US3639142A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of galvanizing
Assignee: Bethlehem Steel Corp
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Filing: 1968-06-10
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Granted: 1972-02-01
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Expires: 1988-06-10
Abstract
Abstract Elongated structural steel members are conveyed in a continuous operation longitudinally through a spray washer, a shot blast cabinet, an acid spray, an acid blowoff, a chloride flux spray and finally a flux blowoff to remove excess flux. The members are then passed through a preheat furnace to dry the flux and preheat the members and are then dipped into a molten zinc bath and removed therefrom supported upon C-hooks which are designed to be vibrated to remove excess molten zinc from the coated material. The structural materials are then passed to a reflow and quench device which rotates the structural members by dropping them off the end of a conveyor onto inclined skid means upon which the angles remain for a predetermined time as they slide down the skid means prior to immersion in a quench tank of water held at 160* F. to set the coating without shattering.
Inventors
- 👤 Herris M Maxwell
- 👤 John E Sowers
- 👤 John Neil Laidman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 19:59
CPC Classifications
C; C23; C23C; C23C2/00; C23C2/34; C23C2/36; C23C2/38; C23C2/385
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
causing said angular elongated sections to topple transversely from said first support means onto a second lower supporting means positioned below said first support means a distance sufficient to allow approximately one half of a full rotation of said sections about their longitudingal axes as they move under the influence of said prevailing gravitational field from said first support means to said second support means to initiate reflow of said zinc coating, and j. supporting said sections in their substantially half rotated position until the still at least partially molten zinc on the surface of said sections reflows under the influence of the prevailing gravitational field back to substantially its original evenly distributed condition and then immediately quenching said sections in a water bath held at 140* to 200* F.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
212 words
A method of galvanizing elongated sections according to claim 1 wherein step (i) is effected by dropping said sections from the end of a conveyor constituting said first support means of step (i) substep (1) onto an upper portion of inclined skid means having upper supporting surfaces constituting said second lower supporting means of step (i) substep (2) and wherein step (k) is effected by causing said sections to move downwardly on said skid means to the surface of the quench bath at a rate of travel calculated to provide sufficient time prior to quenching of said sections by entrance into said water bath to allow the still at least partially molten zinc on the surface of said sections to reflow under the influence of the prevailing gravitational field back to substantially its original evenly distributed condition, said rate of travel of said sections being determined by the inclination and coefficient of friction of the upper supporting surfaces of said skid means with relation to the weight and surface condition of said sections and said time being determined by the length of said skid means between the contact point of said sections with said skid means and the surface of the quench bath and the said rate of travel of said sections.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method of galvanizing elongated structural sections according to claim 2 wherein said sections are continuously conveyed through said coating line up to said galvanizing pot on conveyor means.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
297 words
A method of reflowing and quenching molten metal coated elongated structural sections having angular transverse cross sections comprising: a. conveying said sections from a molten metal coating bath to a point adjacent to a water quench bath maintained at 14* to 200* F. While the coating is still molten, b. rotating said sections about their longitudinal axes relative to the prevailing gravitational field approximately a half rotation by toppling said sections over the edge of a support means onto skid means having an upper supporting surface positioned a predetermined distance below said support means which distance will allow approximately a half rotation of said sections while in a freefall condition between said support means and said upper supporting surface of said skid means, said upper supporting surface of said skid means having an inclination such that no substantial surfaces of the angular sections resting upon said upper supporting surface of said skid means are parallel to the surface of said quench bath, and a length such that the still at least partially molten zinc coating on the surface of sections sliding therealong at a rate of travel determined by the inclination and coefficient of friction of the upper supporting surfaces of said skid means with relation to the Weight and surface condition of said sections will be substantially completely but not more than completely reflowed under the influence of the prevailing gravitational field back to substantially its original evenly distributed condition as the sections reach the portion of the skid means immediately adjacent the surface of the quench bath, and c. allowing the said angular sections to enter the said quench bath upon attainment of said still at least partially molten coating of its said substantially original evenly distributed condition upon the surface of said angular sections.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method of reflowing and quenching molten metal coated articles according to claim 4 wherein said sections are initially deposited upon a conveyor and are dropped from the end of the conveyor to the inclined skid.
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) | 1975-01-31 | 1975-08-02 | 1976-02-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-31 | 1979-08-02 | 1980-02-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-31 | 1983-08-02 | 1984-02-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |