Mechanical Cleaning Patents (Class 72/40)
  • Patent number: 11389848
    Abstract: Disclosed is a flattening device, comprising: a rack; a material-pressing component, which is provided on the rack and has a material-pressing part; a material-guiding component, which is provided on the rack and has a material-guiding part corresponding to the material-pressing part, the material-pressing part and the material-guiding part being configured to be able to bear against two sides of a sheet material respectively, so as to form a flattening channel between the material-guiding part and the material-pressing part; and an adjusting component, which drives at least one of the material-pressing component and the material-guiding component to move, so as to adjust the distance between the material-pressing part and the material-guiding part. Further disclosed are a material-conveying apparatus including the flattening device and a sheet material processing system comprising the material-conveying apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: DALIAN FIELD HEAVY-MACHINERY MANUFACTURING CO., LTD
    Inventor: Guowu Gao
  • Patent number: 8950227
    Abstract: A method and a device have high energy efficiency and high descaling performance, with which high-quality rolling stock can be produced. In a method in which the rolling stock is heated in an induction furnace and subsequently descaled, before the rolling stock is rolled in a rolling stand or rolling relay, the heated rolling stock is descaled by at least one rotating water jet from a rotary descaler; then at least one temperature of the descaled rolling stock is respectively recorded by a temperature measuring instrument and delivered to a controller; and the controller determines at least one control parameter with the aid of a control rule and by taking into account a setpoint temperature, and delivers it to a control component, at least one inductor of the induction furnace being driven so that the temperature of the descaled rolling stock corresponds as far as possible to the setpoint temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Vai Metals Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Gerald Hohenbichler, Reinhard Karl
  • Publication number: 20150013408
    Abstract: A method according to the invention for producing forged parts with a prescribed end contour comprises the following steps: pre-forging of a blank in order to obtain a forged part and subsequent reshaping of the forged part in a die, wherein one or a plurality of tools are inserted into the forged part during the reshaping and, in the process, the material of the forged part is displaced in a manner such that the specified end contour is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: CDP Bharat Forge GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Bachmann
  • Publication number: 20140238092
    Abstract: A method for producing a crown of a golf club head is provided to solve the disadvantages of high manufacturing costs of conventional production of the crown. The method includes a material preparation step including preparing a sheet material to be processed, with the sheet material including a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The method further includes a formation step including press-shaping the sheet material obtained from the material preparation step at least one time by at least one mold, forming at least one rib on the first surface of the sheet material. The method further includes a milling step including milling the second surface of the sheet material obtained from the formation step, obtaining a crown for a golf club head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: FUSHENG PRECISION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chien-Liang Li, Chih-Wei Lo
  • Patent number: 8806910
    Abstract: A method for continuously removing scale from a hot-rolled carbon steel strip includes: cracking the scale on the hot-rolled steel strip; shot-blasting the cracked scale to remove the scale; deforming the hot-rolled steel strip so as to weaken the bond between scale remaining after the shot-blasting and the hot-rolled steel strip and so as to impart surface roughness to the hot-rolled steel sheet; and polishing the deformed hot-rolled steel strip to remove the remaining scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Posco
    Inventors: Young-Sool Jin, Tae-Chul Kim, Soo-Hyoun Cho, Kee-Jo Jeong, Young-Ki Lee
  • Publication number: 20140096578
    Abstract: A process and an apparatus for preparing steel stock before hot rolling. The steps of preheating the stock (5, 16, 22) in a first induction furnace (6) so that the preheated stock enters a subsequent descaling apparatus (7) with a surface temperature of T1?1000° C.; descaling the preheated stock by a plurality of water jets in a descaling apparatus (7); direct subsequent heating of the descaled stock in a second induction furnace (8), where the descaled stock enters the second induction furnace (8) at a temperature T2 which is ?Tcurie of the stock and heating in the second induction furnace 8 is either in a largely inert or largely reducing protective gas atmosphere; passing the heated stock in a rolling mill (9), where the heated stock enters the rolling mill (9) at a temperature 1220° C.?T3 1050° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Inventors: Gerald Eckerstorfer, Gerald Hohenbichler, Bernd Linzer
  • Patent number: 8671727
