US3296682A - Apparatus for producing a shaped metal product - Google Patents

Apparatus for producing a shaped metal product Download PDF

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Publication number
US3296682A
US3296682A US522169A US52216966A US3296682A US 3296682 A US3296682 A US 3296682A US 522169 A US522169 A US 522169A US 52216966 A US52216966 A US 52216966A US 3296682 A US3296682 A US 3296682A
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United States
Prior art keywords
metal
bar
metal bar
furnace
temperature
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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US522169A
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English (en)
Inventor
Daniel B Cofer
George C Ward
Dale D Proctor
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Southwire Co LLC
Original Assignee
Southwire Co LLC
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Filing date
Publication date
Priority to BE672269D priority Critical patent/BE672269A/xx
Priority claimed from US410805A external-priority patent/US3257835A/en
Priority to DE1452019A priority patent/DE1452019B2/de
Priority to DE19651783170 priority patent/DE1783170A1/de
Priority to GB14284/65A priority patent/GB1072318A/en
Priority to CH489765A priority patent/CH455686A/fr
Priority to FR38237A priority patent/FR1460167A/fr
Priority to US522169A priority patent/US3296682A/en
Application filed by Southwire Co LLC filed Critical Southwire Co LLC
Publication of US3296682A publication Critical patent/US3296682A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Priority to FR91972A priority patent/FR1508729A/fr
Priority to GB3045/67A priority patent/GB1130281A/en
Priority to CH83667A priority patent/CH463710A/fr
Priority to BE692991D priority patent/BE692991A/xx
Priority to NL6700996A priority patent/NL6700996A/xx
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • C21D7/00—Modifying the physical properties of iron or steel by deformation
    • C21D7/13—Modifying the physical properties of iron or steel by deformation by hot working
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
    • B21B—ROLLING OF METAL
    • B21B1/00—Metal-rolling methods or mills for making semi-finished products of solid or profiled cross-section; Sequence of operations in milling trains; Layout of rolling-mill plant, e.g. grouping of stands; Succession of passes or of sectional pass alternations
    • B21B1/46—Metal-rolling methods or mills for making semi-finished products of solid or profiled cross-section; Sequence of operations in milling trains; Layout of rolling-mill plant, e.g. grouping of stands; Succession of passes or of sectional pass alternations for rolling metal immediately subsequent to continuous casting
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
    • B21B—ROLLING OF METAL
    • B21B3/00—Rolling materials of special alloys so far as the composition of the alloy requires or permits special rolling methods or sequences ; Rolling of aluminium, copper, zinc or other non-ferrous metals
    • B21B3/003—Rolling non-ferrous metals immediately subsequent to continuous casting, i.e. in-line rolling
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
    • B21B—ROLLING OF METAL
    • B21B45/00—Devices for surface or other treatment of work, specially combined with or arranged in, or specially adapted for use in connection with, metal-rolling mills
    • B21B45/02—Devices for surface or other treatment of work, specially combined with or arranged in, or specially adapted for use in connection with, metal-rolling mills for lubricating, cooling, or cleaning
    • B21B45/0203—Cooling
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
    • B21B—ROLLING OF METAL
    • B21B45/00—Devices for surface or other treatment of work, specially combined with or arranged in, or specially adapted for use in connection with, metal-rolling mills
    • B21B45/02—Devices for surface or other treatment of work, specially combined with or arranged in, or specially adapted for use in connection with, metal-rolling mills for lubricating, cooling, or cleaning
    • B21B45/0203—Cooling
    • B21B45/0209—Cooling devices, e.g. using gaseous coolants
    • B21B45/0215—Cooling devices, e.g. using gaseous coolants using liquid coolants, e.g. for sections, for tubes
    • B21B45/0224—Cooling devices, e.g. using gaseous coolants using liquid coolants, e.g. for sections, for tubes for wire, rods, rounds, bars
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
    • B21B—ROLLING OF METAL
    • B21B45/00—Devices for surface or other treatment of work, specially combined with or arranged in, or specially adapted for use in connection with, metal-rolling mills
    • B21B45/04—Devices for surface or other treatment of work, specially combined with or arranged in, or specially adapted for use in connection with, metal-rolling mills for de-scaling, e.g. by brushing
    • B21B45/08—Devices for surface or other treatment of work, specially combined with or arranged in, or specially adapted for use in connection with, metal-rolling mills for de-scaling, e.g. by brushing hydraulically
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
    • B21B—ROLLING OF METAL
    • B21B9/00—Measures for carrying out rolling operations under special conditions, e.g. in vacuum or inert atmosphere to prevent oxidation of work; Special measures for removing fumes from rolling mills
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
    • B22D—CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES
    • B22D11/00—Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths
    • B22D11/06—Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths into moulds with travelling walls, e.g. with rolls, plates, belts, caterpillars
    • B22D11/0602—Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths into moulds with travelling walls, e.g. with rolls, plates, belts, caterpillars formed by a casting wheel and belt, e.g. Properzi-process
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
    • B22D—CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES
    • B22D11/00—Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths
    • B22D11/12—Accessories for subsequent treating or working cast stock in situ
    • B22D11/1206—Accessories for subsequent treating or working cast stock in situ for plastic shaping of strands
    • 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
    • C21D1/74—Methods of treatment in inert gas, controlled atmosphere, vacuum or pulverulent material
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22F—CHANGING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF NON-FERROUS METALS AND NON-FERROUS ALLOYS
    • C22F1/00—Changing the physical structure of non-ferrous metals or alloys by heat treatment or by hot or cold working
    • C22F1/02—Changing the physical structure of non-ferrous metals or alloys by heat treatment or by hot or cold working in inert or controlled atmosphere or vacuum
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
    • B21B—ROLLING OF METAL
    • B21B3/00—Rolling materials of special alloys so far as the composition of the alloy requires or permits special rolling methods or sequences ; Rolling of aluminium, copper, zinc or other non-ferrous metals
    • B21B2003/001—Aluminium or its alloys
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
    • B21B—ROLLING OF METAL
    • B21B3/00—Rolling materials of special alloys so far as the composition of the alloy requires or permits special rolling methods or sequences ; Rolling of aluminium, copper, zinc or other non-ferrous metals
    • B21B2003/005—Copper or its alloys

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to the hot forming of metal and more particularly to apparatus for the hot forming of metal by which oxide coatings on the metal are eliminated and their formation precluded continuously and by which the temperature of the metal may be selectively controlled.
