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
  • 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
• • 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
  • C23C2/003—Apparatus

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an on-line processing unit for metal products, the design of which in sections, which can be made active independently, makes it possible to carry out several types of processing on the same line and to admit products with different characteristics as input.
• the putting into service of such or such section, its possible adjustment, the inhibition of other sections make it possible to condition the line for treatments such as a metallic coating of the product in the oven, than an organic coating of the paint type, that a succession of metallic and organic coatings, as heat treatment alone or prior to coating operations.
• the architecture of the line and the different possible settings give the installation a plurality of functions which, usually, are carried out on separate machines, and consequently, by different manufacturers.
• metal coating equipment - galvanization for example - is heavy equipment, requiring a large investment whose profitability requires a large production and the most uniform possible.
• the main concern of the industrialist thus equipped is therefore completely contrary to that of the diversification of his production. It is the same for the production company of bands of metallic product painted or lacquered, or which carries out a heat treatment (blueing) on metallic flashing lights.
• the present invention arose from the need in the steel industry, from a single production tool, to be able to manufacture different products of different qualities in the same range or of different natures, in order, on the one hand, to be able to absorb in basic product materials of various quality and nature therefore at competitive prices and, on the other hand, to be able to respond in a way more suited to the market and especially to variations in demand.
• the invention starts from the assumption that by greatly reducing the processing capacity of a line, the production cost is not necessarily increased. Indeed a reduced "flow" of treated product has many advantages.
• the total size of the unit is reduced, the length of product being treated requiring only drive power. completely acceptable.
• each section is also reduced in length, so that the equipment placed there is of such dimensions that, for at least some, it is possible to move them to dismantle or install them in another area of the path of the product, making it easy to change the line when you want to go from one treatment to another. This is particularly the case for thermal or cooling equipment.
• a shutdown of the unit only results in an absolute small drop in production, and the products in the oven can be of low tonnage. The unit can thus absorb basic products which it is impossible to process conventionally and which are available on the market at very low prices.
• the unit according to the invention makes it possible to recover a large number of by-products or waste products from conventional treatment lines. It also makes it easy to adapt to various market demands while requiring only a much lower investment than that of conventional machines. A reduced flow necessarily imposes a low scrolling speed.
• the subject of the invention is therefore an on-line processing unit for metallic products made of wires, strips or strips, adapted to produce on the product to be treated, depending on its nature, either a metallic coating or a coating. organic, either both successively, or a heat treatment alone or associated with the aforementioned coatings, comprising between a device for unwinding and continuously placing the product to be treated and a device for winding the finished product, in the direction of circulation of the product, at least one thermal calorie supply section, a metal coating section and a cooling section.
• said calorie intake section comprises a base oven, the maximum heating power of which is defined by its ability to heat from ambient temperature to approximately 750 ° C., an amount of metal at most equal to 7 tonnes per hour continuously passing through said furnace, at a constant speed at most equal to 12 meters per minute and means for adjusting the power of this furnace between this maximum value and zero and for fixing the atmosphere of the last.
• the unit according to the invention may furthermore comprise, upstream of the above-mentioned oven, a preheating oven, the maximum power of which is defined by an increase in the temperature of the product passing through it under the above-mentioned maximum speed, of about 250 ° vs.
• the unit comprises means for guiding the product between the two coating sections, defining a first vertical upward circulation zone of the product leaving the metal coating section, then a first area of high horizontal circulation, then a vertical downward circulation zone of the product up to the entrance to the organic coating section.
• the unit comprises, at the outlet of the organic coating section, a second vertical rising circulation zone of the product, followed by a second horizontal zone substantially at the level of the above-mentioned first horizontal zone.
• These zones are intended to receive means for complementary treatment of the product essentially of a thermal type (supply or extraction of calories) which will be put into or out of service depending on the products to be treated or the products to be obtained and which may or may not be removable.
• the unit according to the invention comprises means for making one or other of the coating sections constituted by elements deviating the path of the product inactive with respect to the product, allowing, for example, to avoid the galvanizing bath, pass the product directly from the oven outlet into the first rising circulation zone and, to avoid the paint zone (organic coating), go directly from the first to the second horizontal zone.
• the unit includes a rinsing cleaning section which may or may not be used depending on the nature of the products in the oven, as well as a surface treatment section in particular for the organic coating. .
• FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a unit according to the invention
• the unit of the invention comprises, between a device 1 for unwinding the product to be treated (metal strip, strip tape or wire) and a winding device 2 of the treated product: a) a cleaning section 3 comprising one or more tanks
• a chemical preparation and treatment section 4 for example a phosphating treatment known in itself- even ;
• a thermal section 5 for supplying calories composed of a main oven 5a having airlock devices and supplying an atmosphere suitable for the heat treatment to be carried out.
• This oven will be pre ference constituted by a refractory tunnel, flame or electric resistance whose power will be limited to obtaining a temperature at the outlet of the oven of the order of 750 ° C for a product passing through it at constant speed at most equal at 12 meters / minute.
• an additional oven preferably an induction oven which can be disposed upstream of the oven 5a in a removable manner to carry out preheating (for large strip thicknesses) or to constitute a means of adjusting the temperature rise curve. of the product.
• the power of this furnace will be limited to allow a 250 ° C rise in the "flow" of the above metal.