    Abstract: A blank tube for cold drawing is used for the production of a longer-length, small-diameter tube such as a heat-transfer tube for steam generation in nuclear power facilities, wherein the blank tube will not cause scoring and chattering vibration in a drawing process. The blank tube is used to produce a cold drawn tube through cold drawing of the blank tube. The average surface roughness Ra (ANSI B46.1) of the inner surface of blank tube before drawing satisfies the condition: 0.10 ?m?Ra?1.00 ?m in the case of a blank tube for cold drawing for use in an oil-lubricated drawing. In particular, the surface roughness Ra satisfies the condition: 0.10 ?m?Ra?0.50 ?m in the case of a blank tube for use in a high-pressure lubrication drawing and made of an austenitic alloy for use in a heat-transfer tube for a steam generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation
    Inventors: Masatoshi Toyoda, Keishi Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20140047887
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (10) for treating surfaces of cylindrical elements in several process steps, including a first cleaning device (30) for removing residuals of a coolant and lubricant used during draw wall ironing from a cylindrical element produced through draw wall ironing so that a cleaned and pre-dried cylindrical element is provided. The device includes a surface treatment device (50) for treating at least one surface of the cleaned and pre dried cylindrical element and a second cleaning device (70) for cleaning the surface treated cylindrical element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: Mall & Herlan GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Linden, Bernd Ullmann
  • Publication number: 20130192325
    Abstract: A roll cleaning apparatus having a cleaning member mounted to a support member that extends lengthwise relative to a first roller of the machine. The cleaning member has a brush having a substantial area to place against the surface of the roll. The cleaning member may be movable between an engaged position against the roll during operation, and a disengaged position spaced away from the roil in a non-operating condition, such as when replacement of the cleaning member is desired. The roll cleaning apparatus may include a drive connected to cause linear reciprocation of the cleaning member. The roll cleaning apparatus may have a drive or actuator mounted to move the cleaning member between the engaged and disengaged positions, and may be operable to bias the cleaning member against the roll in use. The roll cleaning member may have a contact head that includes an array of abrasive bristles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: Superior Industrial Services
    Inventor: Superior Industrial Services
  • Publication number: 20130074560
    Abstract: A method for treating a metal element for an automobile includes hardening the metal element so as to obtain a press hardened metal element. Scale from the press hardened metal element are removed by placing the press hardened metal element in an ultrasonic liquid and preforming an ultrasonic process thereon so as to obtain a de-scaled press hardened metal element. The ultrasonic liquid is an aqueous solution comprising an organic carboxylic acid in a concentration of from 0.1 to 10 vol.-%. The de-scaled press hardened metal element is coated in a coating process with an anti-corrosion coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: Z.A.T. Zinc Anticorosion Technologies SA
    Inventor: Leonid Levinski
  • Patent number: 8347682
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning cylinders (5) and/or rolls (5), e.g., working rolls (5) in a rolling stand, which are used for producing a rolled stock (1) such as strips or slabs, in which a liquid is sprayed onto the cylinders (5) at high pressure through several nozzles D1-Dn, a number of nozzles (D1-Dn) are stationary arranged in and/or on a nozzle beam (10), at least one on-off valve is associated with each nozzle (D1-Dn), and one or several nozzle(s) (D1-Dn) are sequentially switched on and off one after another starting from one end of the nozzle beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: SMS Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas Gramer, Peter De Kock, Rolf Brisberger
  • Publication number: 20120180539
    Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a method of shot-peening treatment that substantially improves the durability (particularly, heat check resistance) of the treated surface of the steel products in the process of treating by shot peening (hereafter, “SP”) the surface of the steel product that is the work to be treated and that was treated by heat hardening. The SP treatment of the present invention that gives the SP treatment to the steel product that was heat-treated and that is a work to be treated comprises the first SP treatment that removes the compound layer (white layer) and a second SP treatment that gives compressive residual stress to the first SP treated surface that was treated by the first SP treatment where the second SP treatment is carried out only to the products where it has been proved by the non-destructive inspection that the compound layers are removed by the first SP treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Inventor: Yuji Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20120103044
    Abstract: A bead wire manufacturing method/apparatus includes a descaling step/device for removing oxide on the surface of a wire rod, a coating liquid adhesion step/device for adhering a coating liquid to the wire rod, wiredrawing steps/devices for performing area reduction workings on the wire rod, and a bluing step/device for bluing the wire rod having been raised to a high temperature through the area reduction workings, in a temperature range of 350° C. to 480° C. Thus, the wire rod having been raised to a high temperature through wiredrawing is blued without being cooled down to effectively utilize the temperature retained therein, so that the method/apparatus is little in energy loss.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: FUJI SHOJI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chikara Takagi, Hidetoshi Shibuya
