US3895139A - Water quench method and apparatus - Google Patents
Water quench method and apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3895139A US3895139A US328130A US32813073A US3895139A US 3895139 A US3895139 A US 3895139A US 328130 A US328130 A US 328130A US 32813073 A US32813073 A US 32813073A US 3895139 A US3895139 A US 3895139A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- strand
- chamber
- cooling liquid
- vertical
- cooling
- 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
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- 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
-
- 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
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
- C23C—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL
- C23C2/00—Hot-dipping or immersion processes for applying the coating material in the molten state without affecting the shape; Apparatus therefor
- C23C2/26—After-treatment
- C23C2/28—Thermal after-treatment, e.g. treatment in oil bath
- C23C2/29—Cooling or quenching
Abstract
Method for liquid quench cooling a heated strand moving in a vertical path of travel by providing a variable height water column through which the strand passes. The column is completely supported by air under pressure so that there is no mechanical apparatus in contact with the heated strand until after it emerges from the water in the column. The apparatus includes a chamber provided with aligned openings in its top and bottom through which the strand passes with substantial clearance in a vertical path of travel. A cooling fluid is introduced into the chamber and is supported by air under pressure admitted to the chamber adjacent the bottom thereof and surrounding the bottom opening.
Description
United States Patent Brown et al.
14 1 July 15,1975
[541 mg E METHOD AND FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS A 870,556 5/1958 United Kingdom 266/3 R [75] inventors: Ronald D. Brown, Independence;
Marvm stark Lexmgtonr both of Primary ExaminerCharles E. Van Horn Assistant Examiner-Michael W. Ball [73] Assignee: Armco Steel Corporation, Attorney, Agent, or FirmMelville, Strasser, Foster &
Middletown, Ohio Hoffman [22] Filed: Jan. 30, 1973 2l A l N 328 130 [57] ABSTRACT I I pp' 0" Method for liquid quench cooling a heated strand Related [15- Application ata moving in a vertical path of travel by providing a vari- [62] Division of Ser. No. 180,803, Dec. 15, 1971, Pat. No. a l height water olumn through which the strand 3.735.967. passes. The column is completely supported by air under pressure so that there is no mechanical appara- [52] US. Cl. 427/444; 118/69; 148/156; ms in contact with the heated strand until after it 266/3 R; 427/398 emerges from the water in the column. [5 i] It". CI CZld l/GZ The apparatus includes a chamber provided i [58] held Search 7/102 M1 102 aligned openings in its top and bottom through which 7/102 114 the strand passes with substantial clearance in a H4 B; 118/691 405; 266/3 R? vertical path of travel. A cooling fluid is introduced 48/156 into the chamber and is supported by air under [56] Reierences and pressure admitted to the chamber adjacent the bottom UNITED STATES PATENTS thereof and surrounding the bottom opening. 3,036,825 5/l962 Eisenmenger 266/4 R 3,727,895 4/1973 Wondergem ll8/69 4 Claims 3 Dm'mg 44 45 46 4 \\\}\wgw.\\ \\\w I? r Q/Zh;
/4 lllllll WATER QUENCl-I METHOD AND APPARATUS This is a division of application Ser. No. 180,503 filed Dec. 15, 1971, now US. Pat. No. 3,735,967.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to the liquid quench cooling of a heated strand, and particularly to a method and apparatus for liquid quench cooling of the still molten coating in a hot dip metallic coating operation. The invention is particularly adapted to the liquid quench cooling of a coated strand moving in a vertical path of travel.
Hot dip metallic coating operations, generally considered, all involve a pretreatment of the base metal strand. This pretreatment includes a thorough cleaning of the surface of the strand and is intended to make the surface of the strand receptive to the molten coating metal.
Following the pretreatment, the base metal strand is immersed into a bath of molten coating metal. A variety of coating metals are now in common use, including zinc and its alloys, aluminum and its alloys, terne, and the like.
These aspects of a metallic coating operation do not, per se, form a part of this invention. It will be understood, however, that these steps generally recited above will be carried out prior to the practice of this invention.