• the advantage of this limit lies in the fact that the oven remains of a reasonable size allowing it to be manipulated and moved in a simple manner, in particular to place it in another zone for circulation of the product along the line where an intake of calories would be necessary (lacquering or "galvanealing"); d) a thermal regulation section 6 disposed at the outlet of the oven 5a, which can also be placed under an atmosphere, so, depending on the desired treatment or the product in the oven, either to promote temperature uniformity or to create cooling for lower this temperature to that of a metal coating bath. Section 6 has two outputs, one ⁇ a in the direction of a deflection roller 7, the other 6b in the direction of a bath 8 of metal coating (alloy based on molten zinc).
• the outlet 6b is extended to the bath by a chute 6c for protection and confinement of the atmosphere; e) a metal coating section 9 which comprises the bath 8 in a tank 8a surmounted by a device of a wringing device disposed in whole or in part in a confined atmosphere in order to avoid in particular the problems which the 'coating oxidation; f) a first zone 10 for the upward circulation of the product from the metal coating section 9 followed by a first high horizontal zone 11 at the outlet from which the product can be cut or continue horizontally.
• 10a and 11a show thermal type equipment for heat exchange (supply or extraction of calories), the nature and function of which will be more precisely specified with reference to the following figures.
• This equipment can be arranged in these areas in a fixed or removable manner; g) an organic coating section 12 comprising a paint tank 12a, the coating being carried out for example by dipping; h) a second rising circulation zone 13 of the product at the outlet of the section 12 followed by a second horizontal zone 14 each of which is provided with equipment of the thermal type 13a and 14a removable or not.
• the unit includes return rollers such as 3b and 7 as well as those 15 and 16 making it possible to bypass the path of the product if necessary to short-circuit sections of the unit whose implementation is not required for the treatment considered (see the examples in the following figures ).
• Some of these rollers can be retracted in order to release, or not to impede the passage of the product along another route.
• each section can be made active or inactive with regard to the product, independently.
• sections such as 3, 9 and 12 where a physical contribution is made to the product, making them inactive consists in short-circuiting them by modifying the path of the product.
• the thermal section 5 can operate either in an atmosphere or open (in the open air), -as well as the thermal equipment in zone 10-, or operate only at reduced temperature, in particular for drying the product which has undergone previously the action of several surface treatment baths.
• FIG 2 there is shown the implementation of the unit according to the invention to perform the bluing (heat treatment) of a product 20 (one or more metal ribbons obtained by slitting strip) of work hardened steel.
• a product 20 one or more metal ribbons obtained by slitting strip
• the elements already described. have the same references, but only those active in relation to the product are referenced. It can therefore be seen in this figure that only the sections 3.5 are in service, the product being diverted from the galvanizing tank by the roller 7 and diverted from the organic coating section.
• the oven and its atmosphere will have been adjusted in this application (which may be air) at a temperature of the order of 450 550 ° C.
• the oven 5a has at its output means for brutally cooling the product which, implemented at their maximum efficiency, make it possible to lower its temperature to around 90 ° C.
• the equipment 10a will then consist of an additional cooler.
• FIG. 3 it is the metallic coating of a product 30 which is represented, the active sections being here also only referenced.
• the thermal section 5 is under an appropriate atmosphere, adjusted to obtain a product temperature of the order of 700 to 750 ° C., if necessary using preheating, by the oven 5a. , which is then brought by the cooling section 6, also under a protective atmosphere, to a temperature close to that of the bath (400 to 450 ° C. if this bath is a zinc alloy) of section 9.
• This section is completely or partially under atmosphere, preferably neutral, to avoid oxidation of the coating.
• the equipment 10a is put into service to cool the coated strip to a temperature allowing complete solidification of the coating, so that the product can be wound up without damage on the roll 17. In zone 11, the equipment 11a will be an additional cooler.
• the oven 5 is adjusted to bring the product between 600 and 650 ° C.
• the commissioning of the induction furnace is then no longer necessary except in the case where it is desired to increase the thickness of the strip under the same running speed.
• the other sections and equipment are set to roughly the same values as those described above.
• the equipment 10a is a furnace and in particular the furnace 5b which, disassembled from its preheating zone, is reassembled in the zone 10 ,, allows both to transform the metallic deposit into an alloy with the base metal. In that case,. the subsequent cooling of the product will be carried out by the equipment 11a and 14a.
• FIG. 4 illustrates the conditioning of the unit for galvanization followed by an organic coating of the product 40. It will be noted that with the exception of section 4, all the sections and equipment are activated. The adjustment of the galvanization will take place as indicated above, depending on the nature of the product in the oven, while the strip, at the outlet of the additional cooler 11a is diverted by the roller 16 to the section 12 to then be dried by equipment 13a (a baking oven) and be cooled by the cooling device 14a.
• the equipment 13a may advantageously be constituted by the induction furnace 5b if the implementation of preheating is not necessary.
• FIG. 5 shows the unit according to the invention, configured to paint a product 50 which must be degreased in 3, and / or treated on the surface in the chemical treatment station 4, dry in the oven 5 at reduced temperature and in air before introducing it into the organic coating section 12.
• the organic coating equipment and the associated thermal equipment can be replaced, in the unit according to the invention, by chemical treatment or electroplating equipment to carry out the final coating of the product or the chemical transformation of the last thickness of its surface layer.
• the invention finds an interesting application in the field of the treatment of metallurgical products in strip or wire sheet.

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Materials Engineering (AREA)
• Metallurgy (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Crystallography & Structural Chemistry (AREA)
• Coating With Molten Metal (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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ID=9337545

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Citations (5)

Family Cites Families (1)

• 1986
  • 1986-07-18 FR FR8610464A patent/FR2601700A1/fr active Granted
• 1987
  • 1987-07-16 MA MA21274A patent/MA21037A1/fr unknown
  • 1987-07-17 EP EP87401682A patent/EP0254633A1/fr not_active Withdrawn
  • 1987-07-17 AU AU77074/87A patent/AU7707487A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1987-07-17 WO PCT/FR1987/000284 patent/WO1988000619A1/fr unknown

Patent Citations (5)

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