  • oxide coatings be present as the metal is rolled, forged or otherwise hot formed, the oxides tend to become imbedded in the metal during forming. Such included oxides serve to reduce the strength, ductility, and conductivity of the formed metal. Moreover, oxide coatings on the hot formed metal produce a drab unsightly surface on the metal which interferes with subsequent working of the metal, such as wire-drawing by wearing and mutilating the drawing dies and preventing the product from exhibiting those characteristics of strength, ductility and conductivity generally required for commercial use of the finished product.
  • Previous apparatus have generally heated the metal to hot forming temperature at a substantial distance from the hot forming apparatus, and in transportation to the hot forming apparatus, uncontrolled temperature changes occurred on the metal, resulting in the metal entering the hot forming apparatus at non-uniform temperatures along its length, causing both stresses in the met-a1 as it was formed and excessive loading conditions within the hot forming apparatus. This has also prevented the metal from exhibiting those characteristics of strength, ductility and conductivity generally required for commercial use of the finished product.
  • the invention disclosed herein provides apparatus for hot forming a metal in which oxide coatings are removed were Patented Jan. 10, 1967 and their formation is prevented prior to and during the hot forming and the subsequent cooling of the metal and in which the metal is at a selected uniform hot forming temperature when the hot forming of the metal is to be initiated. More particularly, the-invention provides a continuous controlled environment both as to temperature and removal of oxide coatings as well as the prevention of the formation of other oxide coatings for application in the hot forming of metal bars, ingots, or the like into metal rods. Therefore, the invention substantially eliminates those problems resulting from the presence of oxide coatings and the lack of temperature control which are associated with previous apparatus for the hot forming of metal. Moreover, the need for an acid pickle is eliminated, thus reducin operating cost.
  • the apparatus comprises generally a tubular member into which a cast bar passes as it is continuously discharged from a casting machine and in which an oxide reducing environment is maintained, a furnace into which the cast bar passes directly from the tubular member and in which is provided a temperature controlled oxide-reducing environment, a rolling mill for hot working the cast bar to produce rod therefrom in an oxide reducing environment into which the rolled rod passes directly from the furnace, and a cooling member for cooling the rolled rod below its oxidation temperature in an oxide reducing environment into which the rolled rod passes directly from the rolling mill.
  • the various inventive concepts of the present apparatus is broadly applicable in the hot forming of a wide variety of metals and their alloys; in particular, iron, steel, aluminum and copper are contemplated for working in the present apparatus.
  • the present invention is of significant value.
  • the present apparatus lends itself to application to continuous copper bar casting equipment, the apparatus providing a fully controlled environment both as to temperature and as to a reducing medium.
  • a clean, bright, uniformly ductile, copper rod free from included oxides or internal stress variation and hence a product admirably suited to be drawn as wire as the terminal operation of a single continuous process from continuous casting to finished wire.
  • stress free, oxide free, bright copper rod provides ideal material for the drawing of wire of uniform and high quality strength, ductility and conductivity. Further, such rods may be easily drawn with minimum power requirements and die wear abrasion or mutilation.
  • a very important feature of the apparatus presented is the combination, cooperation and simultaneous action of the oxide removal from and formation prevention on the metal bar with the temperature control of the metal bar, each as an incident to the other.
  • the heat control gases are produced by combustion with limited oxygen, thus producing a reducing environment while effecting the desired temperature control.
  • FIG. 1A is a side elevation with the cover partly broken away of the rolling mill of one embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 1B is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the furnace for use with the rolling mill shown in FIG. 1A;
  • FIG. 1C is a side elevation partially broken away of the receiving member for use with the rolling mill and furnace of FIGS. 1A and 1B;
  • FIG. 1D is a longitudinal sectional view of the cooling member of the present form of the invention.
  • FIG. 2 is an elevational view partly broken away of the rolling mill taken on the line 22 in FIG. 1A;
  • FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the supply mechanism for supplying a combustible mixture to the burner in the furnace;
  • FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the supply mechanism for supplying non-combustible cooling to the furnace
  • FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view, partially broken away, of the receiving member shown in FIG. 1C and of the casting wheel;
  • FIG. 6 is a cross section of the receiving member taken on lines 6 6 of FIG. 5;
  • FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the control circuit for controlling the environment in the furnace.
  • FIG. 8 is a fragmentary elevational view of the rolling mill in a second embodiment of the invention with the covers removed;
  • FIG. 9 is an elevational view taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 8.
  • the invention is seen to comprise a receiving member 10, a temperature regulating furnace 11, a rolling mill 12 having a cover 14 thereon and a cooling member 15.
  • a metal bar 16 cast in a casting machine 18 of known type shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is enclosed :by the receiving member 10 immediately upon delivery from the casting machine 18.
  • the metal bar 16 moves through the receiving member 10 shown in FIG. 1C, it is enveloped by a controlled environment, preferably reducing, but in any event non-oxidizing.
  • any oxide coating on the bar 16 is removed and/or its formation is substantially prevented.
  • bar 16 From the receiving member 10, bar 16 enters the temperature regulating furnace 11 where it is heated or cooled by a controlled environment which reduces and/ or prevents from forming any oxide coating on the bar 16.
  • the metal :bar 16 Upon leaving the furnace 11, the metal :bar 16 is received by the rolling mill 12 Without intermediate exposure to the ambient oxidizing atmosphere.
  • the bar In the mill 12 the bar is again enveloped by a controlled environment which also reduces any oxide coating as well as prevents the formation of a new oxide coating while being rolled into rod 86.
  • the metal rod 86 is then cooled below its oxidation temperature in the cooling member 15 by a controlled environment that reduces any oxide coating and prevents the further oxidation of the metal.
  • the receiving member 10 is seen to comprise an extractor chamber 19,
  • the extractor chamber 19 is an arcuate member substantially square in cross-section as is best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the sides 24a of which extend adjacent a casting wheel 22 of the casting machine 18 and up and over the wheel 22.
  • Cover members 24 extend between the sides 24a from just outwardly of the outer periphery of the casting wheel 22 thereby completing a channel 25 through which the metal bar 16 may move upon being extracted from the casting wheel 22.
  • a slot 26 in the outer cover member 24 allows a metal band 28, which encircles the casting wheel 22 to form a casting mold, to pass out of the channel 25 through the extraction chamber 19 so that the metal bar 16 may be extracted from the casting wheel 22 into the channel 25 of the extraction chamber 19 without contacting the outside atmosphere.
  • Seals 29 adjacent the metal band 28 as it passes through the slot 26 prevent the atmosphere outside of the extraction chamber 19 from entering the channel 25 in the extraction chamber 19.
  • a seal 30 which also serves to help keep the outside atmosphere from the channel 25.
  • the flexible connector 21 is a hollow bellows member attached to the upper free end of the extractor chamber 19 along a centerline collinear with that of the extractor chamber 19 at its one end and with that of the transfer chamber 20 at its other end.
  • the connector 21 allows the metal bar 16 to pass from the extractor chamber 19 to the transfer chamber 20 without contacting the atmosphere outside the receiving member 10.
  • the connector 21 also allows the extraction chamber 19 to be moved to a plurality of positions with respect to a support member 3%) by the operation of an adjusting cylinder 31 attached to the extractor chamber 19 and the support member 30 while allowing the transfer chamber 20 to remain stationary.
  • the transfer chamber 20 is a cylindrical hollow member, the centerline of which is substantially horizontal, comprised of a metal side wall 32 having a circular metal end 32a bolted thereto aand having insulation 34 on the interior thereof to substantially prevent the transfer of heat from the metal bar 16 to the environment outside the receiving member 10.
  • the metal bar 16 passes from the connector 21 into a channel 35 of the transfer chamber 29, through an opening 36 through the end 32a and the insulation 34, where it is received by rolls 38 which keep the metal bar 16 aligned for passage into the transfer chamber 26.
  • a plurality of support rolls 39 transfer the metal bar 16 through the transfer chamber 21 while maintaining the metal bar 16 substantially straight.
  • Pinch rolls 40 receive the metal bar 16 at the delivery end 41 of the transfer chamber 20 and align the bar 16 for passage through an opening 42 in the furnace 11.
  • An inert or reducing environment is introduced into the channel 35 of the transfer chamber 20 through a supply pipe 44 joining the channel 35 with an inert or reducing enviroiunent supply (not shown) such as a gas generator.
  • a valve 45 regulates the rate at which the inert or reducing environment is introduced into the channel 35.
