Abstract: Method and apparatus for cooling a steel strip in a continuous annealing line, which has a first cooling step in which the steel strip immediately after an overageing treatment is cooled from the overageing temperature to a temperature in the range of from about 95.degree. C. to 60.degree. C., a temperature which prevents a surface oxidation but allows self-drying of the strip, in a protective atmosphere using a liquid coolant; and a second cooling step in which the steel strip is cooled to a temperature suitable for a subsequent temper rolling using liquid coolant at a temperature no higher than 40.degree. C.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for steering and treating continuously running strip material. The strip material is directed by a steering assembly having a steering roll mounted to a yoke. The strip material is passed over a portion of the roll surface and is steered by pivoting the yoke so that the roll axis is caused to rotate or tilt in a plane transverse to the plane formed by the running strip material.

Abstract: For recovering silver and discharging depolluted wastes from washing baths for photographic and like films or papers, a method is disclosed which consists in having the washing liquid running in countercurrent relationship in a number of serially arranged tubs, relative to the direction of advance of the photographic material being washed.The concentration of silver salts is thus increased in a direction contrary to that of advance of the sensitive materials being processed so that the first tub of the series (considered in the machine direction) has such a concentration of silver that the recovery by any methods is economically interesting.

Abstract: An apparatus for the continuous heat treatment of elongated metal objects, especially wire, by contacting the same with molten metal, usually lead, whereby a preheating tray containing the molten metal is followed by a quenching tray with a second bath through which the metal is passed in succession. The preheating tray containing the first metal bath is electrically insulated and partly immersed in the quenching bath while electric current is applied across the baths to resistively heat the metal between them.

Abstract: A steel wire heat treatment apparatus is entirely free from the disadvantage of oxidation of the steel wire during treatment. The apparatus includes a heating furnace with a plurality of heating pipes passing, and through which wire rods being heated are passed, and a tempering oil tank provided at a wire rod outlet side of the heating furnace. An end portion of the wire rod outlet side of each heating pipe communicates with the tempering oil tank. An oil-drain pipe is arranged below each heating pipe in such a fashion that one end thereof communicates with the heating pipe and the other end thereof is maintained immersed in oil within an oil-drain tank.

Abstract: A cooling strand for cooling small-section steel has individual cooling tubes arranged coaxially in a water trough along the path of travel of the steel sections. Each tube has a constant internal diameter, a diameter to length ratio of from 1:5 to 1:15 and a number of water feed pipes around its circumference at one end. The water feed pipes direct water under pressure into the tubes in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the steel sections.

Abstract: Apparatus for guiding and coiling one or more metallic strands that are continuously advancing along their length from a casting apparatus. A coiling apparatus has an open-top coil-collecting basket with concentric, generally cylindrical inner and outer walls. A rotating cone is disposed over the inner wall. At least one boom and a set of opposed rolls and associated fairing assemblies mounted on the boom guide the strand from the casting apparatus to the coiling apparatus. An exit end of the boom directs each strand vertically downward onto the cone of one coiler. Friction between the strand and the cone lays the strand in the basket in horizontal wraps without a reversal of the laying direction or kinks. The boom exit end mounts a straightener that includes a pair of hydraulically-actuated slide bars that are orthogonal to each other and to the strand. The slide bars produce a cyclic deflection of the strand about the center of the cone to form a uniform, non-tangled coil.

Abstract: The heat treatment of a continuous band or sheet of metal as the same travels through a plurality of stages in a protective atmosphere, between conveying rollers, by applying direct-current electricity to the rollers for inclusion of the travelling sheet in the circuit therebetween. The charged rollers in the initial stage are spaced more widely from one another than those in the later stage, to compensate for the lower resistivity of the metal in the former, so that the Joule effect or I.sup.2 R factor in the stages are substantially equalized. The protective atmosphere of oxidizing, reducing or inert gases which encompasses the sheet, is confined in chambers of galvanized iron sheeting and the like, the walls of which are in close proximity to the travelling sheet, so that lesser amounts of reacting gases are necessary.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and an apparatus for the continuous heat treatment of metallic wires and bands. In the process according to the invention, the wire or band to be treated is passed around the base of the groove of a pulley and is annealed by induction heating. The treated wire or band is then cooled and re-enters the groove of the pulley above the wire or band to be treated. The invention is intended for the continuous treatment of metallic wires or bands.

