Classifications

• • 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
  • C23G—CLEANING OR DE-GREASING OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY CHEMICAL METHODS OTHER THAN ELECTROLYSIS
  • C23G3/00—Apparatus for cleaning or pickling metallic material
  • C23G3/02—Apparatus for cleaning or pickling metallic material for cleaning wires, strips, filaments continuously
• • 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

Definitions

• This invention relates to the scouring of elongate material and in particular to the cleaning or abrasion of the surface of rod or wire.
• An object of the invention is to provide surface treatment of elongate material, for example rod and wire, in which at least to some extent the problems outlined above are alleviated.
• a device for scouring the surface of elongate material including a primary generally cylindrical chamber having at least one substantially tangentially directed inlet for fluid and a pair of secondary generally cylindrical chambers each being axially aligned with, and on opposite sides of the primary chamber, and each having a substantially smaller radius than the primary chamber, the primary and secondary chambers being arranged when the device is in use to allow elongate material to be passed axially through them and to form outlets for fluid from the primary chamber, the arrangement being such that when the device is in use fluid forced into the primary chamber via the inlet forms a rotating body of fluid in the chambers, the angular velocity of which so increases as the radius of rotation decreases when the fluid passes into the secondary chambers that the elongate material is scoured.
• apparatus for use in scouring elongate material including a plurality of devices according to the first aspect of the invention a body supporting in a first treatment zone, one or more of the devices, spaced from a second treatment zone containing one or more further ones of the devices, said devices of the first and second treatment zones being aligned so as to allow elongate material to pass axially freely through the devices when the apparatus in in use, means for conducting a first fluid to the inlet for fluid of each device in the first treatment zone, means for conducting a second fluid to the inlet for fluid of each device in the second treatment zone, means for so directing air or other gas into a region between the first treatment zone and the second treatment zone, as to prevent the first and second fluids from coming into contact with each other.
• a method of scouring elongate material including vibrating a tensioned section of the elongate material while passing it through a confine wider than the material.
• FIGURE 1 shows a diagrammatic representation of a horizontal cross-section of the cleaning apparatus taken on the line B-B in Figure 2 in an upward direction as depicted by the arrows in Figure 2;
• FIGURE 2 shows a diagrammatic representation of a vertical cross-section of the cleaning apparatus taken on the line A-A in Figure 1 and in the direction of the arrows; and
• FIGURE 3 shows a diagrammatic representation of a cross-section of one of the cleaning heads of the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2 viewed in the same plane and direction a Figure 1.
• a wire 50 is cleaned by being passed under tension (typically 35 lbs for a 2 mm carbon steel wire of tensile strength 70 tons/ sq.in) continuously through cleaning apparatus 51.
• the apparatus 51 consists of a block of metal 1 with a central bore 2 (typically of diameter ) running the full length of the block.
• the central bore 2 In the central bore 2 are eight cleaning heads 13-20 arranged in two groups, a group of two 13, 14, and a group of six 15-20. These groups are separated by a central drying head 22. Drying heads 21 , 23 are provided at ends of the bore 2.
• the cleaning heads 15-20 and the central drying head 22 are held in place by screws 1A in the upper face of the block 1.
• the drying heads 21 , 23 are themselves threaded and screw into a threaded end portion of the bore 2 to tighten down onto "O" rings 21C, 23C which form a seal.
• a narrower bore 3 (typically of diameter 1 ⁇ 2" ) , which has an inlet 10 for connection to a compressed air line.
• Leading from the narrower bore 3 are passageways 25 leading to each of the drying heads 21-23.
• the block 1 also has two blind bores 4 and 5 drilled from opposite ends of the block and running alongside the bore 1. Each of these bores 4 and 5 is connected to a respective inlet port 9, 8 for the working fluid.
• the bore 4 connects to passageways 24 which in turn feed the first group of cleaning heads 15-20.
• bore 5 feeds the group of two cleaning heads 13, 14.
• the blind bores 4 and 5 and the bore for compressed air 3 are plugged at the end of the block 1 by plugs 4A, 5A and 3A respectively.
• a milled exhaust slot 2A designed to allow the working fluid from the cleaning heads to escape into exhaust tanks below.
• One of these tanks is denoted in Figure 2 by the reference numeral 80.
• Each of the drying heads 21 , 22 and 23 consists of a central bore (shown as 21a on the drying head 21) and at least one diagonal passage (shown as 21b on the drying head 21 ) .
• High pressure air is fed from the narrower bore 3 in the block 1 via the passage 25 to the diagonal passage 21b where it impinges on the wire 50. Operation of the drying heads is as described and claimed in Patent G.B. 1,533,846.
• each of the inlet ports 8 and 9 is supplied with working fluid at a pressure of typically
• the working fluid supplied to the group of six cleaning heads 15-20 is typically a dilute alkali, an organic solvent or water and the working fluid supplied to the group of two cleaning heads 13 and 14 is typically water.
• Compressed air is supplied (typically at 100 p.s.i.) to the inlet 10 to feed the drying heads.
• another gas e.g. nitrogen, may be used if the surface of the wire needs to be protected from air.
• the wire then enters the drying head 22 which has two angled air jets 22A and 22B.
• the jet 22B serves to prevent the working fluid from the group of six heads 15-20 from travelling forward along the wire, and the jet 22A prevents the working fluid from the group of two heads 13, 14 from travelling back along the wire.
• the drying head 22 provides a cushion of air which separates the two working fluids. With suitable adjustment of the air pressure with respect to the pressure of the working fluids ensures that they are kept apart. This separation of the working fluids is particularly useful as it enables the two groups of heads to be used for two different operations.
• the group of six heads 15-20 are used to clean the wire 50 and the group of two heads 13, 14 for rinsing it.
• the cleaning may be the removal of an oxide coating and use an alkali and the rinsing may be to remove all traces of alkali.
• the cleaning head 17 consists of a cylindrical tube 70 machined to locate two annular end pieces 71. Each of these end pieces 71 is an interference fit in the tube 70 which is shrunk onto them when the head is being assembled. Each end piece has a shouldered bush 75 which is an interference fit in a suitably profiled hole in the end piece 71.
• the material out of which the bush 75 is made depends on the application. If it is required to clean finished wire, for example to remove the lubricant used in the drawing process, a soft tough material such as ultrahigh density polyethylene or tufnol may be used. This gives a high quality smooth finish. If, on the ether hand a fierce abrasive action is required and the surface finish is less important tungsten carbide may be used.
• the primary chamber may be o.d.
• the diameter of the secondary chamber depends on the size of the wire cleaned and may typically be 1/16" for up to 50 Thou wire, for up to 0.1" or 1 ⁇ 4" for 5.5 mm rod.
• the inlet for the working fluid is a hole 74 which is substantially tangentially to the curved wall of the primary chamber 72. The orientation of this hole can be seen more clearly in Figure 2.
• the working fluid is forced into the primary chamber via the hole 74. Because the fluid enters the primary chamber substantially tangentially it circulates in the chamber at an angular velocity defined by the linear velocity at which it enters. Exit is only possible via one of the secondary chambers 72 around the wire 50.
• the principle of conservation of angular momentum dictates that the angular momentum of the fluid as it flows through the secondary chamber 73 must be substantially equal to the angular momentum of the fluid while it is in the primary chamber.
• the diameter of the secondary chamber is less than that of the primary chamber the angular velocity of the fluid in the secondary chambers must be proportionally greater than that of the fluid in the primary chamber for the angular momentum to be conserved.
• the angular velocity of the fluid in the secondary chamber can be made so high that a vibration is set up in and around the wire which causes the surface of the wire to be abraded.
• the inside surface of the end piece 71 of the heads be contoured. It may for example be radiussed to give a better surface finish.
• the apparatus is particularly suitable for continuous cleaning of wire and speeds of over 300 metres per minute can be achieved.
• a device to keep the wire under a controlled tension should be provided for most efficient operation of the apparatus, as should guides to ensure that the wire passes centrally through the apparatus.
• the fluids should preferably be exhausted rapidly so that the spaces around the outer ends of the secondary chambers do not fill up with fluid.
• the heads may be longer than these shown in Figure 1 with a length to diameter ratio of typically 2 to 1.
• the apparatus described can be considered as having two treatment zones, one having a group of six heads and the other a group of two heads, separated by a drying head, it is possible to use other numbers of heads in each treatment zone and/or more than two treatment zones. It is also envisaged that the cleaning apparatus could have a single treatment zone. Drying heads could be provided to confine the working fluid if required. Such apparatus could be used alone or several could be used in tandem. Where it is necessary to clean different sizes of wire on rod it may be convenient to provide interchangeable heads so that the diameter of the secondary chambers can be selected to suit the diameter of the wire being cleaned. As well as wire, apparatus of the type described above may be used to clean rod, or strip.

