Slab heating method and apparatus

Claim 2

A process for heating a slab of material prior to rolling including the steps of preheating said material, maintaining said material at the preheated temperature by directing heat toward said material in a quantity sufficient to compensate for the heat loss from said material, moving said material through heating means to raise the temperature of said material a portion at a time, and maintaining the raised temperature of the entire slab of material after it has moved through said heating means by directing additional heat toward said material in a quantity sufficient to compensate for the heat loss from said material to the atmosphere.

Claim 3

A process for heating a slab of material prior to rolling including the steps of preheating said material, maintaining said material at the preheated temperature by directing heat toward said material in a quantity sufficient to compensate for the heat loss from said material, moving said material through heating means to raise the temperature of said material a portion at a time, and maintaining the raised temperature of the entire slab of material after it has moved through said heating means by directing additional heat toward said material in a quantity sufficient to compensate for the heat loss from said material to the atmosphere.

Claim 4

A process for heating a slab of material prior to rolling including the steps of preheating said material, maintaining said material at the preheated temperature by directing heat toward said material in a quantity sufficient to compensate for the heat loss from said material, moving said material through heating means to raise the temperature of said material a portion at a time, and maintaining the raised temperature of the entire slab of material after it has moved through said heating means by directing additional heat toward said material in a quantity sufficient to compensate for the heat loss from said material to the atmosphere.

Claim 5

Apparatus for heating and maintaining the temperature of a slab of material which has been previously heated to an elevated temperature including induction heating means, means for supporting said material prior to movement through said induction heating means, means for directing heat toward said material to compensate for heat loss from said material to the atmosphere prior to the material moving through said induction heating means, means for supporting said material after passing through said induction heating means, means for moving Said slab of material through said induction heating means to raise its temperature a portion at a time, and further means for directing heat toward the entire slab of material after passing through said induction heating means of a quantity to compensate for heat loss from said material so that its temperature is maintained at substantially the temperature obtained from said induction heating means.

Claim 6

Apparatus for heating and maintaining the temperature of a slab of material which has been previously heated to an elevated temperature including induction heating means, means for supporting said material prior to movement through said induction heating means, means for directing heat toward said material to compensate for heat loss from said material to the atmosphere prior to the material moving through said induction heating means, means for supporting said material after passing through said induction heating means, means for moving Said slab of material through said induction heating means to raise its temperature a portion at a time, and further means for directing heat toward the entire slab of material after passing through said induction heating means of a quantity to compensate for heat loss from said material so that its temperature is maintained at substantially the temperature obtained from said induction heating means.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means for directing heat includes electric radiant heaters positioned on the outfeed side of said induction heating means and wherein said electric radiant heaters compensate for the heat loss of said material to the atmosphere.

Claim 8

Apparatus for use in heating to elevated temperatures a slab of material including infeed means for receiving the material at a first rate of speed; first and second means for heating the material a portion at a time to an elevated temperature; first and second means for moving the material through said first and second heating means, respectively, at a second rate of speed approximately one half of said first rate of speed; means for transferring the material from said infeed means alternately to said first and second moving means; outfeed means for discharging the material from said apparatus at said first rate of speed; second means for transferring the material alternately from said first and second means to said outfeed means after heating to the elevated temperature whereby the material is received and discharged at the same rate of speed but passed through said first or second heating means at said second rate of speed; and means for directing heat toward the entire slab of material after it moves through said first or second heating means of a quantity to compensate substantially for the heat loss from the material so that its temperature is maintained at substantially the temperature obtained in said heating means.

Claim 9

Apparatus for use in heating to elevated temperatures a slab of material including infeed means for receiving the material at a first rate of speed; first and second means for heating the material a portion at a time to an elevated temperature; first and second means for moving the material through said first and second heating means, respectively, at a second rate of speed approximately one half of said first rate of speed; means for transferring the material from said infeed means alternately to said first and second moving means; outfeed means for discharging the material from said apparatus at said first rate of speed; second means for transferring the material alternately from said first and second means to said outfeed means after heating to the elevated temperature whereby the material is received and discharged at the same rate of speed but passed through said first or second heating means at said second rate of speed; and means for directing heat toward the entire slab of material after it moves through said first or second heating means of a quantity to compensate substantially for the heat loss from the material so that its temperature is maintained at substantially the temperature obtained in said heating means.