The base metal strand, as it emerges from the coating metal bath, will carry with it on its surface a quantity of still molten coating metal. This molten coating metal adhering to the strand may be subjected to a variety of well known finishing actions, including the use of exit rolls or gas jets. These finishing techniques serve to control the coating weight or quantity of molten metal adhering to the strand and to improve its surface characteristics.
It is then necessary to solidify the molten coating prior to coiling or other processing of the strand.
Most modern hot dip metallic coating operations contemplate that the strand emerge from the coating metal bath in a vertical path of travel. It is well recognized by the skilled worker in the art that the vertical path of travel has certain advantages, the primary one being that the influence of gravity will not adversely affect coating concentricity.
Present solidification technique calls for the utilization of cooling air during a portion of this vertically upward travel. This air cooling is continued till the coating has solidified sufficiently to be run over a pulley or sheave at the top of the cooling tower. At this point, the coated strand is generally turned into a horizontally disposed liquid quench trough.
Commercial experience has shown that forced air cooling is relatively slow. As is recognized by the skilled worker in the art, this required a rather long vertically upward path of travel above the bath in order to provide enough time for solidification to take place.
The length of required vertical travel is also known to create alignment problems. That is, pulleys, guides, sheaves, and the like cannot be brought into contact with the coating metal while it is still molten. Therefore, the vertical distance between guides is very substantial. It has also been recognized in the art that a more rapid cooling, indeed a quenching, of the molten coating adhering to the strand would be desirable for several metallurgical reasons. First of all, it is well known that an alloying takes place at the interface between the base metal and the coating metal. Holding the alloy growth to a minimum will greatly improve coating adherance.
Secondly, it is believed that by quench cooling immediately after finishing, the coated surface is greatly improved, both in appearance and texture of the coated surface.
Keeping the foregoing comments in mind, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus for the liquid quench cooling of a heated strand moving in a vertical path of travel. It is a more specific object of this invention to provide in a hot dip coating operation, a liquid quenching method and apparatus which will, by its more rapid cooling effect, hold alloy formation to a minimum and improve coating adherance.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a liquid quench cooling method and apparatus which will improve the surface characteristics of the coated product.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for liquid quench cooling the molten metal coating on a base strand which will greatly reduce the required vertical travel above the bath, thereby permitting better alignment of the strand pass line.
Still a further object of the invention is to provide a liquid quench cooling method and apparatus which will utilize a relatively small amount of actual coolant.
A further object of the invention is to provide a liquid quench cooling method and apparatus for a heated strand moving in a vertical path of travel, which does not require apparatus contacting the strand surface until after the quenching is completed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In its broadest terms, this invention contemplates the suspension of a variable height water column through which the heated strand passes in a vertical path of travel, by means of a contained column of air under pressure.
In more specific terms, a chamber may be provided having top and bottom openings aligned to define a vertical path of travel for the heated strand. Strand will pass through these aligned openings with substantial clearance. A coolant fluid is introduced into the chamber and suspended by a column of air under pressure admitted at the base of the chamber.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a side elevational view of an exemplary apparatus for carrying out the invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the bottom portion of FIG. 2.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As already indicated, this invention relates to the liquid quench cooling of a heated strand, and particularly to the quench cooling of a molten metallic coating on a heated strand moving in a substantially vertical path of travel. It will be assumed that the surface of the base strand has been properly prepared in accordance with well known practice, and that the proper timetemperature relationship during actual immersion is observed.
As also indicated earlier, it will be assumed that the coating apparatus in general is arranged to provide a generally vertical path of travel for the strand upon emergence from the coating metal bath.
The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings show apparatus for the liquid quench cooling of a metallic coating on wire or cylindrical base stock. lt will of course be understood that the invention is equally applicable to the liquid quench cooling of a base stock in strip form.
The apparatus includes a cylindrical member through which the wire having a still molten coating on its surface passes. The cylindrical member may be rigidly affixed to any suitable supporting structure 12 as by the bolts 14.