Landscapes

• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Materials Engineering (AREA)
• Metallurgy (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Cleaning By Liquid Or Steam (AREA)
• Cleaning And De-Greasing Of Metallic Materials By Chemical Methods (AREA)
• Cleaning In General (AREA)
• Yarns And Mechanical Finishing Of Yarns Or Ropes (AREA)
• Ropes Or Cables (AREA)
• Table Equipment (AREA)
• Financial Or Insurance-Related Operations Such As Payment And Settlement (AREA)
• Detergent Compositions (AREA)
• Control Of Vending Devices And Auxiliary Devices For Vending Devices (AREA)
• Golf Clubs (AREA)
• Pinball Game Machines (AREA)
• Cleaning Implements For Floors, Carpets, Furniture, Walls, And The Like (AREA)

Priority Applications (3)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=10516648

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (13)

Families Citing this family (10)

Citations (4)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 1981
  • 1981-10-13 JP JP56503206A patent/JPH0125833B2/ja not_active Expired
  • 1981-10-13 AU AU76463/81A patent/AU543452B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1981-10-13 ES ES506203A patent/ES506203A0/es active Granted
  • 1981-10-13 WO PCT/GB1981/000224 patent/WO1982001383A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 1981-10-13 CA CA000387821A patent/CA1194757A/en not_active Expired
  • 1981-10-13 GB GB8130823A patent/GB2085546B/en not_active Expired
  • 1981-10-13 DE DE8181304758T patent/DE3173991D1/de not_active Expired
  • 1981-10-13 AT AT81304758T patent/ATE18440T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1981-10-13 ZA ZA817051A patent/ZA817051B/xx unknown
  • 1981-10-13 IN IN1121/CAL/81A patent/IN157649B/en unknown
  • 1981-10-13 EP EP81304758A patent/EP0050036B1/en not_active Expired
• 1982
  • 1982-06-11 DK DK264882A patent/DK160773C/da not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1982-06-14 FI FI822128A patent/FI70600C/fi not_active IP Right Cessation

Patent Citations (4)

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