknown
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- 2018-01-09 US US16/473,887 patent/US20190338390A1/en not_active Abandoned
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KR20190107015A (en) | 2019-09-18 |
PT3568500T (en) | 2023-08-03 |
US11299795B2 (en) | 2022-04-12 |
CN110191969A (en) | 2019-08-30 |
JP7029458B2 (en) | 2022-03-03 |
EP3568500A1 (en) | 2019-11-20 |
ES2954319T3 (en) | 2023-11-21 |
WO2018130499A1 (en) | 2018-07-19 |
WO2018130498A1 (en) | 2018-07-19 |
CN110177890B (en) | 2021-06-18 |
JP2020514540A (en) | 2020-05-21 |
US20190345578A1 (en) | 2019-11-14 |
KR102492108B1 (en) | 2023-01-27 |
EP3568499A1 (en) | 2019-11-20 |
CN110177890A (en) | 2019-08-27 |
JP2020514539A (en) | 2020-05-21 |
PL3568500T3 (en) | 2023-10-16 |
KR20190107014A (en) | 2019-09-18 |
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