Method for controlling a metal strip in a heat treatment furnace

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10619924-B2
Application number	US-30126207-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 29, 2007
Priority date	Jun 1, 2006
Publication date	Apr 14, 2020
Grant date	Apr 14, 2020

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for controlling a metal strip to be heat-treated, contained in a continuously operated heat treatment furnace and proceeding in an essentially horizontal direction and suspended position in a zone arranged between elements meant for supporting the metal strip when said metal strip is being cooled. The trajectory of the metal strip is measured by a measuring device, and on the basis of the obtained measurement results, the metal strip is subjected to a controlled cooling agent jet, so that the trajectory of the metal strip, at least in the zone located between the elements meant for supporting the metal strip, is made to proceed in between devices installed around the trajectory and meant for conveying the cooling agent.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for carrying out a heat treatment operation on a metal strip, comprising:
continuously feeding the metal strip lengthwise in an essentially horizontal direction through a cooling zone so that the metal strip extends through the cooling zone,
supporting the strip extending through the cooling zone at first and second support locations that are at substantially equal vertical heights and are spaced apart horizontally,
positioning the strip so that it avoids mechanical contact from anything other than the support locations, and the strip is suspended between the first and second support locations and follows a trajectory between the first and second support locations, the first support location being upstream of the cooling zone relative to feeding movement of the metal strip and the second support location being downstream of the cooling zone relative to feeding movement of the metal strip,
dividing the cooling zone into at least an upstream block and a downstream block with at least one partition wall,
employing a first device to project at least a first jet of a cooling agent towards the metal strip in the upstream block of the cooling zone,
employing a second device to project at least a second jet of a cooling agent towards the metal strip in the downstream block of the cooling zone,
preventing, by use the at least one partition wall, the cooling agent projected from the first device in the upstream block from flowing to the area of the downstream block, measuring a value for a position and sagging of the metal strip between the first and second support locations,
comparing the measured value of the metal strip with a predetermined desired position and sagging value,
controlling at least one of the cooling agent jets in response to the comparison, and
changing the position and sagging of the metal strip by changing a force of an emitted cooling agent from at least one of the cooling jets aimed toward and supporting metal strip,
wherein the first device, the second device, or both, are installed around the trajectory of the metal strip.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the cooling agent of the first and second jets is air.

Assignees

• Ylimaeinen Hannu
• Outokumpu Oy

Inventors

• Ylimäinen Hannu

Classifications

• F27D21/00

  Arrangement of monitoring devices; Arrangement of safety devices · CPC title

• C21D11/00

  Process control or regulation for heat treatments · CPC title

• F27B9/12

  with special arrangements for preheating or cooling the charge · CPC title

• C21D9/63

  the strip being supported by a cushion of gas · CPC title

• F27D19/00

  Arrangements of controlling devices · CPC title