Abstract: A method and tracking system for optimizing the tracking of a metal strip traveling over a plurality of crowned rolls in a continuous heating system designed to track a design strip having a design strip temperature profile. The invention attains an actual strip temperature profile in the metal strip that approximately coincides with the design strip temperature profile. This is accomplished by inputting metal strip variables and heating system variables into a control system and directing the control system to access a thermal model and a design strip temperature profile model. The control system then directs the operation of the heating system based on the metal strip variables, the heating system variables, the thermal model and the design strip temperature profile model such that the metal strip is heated to have an actual strip temperature profile that approximately coincides with the design strip temperature profile.

Abstract: A heating system and method for heating a metal strip to within a predetermined temperature tolerance range while the metal strip serially travels through a heating system. The heating system has at least one preceding heating section, at least one induction heating section, and at least one following heating sections, with the heating sections being serially arranged. The metal strip is heated to below the Curie point of the metal strip in the preceding heating section. Next, the metal strip is heated to, at a maximum, approximately the Curie point in the induction heating section. Then, the metal strip is heated to above the Curie point and to within the predetermined temperature tolerance range in the following heating section.

Abstract: An apparatus for quenching a heated metal plate moving and restrained in a plane has upper and lower rolls which engage the top and bottom surfaces of the plate. Jets of quench fluid are located between the rolls and direct quench fluid onto the top and bottom surfaces of the plate in the direction of travel of the plate. A tank member is positioned underneath and surrounding the bottom rolls for maintaining the level of quenching fluid so that the plate conveyed on the lower rolls will have its bottom surface continuously swept with high velocity turbulent fluid.

Abstract: A pipe is heated with its longitudinal axis positioned vertically and then lowered from a furnace. As the pipe emerges from the furnace, it engages an inner ring of rollers and an outer ring of rollers which press against the hot pipe to shape it into a round configuration and to restrain the pipe during the initial impingement of quench fluid. As the pipe continues downward it is quenched by impinging the inside and outside surfaces with converging cones of high intensity quench liquid forming impingement rings on the inner and outer surfaces of the pipe which are opposite. The cooling by application of additional fluid and restraint by rings of rollers are continued after passage through the high intensity zone until the pipe reaches ambient temperature.