  • Publication number: 20120070687
    Abstract: Disclosed is a high-strength Zn—Al coated steel wire for bridges with excellent corrosion resistance and fatigue properties, the Zn—Al coated steel wire includes: a steel wire; and a Zn—Al coating having a coating body layer and an Fe—Al alloy layer formed in an interface between a surface layer of the steel wire and the coating body layer, wherein a chemical composition of a core material of the steel wire includes, by mass %: C: 0.70% to 1.2%; Si: 0.01% to 2.5%; Mn: 0.01% to 0.9%; P: limited to 0.02% or less; S: limited to 0.02% or less; N: limited to 0.01% or less; and the balance including Fe and unavoidable impurities, wherein wire-drawn pearlite is most abundant microstructure among microstructures of the core material of the steel wire; wherein an average composition of the Zn—Al coating includes, by mass %, Al: 3.0 to 15.0%; and Fe: limited to 3.0% or less, and wherein the Fe—Al alloy layer has a thickness of 5 ?m or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Shimoda, Toshimi Tarui, Junichi Kodama, Makoto Kosaka, Shingo Yamasaki
  • Publication number: 20120036909
    Abstract: A method for removing loose scale and other foreign matter from the top and/or bottom face of a cast product with the aid of flowable media which are sprayed onto the cast product by a cleaning device having at least one spraying apparatus that is disposed above the cast product and at least one spraying apparatus that is arranged below the cast product. According to the method, the amount of media and/or the effective width and/or the pressure of the media is/are controlled separately and independently of time for each spraying apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: SMS SIEMAG AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Thomas Runkel, Bernhard Ehls, Otmar Jannasch, Andreas Houben, Jürgen Armenat, Jürgen Hemmerle, Karl Rittner, Uwe Kopfstedt, Ingo Schuster, Peter Jonen, Carsten Lippold
  • Publication number: 20110308289
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing steel strips with solution of continuity. The steps of the process include a continuous casting step for thin slabs with a high “mass flow,” a shearing step and subsequent heating in furnace, followed by a multiple stand rolling step with the average temperature of the product at the inlet of the rolling mill being higher than the surface temperature, which is equal to at least 1100° C., lower than that measured in the inner central area by about 100° C. A plant is also described for the accomplishment of such process where at the inlet of a furnace, possibly of the induction type, combined with a temperature maintaining tunnel a shear is provided for cutting into pieces a slab coming from continuous casting with the distance between the outlet of the continuous casting and the inlet into the finishing rolling mill is not greater than 100 m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventor: Giovanni ARVEDI
  • Patent number: 8069695
    Abstract: A system and method for cleaning the work rolls of a multi-roll leveler. The system includes a roll cleaning drive system for driving one or both of a set of upper and lower work rolls against a cleaning pad placed therebetween. The roll cleaning drive system is disengageable with the work rolls to be driven thereby. The upper and lower work rolls are driven in opposite rotational directions so as not to eject the cleaning pad from the leveler. The rotational direction of the upper and lower work rolls may be periodically reversed to produce a scrubbing action on the work rolls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Machine Concepts, Inc.
    Inventors: Tony Enneking, Guil Bergman, Dave Hamberg
  • Publication number: 20110247382
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing flat products of steel from continuously cast slabs having a large or medium thickness or from thin bars, which are compressed and subsequently run through a blooming train and a finishing train. The invention is characterized in that the flat products are descaled on their strip edges prior to compression. The method is carried out in a rolling train which comprises at least a first compression device (1), a blooming train and a finishing train. The rolling train is characterized in that a first descaling device (2) for descaling the strip edges of the flat products is arranged upstream of the first compression device (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: SMS SIEMAG AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Hans-Jürgen Bender
  • Patent number: 7997110
    Abstract: In substantial volume production operations involving hot blow forming or hot stamping of aluminum alloy sheet workpieces, debris largely comprised of particles of aluminum alloy material adheres to critical forming surfaces of the heated steel tools. This debris mars forming surfaces and causes defects in aluminum alloy parts formed against them. Such aluminum-rich debris may be reactively transformed to change its adherent properties and removed from tool surfaces without removing the heated tool from production. In one embodiment, a hot sacrificial magnesium sheet may be formed on the tool(s) to alloy with aluminum debris and carry it from the forming surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jon T. Carter, Paul E. Krajewski
  • Patent number: 7788762
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for shaping a roll cleaning brush (1), particularly for working rolls, for use in metal and, in particular, aluminum hot strip mills, comprising a brush lining (2). The inventive brush also comprises a supporting base body (3), which is mounted at one end and which is provided with the brush covering (2) attached thereto, said brush covering being pressed against the roll (4) with a settable force or defined insertion depth in order to have a cleaning effect. In order to achieve a uniform contact pressure, the shape of the cleaning brush (1) or of the brush covering (2) is matched according to the shape of the roll (4) whereby setting, between the roll and the brush covering or cleaning brush, a contact pressure that is as uniform as possible over the entire surface length of the roll. The invention also relates to a correspondingly contoured cleaning brush (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: SMS Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hartmut Hof, Jürgen Seidel
  • Publication number: 20100199735
    Abstract: A device for adjusting the distance of stripper chisels from a circumference of work rolls supported in chocks of a roll stand, wherein the stripper chisels are movable parallel to the rolling line in direction towards and away from the roll gap. To adapt to different operating positions and diameters of the work rolls, the stripper chisels are arranged in a horizontally displaceable stand roller table. The movement of the stand roller table is linked with the vertical movement of the bottom work roll so that the stripper chisel can be moved away from the work roll when the bottom work roll moves upward, and vice versa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: SMS Siemag AG
    Inventors: Hendrik Langer, Christian Hehmann
  • Publication number: 20100192655
    Abstract: In substantial volume production operations involving hot blow forming or hot stamping of aluminum alloy sheet workpieces, debris largely comprised of particles of aluminum alloy material adheres to critical forming surfaces of the heated steel tools. This debris mars forming surfaces and causes defects in aluminum alloy parts formed against them. Such aluminum-rich debris may be reactively transformed to change its adherent properties and removed from tool surfaces without removing the heated tool from production. In one embodiment, a hot sacrificial magnesium sheet may be formed on the tool(s) to alloy with aluminum debris and carry it from the forming surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Jon T. Carter, Paul E. Krajewski
  • Patent number: 7637132
    Abstract: A self-retaining scraping device for continuously cleaning work rolls of a roller leveler assembly has a first wall having two angled or curved portions and a straight portion extending between the angled portions; and a second wall having two angled or curved portions and a straight portion extending between the angled portions. The first wall and second wall are connected to each other via the straight portions. The angled or curved portions of the first wall extend in an opposite direction from the angled or curved portions of the second wall. The scraping device is inserted between adjacent work rolls and has multiple scraping edges contacting outer surfaces of the work rolls to continuously clean the work rolls. The scraping device is supported by the work rolls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Butech Bliss
    Inventors: Salvatore James Vasta, Anthony Joseph Nackino
  • Patent number: 7634933
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a surgical needle incorporates at least one pressing operation which, preferably, in conjunction with a trimming and/or etching process, ultimately forms the sharpened needle end. The grinding operation in the preferred process does not produce the primary sharpened edges of the needle, but, rather is incorporated, in one instance, to reduce excess needle material prior to the pressing operation. Consequently, the amount of flash material generated during pressing is substantially reduced. This feature desirably enhances the subsequent trimming and etching operations, and produces a needle which is extremely sharp, durable and exhibits an improved retention of sharpness over periods of prolonged use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventor: Michael W. Bogart
  • Publication number: 20080295451
    Abstract: A blank for a spacer for an insulating window unit preferably includes a core made of a metal sheet, e.g., stainless steel, and a coating made of a synthetic material, e.g., polypropylene. The coating preferably has a thickness in the range of 0.02 to 0.2 mm and the core preferably has a thickness in the range of 0.05 to 2 mm, more preferably between 0.1 to 0.3 mm. Further, the insulating window unit preferably includes at least two glass windows, which extend in parallel and are spaced a first distance from each other. The first distance preferably is maintained by the above-mentioned spacer, which spacer is adhered to the glass windows using an adhesive or a sealing compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Erwin Brunnhofer, Karl-Hans Caprano
  • Patent number: 7458881
    Abstract: There is provided a surface treated product that moves relatively in a fluid, wherein a surface of the surface treated product has continuous dimples, each dimple having a diameter of 10 to 2500 ?m and a depth of 50 ?m or less. The surface treated product significantly reduces resistance of a fluid to an object in the fluid, and significantly improves a flow state of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Asahi Tec Corporation
    Inventors: Shiro Kawashima, Hiromi Akihori, Matuo Suzuki, Hidekatu Hirahara, Aturo Yamamoto, Katuya Kawamori
  • Publication number: 20080182486
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of removing scale from the surfaces of processed sheet metal and tubular metal employs a scale removing medium propelled by counter-rotating pairs of wheels positioned in close proximity to the metal surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: THE MATERIAL WORKS, LTD.
    Inventor: Kevin C. Voges
  • Patent number: 7357011
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for producing metal strip (1) in an installation (2), in which a metal strand, especially a thin slab, is brought to a desired temperature and/or is maintained at a desired temperature in a furnace (3, 3a, 3b) and is subjected to a rolling process in a rolling train (4) downstream of the furnace (3, 3a, 3b) in the direction of conveyance (R) of the metal strand (1). In accordance with the invention, to prevent the formation of scale deposits in the downstream region of the furnace, provision is made for the metal strand (1) to be subjected to at least one descaling operation during its residence time in the region (5) of the furnace (3, 3a, 3b). In addition, the invention concerns an installation for producing metal strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: SMS Demag AG
    Inventors: Karl Rittner, Sitki Altuntop, Frank Benfer, Carsten Lippold
  • Patent number: 7204110
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for removing metallic buildup from forming surfaces of metal forming dies while the dies are in a press and operating at elevated temperatures. The cleaning apparatus includes a programmable positioner having a robotic arm with an end effector carrying a brush assembly. The brush assembly includes a rotary drive motor rotatably carrying a metallic wire brush. The brush has a plurality of radially extending plain carbon steel bristles having tips adapted for removing metallic buildup from the forming surfaces of dies. The positioner operates to move the rotatable wire brush in a predetermined path that engages the brush with the forming surfaces of the dies for sweeping and cleaning metallic buildup from the forming surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Richard H. Hammar, Gary A. Kruger, James G. Schroth, Edward W. Bennett, Curtis L. Shinabarker
  • Patent number: 7181943
    Abstract: Strip is descaled in a rolling line having a scale scrubber and a finishing line downstream of the scale scrubber. The strip is sprayed with water on its upper and under sides at a descaling pressure in the scale scrubber. In the scrubber the strip is treated with water at a multiplicity of locations spaced from one another in the travel direction. A furthest downstream location at the under side is spaced downstream from a furthest downstream location at the upper side. Rolling torques of at least one rolling mill of the finishing line are measured above and below the strip and control parameters are produced corresponding thereto. These parameters are fed to a control circuit and used thereby to adjust quantities of water sprayed at the locations against the upper side and under side of the strip upstream of the finishing line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: SMS Demag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Jürgen Seidel
  • Patent number: 7156926
    Abstract: A method of removing iron oxide scale from processed sheet metal comprises the steps of: providing a surface conditioning apparatus; and conditioning a surface of the processed sheet metal with the surface conditioning apparatus. In general, the iron oxide scale generally comprises three layers prior to surface conditioning: a wustite layer, a magnetite layer, and a hematite layer. The wustite layer is bonded to a base metal substrate of the processed sheet metal. The magnetite layer is bonded to the wustite layer, and the hematite layer is bonded to the magnetite layer. The surface conditioning apparatus has at least one surface conditioning member. The step of conditioning the surface of the processed sheet metal includes bringing the at least one surface conditioning member into engagement with the surface of the sheet metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: The Material Works, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kevin Voges
  • Patent number: 7081167
    Abstract: A method of removing iron oxide scale from sheet metal and galvanizing the sheet metal includes bonding galvanizing zinc to a wustite layer of the sheet metal. The iron oxide scale on the sheet metal generally comprises three layers prior to surface conditioning: a wustite layer, a magnetite layer, and a hematite layer. The wustite layer is bonded to a base metal substrate of the sheet metal. The magnetite layer is bonded to the wustite layer, and the hematite layer is bonded to the magnetite layer. Conditioning the surface of the sheet metal includes bringing a surface conditioning member into engagement with the surface of the sheet metal in a manner to remove substantially all of the hematite and magnetite layers from the surface, and in a manner to remove some but not all of the wustite layer from the surface. The portion of the wustite layer that remains bonded to the base metal substrate of the sheet metal protects the surface from oxidation until the surface is galvanized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: The Material Works, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kevin C. Voges
  • Patent number: 7081168
    Abstract: A method of removing iron oxide scale and coating sheet metal bonds a pre-paint to a wustite layer of the sheet metal. The iron oxide scale on the sheet metal generally comprises three layers prior to surface conditioning: a wustite layer, a magnetite layer, and a hematite layer. The wustite layer is bonded to a base metal substrate of the sheet metal. The magnetite layer is bonded to the wustite layer, and the hematite layer is bonded to the magnetite layer. Conditioning the surface of the sheet metal includes bringing a surface conditioning member into engagement with the surface of the sheet metal in a manner to remove substantially all of the hematite and magnetite layers from the surface, and in a manner to remove some but not all of the wustite layer from the surface. The portion of the wustite layer that remains bonded to the base metal substrate of the sheet metal protects the surface from oxidation until the surface is coated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: The Materials Works, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kevin C. Voges
