Stress free steel and rapid production of same

Abstract

A method of producing steel with reduced internal stress concentrations is disclosed. In an embodiment, hot steel is shaped by a rolling mill. The resultant steel product is bundled as soon as practicable and the bundle is allowed to cool. Vibration energy is applied to the bundle of steel product so that internal stress concentrations within the steel product are relieved. In an embodiment, a plurality of bundles are stored on a rack and the rack is vibrated, the vibrations being transmitted to the plurality of bundles so that undesired internal stress concentrations within the steel products are relieved. Thus, improved steel is produced as well as improved steel that can be produced more rapidly than known techniques.

1 . A method of producing steel product with reduced internal stress, comprising the steps of: 
 processing a semis with a rolling mill to create a steel product;    preparing a bundle of the steel product while the steel product is still hot;    cooling the bundle of steel product; and    vibrating the cooled bundle of steel product so as to relieve unwanted internal stress concentrations present in the steel product.    
     
     
         2 . The method of producing steel product of  claim 1 , wherein the semis is a billet.  
     
     
         3 . The method of producing steel product of  claim 1 , wherein the steel product is a steel bar and the bundle is a bundle of steel bars.  
     
     
         4 . The method of producing steel product of  claim 1 , wherein the steel product is steel strip or sheet.  
     
     
         5 . The method of producing steel product of  claim 1 , wherein the steel product is selected from the group consisting of a bar, rod, strip, sheet, plate, band, hot-band, beam, channel, tube, pipe, track, rail, wire, and structural and special shapes.  
     
     
         6 . The method of producing steel product of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 preparing at least a second bundle of steel product; and    vibrating the at least two bundles of steel product simultaneously.    
     
     
         7 . The method of producing steel product of  claim 6 , wherein the step of vibrating the plurality of bundles of steel product comprises the steps of: 
 placing the at least two bundles of steel product on a rack that is supported by a vibration isolator; and    vibrating the rack, whereby the at least two bundles of steel product are simultaneously vibrated.    
     
     
         8 . The method of producing steel of  claim 7 , wherein the step of vibrating the rack includes the steps of applying a vibration force with a first vibration generator mounted on the rack and applying at least a second vibration force with a second vibration generator mounted on the rack, the second vibration generator mounted so the vibration force of the second vibration generator is not aligned with the force of the first vibration generator.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the vibration forces are aligned.  
     
     
         10 . A system for holding and vibrating bundles of steel product, comprising: 
 a frame, the frame configured to support a plurality of steel bundles;    a vibration isolator supporting the frame;    a first vibration generator mounted on the frame, the first vibration generator providing a first vibration force;    a second vibration generator mounted on the frame, the second vibration generator providing a second vibration force not aligned with the first vibration force of the first generator.    
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a support member for use in preventing the plurality of steel bundles from falling off of the frame.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of support blocks for use in transferring vibration between adjacent bundles of steel product.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the vibration forces are aligned.  
     
     
         14 . A system for vibrating a bundle of steel product, comprising: 
 a mobile carrier configured to support and move a bundle of steel;    a vibration isolator between the carrier and vibration generator;    a vibration generator supported by the carrier; and    a support member supported by the vibration generator, the support member configured to support a bundle of steel product.    
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the support members are selected from the group consisting of cables, chains and rigid members.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a cable extending from the carrier to the vibration isolator, the cable configured to couple the vibration isolator to the carrier.  
     
     
         17 . A method of producing steel product with reduced internal stress, comprising the steps of: 
 creating a steel billet via a continuous casting process;    processing the steel billet with a rolling mill to form a hot steel product;    preparing a first bundle of the hot steel product;    cooling the first bundle of the hot steel product, thereby allowing internal localized stress concentrations to form in the steel product within the bundle; and    vibrating the first bundle so as to reduce the internal localized stress concentrations of the steel product to an acceptable level.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of vibrating takes place during the movement of the first bundle from a first location to a second location.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of vibrating occurs during the step of transporting the first bundle.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the step of transporting is done via a transporting device selected from the group consisting of a crane and mobile carrier.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the steps of: 
 preparing a second bundle of steel product; and    cooling and locating the second bundle in close proximity to the first bundle, wherein the step of vibrating the first bundle of steel product also vibrates the second bundle.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the vibrating step is accomplished by vibrating a rack being used to store the first bundle and the second bundle.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the vibrating step is accomplished by a vibrating conveyor.  
     
     
         24 . A method of increasing the production rate of steel product, comprising the steps of: 
 processing a semis with a rolling mill to create a steel product;    preparing a bundle of the steel product while the steel product is still hot;    cooling the bundle of steel product; and    vibrating the cooled bundle of steel product so as to relieve unwanted internal stress concentrations present in the steel product,    whereby the rate of production of the steel is increased because the time consumed in waiting for the steel product to cool prior to bundling is reduced.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the step of vibrating takes place at a location away from a steel production facility.  
     
     
         26 . A method of producing metal product with reduced internal stress, comprising the steps of: 
 processing a semis with a rolling mill to create a metal product;    preparing a bundle of the metal product while the product is still hot; and    cooling and simultaneously vibrating the bundle of metal product so as to relieve unwanted internal stress concentrations present in the metal product.    
     
     
         27 . A method of producing a metal product with reduced internal stress, comprising the steps of: 
 casting a metal on a continuous strip caster to create a product;    preparing a bundle of the product while the product is still hot;    cooling the bundle of product; and    vibrating the cooled bundle of product so as to relieve unwanted internal stress concentrations present in the product.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the step of vibrating takes place at a location away from the metal production facility.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the step of vibrating is accomplished by a vibrating conveyor.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising the steps of: 
 preparing a second bundle of product; and    cooling and locating the second bundle in close proximity to the first bundle, wherein the step of vibrating the first bundle also vibrates the second bundle.    
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the step of vibrating is accomplished by vibrating a rack being used to store the first bundle and the second bundle.  
     
     
         32 . A method of producing steel product with reduced internal stress, comprising the steps of: 
 casting a steel strip on a continuous strip caster to create a product;    preparing a bundle of the steel product while the steel product is still hot; and    cooling and simultaneously vibrating the bundle of steel product so as to relieve unwanted internal stress concentrations present in the steel product.    
     
     
         33 . A method of producing steel product with reduced internal stress, comprising the steps of: 
 casting a steel shape on a continuous caster to create a product;    preparing a bundle of the product while the product is still hot;    cooling the bundle of product; and    vibrating the cooled bundle of product so as to relieve unwanted internal stress concentrations present in the product.    
     
     
         34 . A method of producing steel product with reduced internal stress, comprising the steps of: 
 casting a steel shape on a continuous caster to create a product;    preparing a bundle of the steel product while the steel product is still hot; and    cooling and simultaneously vibrating the bundle of steel product so as to relieve unwanted internal stress concentrations present in the steel product.