US3554513A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and apparatus for quick quenching continuously heated strip
Assignee: Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corp
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Filing: 1968-04-08
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Granted: 1971-01-12
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Expires: 1988-04-08
Abstract
Abstract System and apparatus for quick quenching a continuously moving solution heat treated aluminum or aluminum alloy strip and the like in a substantially instantaneous fashion promptly after the strip exits from a solution heat treatment furnace, wherein a relatively thin curtain of liquid coolant of substantially uniform cross-sectional thickness from one curtain edge to the other is applied to at least one side of and in a straight line across and transverse of the strip and wherein an improved arrangement is employed for enclosing the strip in a heated gaseous envelope substantially immediately after it exits from the furnace to preclude contact of the strip with the atmosphere prior to quenching and to prevent back splash of the coolant from the line of coolant application and a deleterious premature quenching of the strip and wherein the application of the coolant is fully coordinated with enclosing the strip in the heated gaseous envelope.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard D Chance
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 12:27
CPC Classifications
C; C21; C21D; C21D9/00; C21D9/52; C21D9/54; C21D9/56; C21D9/573; B; B21; B21B; B21B45/00; B21B45/02; B21B45/0203; B21B45/0209; B21B45/0215; B21B45/0233
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
23 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said baffle means is concavely curved in the direction of travel of the strip.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
175 words
A system for effecting a substantially instantaneous and uniform fast quench of continuously moving solution heat treated aluminum and aluminum alloy strip as it emerges from a continuous heat treating furnace comprising means including a baffle means fOr directing coolant against both sides of the strip at angles of less than 90* and in the form of relatively thin nonturbulent straight line liquid coolant curtains each of uniform cross section from one end edge to the other and transverse to the normal direction of travel of the strip promptly after the strip is withdrawn from the furnace, and means disposed intermediate said first means and said furnace for directing a heated gaseous medium at selected volumes and pressures against at least one side of the strip so as to fully envelope the strip and preclude contact of the strip with and to seal said strip from the atmosphere prior to the strip''s contact with the coolant curtains and to prevent back splash of the coolant from the curtains onto the strip or into the furnace.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as set forth in claim 3 including means for directing a gaseous medium onto the other side of the strip.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as set forth in claim 3 wherein curvilinear baffles are employed with each of said first means.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
145 words
A system for effecting a substantially instantaneous and uniform fast quench of continuously moving solution heat treated aluminum and aluminum alloy strip as it emerges from a continuous heat treating furnace comprising a first means including baffles for continuously directing coolant against each side of the strip in the form of a relatively thin nonturbulent straight line liquid coolant curtain and transverse to the normal direction of travel thereof and along parallel curtain and strip contact lines and a second means disposed intermediate said first means and said furnace for directing heated gaseous streams under pressure against opposing sides of the strip to completely envelope said strip and preclude contact of the strip with and seal the strip from the atmosphere prior to strip and coolant curtain contact and to prevent back splash of coolant from the curtains onto the strip or into the furnace.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as set forth in claim 6 wherein said baffles are curved in the normal direction of travel of the strip.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as set forth in claim 6 wherein said first and second means extend beyond the marginal edges of the strip.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
178 words
In combination with an aluminum or aluminum alloy solution heat treating furnace an apparatus for effecting a fast quench of a moving aluminum or aluminum alloy strip promptly after said strip exits from said furnace, said apparatus comprising at least one elongated baffle means disposed downstream from the exit end of the furnace and adjacent to and entirely across the entire normal path of travel of the strip as it exits from the furnace, coolant material ejecting means arranged adjacent one edge of said baffle means and adapted to direct a coolant material against the baffle means at a slight angle in of incidence thereto, the other edge of said baffle means being inclined at an angle of less than 90* relative to the normal plane of the strip, and a gaseous medium dispensing means disposed intermediate the exit end of the furnace and said coolant material ejecting means and closely adjacent to the furnace exit for directing a heated gaseous medium against the strip upstream from the area of application of the coolant material to the strip.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein the said other edge of the baffle means is set so as to direct the coolant material upon said strip at between an angle of 25* to 30* relative to the normal plane of the strip.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein the coolant material ejecting means is arranged relative to said baffle means such that said angle of incidence is on the order of 5*.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said gaseous medium dispensing means comprises means arranged to direct the gaseous medium against the strip at an angle to the normal plane of the strip which substantially approximates and parallels the angle at which the coolant material is directed upon the strip by said baffLe means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein the elongated baffle means extends beyond and overlaps both side edges of the strip during the movement thereof past said baffle means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 including means for heating said gaseous medium prior to the application thereof to the strip.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein the gaseous medium dispensing means comprises nozzle means which extends beyond and overlaps the marginal side edges of the strip during the movement thereof past said nozzle means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said baffle means comprises a baffle that has a curvilinear cross section.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