  • Patent number: 7081169
    Abstract: A method of removing iron oxide scale and cold reducing sheet metal leaves a wustite layer on the sheet metal. The iron oxide scale on the sheet metal generally comprises three layers prior to surface conditioning: a wustite layer, a magnetite layer, and a hematite layer. The wustite layer is bonded to a base metal substrate of the sheet metal. The magnetite layer is bonded to the wustite layer, and the hematite layer is bonded to the magnetite layer. Conditioning the surface of the sheet metal includes bringing a surface conditioning member into engagement with the surface of the sheet metal in a manner to remove substantially all of the hematite and magnetite layers from the surface, and in a manner to remove some but not all of the wustite layer from the surface. The portion of the wustite layer that remains bonded to the base metal substrate of the sheet metal protects the surface from oxidation, even after subsequent cold reduction of the sheet metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: The Material Works, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kevin C. Voges
  • Patent number: 6814815
    Abstract: A method of removing iron oxide scale from processed sheet metal, the method includes the steps of: providing a surface conditioning apparatus; and conditioning a surface of the processed sheet metal with the surface conditioning apparatus. In general, the iron oxide scale generally comprises three layers prior to surface conditioning: a wustite layer, a magnetite layer, and a hematite layer. The wustite layer is bonded to a base metal substrate of the processed sheet metal. The magnetite layer is bonded to the wustite layer, and the hematite layer is bonded to the magnetite layer. The surface conditioning apparatus has at least one surface conditioning member. The step of conditioning the surface of the processed sheet metal includes bringing the at least one surface conditioning member into engagement with the surface of the sheet metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: The Material Works, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kevin Voges
  • Patent number: 6732561
    Abstract: A method of processing sheet metal comprises the steps of: providing a tension-leveling apparatus; providing a surface conditioning apparatus; leveling a portion of the sheet metal with the tension-leveling apparatus; and conditioning a surface of the portion of the sheet metal with the surface conditioning apparatus. The tension-leveling apparatus includes a first set of bridle rollers adapted to receive sheet metal from an upstream coil. The tension-leveling apparatus also includes a second set of bridle rollers downstream of the first set of bridle rollers. The tension-leveling apparatus is adapted to engage the sheet metal in a manner to subject the portion of the sheet metal between the first and second sets of bridle rollers to a tensile force. The step of leveling the portion of the sheet metal between the first and second sets of bridle rollers includes engaging that portion with the tension-leveling apparatus in a manner to flatten the portion and reduce internal residual stresses in that portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: The Material Works, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kevin Voges
  • Publication number: 20030056558
    Abstract: A new configuration and operating method therefore improves conventional continuous pickling and cold-rolling systems in response to increasing demands for high-propertied steel plates. The continuous pickling and cold-rolling equipment system comprises a uncoiling apparatus, a joining apparatus, an accumulating looper, a cleaning section, a pickling section, a cold rolling mill, a cutting apparatus, and a coiling apparatus. This configuration and associated operation method realize a rolling line having a substantially infinite number of mill stands enabling continuous or endless cold rolling without additional mill stands. Thereby, production of cold rolled steel strip with a large total reduction ratio for high-grade steel strips effectively using a small number of mill stands becomes practicable. At least one of the embodiments clearly shows acceptable productivity that can stand comparison with a typical conventional cold rolling system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Nishi
  • Patent number: 6516645
    Abstract: Equipment and methods for the rapid and easy cleaning of metal forming dies while in a press and operating at elevated temperatures. The invention features the physical removal of excess lubricant collecting on the hot surface of the forming dies under operating conditions so that no lubricant-induced flaws occur on the show surface of the formed part for optimized production of high quality parts. Special and effector tooling is supplied with high velocity air which draws in solid CO2 which sublimes into pressurize streams of gaseous CO2 that is discharged through nozzles onto the forming surfaces of hot forming dies after a number of lubricated parts have been formed therewith to physically sweep foreign matter including lubricants from the die surfaces. A robot is employed to move the activated end effector in predetermined paths across the dies for fully sweeping and cleaning the forming surfaces. The gas then dissipates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Arianna T. Morales, Edward Frank Ryntz, Nelson T. Brinas
  • Publication number: 20020139159
