Abstract: A heating furnace system is provided for receiving finite lengths of workpieces from one or more continuous casters and form a supply of heated workpieces at a temperature suitable for rolling in a hot rolling mill. The system includes, in one aspect, a holding furnace receiving a workpiece during continuous casting until it is severed by a cutoff device to prevent unwanted cooling. The workpiece is fed from a holding furnace to a heating furnace wherein it is deposited onto one of a series of vertically spaced supports in a heated section where it remains static throughout the heating process. After heating the workpiece is removed from the stationary supports and returned to rollers of a hearth for discharge from the furnace to a rolling mill. In a second embodiment the holding furnace arrangement provides for separate holding furnaces to receive continuous castings from separate continuous casters and prevent unwanted cooling of the cast workpiece until cut to a finite length.

Abstract: A steel workpiece reheating apparatus and method for raising the temperature of a thin continuously-cast hot workpiece to a required working temperature without causing harm to the workpiece. The apparatus includes a high intensity heating chamber provided at the charging end of a reheat furnace structure which briefly and intensely heats the workpiece above its melting temperature before it enters the remainder of the reheat furnace. The provision of the high intensity heat chamber at the charging end of the reheat furnace structure permits substantial reduction in the length normally required of the reheat furnace to raise the workpiece to the desired working temperature and thus reduces the time spent by the workpiece in the reheat furnace. The high intensity heating chamber uses in its combustion process combustion air preferably preheated by a heat recovery system associated with the heat derived from the combustion occurring within other portions of the reheat furnace.

Abstract: A heating furnace system is provided for receiving finite lengths of workpieces from one or more continuous casters and form a supply of heated workpieces at a temperature suitable for rolling in a hot rolling mill. The system includes, in one aspect, a holding furnace receiving a workpiece during continuous casting until it is severed by a cutoff device to prevent unwanted cooling. The workpiece is fed from a holding furnace to a heating furnace wherein it is deposited onto one of a series of vertically spaced supports in a heated section where it remains static throughout the heating process. After heating the workpiece is removed from the stationary supports and returned to rollers of a hearth for discharge from the furnace to a rolling mill. In a second embodiment the holding furnace arrangement provides for separate holding furnaces to receive continuous castings from separate continuous casters and prevent unwanted cooling of the cast workpiece until cut to a finite length.

Abstract: A metallic workpiece is continuously cast and is conveyed through a furnace using a plurality of flexible driven rollers which deflect to a catenary configuration to support the workpiece. The workpiece is rolled using a single rolling mill train. The rolled workpiece is cooled and coiled.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an insulated furnace roller includes providing the roller with an insulating refractory castable between the spaced apart tires of the roller and between the outermost tires and the furnace walls, the castable being secured to an arbor of the roller by metal anchors having outer ends that terminate inwardly of the outer surface of the castable, and wherein between the tires and the castable spacer discs are provided and between openings formed by the discs and tires insulation is inserted, the arbor being also wrapped with insulation before the castable is formed on the arbor.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an insulated furnace roller and a method of manufacture thereof, in which the roller is provided with an insulating refractory castable between the spaced apart tires of the roller and between the outermost tires and the furnace walls, the castable being secured to an arbor of the roller by metal anchors having outer ends that terminate inwardly of the outer surface of the castable, and wherein between the tires and the castable spacer discs are provided and between openings formed by the discs and tires insulation is inserted, the arbor being also wrapped with insulation before the castable is formed on the arbor.

Abstract: A metallic workpiece is continuously cast with a thickness of 1.5 to 2.5 inches. The workpiece is conveyed through a furnace using a plurality of flexible driven rollers which deflect to a catenary configuration to support the workpiece. The workpiece is rolled to a thickness of 0.1 to 0.6 inches using a single rolling mill train. The rolled workpiece is cooled and coiled.

Abstract: An air knife formed of a plurality of independently controllable pressure chambers for permitting gas in an assortment of differential pressures to be simultaneously discharged from separate segmental portions along the length of the air knife nozzle in order to produce an essentially uniform and desired coating thickness on a continuously moving and continuously coated workpiece regardless of strip thickness, width, camber, and velocity. The air knife includes a plurality of baffles positioned inside the barrel of the air knife for dividing the barrel into at least three distinct pressure chambers. The baffles are adjustably positionable along the length of the barrel in order to establish the desired segmental lengths along the air knife nozzle from which the differentially pressurized gas is discharged from the air knife. In the preferred embodiment, a computer continuously adjusts and controls the pressure in each chamber, and the position of air knife with respect to the workpiece.

Abstract: There is provided a roller apparatus for use in a metallic workpiece heating furnace or the like, the apparatus serving to guide and convey the workpieces through the furnace while at the same time avoiding localized cooling of the workpieces during heating thereof. The apparatus comprising an elongated arbor formed of two concentric tubes having internal openings for coolant extending in the axial direction of the arbor. The arbor further has secured there around a series of spaced wheel-like workpiece supporting structures each including hub members having toe portions welded to the outer concentric tube and head portions which are free to slide relative to the outer concentric tube. Positioned along the outer concentric tube between and outside of the wheel-like workpiece supporting structures are packets of parallel abutting ring or disc members formed of thermally insulating material.