108 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 including a further baffle means that is curved in an opposite direction to said first baffle means, said further baffle means being disposed downstream from said first baffle means and on the same side of the strip as the first baffle means and a further coolant material ejecting means for directing coolant material against said further baffle means and then against the strip in opposition to the first baffle means so as to effect a retardation of the coolant material initially applied by a said first baffle means and a wiping of said initially applied coolant material from said strip.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
260 words
In combination with an aluminum or aluminum alloy solution heat treatment furnace an apparatus for effecting a fast lineal quench of a continuously moving aluminum or aluminum alloy strip promptly after said strip exits from said furnace, said apparatus comprising a pair of elongated baffles disposed a short distance downstream from the exit end of the furnace and arranged in spaced parallel opposing relationship to each other on opposite sides of an entirely across the normal path of travel of the strip, nozzle means arranged adjacent one longitudinal edge of each of said baffles and adapted to direct a fluid coolant against the baffle at a slight angle of incidence thereto and the other longitudinal and discharge edge of each baffle being inclined at an angle of less than 90* relative to the normal plane of the strip, the said angles inclination of the discharge edges of the baffles being such that fluid coolant projected therefrom on both sides of the strip contact the strip along parallel lines on opposing sides of the strip in the form of thin nonturbulent straight line fluid coolant curtains, at least one further nozzle means disposed intermediate the exit end of the furnace and one of said first mentioned nozzle means and closely adjacent to the furnace exit for directing a heated gaseous medium upon the strip upstream from the area of application of the fluid coolant to the strip and at an angle thereto which is generally parallel to the angle of application of one of the fluid coolant curtains to the strip.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 18 wherein said baffles are curvilinear in cross section.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
76 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 18 including a further gaseous medium nozzle means disposed in opposing spaced relationship to said first mentioned gaseous medium nozzle means and located on the opposite side of the strip therefrom, said further gaseous medium nozzle means also being adapted to direct a heated gaseous medium against the said opposite side of the strip and at an angle thereto upstream from the area of strip and fluid coolant contact.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
49 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 18 wherein the fluid coolant discharge edges of the baffles are set so as to direct fluid coolant upon said strip at between an angle of 25* to 30* relative to the normal plane of the strip and on opposite sides thereof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 18 h wherein the baffles extend beyond and overlap the marginal edges of the strip.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 18 wherein the gaseous medium nozzle means extends beyond and overlaps the side marginal edges of the strip.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
202 words
In combination with An aluminum and aluminum alloy solution heat treating furnace for effecting a fast lineal quench of a moving aluminum or aluminum alloy strip promptly after the strip exits from said furnace said apparatus comprising at least one elongated baffle means disposed a relatively short distance downstream from the furnace exit and entirely across and beyond the normal path of travel of the strip, coolant material ejecting means arranged adjacent one edge and along the length of said baffle means and adapted to direct a coolant material against and across the baffle means, another edge of the baffle means being inclined at an angle of less than 90* relative to the normal plane of the strip and serving as the coolant material discharge edge of the baffle means, a linearly arranged gaseous medium dispensing means disposed intermediate the exit end of the furnace and said coolant material ejecting means and closely adjacent the said exit end of the furnace for directing a heated gaseous medium against and at an angle to the strip upstream from the zone of coolant material application to completely envelope the strip and prevent back splash of the coolant onto the strip or into the furnace.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 24 wherein said baffle means is curvilinear in cross section.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
169 words
A system for effecting a substantially instantaneous and uniform fast quench of continuously moving solution heat treated aluminum and aluminum alloy strip as it emerges from a continuous heat treating furnace comprising means for continuously directing coolant material in the form of a coolant curtain against a side of the strip at an angle of less than 90* and in the form of a relatively thin nonturbulent straight line coolant curtain of uniform cross section from one end edge of the curtain to the other and transverse to the normal direction of travel thereof promptly after the strip is withdrawn from said furnace and means intermediate said first means and the furnace for controllably directing a heated gaseous medium at selected pressures and volumes against the strip so as to fully envelope said strip and preclude contact of the strip with the atmosphere prior to contact of the strip with the coolant curtain and back splash of the coolant from the curtain onto the strip or into the furnace.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-11 | 1974-07-13 | 1975-01-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-11 | 1978-07-13 | 1979-01-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-11 | 1982-07-13 | 1983-01-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |