US2924445A

US2924445A - Reeling apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2924445A
Application number: US591868A
Authority: US
Inventors: Morgan Myles
Original assignee: Morgan Construction Co
Current assignee: Siemens Industry Inc
Priority date: 1956-06-18
Filing date: 1956-06-18
Publication date: 1960-02-09
Anticipated expiration: 1977-02-09

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 M. MORGAN REELING APPARATUS Feb. 9, 1960 Filed June 18, 1956 INVENTOR. myles morga'n H 01' ey United States Patent REELING APPARATUS Myles Morgan, Worcester, Mass., asslgnor to Morgan Qonst'ruction Company, Worcester, Mass.,a corporation of Massachusetts Application June 18, 1956, Serial No. 591,868

'3 Claims. -(Cl.'266-'6) This. invention relates to a reeling apparatus and more particularly to a laying reel apparatus for coiling steel rod as it leaves the last stand of a rolling mill. I

In the production of steel rod, it is theusual practice to form the rod into coils after it leaves the rolling mill in order that it may be handled more easily. It is desirablethat the rod'be cooled rapidly after it leaves the rolling mill to minimize the formation of scale on the rod surface, which represents a loss of metal and which has to be removed subsequently by a costly acid treatment. impart beneficial metallurgical and mechanical properties to the rod. Although the rod is usually passed through water boxes betweenthe mill and the reel, the time in which it residesin the boxes and iscooled thereby 18 very short. Furthermore, the gradual increasesin rollingspeed that have taken place from time to time have made this method of cooling less and less effective. If cooling is not begun until after the coil leaves the red, the rod has the entire reeling time in which to deteriorate. It has been suggested in the patents to Morgan Nos. 2,621,914 and.2,673,820 that the cooling of the rod take placein the reel itself. These patents show one way in which this maybe accomplished in a laying reel by admitting air into a central drum and causing it to be reversed at the upper part of the reel and to travel downwardly through the coil. Although this construction operates very well, there are situations in whichvit is not adequate. On occasion, it is necessary to provide a larger flow of cooling air and to provide against stratification of flow of air which would result in uneven cooling. These and other ditficulties experienced withprior art devices have been obviated by the present invention in a novel manner.

It is therefore anoutstanding object of the invention to provide a reeling apparatus having adequate facilities for the cooling of hot metal rod.

.Another object ofthis invention is the provision of a laying .reelhaving aprovision for the admission of cooling air at the points of entrance of the hot metal rod into the reel as wellfas at the bottom.

A still-further object of the invention is the provision of a laying reel having means for the air cooling of hot metalrods, whichmeans assures an even flow of air over all strands of rod.

,Another object of the invention is'the provision of means for cooling thelaying cone of a laying reel ,so that it more readily absorbs heat from the hot metal, rod that it handles.

-With these :andother objects in view, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention resides in the eombinationof parts set'forth in the specification and covered by the claims appended hereto. I

Referring 'to the drawingsillustrating one embodiment of .the invention and in which like reference numerals indicate. similar pa 1 J" Tigtii'e'l is an elevational viewo'f a reeling apparatus Cooling at an appropriately rapid rate also can constructed according to the teachings of the present invention, and

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the apparatus.

Referring-to Figure 1, wherein is best shown the general features of the invention, .the reeling apparatus, designated generally by .the reference numeral 10, is arranged to form hot metal rod into annular bundles and to discharge such bundles ontoa conveyorll of wellknown construction. This conveyor comprises .a horizontal top plate 12 having longitudinally-extending parallel slots in its upper surface. Parallel endless chains travel beneath the slots and carry dogs 16 which project upwardly through the slots. The dogs .on the respective chains are arranged in laterally-aligned pairs, so that each pair of dogs may engage an annular rod bundle B .and push it alongthe plate 12.

The particular reel 10 illustrated is of the general type known in the art as-a laying reel, such reels being arranged to receive a ,longitudinally-traveling hot metal rod and to bend the rod into a series of superimposed and loosely-intermixed, stationary, generally-circular convolutions which form an annular bundle. This reel comprises a hollow base structure 18 located at one side of the conveyor 10 and supporting a horizontal plate 19, the top of this plate being substantially flush with the top of the conveyor plate 12. Above the plate 19 there are provided two

upright wall members

20 and 21, each curved horizontally in substantially a semi-circular arc, the two members jointly forming a complete cylindrical wall. The rear wall member 20.is suitably fastened in a fixed position to the plate 19 therebeneath, whereas the front wall member 21 forms a .gate which may be raised above the plate 19, as will be explained hereinafter, to permit discharge of a completed rod bundle from the reel to the conveyor.

Referring to Figure 2, a hollow cylindrical drum 23 is mounted within the cylindrical wall formed by the

members

20 and 21 and is coaxial therewith, the drum being considerably'smaller in diameter than the said wall to provide an annular trough 24 therebetween. The trough has a portion of the plate 19 as its bottom wall. The plate 19 is formed with a central circular opening 26 very slightly exceeding the drum 23 in diameter so thatthe drum may be drawn downwardly therethrough to permit discharge of a rod bundle, as will be described hereinafter. The drum is provided at its upper end with a horizontal wall 27 having openings 28 extending therethrough.

