Cooling system for press quenching and method for press quenching with said cooling system

Abstract

A cooling system capable of adequately press-quenching an extruded product of heat-treatable aluminum alloy immediately after extrusion without causing deformation and warpage in its cross section. The cooling system consists of a compressor 22 and a plurality of compressed air amplifiers 21 which are arranged in lines around and along the passage of the extruded product. The compressed air amplifiers 21 a placed farthest from the exit are modified such that the compressed air conduit 26 is provided with a hose 36 for water supply. The compressed air amplifiers 21 and 21 a receive compressed air at a certain flow rate from the compressor 22, and then they direct cooling air to the surface of the extruded product at an amplified flow rate. The thus generated cooling air cools the extruded product several times faster than fan cooling. In addition, cooling air ejected from the compressed air amplifiers arranged farthest from the exist of the extruder contains mist which rapidly cools the extruded product.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A cooling system to perform press quenching on an extruded product immediately after its extrusion comprising: 
 a compressed air source; and    a plurality of compressed air amplifiers which are arranged around and along the passage of the extruded product, said compressed air amplifiers receiving compressed air from said compressed air source and generating air flows toward the surface of the extruded product at an amplified flow rate.    
     
     
         2 . The cooling system as defined in  claim 1 , which further comprises a water cooling means.  
     
     
         3 . The cooling system as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the water cooling means is placed downstream from the compressed air amplifiers.  
     
     
         4 . The cooling system as define in  claim 1 , wherein the compressed air amplifiers are at least partly equipped with water supply means.  
     
     
         5 . The cooling system as define in  claim 4 , wherein the compressed air amplifiers equipped with water supply means are placed downstream from the compressed air amplifiers not equipped with water supply means.  
     
     
         6 . The cooling system as define in  claim 1 , wherein the compressed air amplifiers are at least partly installed inside the press platen at the exit of the extruder to produce said extruded product.  
     
     
         7 . A method for press quenching with the cooling system for press quenching defined in  claim 1 , said method being applied to press-quenching extruded products of heat-treatable aluminum alloy.  
     
     
         8 . A method for press-quenching extruded products of heat-treatable aluminum alloy with the cooling system for press quenching defined in  claim 3 , said method comprising directing air flows amplified by the compressed air amplifiers toward the outer surface of the extruded product, thereby cooling the extruded product, and rapidly cooling the extruded product by the water cooling means arranged downstream from the compressed air amplifiers.  
     
     
         9 . A method for press-quenching extruded products of heat-treatable aluminum alloy with the cooling system for press quenching defined in  claim 4 , said method comprising directing air flows amplified by the compressed air amplifiers, which are not provided with the water supply means, toward the outer surface of the extruded product, thereby rapidly cooling the extruded product, and directing mist-containing air flows amplified by the compressed air amplifiers, which are provided with the water supply means, toward the outer surface of the extruded product at the downstream, thereby rapidly cooling said extruded product.