Abstract: A method of cooling on a cooling bed hot-rolled steel sections from rolling heat, wherein the sections, particularly rails, have section parts of different masses arranged at a distance from each other over the cross-section of the section, and an apparatus for carrying out the method. Initially, the heat quantities to be proportionally removed from the different section parts in dependence on their mass and temperature and the quantity of cooling medium required for this removal are determined and computed by using measuring equipment together with a computing unit by means of a computer program. Subsequently, cooling of the different section parts or their masses is carried out in a controlled manner in such a way that the section parts reach with as little time delay as possible the transformation line Ar3/Ar1 during the decomposition of the gamma-mixed crystal into ferrite and/or pearlite while releasing the transformation heat.

Abstract: A method of straightening rolled sectional steel includes clamping and subsequently cooling at least a sectional steel whose maximum local cross-sectional temperature is below Ar1 and whose minimum local cross-sectional temperature is above a lower limit temperature, wherein already the lower limit temperature produces as a result of clamping a thermal elongation in all fibers of the sectional steel which is greater than the elongation which would be required for a plastification of the fibers which would be subjected to the greatest internal compressive stresses if the sectional steel were exclusively air cooled without clamping.

Abstract: An apparatus for the controlled cooling of hot-rolled sections, particularly beams, directly from rolling heat includes cooling sections or zones, wherein, seen with respect to the section to be cooled, a cooling section each is arranged above the section and on both sides of the section and below the section, and the cooling sections can be used individually or in combination, wherein each cooling section is composed of at least one nozzle or a group of interconnected nozzles, and wherein the nozzles can be controlled individually or together.