  • the inert or reducing environment flows around the metal bar 16 in the chanel 35, through the opening 36 into the flexible connector 21, through the connector 21 and the extraction chamber, and out of the extraction chamber 19 adjacent the sides of the casting wheel 22.
  • the metal bar 16 is enveloped by an inert or reducing environment from the time it leaves the casting machine 18 and while it passes through the receiving member 10.
  • the furnace 11 comprises generally a tubular side wall 46 and circular end plates 48 attached to each end of the side wall 46.
  • a refractory lining 49 covers the inside of the side wall 46 and the end plates 48 to prevent deterioration of the side wall 46 and the end plates 48 due to the heat of a direct flame within the furnace 11.
  • An opening 42 in each end plate 48 and the lining 49 allows the metal bar 16 to pass from the transfer chamber through a channel 51 defined by the refractory lining 49.
  • Heat to raise the temperature of the metal bar 16 is supplied to the furnace 11 by a conventional gas burner 52 positioned within the channel 51 of the furnace 11, said burner having a tubular wall 54 with apertures 55 therethrough to allow a combustible reducing gas mixture to enter the channel 51 for combustion.
  • This reducing mixture reduces any oxide on metal bar 16 as the mixture burns.
  • a supply line 50 communicating with the burner 52 and a supply pump 56 supplies the burner 52 with the combustible reducing mixture.
  • the pump 56 receives the combustible reducing mixture at a constant air-fuel ratio from a metering system 58 such as an industrial carburetor which furnishes a constant air-fuel ratio mixture regardless of the gas supply.
  • the amount of mixtureentering the burner 52 and therefore the amount of heat produced by the burner 52 can be regulated.
  • the combustible reducing mixture supplied to the burner 52 by the metering system 58 reduces any oxide on the metal bar 16 as it passes through the furnace 11 so that only the original cast metal of the bar 16 is left after passage through the furnace 11.
  • a reducing environment comprised of the products of combustion is supplied through a pipe 59 and a manifold 61
  • the reducing environment is produced in a precombustion chamber 61 external of the furnace 11 and is supplied with a combustible mixture having an air-fuel ratio such that the products of combustion will reduce oxide coatings.
  • This reducing mixture is supplied to the precombustion chamber 61 through a constant air-fuel ratio burner 62 of known type.
  • the combustible reducing mixture is then burned in the chamber 61 and the products of combustion, which are also reducing, are pumped into the furnace 11 by a transfer pump 64 of known type through the pipe 59.
  • a water jacket 66 around the pipe 5? serves to cool the products of combustion as they flow through the pipe 59 to the pump 64.
  • a water pump 68 of known type provides a regulated water supply to the water jacket 66 and a discharge pipe 69 allows the water to be removed from the water jacket 66.
  • the regulation of the amount of flow through the burner 62, the transfer pump 64 and the water .pump 68 will be explained in the following discussion on the control system for the furnace 11.
  • the reducing atmosphere has been produced by the combustion of an oxygen starved mixture of air and natural gas.
  • Other fuel may, of course, be substituted.
  • the combustion of this rich mixture is, of course, incomplete in the absence of additional oxygen, thus producing a reducing environment.
  • additional oxygen is supplied by the oxide of the metal which, in supplying the oxygen for more complete oxidation, is reduced to the pure metal.
  • the control system for the furnace 11 of the present invention is seen to comprise a voltage regulator 121, a pressure switch 122 and a temperature limiting switch 120.
  • the voltage regulator 121 is connected to a constant voltage input which is standard line voltage and varies the output voltage therefrom in accordance with the voltage produced by a thermocouple 123 positioned within the channel 51 in the furnace 11;
  • the pressure switch 122 activates the transfer pump motor 64' when the voltage drop across a pressure pickup 124 positioned within the channel 57 of the furnace 11 becomes sufliciently great;
  • the temperature limiting switch starts or stops the supply pump motor 56', the burner motor 62, transfer pump motor 64' and the water pump motor 68' in accordance with the voltage output from a thermocouple as will be explained later.
  • thermocouples 123 and 125 are the voltage sources of radiation pyrometers of known type and are positioned so that the temperature of the metal bar 16 is indicated just as it enters the furnace 11. If the temperature of the metal bar 16 is below a certain predetermined temperature, then the voltage output from the thermocouple 125 activates the supply pump motor 56' through the switch 120. The pump 56 then supplies a reducing combustible mixture to the burner 52 in accordance with the voltage output from the voltage regulator 121, an increase in fuel being supplied varying inversely with an increase in the temperature of the bar 16.
  • the voltage output from the voltage regulator 121 is regulated by the voltage output from the thermocouple 123 and, if the temperature of the metal bar 16 is above the predetermined temperature, the voltage from the thermocouple 125 causes the switch 120 to turn the supply pump motor 56 off, thereby stopping combustion within the furnace 11 due to fuel starvation.
  • the voltage output from the thermocouple 125 activates the burner 62, the water pump 68 and the transfer pump 64 through the switch 120.
