Abstract: The invention is intended to provide a method for quenching a steel pipe, equipment for quenching a steel pipe, and a method of manufacturing a steel pipe that enable a steel pipe to be conveyed at high speed. The method for quenching a steel pipe includes the steps of: conveying a steel pipe onto a rotatable supporting member using a walking-arm type revolving conveyance apparatus; and rapidly cooling the steel pipe with first spray nozzles disposed above the pipe while the steel pipe is being rotated about a pipe axis of the steel pipe on the rotatable supporting member in a state where movements of the steel pipe in a direction parallel to and in a direction perpendicular to the pipe axis are stopped.

Abstract: A quenching agent delivery apparatus is provided for delivering a quenching agent to a component to be quenched. The delivery apparatus comprises an inlet through which the quenching agent is configured to be delivered into the apparatus, a first outlet configured to deliver quenching agent in a first direction to an inner surface of the component, and a second outlet configured to deliver quenching agent in a second direction to an inner surface of the component.

Abstract: A cooling tank for the thermal treatment of the head of rails, whose frame allows obtaining a stable and on average uniform flow of the cooling fluid which touches the head of the immersed rail along the entire tank, with the continuous exchange of the fluid so as to optimize the cooling speed of the head of the rail.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the invention include a method and apparatus for cooling a metal strip that is being advanced in a generally horizontal fashion. The method involves delivering a coolant liquid onto a lower surface of the strip from below across the entire width of the strip, preventing the coolant liquid from contacting the upper surface of the strip, and optionally subsequently removing the coolant liquid from the lower surface. The coolant liquid is prevented from contacting the upper surface by forming a gas-directing channel immediately above the upper surface of the strip adjacent to one or preferably both lateral edges of the strip and forcing a gas through the channel in a direction generally away from a center of the strip towards the one or both lateral edges to deflect coolant liquid away from the upper surface of the strip. The apparatus provides means for carrying out these steps.

Abstract: An improved method and system is described for applying a leach solution to ore in the process of heap leaching. The Hybrid Irrigation System (HIS) relies on both surface solution delivery techniques as well as sub-surface solution application to improve the solution uniformity and metallurgical performance of a leaching process. The methods and systems allow for controlled application of leach solution with a hydraulic head applied that can be adjusted or varied depending on the conditions of the ore from negative, atmospheric or positive pressure, while distributing leaching solution in a uniform manner independent of surface variability with respect to elevation and infiltration capacity of the ore surface.

Abstract: A cooling tank for the thermal treatment of the head of rails, whose frame allows obtaining a stable and on average uniform flow of the cooling fluid which touches the head of the immersed rail along the entire tank, with the continuous exchange of the fluid so as to optimize the cooling speed of the head of the rail.

Abstract: A cooling system that cools hot rolled long steel bar, provided with a plurality of chambers that are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the rolled steel bar. Each of the plurality of chambers is provided with a blow outlet that, facing from the chamber to the rolled steel bar, blows out compressed air for cooling that is introduced to the chamber from a gas inlet that is connected to the chamber; a nozzle plate having a plurality of nozzle holes that is provided at this blow outlet so as to face the rolled steel bar; a cooling water supply nozzle that supplies cooling water into the chamber; and a rectifying plate that is provided between the gas inlet and the cooling water supply nozzle, and that prevents the compressed gas for cooling that is introduced from the gas inlet from directly striking the nozzle plate.

Abstract: Process for the in-line thermal treatment of rolled rails which ensures to obtain a fine pearlitic structure which is uniform through a whole predetermined superficial thickness of the rail head. There is also disclosed a new device for the thermal treatment of rails in-line with a rolling system which, as compared to the known devices, is structurally much simpler, has a high sturdiness and requires less maintenance.

Abstract: A temperable member manufacturable in a low cost and flexible manner to make possible a locally discriminating tempering process. The temperable member is formed from at least two modules joined to each other. At least one of the modules is formed as a one-piece element, and at least another element is a tempering module. The tempering module is formed from plate-shaped elements arranged on top of each other and forming a stepped outer marginal contour. The one-piece element includes a housing which is complementary to the contour. At least one channel is formed inside the tempering module.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for quenching a material. The apparatus includes a support for receiving the material; and an outlet adjacent the support for impinging a fluid against a first section of the material. The apparatus increases a cooling rate of the first section relative to a cooling rate of a second section of the material, preferably minimizing a differential between the cooling rate of the first section and the cooling rate of the second section.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for quenching an elongated metal workpiece, such as a pipe, bar, tube, or the like, involves, moving the elongated metal workpiece to be quenched longitudinally through at least one rotating spray unit having a plurality of outlets disposed in a substantially even arrangement over an inner surface thereof through which sprays of quenching fluid are directed at the metal workpiece.

Abstract: A water cooling stretch for cooling rolling stock coming from a roll train has several parallel and adjacently positioned cooling pipes having different diameters matching differently sized rolling stock. The cooling pipes are made of individual cooling pipe sections arranged successively in a straight cooling pipe arrangement, respectively. A cooling water supply of individual cooling head nozzle elements supplies the cooling water to the cooling pipe sections. Valve arrangements for controlling the supply of cooling water are provided. The cooling pipe arrangement has individual water box modules arranged between the cooling pipe sections, and the cooling pipe sections have inlet and outlet openings that open into the water box modules. The water box modules are fastened to a common water supply line moveable horizontally and transversely to a movement path of the rolling stock for moving the cooling pipe arrangements into and out of the movement path, as needed.

Abstract: A method of adjusting two shielding elements and including transporting a metal strip on a roller table, shielding a cooling medium from the edge regions of the metal strip with adjusting shielding elements, and adjusting the shielding elements asymmetrically with respect to the central axis of the roller table so that the temperature profile behind the shielding elements, as seen in a transporting direction of the strip, approximate to a nominal temperature profile; and an assembly for effecting the method.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for excluding specific areas of a workpiece from quenching during a heat treat process. A workpiece, having preselected areas to be quenched, is positioned in a manner so that quench sprays are aimed toward the surface to be quenched. The area to be excluded from the quench is protected by a shroud, and steam is forced under the shroud during the quenching operation. Steam pressure within the shroud is maintained at a pressure sufficient to prevent the quench media from passing through a sealed edge of the shroud. The steam has a temperature sufficient to prevent a sudden drop in the workpiece temperature in the area protected from the quench media.

Abstract: Low temperature water in a low temperature water tank 12 installed outside a reactor pressure vessel 9 is pumped by a high pressure pump 15 and supplied through a conductor 17 under pressure. The supplied water is ejected, as a stream of cold water jet 8, from a nozzle 14 connected to the conductor 17 and introduced into the reactor pressure vessel 9 by a driving mechanism. The stream of cold water jet 8 ejected from the nozzle 14 is directed to impinge against a predetermined position of a core shroud 13 in reactor water 11 filled in the reactor pressure vessel 9 and being at temperature higher than the low temperature water. Then, while continuing to eject the cold water jet 8 from the nozzle 14, the nozzle 14 is moved away from the predetermined position, or the ejection of the cold water jet 8 from the nozzle 14 is stopped, allowing the predetermined position to be heated again with the temperature of the reactor water 11.

Abstract: A method for rapidly cooling a product rolled in a rolling mill, for example wire rod fed along a roller conveyor, consists of blasting said product with an air stream in which atomized water is dispersed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cooling a metal strip, the apparatus having a header that receives and directs a curtain of water across the strip, a water collector on one side of the curtain of water and a source of air on the opposite side of the curtain of water arranged to direct a flow of air across the curtain of water and divert water into the water collector. A deflector is arranged to interrupt at least a portion of the flow of air such that at least a portion of the wall of water contacts and cools the strip of metal. The flow of air is provided at a pressure of about 50 to 100 psi and, with the flow of air completely blocked by a deflector, the strip of metal is cooled completely across the width of the strip.

Abstract: Apparatus for cooling a metal extrusion, such as an aluminum extrusion, may include a carriage which houses the cooling liquid delivery system and is relatively movable with respect to the extrusion press in order to provide the desired amount of air cooling prior to quenching. The quenching apparatus may have a plurality of generally parallel cooling liquid delivery tubes, each having a plurality of nozzles which are preferably independently adjustable as to volume and spray pattern. The cooling liquid delivery tubes may be axially rotated and flow of the cooling liquid within each tube may be independently adjusted. The housing of the quenching unit may have an upper portion which is rotatable generally upwardly and is provided with a transparent window to facilitate viewing of the spraying action. A method of quenching an aluminum extrusion employing such apparatus is provided.

Abstract: A thin-webbed H-beam steel having a web thinner that flanges is produced by forcibly water cooling the outer surface of the flanges during an intermediate hot rolling prior to a final hot rolling by cooling to less than 700.degree. C., interrupting the cooling to return the temperature to greater than 700.degree. C., and repeating the cooling and interrupting in order to refine the microstructure of the surface of the flanges to a predetermined depth from the surface; final-hot rolling the intermediate-hot rolled H-beam steel; and forcibly water cooling the flanges of the final-hot rolled H-beam steel in a manner such that the web does not wave during this forcible water cooling, and such that upon completion of the forcible water cooling, thermal stress, generated in the web during air cooling to room temperature, does not exceed the buckling strength of the web.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inductively heating in an inductor and quench hardening the finished ground cam lobes of steel camshafts to a uniform shallow pattern depth with minimal lobe surface deformation. The inductor is shaped to correspond to the contour of and encircle the individual cam lobes with a minimal uniform induction coupling gap therebetween of less than 0.1 inch, and it is energized with high intensity power at a high frequency greater than 200 KHz, with sufficient power to create a power density of at least 25 KW/inch.sup.2 at the surface of the cam lobe being heated in the inductor, for only a short heat time less than 1.0 second so as to effect the rapid inductive heating of the cam lobe surface to a uniform elevated temperature and uniform shallow depth therearound without causing unacceptable reheating and resultant drawing back or tempering of the previously hardened next adjacent cam lobe.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel formed of a heat treatable aluminum alloy and including an axially center area and opposite axially end areas is subjected to a solution heat treatment and then is cooled in a controlled manner to improve the dynamic strength of the wheel. Specifically, cooling is achieved by cooling the center area faster than the end areas. More particularly, a cooling medium first is sprayed on the center area and then is sprayed on the end areas.

Abstract: A liquid impervious covering such as a plastic membrane or a concrete flooring is installed over an extensive substantially level area of ground and mined metal ore heaped onto this covering to form a mound. A leachant liquid solution is poured onto the ore and permitted to thoroughly penetrate the ore material. This end result is achieved either by forming a crater on the top of the ore material which is filled with the leachant solution which is allowed to ooze through the ore material, or by feeding the solution from sprinklers located around the mound until the ore material is thoroughly wetted. When the ore material has been wetted with the leachant, sonic energy is applied to the ore material by means of a sonically excited elastic pipe or bar member which is lowered into the mound by means of a crane and sonically driven by means of an orbiting mass oscillator.

Abstract: Railroad rails having improved wear resistance, are produced by controlled forced cooling from above the austenite transformation temperature, to produce rails having a fine pearlite metallurgical structure in the head portions of the rails. Apparatus comprising a series of cooling headers utilizing a liquid cooling medium, such as unheated (i.e., cold, or ambient temperature) water, alternating with a series of air zones, is preferably arranged in line with the production rolling mill, to receive hot rails as they emerge from the mill, without the necessity of intervening reheating. A roller type restraint system transports the rails through the cooling apparatus, while restraining them in the appropriate position.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus for uniformly cooling a thick steel plate in order to obtain a very flat thick steel plate constituted by a cooling water supply apparatus provided with more than two header systems by which a desired water volume crown is given in the width direction of the thick steel plate.

Abstract: Apparatus for heating a plastic pipe 18 or the like comprises a body portion having inner and outer parts 1,2 defining therebetween an annular cavity 3 which receives the end of the pipe. In use of the apparatus, hot fluid is pumped through the cavity 3 via flow passages 7-11 whereby to heat the pipe 18 sufficiently e.g. for moulding purposes. The fluid is prevented from escaping from the open end of the cavity 3 by means of compressed air supplied via ports 15.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for quenching a hollow-bodied piece of steel with an opening at each end thereof, such as a steel pipe, which comprises exterior and interior quenching means. The exterior quenching means includes means for directing a cooling medium in a substantially circumferential flow pattern around the exterior of a steel pipe. In one embodiment the exterior quenching means includes means for separately directing a cooling medium in a substantially circumferential flow pattern at variable flow rates around the exterior segments of a steel pipe. The flow rate around each pipe segment may be varied with the thickness of the segment. The exterior cooling means may comprise a plurality of deflector plates to achieve the circumferentially directed flow of the cooling medium about the pipe.

Abstract: An apparatus for rapidly quenching substantially flat metal workpieces which have been heated during a heat treatment process is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a substantially flat plate having a plurality of vapor relief apertures therein, a wick element which overlies the plate so that it substantially covers the apertures, and means for supplying a coolant such as water, to the wick element so that the coolant is substantially evenly dispersed therein. The apparatus is operable for urging a heated workpiece into face to face engagement with the wick element to effect intimate contact between the workpiece and the coolant in the wick element. As soon as the workpiece contacts the coolant in the wick element, at least a portion of the coolant is substantially instantaneously vaporized to effect rapid cooling of the workpiece, the vaporized portion of the coolant escaping from the wick element through the relief apertures in the plate so that it does not impede the quenching process.

Abstract: A process is provided for heat treating steel in which each segment of a piece of steel is quenched in a quenching zone by directing the flow of a sufficient amount of a cooling medium against a surface of each segment to lower the temperature of the segment to a desired temperature while vaporizing substantially all of the cooling medium to create a vapor blanket around at least one surface of each segment so cooled. In one embodiment, steel pipe is heated above its critical transformation temperature and then each longitudinal segment of the pipe is sequentially quenched by substantially simultaneously sending a sufficient amount of water against the inside and outside surfaces of each segment to reduce the temperature of the segment to within a predetermined range while vaporizing substantially all of the water to create a steam blanket around the segment.

Abstract: Apparatus for cooling sheet metal panels has an elongated channel bounded by two side walls, a longitudinally slotted top wall and a longitudinally slotted bottom wall. These walls are immersed in a liquid containing vessel and the latter contains sets of horizontal driven shafts above the top wall and below the bottom wall. The shafts carry disc-shaped transporting members, portions of which extend through the slots of the top and bottom walls to engage a panel which is introduced into the channel and to transport the panel toward the outlet of the channel. The top wall and the shafts above the top wall are movable up and down to provide room for panels of different thicknesses. Two nozzles discharge water into the inlet of the channel at a level above as well as at a level below the panel between the upper and lower transporting members.

Abstract: Ore leaching structure including a base portion, a shelter portion, a transfer portion and a treatment portion; the base portion including a peripheral concrete foundation, concrete wall sections extending upwardly therefrom, a concrete floor section extending between the wall sections, the floor section including at least one drain opening adjacent one wall section, the floor section being sloped from the other of the wall sections toward the drain opening; the shelter portion including vertical sections extending upwardly from the wall sections, the vertical sections and the wall sections together forming the sidewalls of the structure, a roof section extending between and joining the upper edges of the sidewalls; the transfer portion including a first group of doorways in a sidewall adjoining the sidewall along which the drain opening is located, the doorways being spaced along the length of the sidewall, a second group of doorways along a sidewall opposite to the first group of doorways, the doorways of t

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cooling at least the inside of steel pipes. Cooling is effected while restraining the radial displacement of a pipe at a point not more than 500 mm, or preferably not more than 250 mm, away from each end of the pipe and at intermediate points spaced at intervals of 1.0 m to 2.5 m. Elliptical deformation in the cross section of larger-diameter pipes also is prevented by adding to the aforementioned cooling method and apparatus a device and step to rotate the pipe being cooled at a rate of 30 to 150 times per minute. The restraining device at one end of the pipe is designed to move in the direction of the pipe axis so that the restraint of the radial displacement at a point not more than 500 mm away from that end is at all times ensured even when the pipe length varies.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for cooling a steel sheet, which comprises: ejecting cooling water onto a steel sheet laid horizontally from above and from below said steel sheet immediately after the completion of hot rolling to cool said steel sheet; shielding each of the both side edge portions of the upper surface in the width direction of said steel sheet from said ejected cooling water by a shielding means movable in the width direction of said steel sheet so that the temperature distribution in the width direction of said steel sheet becomes uniform at the completion of the ejection of cooling water; and, determining a shielding width of each of said both side edge portions of said steel sheet, which is shielded from said ejected cooling water, on the basis of the width and the thickness of said steel sheet, the temperature and the flow rate per unit area of cooling water ejected onto the upper and the lower surfaces of said steel sheet, the period of time from start to completion of the ejection of cooling

Abstract: In the manufacture of tubing, and particularly finned tubing, for use by the heat transfer industry in the manufacture of heat exchangers, annealed ends and lands are desirable in certain applications to facilitate the assembly of the tubes to headers and baffles by expanding techniques. Such spot-annealed portions can be produced on a continuous basis by the described apparatus in which the moving tube is passed through a heating chamber which reciprocates on a carriage in the direction of tube movement. The heating chamber has a pair of spaced, power-actuated clamps which grip the tubing at the ends of a discrete length portion. The heating chamber and carriage are moved with the tube while it is clamped to provide sufficient heating time to anneal the discrete length portion. The carriage then returns to its starting position. Heating of the discrete clamped tubing portion can be by a resistance technique through the clamps or by other techniques such as induction heating or gas radiant heat.

Abstract: In the heat treatment (quenching treatment, tempering treatment, etc.) of long metallic material, such as, large diameter steel pipe or the like, in order to stabilize the speed of travel of the material through a heat treating zone, i.e., a zone including a heating unit, such as, an induction heating coil or gas burning type heating furnace and a following cooling unit of the type utilizing either one or both of air blast and water cooling, the material is gripped by two cars which are arranged respectively at the entry and delivery ends of the zone and the cars are moved, while supporting the material by a plurality of free rotatable rollers, so as to move the material at a desired speed. In this case, one of the cars is driven and the other car applies a braking force, thus moving the material at the desired speed through the zone.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with a horizontally closing die quenching apparatus and with a method for die quenching. The apparatus comprises a pair of relatively movable opposed substantially vertical platens each supporting a plurality of die blocks, the die blocks each having an internal cavity and generally opposed outer surfaces for receiving and substantially surrounding a plurality of first selected portions of a work piece when the platens are moved together. The die blocks also include a plurality of relatively small fluid passageways extending through the opposed surfaces thereof the passageways providing fluid communication with the cavities within the die blocks. A plurality of opposed fixtures are provided movable together relative to the platens for holding the work piece at its ends between the die blocks and means are provided for controllably pressuring the fixtures towards one another.

Abstract: When a concavity-shape part is formed in the center of skid material and cooling mechanism is arranging in the concavity-shaped hole, a steel material, e.g. slab, bloom or the like, can be cooled without any of deformation of said material.

Abstract: Rolling mills require uniform temperature control across the width of the sheet in order to roll a flat metal sheet of uniform gauge. This invention provides a rolling mill with spray nozzles that operate in groups to maintain substantially uniform temperature across the width of the sheet metal. Back pressure of the coolant within the cooling spray nozzle adjustment means obtains automatic control of individual nozzle adjustment to make the rate of flow of the coolant to the sheet metal workpiece always obtain substantially uniform temperature of the metal. In place of back pressure, other signal energy supplied to nozzle adjustment can be used. The nozzles are carried by spray boards that adjust to control the angle of impingement of the nozzle sprays against the sheet metal; and there is a novel construction for transmitting liquid between fixed passage to other passages in the angularly adjustable spray boards without the use of hoses.

Abstract: Large diameter pipes are moved past a preheater, an induction heater, prequench nozzles, a sizing mill and post quench nozzles. An inside quenching head is mounted on a support tube, held against the inside wall of a pipe by rollers right at the sizing stand. The sizing rollers maintain or restore circularity of the pipe concurrently with quenching.

Abstract: Method and apparatus is provided for quenching a metal workpiece by an inert gas at ambient temperature. Jet streams of gas coolant at high velocity and flow rates are directed in a balanced arrangement against opposing workpiece sides and the jets are correlated to the thickness of the workpiece sections to achieve uniform cooling rates with minimal workpiece distortion. A flow straightening grid in combination with a variable sized aperture plate achieves the desired jet streams in an adjustable plenum arrangement which directs the streams against the top and bottom surfaces of the workpiece.