Abstract: A method of cooling a heat treatment bath of melted salt into which heat is being introduced through the quenching of hot workpieces, the heat being removed from the salt bath through the introduction of a partially evaporated cooling medium, preferably water, whose complete evaporation takes place in direct contact with the melted salt, a portion of the latter being at the same time entrained in a circulatory flow out of the treatment tank and back into it, thereby agitating the salt bath for temperature equalization. The device includes a heat exchanger immersed in the salt bath for the partial evaporation of the cooling medium, and a circulation pipe for direct contact of the cooling medium with the melted salt.

Abstract: A fluid is admitted into a bath having a certain temperature. The temperature of the fluid is different from that of the bath. The fluid travels through the bath so that heat transfer occurs between the bath and the fluid while, at the same time, the bath is thus caused to be agitated. The flow of the fluid into the bath is regulated in such a manner as to maintain the temperature of the bath within predetermined limits. A preferred application resides in the cooling of a bath, particularly one which is used for the heat treatment of steel wire which has been hot rolled immediately prior to the introduction thereof into the bath. Here, the fluid may be in the form of a gas upon being admitted into the bath. Alternatively, the fluid may be in the form of a liquid which vaporizes at the temperature of the bath. In this event, heat is removed from the bath partially in the form of the heat of vaporization of the liquid. It is also possible to feed both a gas and a liquid into the bath.

Abstract: A device for annealing metal wire leaving an operating machine. At least one drum inside a sealed heating chamber rotates synchronously with the machine supplying the wire and takes up the wire. The drum is heated so that by conduction heating the wire is heated to annealing temperature. The wire is then passed through a reservoir of cooling liquid, then dried when it leaves the chamber. The chamber is filled with an inert fluid to prevent the wire from rusting.

Abstract: Reducing or overcoming frictional drag on a rod moving through an enclosing tube by utilizing viscous drag of a liquid medium flowing through the tube in the direction of rod movement. Heated metallic rod moves through a hollow support tube leading from the output of a rolling mill to a mechanism for coiling the rod. The rod leaving the rolling mill is at an elevated temperature which places the rod in an extremely flexible state, so that the rod tends to become twisted within the tube to create "cobbles" or entanglements preventing further movement of the rod through the tube. The present apparatus and method, as applied to the disclosed embodiments of the invention, provide a flow of liquid medium through the tube in the direction of rod movement at a velocity sufficient to impart substantial force to the rod through the effect of viscous drag between the moving liquid medium and the rod.

Abstract: An improved rod coiling and cooling system includes a coiler which receives hot rod from a rod rolling stand. A guide or repeater section is provided between the rolling stand to effect a bending of the rod to guide it into the coiler. The coiled rod is transferred from the coiler to one of a plurality of coil supports disposed in an indexable tank of water. When a length of rod has been coiled and deposited on one of the coil supports the tank is indexed to move a next adjacent coil support into position to receive a succeeding coiled rod from the coiler. After a coiled rod has cooled in the tank of water, it is transferred to a car, is moved along a first set of rails to a first turntable which is rotated to position the loaded car on a second set of rails leading to a bundling station and a station where the cooled coil is removed from the car. The empty car is moved onto a second turntable which positions the car for movement along the first set of rails back to the loading station.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for cooling rolled wire after rolling by the application of a liquid treatment medium, which apparatus requires substantially less space and retention time for treatment than previous devices utilizing liquid mediums, but which still accommodates the rolled product issuing from a high speed large capacity production line. This is achieved by coiling the wire and simultaneously continuously immersing it in the container holding the liquid treating medium, so that at the moment each coil of wire is completed, it is also properly treated. Also included are means for sequentially coiling and removing each coil of rolled wire from the liquid treatment container.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing an adjustable flow of quenching fluid to a traveling rod or the like. The rod travels through a quench housing assembly having a fixed valve surface surrounding the path of travel of the rod. A movable valve member having an internal passage aligned with the direction of rod travel is supported within the housing assembly for a limited extent of axial travel, and the movable valve member provides a valve surface which is in confronting relation to the fixed valve surface. A cam engages a slot on an exterior surface of the movable valve member. The cam is connected to a cam shaft which extends to a location outside of the housing assembly. The cam, when rotated by the cam shaft, axially moves the valve member to adjust the fluid flow aperture defined by the confronting valve surfaces.