    Abstract: The present invention provides a wire feed device for guiding and straightening a wire which is comprised of a wire infeed unit and a self-cleaning deflection head which are connected together by a flexible guide hose. The wire infeed unit has a guide passage therethrough whose inlet and outlet are offset so the wire will remain in contact with a contact element within the passage to generate a signal when the wire is in the passage. The deflection head has a guide arc-shaped guide passage therethrough which, in turn, have outwardly radiating pockets spaced along the outer side thereof which remove debris (e.g. the material abraded from the wire and wire shavings) transport it out of the deflection head. Dimpled guide points are formed on the other side of the arc-shaped guide passage opposite the pockets to facilitate the self-cleaning of the wire. A wire straightening sleeve is positioned downstream of the deflection head, which can generate a control/monitoring signal is positioned downstream of the head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventor: Bruno Munster
  • Patent number: 6360423
    Abstract: A method for making a stick resistant cook surface or cooking vessel having the stick resistance in which a hard substrate metal is buffed/polished to a high luster surface finish of less than 20 micro inches and then coated with a layer of zirconium nitride. The method further includes the step of polishing a stamped blank to the desired surface smoothness prior to the drawing/shaping step to provide a stick resistant surface in cooking vessels having side walls, such as pots and pans, which are otherwise difficult to buff in the interior due to the side wall geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Clad Metals LLC
    Inventor: William A. Groll
  • Patent number: 6301943
    Abstract: A method for finishing cold-rolled stainless steel is disclosed, wherein the stainless steel is annealed and descaled. After descaling, the cold-rolled stainless steel is temper rolled, buffed and embossed. Line speed as fast as 75 fpm is used to produce an AISI #3 finish.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: J&L Specialty Steel, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael F. McGuire, Richard W. McCabe
  • Patent number: 6216507
    Abstract: A continuous in-drawing line process and system for drawing stainless steel wire is provided wherein wire is (1) brushed in an inlet brush station to remove oxide film from the wire surface; (2) coated with a lubricant carrier coating which is dried then subsequently cooled; (3) drawn through a drawing machine using a lubricant; and (4) brushed to remove residual carrier compounds from the surface of the drawn wire. The system for carrying out this process includes a wire payoff; an inlet brush station having two pairs of brushes that rotate in a direction opposite to that of the wire to remove oxide film therefrom; a coating device; a dryer; a cooler; a drawing machine; first and second outlet brush stations each having two pairs of brushes that rotate in a direction opposite to that of the wire to remove residual drawing compounds therefrom; and a wire take-up device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Ergste Westig South Carolina Inc.
    Inventors: Manfred Groening, Heinz-Juergen Wiedenbruch, Karl-Heinrich Radix
  • Patent number: 6210501
    Abstract: When a hot-rolled steel strip 1 is rolled at a large rolling reduction by a cold-rolling mill 4, cracking and interlayer peeling occur in those mill-scales which can not keep up with the elongation of base steel so as to weaken the adhesiveness of the mill-scales to the base steel. When such a steel strip is then brushed, the threads of the brush penetrate into the cracks formed in the scale layer, whereby the mill-scales are removed from the steel strip. The rolling reduction R (%) is set to satisfy the formula of t×R≧150 in relation with the thickness t (&mgr;m) of the mill-scales. The mill-scales weakened in adhesiveness by the heavy-duty rolling are removed from the surface of the steep strip 1 by brush rolls 5 provided in the pass of the steel strip 1 between the cold-rolling mill 4 and the bridle rolls 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Nisshin Steel Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuhiko Okano, Toshinori Miki, Masaki Otsuka, Junya Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 6205830
    Abstract: A sheet metal processing apparatus comprises a stretcher-leveler and a surface conditioner in combination. The stretcher leveler has an input end, an output end, and a stretching mechanism between the input and output ends. The input end of the stretcher-leveler is adapted to receive at least a portion of a metal sheet to be processed. The stretching mechanism has a plurality of gripping members. The gripping members are adapted for gripping the metal sheet and stretching the portion of the metal sheet between the gripping members past its yield point to eliminate internal residual stresses therein. The stretcher-leveler is adapted to then discharge the stretched portion of the metal sheet from the output end of the stretcher-leveler. A surface conditioner is positioned adjacent the output end of the stretcher-leveler. The surface conditioner is adapted to receive the portion of the metal sheet discharged from the output end of the stretcher-leveler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: The Material Works, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kevin Voges
  • Patent number: 6088895
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing a cold rolled, recrystallation annealed, stainless steel strip having lustrous surfaces without being hot band annealed and/or pickled prior to cold reduction. The process includes the sequential steps of tension leveling to crack the scale and flatten a hot processed metal strip, shot blasting the strip to ablatively remove the scale and to provide a surface roughness less than 3.6 micron Ra using at least two pairs of wire brushes positioned adjacent to both surfaces of the strip with these cleaning brushes being rotated in opposite directions relative to each other to mechanically remove any residual scale. The mechanically cleaned strip then is mechanically polished with another pair of brushes to reduce the roughness to less than 2.0 micron Ra, cold reduced to have a surface roughness less than 0.4 micron Ra and recrystallization annealed. The particulate shot has a size of 0.10-0.50 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Armco Inc.