At its lower end, the cylindrical member 10 is provided with a nozzle structure indicated generally at 16. This nozzle structure may be secured to the cylindrical member 10 in any suitable manner. It will be seen that the nozzle includes the female portion 18 which has a central bore extending all the way therethrough. This bore includes the lowermost cylindrical portion 200, and a smaller diameter cylindrical portion 20b defining therebetween a shoulder 200. The upper portion of the bore 20d is of generally frusto-conical configuration. It will be observed that the female member 18 is provided in the embodiment shown with the water dam 22 at its upper end.
The male member of the nozzle structure includes the generally cylindrical portion 24 having the enlarged end portion 24a. It will be observed that the male member is received within the bore in the female member, with the portion 240 seated against the shoulder 20c. The two portions of the nozzle structure just described may be suitably secured together in this position in any satisfactory manner.
It will be seen that the outside diameter of the cylindrical portion 24 of the male member is somewhat smaller than the inside diameter of the bore 20b and 20d. in effect defining a plenum chamber therebetween. It will be seen that the upper end of the male member is tapered as at 26 to define an annular nozzle opening between these members when assembled together as described.
The male member is provided with an internal bore 28 which is of a size such that the coated wire can pass with substantial clearance. It will of course be understood that on the one hand, the clearance must be great enough to insure against mechanically contacting the still molten coating carried upward by the wire. On the other hand, too great a clearance about the coated strand will make it difficult to maintain sufficient pressure in the chamber as described hereinafter Air or other gas under pressure from a suitable supply is introduced into the plenum chamber just described by means of the connection 30, the annular chamber 32, and a plurality of radial ports 34 in the female portion 18.
A cooling liquid medium will be supplied to the interior of the cylindrical portion 10 through the inlet fitting 38. Adjacent its upper end, the cylindrical member 10 is provided with an overflow opening 40.
it is believed that operation of the apparatus thus far described should be clear. Water or other suitable quenching medium is introduced into the cylindrical member 10 via the fitting 38. Simultaneously, a supply of air under pressure via the fitting 30, annular passage 32, radial passages 34, and the plenum chamber will be introduced into the lower end of the cylindrical member 10. This air under pressure will support a column of water within the cylindrical portion 10. Of course, the height of the water column may be adjusted by varying water supply and/or air pressure. If desired, the water can be continuously recirculated through the cylindrical portion 10 by adjusting the top of the column to be at or above the overflow opening 40.
At the top of the cylindrical member 10 may be provided the guide structure indicated generally at 42. This includes the spring loaded guide rollers 44 and 46. It will be noted that the apertures 48 and 50 at the top and bottom, respectively, of the guide structure 42 are of sufficient size to permit the coated strand to pass with substantial clearance.
In the event the quench cooling liquid medium within the cylindrical portion 10 is not recirculated, a sight glass indicated generally at 52 may be provided so that the level of the water can be checked and monitored.
An exemplary embodiment of the invention which has been utilized successfully in the quench cooling of aluminum coated wire gauge sizes from 12 to 4 included a cylindrical member 10 having an inside diameter of approximately 2 inches. The inside diameter of the internal bore 28 was approximately k inch. Air at a pressure of 6 psi was supplied to the fitting 30, and was sufficient to support a water column 15 inches high.
It will be apparent that many modifications can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, no limitations are intended except as specifically set forth in the claims which follow.
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
l. The method of liquid quench cooling a coated strand moving in a vertical path of travel without mechanically contacting said strand until said coating has completely solidified, comprising the steps of:
a. providing a vertical chamber having a bottom with an opening for the passage of said strand therethrough with clearance and a top and with an opening aligned with said bottom opening for passage of said strand therethrough;
b. supplying cooling liquid to said vertical chamber by inlet means at said bottom end;
ct providing a cooling liquid outlet adjacent said upper end;
d. supplying gas under pressure at said bottom end of said chamber and substantially in the direction of said vertical strand movement;
e. supporting said cooling liquid within said chamber and maintaining said opening in said chamber bottom free of said cooling liquid by said gas under pressure; and
f. passing said strand through said top and bottom openings and said gas and liquid within said charn ber.
2. The method claimed in claim 1 including the step of continually circulating said cooling liquid from said inlet means, through said vertical chamber and through said cooling liquid outlet by adjusting at least one of the supply of said cooling liquid and said air pressure.
steps of causing said strand to enter said vertical chamber through said central nozzle bore and supplying said gas under pressure to said nozzle plenum chamber.
Claims (4)
1. THE METHOD OF LIQUID QUENCH COOLING A COATED STRAND MOVING IN A VERTICAL PATH OF TRAVEL WITHOUT MECHANICALLY CONTACTING SAID STRAND UNTIL SAID COATING HAS COMPLETELY SOLIDIFIED COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: A. PROVIDING A VERTICAL CHAMBER HAVING A BOTTOM WITH AN OPENING FOR THE PASSAGE OF SAID STRAND THERETHROUGH WITH CLEARANCE AND A TOP AND WITH AN OPENING ALIGNED WITH SAID BOTTOM OPENING FOR PASSAGE OF SAID STRAND THERETHROUGH, B. SUPPLYING COOLING LIQUID TO SAID VERTICAL CHAMBER BY INLET MEANS AT SAID BOTTOM END, C. PROVIDING A COOLING LIQUID OUTLET ADJACENT SAID UPPER END, D. SUPPLYING GAS UNDER PRESSURE AT SAID BOTTOM END OF SAID CHAMBER AND SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE DIRECTION OF SAID VERTICAL STRAND MOVEMENT, E. SUPPORTING SAID COOLING LIQUID WITHIN SAID CHAMBER AND MAINTAINING SAID OPENING IN SAID CHAMBER BOTTOM FREE OF SAID COOLING LIQUID BY SAID GAS UNDER PRESSURE, AND F. PASSING SAID STRAND THROUGH SAID TOP AND BOTTOM OPENINGS AND SAID GAS AND LIQUID WITHIN SAID CHAMBER.
2. The method claimed in claim 1 including the step of continually circulating said cooling liquid from said inlet means, through said vertical chamber and through said cooling liquid outlet by adjusting at least one of the supply of said cooling liquid and said air pressure.
3. The method claimed in claim 1 wherein said gas is air.
4. The method claimed in claim 1 wherein said bottom opening comprises a nozzle having a central bore and a surrounding plenum chamber and including the steps of causing said strand to enter said vertical chamber through said central nozzle bore and supplying said gas under pressure to said nozzle plenum chamber.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US328130A US3895139A (en) | 1971-09-15 | 1973-01-30 | Water quench method and apparatus |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US18080371A | 1971-09-15 | 1971-09-15 | |
| US328130A US3895139A (en) | 1971-09-15 | 1973-01-30 | Water quench method and apparatus |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| US3895139A true US3895139A (en) | 1975-07-15 |
Family
ID=26876652
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| US328130A Expired - Lifetime US3895139A (en) | 1971-09-15 | 1973-01-30 | Water quench method and apparatus |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US3895139A (en) |
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4136544A (en) * | 1976-08-31 | 1979-01-30 | Showa Electric Wire & Cable Co., Ltd. | Cooling tubes for wire stocks |
| US4197730A (en) * | 1977-06-11 | 1980-04-15 | Stahlwerke Peine-Salzgitter Aktiengesellschaft | Cooling arrangement |
| US4210010A (en) * | 1978-05-24 | 1980-07-01 | Stahlwerke Peine-Salzgitter Aktiengesellschaft | Cooling arrangement |
| US6454258B1 (en) * | 1998-03-26 | 2002-09-24 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Device for treating plate-shaped work pieces, especially printed-circuit boards |
| US20100272503A1 (en) * | 2009-04-22 | 2010-10-28 | As Ip Holdco, L.L.C. | Push and Turn Nut for Quick Faucet Installation |
Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3036825A (en) * | 1957-05-17 | 1962-05-29 | Eisenmenger Friedrich | Process and apparatus for the continuous heat treating of elongated material |
