METHOD FOR HEATING BLANK FOR ROLLING PRODUCTION

Abstract

A method for heating a blank in a first heating furnace and a second heating furnace. The first heating furnace includes a first chamber and a second chamber communicating with the first chamber. The method includes: 1) heating the blank in the first chamber to the temperature of less than 300° C.; 2) transferring the blank heated in the first chamber to the second heating furnace, and heating the blank to the temperature of between 350° C. and 850° C., where the temperature of the second heating furnace is detected using a thermocouple, and the temperature of the blank is detected by an optical thermometer; 3) transferring the blank heated in the second heating furnace to the second chamber, and measuring the temperature of the blank using a contact thermometer; and 4) transferring the blank from 3) to a rolling mill.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Pursuant to 35 U.S.C.§ 119 and the Paris Convention Treaty, this application claims foreign priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201910478340.8 filed Jun. 3, 2019, the contents of which, including any intervening amendments thereto, are incorporated herein by reference. Inquiries from the public to applicants or assignees concerning this document or the related applications should be directed to: Matthias Scholl P.C., Attn.: Dr. Matthias Scholl Esq., 245 First Street, 18th Floor, Cambridge, Mass. 02142.

BACKGROUND

The disclosure relates to a method for heating a blank for rolling production.

In the related art, the methods for heating a blank for rolling production include continuous furnace heating, box-type resistance furnace heating, and induction heating. The abovementioned heating, including preheating and soaking, is implemented in one furnace.

SUMMARY

The disclosure provides a method for heating a blank in a first heating furnace and a second heating furnace, the first heating furnace comprising a first chamber and a second chamber communicating with the first chamber, and the method comprising:

• • 1) heating the blank in the first chamber to a temperature of less than 300° C.;
  • 2) transferring the blank heated in the first chamber to the second heating furnace, and heating the blank to a temperature of between 350° C. and 850° C., where a temperature of the second heating furnace is detected using a thermocouple, and the temperature of the blank is detected by an optical thermometer;
  • 3) transferring the blank heated in the second heating furnace to the second chamber, continuously heating the blank in the second chamber to increase the temperature of the blank in a range of 0-200° C., and measuring the temperature of the blank using a contact thermometer, where an accuracy of temperature adjustment of the blank in second chamber of the first heating furnace is ±10° C.; and
  • 4) transferring the blank from 3) to a rolling mill.

The first chamber and the second chamber are disposed side by side, and the first chamber communicates with the second chamber via a heat pipe so that waste heat in the second chamber can be transported to the first chamber.

The blank is introduced in and out of the second chamber of the first heating furnace along the axial direction of the first heating furnace.

A plurality of blanks is consecutively heated in the first heating furnace and the second heating furnace; the plurality of blanks in the first heating furnace is continuously disposed end to end; and the plurality of blanks in the second heating furnace is spaced and parallel to each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a method for heating a blank in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a first heating furnace in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a second heating furnace in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure.

In the drawings, the following reference numbers are used: 1. First heating furnace; 2. Second heating furnace; 11. First chamber; 12. Second chamber; 3. Rolling mill; 5.1. First pusher; 5.2. Second pusher; 5.3. Third pusher; 5.4. Fourth pusher; 6. Blank; 7. Heat pipe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

To further illustrate the disclosure, embodiments detailing a method for heating a blank are described below. It should be noted that the following embodiments are intended to describe and not to limit the disclosure.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, a method for heating a blank for rolling production is implemented in a first heating furnace 1 and a second heating furnace 2, the first heating furnace 1 comprising a first chamber 11 and a second chamber 12 communicating with the first chamber 11, and the method comprising:

1) heating the blank 6 in the first chamber 11 to a temperature of less than 300° C.; where temperature of the blank is determined according to the retention time of the blank 6 in the first chamber 11; the first chamber 11 and the second chamber 12 are disposed side by side, and the first chamber communicates with the second chamber via a heat pipe 7 so that waste heat in the second chamber can be transported to the first chamber;

2) transferring the blank heated in the first chamber to the second heating furnace, and heating the blank to a temperature of between 350° C. and 850° C., where a temperature of the second heating furnace is detected using a thermocouple, and the temperature of the blank is detected by an optical thermometer; the temperature of the second heating furnace, the heating time and the retention time of the blank at a certain temperature are determined according to the production process requirements of the blank;

3) transferring the blank heated in the second heating furnace to the second chamber, continuously heating the blank in the second chamber to increase the temperature of the blank in a range of 0-200° C., and measuring the temperature of the blank using a contact thermometer, where an accuracy of temperature adjustment of the blank in second chamber of the first heating furnace is ±10° C.; and

4) transferring the blank from 3) to a rolling mill.

The first heating furnace and the second heating furnace are a continuous heating furnace. The first heating furnace comprises two chambers and the blank can move in the first heating furnace bidirectionally.

The first chamber communicates with the second chamber. The temperature of the second chamber is higher than that of the first temperature, so that the second chamber can supply heat for the first chamber.

The first heating furnace is disposed on the rolling production line, so that the blank can directly enter the rolling production line after being preprocessed in the first heating furnace.

The first heating furnace, the second heating furnace and the rolling mill are consecutively connected through conveyors and each is equipped with a pusher 5, so that the blank can be transferred between the first heating furnace, the second heating furnace and the rolling mill 3. The specific position of the two chambers can be adjusted according to the actual situation. As shown in FIG. 1, the two chambers are disposed in one plane. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the two chambers are disposed in two parallel planes, respectively, and the first chamber is disposed below the second chamber. In such a situation, a hoister is employed to lift the heated blank in the first chamber 11 to the second heating furnace 2.

The moving speed of the blank in the first chamber and the second chamber can be adjusted as needed; the heating temperature and the rolling temperature can be adjusted according to the specific production process.

EXAMPLE 1

Light alloy tube rolling production, blank material: light alloy 6063, blank size: Φ180×800 mm; final product: light alloy seamless pipe: Φ180×10 mm; rolling mill: three-roll cone piercer.

The blank is introduced to and out of the first/second chamber along the axial direction of the first/second chamber, and introduced to and out of the second heating chamber from one side of the second heating chamber. The second chamber is disposed on the side of the rolling line, and the blank is pushed into the rolling line via the pusher 5.

The set temperature of the second chamber of the first heating furnace was 650° C. The set temperature of the second heating furnace was 550° C. The blank was introduced to the first chamber and heated therein for 15 min from normal temperature to 200° C. The blank was then transferred to the second heating furnace, heated to 550° C. and maintained for 30 min. Thereafter, the blank was transferred to the second chamber and heated to 650° C., and then was rolled by a rolling mill to yield light alloy seamless pipes of Φ180×10 mm.

EXAMPLE 2

Titanium alloy bar rolling production, blank material: TC4 titanium alloy, blank size: Φ80×1500 mm; final product: titanium bars having a diameter of 20 mm; rolling mill: three-roll bar continuous rolling mill.

The blank is introduced to the first chamber from one side of the first chamber, and leaves the first chamber along the axial direction of the first chamber. The blank is introduced to and out of the second heating chamber from one side of the second heating chamber. The blank is introduced to and out of the second chamber along the axial direction of the second chamber.

The second chamber of the first heating furnace is disposed on the rolling line, and after leaving the first heating furnace, the blank travels a short distance, and enters the rolling mill.

The set temperature of the second chamber of the first heating furnace was 900° C. The set temperature of the second heating furnace was 750° C. The blank was introduced to the first chamber and heated therein for 8 min from normal temperature to 200° C. The blank was then transferred to the second heating furnace, heated to 750° C. and maintained for 45 min. Thereafter, the blank was transferred to the second chamber and heated to 900° C., and then was rolled by a rolling mill to yield titanium bars having a diameter of 20 mm.

Compared with the related art, the first heating furnace comprises the first chamber and the second chamber communicating with the first chamber, so that the heated blank radiates heat in the second chamber and the heat is transferred to the first chamber, and thus the waste heat is utilized, reducing the energy consumption in the process of blank heating.

The temperature in the first chamber and the second chamber and in the second heating furnace can be detected and adjusted at any time, so that the blank temperature can be controlled accurately, which can meet the requirements of different materials and different rolling processes for the rolling temperature.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made, and therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications.

Claims

1. A method for heating a blank in a first heating furnace and a second heating furnace, the first heating furnace comprising a first chamber and a second chamber communicating with the first chamber, and the method comprising:

1) heating the blank in the first chamber to a temperature of less than 300° C.;

2) transferring the blank heated in the first chamber to the second heating furnace, and heating the blank to a temperature of between 350° C. and 850° C., where a temperature of the second heating furnace is detected using a thermocouple, and the temperature of the blank is detected by an optical thermometer;

3) transferring the blank heated in the second heating furnace to the second chamber, continuously heating the blank in the second chamber to increase the temperature of the blank in a range of 0-200° C., and measuring the temperature of the blank using a contact thermometer, where an accuracy of temperature adjustment of the blank in second chamber of the first heating furnace is ±10° C.; and

4) transferring the blank from 3) to a rolling mill.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are disposed side by side, and the first chamber communicates with the second chamber via a heat pipe so that waste heat in the second chamber is transported to the first chamber.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the blank is introduced in and out of the second chamber of the first heating furnace along an axial direction of the first heating furnace.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of blanks is consecutively heated in the first heating furnace and the second heating furnace; the plurality of blanks in the first heating furnace is disposed end to end; and the plurality of blanks in the second heating furnace is spaced and parallel to each other.