On top of the wall member 20 there is mounted a frusto-conical cap or closure 30 which in turn supports a gear box 31 from which the lower end of a vertical rotatable shaft 32 extends downwardly toward the drum 23 and coaxial therewith.- The gear box is of the usual construction employed .in laying reels and it contains suitable bevel gearing connecting an electric motor 34 to the shaft 32 to drve the same. The usual revolvable laying cone 35 is secured to the lower end of the shaft 32 bysuitable means-and the usual vertical guide pipe 37 enters the top of the guide box 31in alignment with the shaft 32. These parts are so constructed and arranged,

' in accordance with well-known practice, that a hot metal rod maytravel downwardly through the pipe 37 and the gear box 31, the laying cone 35 will lay the rod in the annular trough 24 in the form of superimposed, generally-eircular convolutons. These convolutons wll be so loosely intermingled as to provide a permeable, annular bundle.

The invention includes means to bring about a flow of relatively cool air through the bundle while it is being formed, thereby cooling the bundle with comparative rapidity and avoiding excessive scale formation on'the rod. "For this purpose the hollow "base structure 1813 nicates directly with the open lower end of the drum 23, and further to provide an annular chamber 40 located beneath the plate 19 and communicating with openiii'gs '25 therein. A'fan, not showm'isarranged'to blow air through a duct 42 leading to an opening44 in'one' wall of the plenum' chamber 39, this duct having a damp'er4Stherein. =A-second duct 46 is connected-to an opening 47 in one wall ofthe annular chamber 40. f In order;to-permit stripping" of a completed bundle from the reel, mechanism is provided to lower the drum 23' to bring its upper end substantially flush with the-surrounding plate 19. For this purpose a substantially horizontal 'bar 49-exte'nds across the'lower end of the drum;

cranks. The actuator is connected to the "shaft 63 for v, its'rotationthrough a link 62. The gear box is also con- 25 nected through a strut 84 to one end of anarm 83. The arm is pivotally mounted in its intermediate portion to the fixed wall member 20 and its other end is fastened to th'emovable wall member 21 for the vertical movement thereof. The actuator 59 is also connected through a turnbuckle 61 to an arm 89 leading to a push-01f mechanism 87.

The'closure 30 is provided with a horizontal entrance extension 71 of generally rectangular cross-section show ing an opening 72 to which is connected one end of an air duct 73. The other end of this duct is supplied with air by a fan, not shown; The opening 72 and the extension 71 have a height almost equal to that of the closure 30' and a width equal to the width of the lower endof the closure. The closure and its extension are provided with suitable transition surfaces to allow for the differences in their shapes. With the exception of the portion subtended by the extension 71, the inner surface of the closure 30 is conical and lies generally parallel to the surface of the laying cone 35. At the same time, it will be understood that rod entering the reel in the pipe 37 emerges in a groove, not shown, on the surface of the laying cone and is exposed to air originating in the extension 71. At their lower ends, the

wall members

20 and 21 are provided with

side chambers

74 and 75 which combine, when themovable wall member is in lowered position, to form an annular chamber 76 which overlies the openings in the plate 19. Ribs 77 shaped frequently around the reel extend entirely across the crosssection of the chamber and prevent the strands of rod I from being thrown outwardly into the chamber by centrifugal force.

The operation of the invention will be readily understood in view of the above description. With the drum 23 raised and the movable wall member 21" lowered, the reel 10 will be in condition to receive a hot metal rod which will travel downwardly through the pipe 37. The laying cone 35 will lay the rod in generally circular superimposed convolutions within the trough 24 to form an annular bundle. ly cool air will be blown through the duct 42 into the chamber 39, thence upwardly through the drum 23 and the openings 28 in its upper wall 27, then upwardly and radially outwardly. At the same time, air enters through the duct 73 and the extension 71. The air flows around the laying cone 35 in the narrow space between the cone and the conical inner surface of the closure while in this space, the air comes into intimate contact with the hot rod which has just entered the reel and which overlies the surface of the laying cone. Then,

'the air originating in the duct 73 passes the narrow With the damper 45 open, relativeopening between the bottom edge of the cone and the generally cylindrical surfaces of the

wall members

20 and 21; since the hot rod must pass through this space as it leaves the laying cone, it is subjected to particularly effective cooling at that point. This air also maintains the laying cone itself in a relatively cool condition, so that further heat is absorbed-from the rod by the cone itself. The air from the drum passes over the inner surface of the laying cone, further-cooling it and, thus, providing indirectly for cooling of the rod, and then it passes; outwardly of-the cone. It leavesthe conenot only through the narrow annular space between the upper corner. of the drum and the lower inner surface of the layingcone, but also through holes'provided in the'cone. Both sources of air combine, and pass downwardly through the annular bundle lying in the trough 24, and in this zone the flow of air at high velocity between the strands of rod produces very effective cooling- After passing throughthe main body' of coiled 'wire, the air mixture passes radially'outwardly'into the annular 9hamber 76, thence downwardly through the apertures 25in the plate 19 into the annular chamber 40. The air leaves the chamber 40v through the duct 46.

Bycooling the rod promptly and rapidly ,while itis being formed into a bundle, the invention greatly reduces scale formation on the rod; hence less acid is required for cleaning the bundles, and the loss in weight'of the bundle is less. In the case of high carbon steel, decai'bur'ization is avoided and the metallurgical and mechanical properties are-improved. For instance, in the manufacture of high carbon wire for wire rope, and similar applications, it has been found possible to eliminate the heat treating process known-as patenting to obtain the desired physical properties prior to drawing. Since the bundles reach the conveyor 11 at a lower temperature, they may be transferred soon'thereafter'to the usual hook carrier without danger of distortion, hence the conveyor may be appreciably shorter than would otherwise be necessary, since less cooling time is required.

- It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention without departing from the material spirit thereof. It is not, however, desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is desired to include allsuch as properly come within the scope claimed. The invention having been thus described, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is: 1'. Apparatus for treating a hot metal rod comprising a substantially cylindrical wall with its axis upright, a drum coaxial with the wall and somewhat smaller in diameter, a generally conical closure above the cylindrical wallt'o close the space surrounded by said wall, an annular chain ber surrounding the lower portion of the cylindrical wall and opening into the space between the said wall and the drum, a horizontal plate extending between the cylindrical wall and the drum and spaced downwardly from the top of the drum, the plate having perforations in the portion which underlies the annular chamber, a rotatable laying cone coaxial with the drum and located directlyabove the same, the lower edge of the cone lying closely adjacent to the cylindrical wall, the said annular chamber being coextensive with a portion of the drum lying above the said plate, the laying cone being arranged to bend the rod into a series of generally circular convolutions which are superimposed and loosely intermingled to form a permeable annular bundle within the annular space defined .by the cylindrical wall and the drum, and means .to introduce a stream of air between the closure and the laying,zcone,.so that the air flows over the surface of the laying coneand, the hot metal rod carried thereby, passes downwardly: between the lower edge of the cone and the cylindrical surface, and then passes downwardly through the bundle and the perforated horizontal plate.

2. Apparatus for treatinga hot metal rod comprising drum coaxial with the wall and somewhat smaller in diameter, a generally conical closure above the cylindrical wall to close the space surrounded by said wall, an annular chamber surrounding the lower portion of the cylindrical wall and opening into the space between the said wall and the drum, the opening into the space being interrupted at spaced intervals by ribs to prevent entrance of rod therein, a horizontal plate extending between the drum and the outermost portion of the annular chamber and spaced downwardly from the top of the drum, the plate having perforations in the portion thereof which underlies the annular chamber, a rotatable laying cone coaxial with the drum and located directly above the same with its apex directed upwardly, the lower edge of the cone lying closely adjacent to the cylindrical wall, the said annular chamber being coextensive with a portion of the drum lying above the said plate, the laying cone being arranged to bend the rod into a series of generally circular convolutions which are superimposed and loosely intermingled to form a permeable annular bundle within the annular space defined by the cylindrical Wall and the drum, means to produce a stream of air which flows upwardly through the drum and downwardly through the bundle and the perforated horizontal plate while the bundle is being formed, and a horizontal extension formed on the closure to introduce a stream of air between the closure and the laying cone, so that the air flows over the surface of the laying cone and the hot metal rod carried thereby, passes downwardly between the lower edge of the cone and the cylindrical surface, mixes with the air from the drum before passing downwardly through the bundle and the perforated horizontal plate.

3. Apparatus for treating a hot metal rod comprising a substantially cylindrical wall, a central member coaxial with the wall and somewhat smaller in diameter, a closure above the cylindrical wall to close the space surrounded by the said wall, an annular chamber surrounding an end portion of the cylindrical wall and opening into the space between the said wall and the member, a plate lying at a right angle to the axis of the cylindrical wall and extending between the cylindrical wall and the member, the plate being spaced axially from the end of the member adjacent the closure, the plate having perforations in a portion which lies within the annular chamber, a rotatable laying cone coaxial with the central member and located adjacent one end thereof, the outer edge of the cone lying closely adjacent to the cylindrical wall, the said annular chamber being coextensive with a portion of the drum lying above the said plate, the laying cone being arranged to bend the rod into a series of generally circular convolutions which are superimposed and loosely intermingled to form a permeable annular bundle within the space defined by the cylindrical wall and the member, and means to introduce a stream of air between the closure and the laying cone, so that the air flows over the surface of the laying cone and the hot metal rod carried thereby, and passes between the lower edge of the cone and the cylindrical surface before passing through the bundle and the perforated horizontal plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 937,551 Remmen Oct. 19, 1909 2,621,914 Morgan Dec. 16, 1952 2,673,820 Morgan Mar. 30, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 3 1 G at Britain J ne 9. 1 2