  • the voltage output from the thermocouple 123, through the voltage regulator 121, controls the speed of the constant air-fuel ratio burner motor 62 in order to control the burning rate in the burner 62, the water pump motor 58' in order to control the flow of water through the water jacket 66 and the transfer pump motor 64' to control the rate of flow of the gases of combustion from the precombustion chamber 61 into the furnace 11.
  • the flow of water through the water jacket 66 cools the gases of combustion sufficiently so that they will cool the bar 16 to the predetermined temperature before reaching the rolling mill 12.
  • the furnace 11 then, supplies heat to the metal bar 16 by burning a combustible mixture supplied to the channel 51 by the burner 52 that produces a reducing environment in the channel 51 around the metal bar 16 if the metal bar 16 is below the predetermined temperature and in addition reduces any oxidation that may be present on the metal bar 16. Furthermore, the furnace 11 supplies cooled gases to the channel 51 if the metal bar 16 is above the predetermined temperature that not only cool the metal bar to the predetermined temperature but also reduce any oxide coating that may be present on the metal bar 16. Moreover, the furnace 11 may be used to present an oxide free metal bar 16 to the rolling mill 12 at a predetermined rolling temperature to the exclusion of the receiving member 10 if a sufficient amount of reducing gases is introduced into the channel 51. This requires the use of an uneconomical amount of fuel, however, resulting in a need for the transfer member 10.
  • the flame scarfers 131 comprise a plurality of nozzels 132 protruding through the side wall 46 and refractory lining 4.9 of the furnace 11, a plurality of mixture supply pipes 133 communicating with the nozzles 132, a manifold 134 which distributes a combustible mixture to the pipes 133, and a valve 135 in the manifold 134 which regulates the flow of mixture to the nozles 132.
  • the nozzles 132 are positioned so that the jet of flame from the nozzle 132 is directed against the corners of the metal bar 16 and burn the flash metal away.
  • a pair of pinch rolls 70 enclosed within a metal tube 71 extending between the end plate 48 and an end panel 72 of the rolling mill 12 receives the metal bar 16 as it exits the furnace 11 through the opening 42 in the end plate 48 and guide it through the passage '74 in the end panel 72 to the rolling mill 12.
  • the metal tube 71 serves to prevent any contact of the heated metal bar 16 with the environment outside the present apparatus and provides support for the pinch rolls 70.
  • the rolling mill 12 shown in FIG. 1A is of generally conventional type with a cover 14 installed thereon to allow a slight fluid pressure to be exerted on the inside thereof.
  • the cover 14 comprises a. plurality of L- shaped hoods 75 extending out and over the roll stands 76 of the rolling mill 12 and seated at their ends against the base of L-shaped transmission housing '78 of the rolling mill 12, and end panels 72 at the entrance end 80 and the exit end 81 of the rolling mill 12.
  • the hoods 75 are hinged, as .at 79, at their upper ends to the top of the housing 7 8 as seen in FIG. 2 and have handles 32 adjacent their lower ends so that each hood 75 can be easily raised by hand in order to work on the roll stands 76.
  • the hoods 75 are mounted adjacent each other so that there is very little opening between their edges 84, thus permitting little flow of environmental gases to or from the inside of the cover 14.
  • the end panels 72 are mounted on the transmission housing so that they communicate with the hoods 75 to form a substantially closed chamber 85 through which the metal bar 16 passes.
  • the passages 74 in the end panels 72 allow the metal bar 16 to enter the rolling mill 12, be rolled in the rolling mill 12, and exit from the rolling mill 12 as rod 86.
  • a lubricating coolant manifold 88 extends along the length of the rolling mill 12 above the roll stands 76 as viewed in FIGS. 1A and 2 and serves to distribute a lubr-icating coolant to the rolls 89 of the rolling mill 12 and the metal bar 16 through nozzles 92 as the bar 16 passes through the rolling mill 12.
  • the coolant is supplied to the manifold 88 by a pipe 90 having a valve 91 interposed therein to regulate the flow of coolant through the manifold 88 and the nozzles 92.
  • a low pressure is created within the chamber 85 by the vaporization of the coolant by the heat of the metal bar 16 and the rolls 89.
  • a manifold 94 having a plurality of nozzles 95 spaced thereal-ong allows a reducing mixture, as above referred to, to be introduced under pressure into the chamber 85, thus producing an even greater differential between the pressure in the chamber 85 and the pressure of the outside atmosphere.
  • a supply pipe 96 having a flow rate control valve 98 delivers the reducing mixture to the manifold 94 in regulated amounts. Thus, no external atmosphere is permitted to enter the chamber 85 within the hoods 75.
  • the second embodiment of the rolling mill 12 shown in FIG. 1A is seen to compr-iw a rolling mill 12' wherein the metal bar 16 is received from the furnace 11 by a transfer tube 71'.
  • the metal bar 16 is then rolled in the rolling mill 12 in the usual manner with the metal bar 16 being transferred between roll stands 76 through additional transfer tubes 71.