    Inventors: Christian D. Nelson, Christopher M. Kovscek, Jerald W. Leeker
  • Patent number: 6085804
    Abstract: A lead forming apparatus and a method for removing tin dust from the surface of the outer leads of semiconductor package are disclosed. The apparatus, in which a brushing operation removes tin dust from the outer leads, includes a supplier part; a lead forming part; a collection part; an intermediate post; a package transportation part; a brush block; and a brush transportation part. The method includes steps of providing a leadframe, forming the package leads, removing tin dust from the leads, and collecting the packages in a container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Hyuk Choi, Tai Kew Choi, Gyu Han Bae, Byong Do Na
  • Patent number: 5953944
    Abstract: A continuous in-drawing line process and system for drawing stainless steel wire is provided wherein wire is (1) brushed in an inlet brush station to remove oxide film from the wire surface; (2) coated with a lubricant carrier coating which is dried then subsequently cooled; (3) drawn through a drawing machine using a lubricant; and (4) brushed to remove residual carrier compounds from the surface of the drawn wire. The system for carrying out this process includes a wire payoff; an inlet brush station having two pairs of brushes that rotate in a direction opposite to that of the wire to remove oxide film therefrom; a coating device; a dryer; a cooler; a drawing machine; first and second outlet brush stations each having two pairs of brushes that rotate in a direction opposite to that of the wire to remove residual drawing compounds therefrom; and a wire take-up device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: American Precision Steel Company LP
    Inventors: Manfred Groening, Heinz-Juergen Wiedenbruch, Karl-Heinrich Radix
  • Patent number: 5879465
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing oxide scale from the surface of hot-rolled stainless steel strip comprises uncoiling the steel strip coil, removing the coil bias and cracking the surface scale in a first scalebreaking apparatus, flattening the strip by removing edge wave and center buckle to a flatness approaching table top flat, the tolerable deviation therefrom depending upon the gauge of the strip, pre-cleaning the strip, pickling the strip in a series of turbulent flow pickle tanks using a dilute acid, such as hydrochloric acid, desirably in the presence of an acid accelerator, rinsing the pickled strip with water, vigorously brushing the pickled strip for removing adherent alloying element oxide films not removable by dilute acid pickling, drying the pickled strip, inspecting the strip, electrostatically oiling the strip and recoiling the strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Inventors: Patrick McKevitt, Stanley E. Lapek
  • Patent number: 5839311
    Abstract: In one aspect, this invention provides a lubricating and colling composition for the forming of metals comprising a hydrofluoroether. In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of forming metals comprising applying to the metal and the workpiece a composition comprising a hydrofluoroether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Mark W. Grenfell, Dean S. Milbrath, Daniel D. Krueger, Richard M. Flynn, Frederick E. Behr
  • Patent number: 5832765
    Abstract: The rolling apparatus 1 comprises a first roller-couple 101a,101b and a second roller-couple 102a,102b which are arranged adjacently in a feeding direction of work material A1 and roll the work material A1 in different directions each other successively. Each of the first and second roller-couples comprises two rollers each of which has a groove for determining the cross sectional shape of the wire on the circumferential surface thereof. The width of the grooves are less than 7 mm for the first roller-couple 101a,101b and are less than 6 mm for the second roller-couple 102a,102b. The center distance between the first and second roller-couples 101a,101b and 102a,102b is less than 50 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Daido Tokushuko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kohachiro Ohashi