Abstract: A cooling unit, a heating-cooling operation including a cooling unit, a rod or wire manufacturing system, a method for manufacturing a rod or wire, a method for heat treating of a rod or wire, a method for treating metal, a steel rod or steel wire, and a treated metal having an improved tensile strength are disclosed. The cooling unit includes at least one adaptable quenching zone and at least one adaptable soaking zone. The at least one adaptable quenching zone is capable of quenching to a soaking temperature. The at least one adaptable soaking zone is capable of maintaining substantially the soak temperature.

Abstract: A cooling unit, a heating-cooling operation including a cooling unit, a rod or wire manufacturing system, a method for manufacturing a rod or wire, a method for heat treating of a rod or wire, a method for treating metal, a steel rod or steel wire, and a treated metal having an improved tensile strength are disclosed. The cooling unit includes at least one adaptable quenching zone and at least one adaptable soaking zone. The at least one adaptable quenching zone is capable of quenching to a soaking temperature. The at least one adaptable soaking zone is capable of maintaining substantially the soak temperature.

Abstract: A cooling unit, a heating-cooling operation including a cooling unit, a rod or wire manufacturing system, a method for manufacturing a rod or wire, a method for heat treating of a rod or wire, a method for treating metal, a steel rod or steel wire, and a treated metal having an improved tensile strength are disclosed. The cooling unit includes at least one adaptable quenching zone and at least one adaptable soaking zone. The at least one adaptable quenching zone is capable of quenching to a soaking temperature. The at least one adaptable soaking zone is capable of maintaining substantially the soak temperature.

Abstract: A heating and fluidization system for air fluidized sand beds, and associated methods, are disclosed. Control of a heat input is separated from control of a fluidization rate to optimize simultaneously both the amount of heat entering the system and the heat transfer rate. In at least one embodiment, the system includes: a heating tube configured to receive a heat input from a heat source and to provide the heat input to a media in a bed at a first predetermined, optimized rate; and a fluidization tube disposed, generally, below the heating tube and configured to provide a fluidization rate to the media in the bed at a second predetermined, optimized rate, thereby adapted to control fluidization and to maximize heat transfer. The heating tubes can include spines to increase surface area and maximize heat transfer. The fluidization holes can be covered by nozzles to direct the fluidization.

Abstract: In various exemplary embodiments, the technology described herein provides systems and methods for drawn wire, commonly called filament, to be straightened after cold, warm or hot drawing to a smaller diameter. This technology controls tension on the wire after drawing, while pulling the wire through straightening rollers. A single set of straightening rollers can be used. There is no limit on the total number of sets of straightening rollers can be used. The number of individual rollers in a set of straightening rollers can range from two-to-many rolls. Tension is generally controlled by at least two relatively large diameter synchronizing sets of pulling rollers, one before the straightening rollers and one after the straightening rollers.

Abstract: A cooling unit, a heating-cooling operation including a cooling unit, a rod or wire manufacturing system, a method for manufacturing a rod or wire, a method for heat treating of a rod or wire, a method for treating metal, a steel rod or steel wire, and a treated metal having an improved tensile strength are disclosed. The cooling unit includes at least one adaptable quenching zone and at least one adaptable soaking zone. The at least one adaptable quenching zone is capable of quenching to a soaking temperature. The at least one adaptable soaking zone is capable of maintaining substantially the soak temperature.

Abstract: A thermodynamic metal treating apparatus and process describes utilizing a quenchant mixture of liquid and gas in a cell. Heated metal is passed over the heated quenchant mixture which contains a liquid and a gas such as air bubbled through the liquid at a desired rate. The process is particularly suited for improving the breaking, tensile strength and ductility of steel wire as is used in belted vehicle tires. A series of quenching cells allow for fast, uniform treatment of the metal wire.