| US3727895A (en) * | 1969-06-26 | 1973-04-17 | Australian Wire Ind Pty | Cooling coated wires, strips and the like |
-
1973
- 1973-01-30 US US328130A patent/US3895139A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3036825A (en) * | 1957-05-17 | 1962-05-29 | Eisenmenger Friedrich | Process and apparatus for the continuous heat treating of elongated material |
| US3727895A (en) * | 1969-06-26 | 1973-04-17 | Australian Wire Ind Pty | Cooling coated wires, strips and the like |
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4136544A (en) * | 1976-08-31 | 1979-01-30 | Showa Electric Wire & Cable Co., Ltd. | Cooling tubes for wire stocks |
| US4197730A (en) * | 1977-06-11 | 1980-04-15 | Stahlwerke Peine-Salzgitter Aktiengesellschaft | Cooling arrangement |
| US4210010A (en) * | 1978-05-24 | 1980-07-01 | Stahlwerke Peine-Salzgitter Aktiengesellschaft | Cooling arrangement |
| US6454258B1 (en) * | 1998-03-26 | 2002-09-24 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Device for treating plate-shaped work pieces, especially printed-circuit boards |
| US20100272503A1 (en) * | 2009-04-22 | 2010-10-28 | As Ip Holdco, L.L.C. | Push and Turn Nut for Quick Faucet Installation |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US3227577A (en) | Metal coating of long lengths of metal bodies | |
| US2294750A (en) | Metal coating | |
| US3060889A (en) | Coating control device | |
| US3895139A (en) | Water quench method and apparatus | |
| US3779056A (en) | Method of coating steel wire with aluminum | |
| EP0216434A1 (en) | Method and apparatus for the treatment of steel wires | |
| US4479530A (en) | Method of manufacturing metallic wire products by direct casting of molten metal | |
| US3057050A (en) | Aluminizing of ferrous metal and product | |
| US9249489B2 (en) | Method and system for manufacturing metal-plated steel pipe | |
| US3611986A (en) | Apparatus for finishing metallic coatings | |
| US5174822A (en) | Steel strip annealing and coating apparatus | |
| US3632411A (en) | Method of finishing galvanized wire | |
| US3735967A (en) | Water quench method and apparatus | |
| US3965857A (en) | Apparatus for producing a uniform metallic coating on wire | |
| US2974790A (en) | Cross-extrusion process | |
| US5705228A (en) | Method for the continuous coating of a filiform steel substrate by immersion of the substrate in a bath of molten coating metal | |
| JP2000509764A (en) | Method and equipment for metallizing cast iron pipes | |
| US2072060A (en) | Wire coating process and apparatus | |
| US3354864A (en) | Apparatus for coating metallic strands | |
| RU2082819C1 (en) | Method and apparatus for multilayer coverage of long-length material | |
| US3523815A (en) | Method for producing a uniform metallic coating on wire | |
| US3281918A (en) | Continuous cladding system for bimetallic rod | |
| US2354459A (en) | Immersion means | |
| US2320129A (en) | Metal coating | |
| US2950991A (en) | Method and apparatus for coating ferrous metal with aluminum |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| AS | Assignment |
Owner name: WIRE ROPE CORPORATION OF AMERICA, INCORPORATED, 60 Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:ARMCO INC.;REEL/FRAME:004860/0649 Effective date: 19880314 Owner name: WIRE ROPE CORPORATION OF AMERICA, INCORPORATED, A Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:ARMCO INC.;REEL/FRAME:004860/0649 Effective date: 19880314 |
|
| AS | Assignment |
Owner name: WIRE ROPE CORPORATION OF AMERICA, INCORPORATED Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:WIRE ROPE CORPORATION OF AMERICA, INCORPORATED;REEL/FRAME:005029/0103 Effective date: 19881014 |