  • the flow of coolant is provided by a coolant manifold 88 having a plurality of nozzles 92' therealong, a supply pipe 90, and a valve 91'.
  • the flow of coolant from the nozzles 92 is sufficient to envelope the bar 16 as it is being rolled so as to preclude the outside environment from contacting and oxidizing the metal bar 16 as it is being rolled.
  • Heat from the roll stand 76' and the metal bar 16 causes the coolant to be oxidized during the rolling of the bar 16 which, in turn, reduces any oxides that might be present on the metal bar 16.
  • the first segment 99a communicates with the chamber 85 through the passage 74 in the end panel 72 at one end and with a catch basin 100 at its other end.
  • the catch basin 100 is a hollow rectangular member provided with a drain pipe 101 at its lower end for draining any fluid caught in the catch basin 100.
  • the second segment 99!: of the cooling tube 99 communicates with the catch basin 100 opposite from the first segment 99a so that the passage 98 in the first segment 99a and the passage 98 of the second segment 99b are collinear.
  • a trumpet shaped entrance to the passage 98 in the second segment 99b facilitates the entrance of the rod 86 into the second segment 9%.
  • the extending end of the second segment 9% communicates with an injection block 105 having a central passageway 106 ther-eth-rough.
  • An annular recess 108 in the block 105 communicates with the passageway 106 and a plurality of coolant inlet pipes 107 for supplying coolant to the annular recess 108.
  • a conical recess 110 extends from the annular recess 108, along the cetnral passageway 106 towards the second segment 99b.
  • Threadedly inserted into the block 105 and extending into the conical recess 110 is a metering pin 111 which has a tapered end 112 corresponding to the conical recess 110.
  • a central channel 113 through the metering pin 111 is aligned with the central passageway 106 so that the rod 86 may pass therethrough.
  • the flow velocity of coolant into and along the central passageway 106 and along the passageway 98 of the second segment 9% toward the rolling mill 12 is regulated by turning the metering pin 111 within the block 105.
  • Another catch basin 100' similar to the catch basin 100 is attached to the opposite end of the block 105 and communicates at its opposite side with an air wipe block 116.
  • the opposite end of the metering pin 111 has a tapered shoulder 114 thereon which extends into a conical recess 115 of the air-wipe block 116.
  • the airwipe block 116 has a plurality of angularly disposed ports 118 therein communicating with a rod passageway 119 through the block 116 at their one end and a plurality of air supply tubes 120 at their other end.
  • the ports 118 are positioned so that air or some other similar gas flowing from the supply tubes 12 through the ports 118 is directed along the passageway between the shoulder 114 on the metering pin 111 and the conical recess 115 and against the rod 86 so that any coolant remaining on the rod 86 is removed. Therefore, any coolant on the rod 86 as it leaves the central channel 113 through the metering pin 111 is blown away from the rod 86 and into the catch basin 100 by the fluid flowing from the ports 118 and along the passage between the metering pins 111 and the recess 115.
  • the rod 86 then enters the third segment 990 of the cooling tube 99 cooled below its oxidation temperature.
  • the rod 86 also possesses desired hot rolled characteristics due to the temperature control and is therefore ready for subsequent drawing, coiling, or storing operations in an unox-idized condition.
  • the metal bar 16 enters the channel 25 of the extraction chamber 19 from the casting wheel 22 where it is immediately enveloped by an inert or reducing environment flowing oppositely along the channel 25 to the direction of motion of the metal bar 16.
  • the metal bar 16 is not subjected to environmental conditions which tend to oxidize the metal bar 16 as it is extracted from the casting wheel 22 of the casting machine 18 and/or with a reducing medium scale which may be formed on the bar during casting will be reduced.
  • the extraction chamber 19 may be easily modified to receive the metal bar 16 as it is cast by other types of casting machines known in the art and thereby prevent oxidation of the metal bar 16 as it is delivered from such other types of casting machines.
  • the metal bar 16 passes along the extraction chamber 19, through the flexible connector 21 and into the transfer chamber 20 where it is grasped by the rolls 38, all the while being enveloped by the inert or reducing environment supplied by the pipe 44 to the transfer chamber 20.
  • the metal bar 16 after leaving the rolls 38, passes along the transfer chamber 20 on the support rolls 39, is received by the pinch rolls 40 and aligned for entrance into the temperature control furnace 11. Radiant heat loss from the bar 16 is substantially prevented during the passage of the bar 16 through the transfer chamber 29 by the insulation 34 on the inside of the transfer chamber 19. Thus, both oxidation and radiant heat loss from the bar 16 are substantially prevented during the passage of the metal bar 16 through the receiving member 19 by the inert or reducing environment and the covering 34.
  • the metal bar 16 enters the furnace 11 where it is heated or cooled until the predetermined hot working temperature is reached, and the flash metal on the edges thereof is removed by the scarfers 131.
  • the thermocouples 123 positioned at the entrance of the furnace 11 sense the temperature of the meal bar 16 as it enters the furnace 11 and transmits an electrical signal to the voltage supply 121 which regulates the voltage to the motors 62, 64', 56 and 68' in accordance with the temperature of the bar 16.
  • the temperature limiting switch 120 activates the motors 62', 64' and 68', while stopping the motor 56 if the temperature of the metal bar 16 is above the predetermined temperature and activates the motor 56, while stopping the motors 62', 64' and 68 if the temperature of the metal bar 16 is below the predetermined temperature.
  • the temperature of the metal bar 16 is automatically regulated as it passes through the furnace 11.
  • any oxidation that may have formed on the metal bar 16 is quickly and effectively reduced so that the bar 16 enters the rolling mill 12 via the pinch rolls 70 in an oxide free state, thereby alleviating the problems encountered when the rolling is performed on oxide coated bars.
  • the furnace 11 is capable of reducing the oxide coating on the metal bar 16 even if no oxidation prevention is provided by a means between the casting machine 22 and the furnace 11 if large quantities 10 of fuel are added to the furnace 11, although this is uneconomical and is only used if a failure developes in the receiving member 19.
  • the metal bar 16 is aligned by the pinch rolls 70 and enters the rolling mill 12 for rolling.
  • the bar 161s then rolled into rod 86 by the rolls 89 while coolant is supplied by the nozzles 92 to maintain the temperature of the metal bar 16 at the proper rolling temperature during the rolling operation.
  • the coolant is partially oxidized by the heat from the metal bar 16 and the rolls 89 and creates a slight pressure differential across the cover 14.
  • the pressure within the chamber can be supplemented by the reducing environment introduced under pressure by the nozzles 95. Since the burning of the coolant produces a reducing environment in the vicinity of the surface of the metal bar 16, this prevents the formation of oxide coatings while the bar 16 is being rolled and also reduces minor oxidation that may be encountered on the surface of the bar 16.
  • the rod 86 leaves the rolling mill 12 at an elevated temperature and passes into the cooling tube 99 wherein an environment which is reducing envelopes the rod 86 and cools it below its minimum oxidation temperature.
  • the coolant flows from the recess 108 along the space between the recess 110 and the metering pin 111 and envelopes the rod 86 as it flows along the central passageway 106 and the passageway 98 oppositely to the motion of the rod 86 to the catch basin where it is removed.
  • the rod 86 extends past the air-wipe block 116- wherein the air blast from the ports 118 removes any of the coolant remaining on the rod 86.
  • the rod 86 is then ready for subsequent coiling or drawing operations without danger of oxidation.
  • all of the apparatus for the process is the same except the rolling mill 12' in place of the rolling mill 12.
  • the rolling mill 12 receives the cast bar 16 from the furnace 11, rolls the bar 16 into rod 86 while enveloping the bar 16 and rod 36 with a reducing environment supplied by the burned coolant from the manifold 88 and nozzles 92 and discharges the rod 86 int-o the cooling tube 99 for cooling in the aforementioned manner.
  • the rod 86 then, is received from the third segment 990 of the cooling tube 99 in an oixde free state and possessing the desired hot rolled characteristics as to strength, ductility and conductivity as a result of proper temperature control supplied by the present invention.
  • Apparatus for producing a shaped metal product comprising:
  • (A) casting means including a casting wheel having a peripheral groove, a band cooperating with said groove of said casting wheel to form a mold cavity, and a means for introducing molten metal to said mold cavity whereby cast metal is obtained,
  • enclosure means having an inert environment for enclosing said cast metal from the region of takeoff from said casting wheel to a region beyond said working means, said enclosure means including an entrance means adapted to immediately receive said cast metal from said mold cavity.
  • said entrance means includes an arcuate chimber adapted to sealingly engage the periphery of said casting wheel in the region of take-off of said cast metal from said casting wheel.
  • said enclosure means includes a first chamber portion extending from said 1 1 casting wheel to said working means, a second chamber portion associated with said working means, and a third chamber portion extending beyond said working means.
  • said working means includes a rolling mill having a plurality of roll stands and said second chamber portion includes a cover enclosing said roll stands.
US522169A 1964-11-12 1966-01-21 Apparatus for producing a shaped metal product Expired - Lifetime US3296682A (en)

Priority Applications (12)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
BE672269D BE672269A (ja) 1964-11-12
DE1452019A DE1452019B2 (de) 1964-11-12 1965-04-01 Vorrichtung zum kontinuierlichen Herstellen eines metallischen Stranges mit oxydfreier blanker Oberfläche
DE19651783170 DE1783170A1 (de) 1964-11-12 1965-04-01 Verfahren zum kontinuierlichen herstellen eines metallischen strangs und vorrichtung zur durchfuehrung des verfahrens
GB14284/65A GB1072318A (en) 1964-11-12 1965-04-05 Method of and apparatus for the hot forming of metal
CH489765A CH455686A (fr) 1964-11-12 1965-04-08 Procédé et installation pour la fabrication d'une bande métallique par formage à chaud
FR38237A FR1460167A (fr) 1964-11-12 1965-11-12 Procédé et appareil de façonnage à chaud de métaux
US522169A US3296682A (en) 1964-11-12 1966-01-21 Apparatus for producing a shaped metal product
FR91972A FR1508729A (fr) 1964-11-12 1967-01-20 Formage à chaud de métaux
GB3045/67A GB1130281A (en) 1964-11-12 1967-01-20 Apparatus for the hot-forming of metal
CH83667A CH463710A (fr) 1964-11-12 1967-01-20 Machine pour fabriquer des tiges métalliques
BE692991D BE692991A (ja) 1964-11-12 1967-01-20
NL6700996A NL6700996A (ja) 1964-11-12 1967-01-21

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US410805A US3257835A (en) 1964-11-12 1964-11-12 Method of hot forming metal
US522169A US3296682A (en) 1964-11-12 1966-01-21 Apparatus for producing a shaped metal product

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3296682A true US3296682A (en) 1967-01-10

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US522169A Expired - Lifetime US3296682A (en) 1964-11-12 1966-01-21 Apparatus for producing a shaped metal product

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US3296682A (ja)
BE (2) BE692991A (ja)
CH (2) CH455686A (ja)
DE (2) DE1452019B2 (ja)
FR (2) FR1460167A (ja)
GB (2) GB1072318A (ja)
NL (1) NL6700996A (ja)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3397736A (en) * 1965-01-25 1968-08-20 Marantz Ind Corp Apparatus for making thermoelectric elements
FR2234936A1 (ja) * 1973-06-26 1975-01-24 Secim
JPS5237540A (en) * 1975-09-17 1977-03-23 Southwire Co Method and device to remove oxides from copper rods manufactured continiously
US4826544A (en) * 1987-12-22 1989-05-02 Essex Group, Inc. Hydrogen cleaning of hot copper rod
US5372736A (en) * 1993-10-27 1994-12-13 Nalco Chemical Company Synthetic hot mill lubricant for high temperature applications
US5484010A (en) * 1992-10-26 1996-01-16 Clecim Device for guiding a cast bar from the output of a casting wheel to the input of a rolling mill

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1758493A1 (de) * 1968-06-12 1971-01-28 Kabel Metallwerke Ghh Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Stranggiessen von Rohren
LU56492A1 (ja) * 1968-07-15 1970-01-15
FR2234053B1 (ja) * 1973-06-23 1978-08-11 Kobe Steel Ltd
FR2448952A1 (fr) * 1979-02-13 1980-09-12 Southwire Co Procede perfectionne de fabrication d'une barre d'acier par coulee continue
FR2457724A1 (fr) * 1979-06-01 1980-12-26 Siderurgie Fse Inst Rech Dispositif de refroidissement de produits longs lamines en defilement
DE3123645A1 (de) * 1981-06-15 1982-12-30 Kabel- und Metallwerke Gutehoffnungshütte AG, 3000 Hannover "verfahren zur herstellung nahtloser kupferrohre"
GB8811028D0 (en) * 1988-05-10 1988-06-15 Stelco Inc One-face strip casting mould

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1968442A (en) * 1931-09-05 1934-07-31 Emerson L Clark Process of heating and rolling steel in an inert gas inclosure
US2359453A (en) * 1941-03-26 1944-10-03 Waldron Frederic Barnes Manufacture of solid-drawn iron and steel tubes

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1968442A (en) * 1931-09-05 1934-07-31 Emerson L Clark Process of heating and rolling steel in an inert gas inclosure
US2359453A (en) * 1941-03-26 1944-10-03 Waldron Frederic Barnes Manufacture of solid-drawn iron and steel tubes

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3397736A (en) * 1965-01-25 1968-08-20 Marantz Ind Corp Apparatus for making thermoelectric elements
FR2234936A1 (ja) * 1973-06-26 1975-01-24 Secim
JPS5237540A (en) * 1975-09-17 1977-03-23 Southwire Co Method and device to remove oxides from copper rods manufactured continiously
JPS5510331B2 (ja) * 1975-09-17 1980-03-15
US4826544A (en) * 1987-12-22 1989-05-02 Essex Group, Inc. Hydrogen cleaning of hot copper rod
US5484010A (en) * 1992-10-26 1996-01-16 Clecim Device for guiding a cast bar from the output of a casting wheel to the input of a rolling mill
US5372736A (en) * 1993-10-27 1994-12-13 Nalco Chemical Company Synthetic hot mill lubricant for high temperature applications

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE1452019B2 (de) 1974-11-28
FR1460167A (fr) 1966-06-17
BE672269A (ja) 1900-01-01
DE1452019A1 (de) 1969-11-06
DE1783170A1 (de) 1974-04-04
CH463710A (fr) 1968-10-15
NL6700996A (ja) 1967-07-24
GB1130281A (en) 1968-10-16
BE692991A (ja) 1967-07-03
FR1508729A (fr) 1968-01-05
GB1072318A (en) 1967-06-14
CH455686A (fr) 1968-07-15

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