US2008011394A1PendingUtilityA1

Thermodynamic metal treating apparatus and method

30
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Jul 14, 2006Filed: Jul 14, 2006Published: Jan 17, 2008
Est. expiryJul 14, 2026(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Thomas W. Tyl
C21D 1/63C21D 1/60C21D 8/06C21D 1/64C21D 9/5732C21D 9/54
30
PatentIndex Score
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Claims

Abstract

A thermodynamic metal treating apparatus and process describes utilizing a quenchant mixture of liquid and gas in a cell. Heated metal is passed over the heated quenchant mixture which contains a liquid and a gas such as air bubbled through the liquid at a desired rate. The process is particularly suited for improving the breaking, tensile strength and ductility of steel wire as is used in belted vehicle tires. A series of quenching cells allow for fast, uniform treatment of the metal wire.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A method of treating metal comprising the steps of:
 a) heating the metal;   b) subjecting the heated metal to a quenchant comprising a liquid and a gas mixture;   c) controlling the liquid/gas mixture; and   d) removing the treated metal from the quenchant.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein heating the metal comprises the step of passing the metal through an oven. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein heating the metal comprises the step of heating the metal to at least 930° C. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of heating the metal comprises the step of heating a steel wire of 2 mm diameter. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of heating the metal comprises the step of heating a steel wire of 1.2 mm diameter. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the wire diameter is between 0.90 mm and 3.5 mm. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of heating the metal comprises heating a carbon steel product with a carbon content of at least 0.350 percent by weight. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of heating the metal comprises the step of heating a carbon steel product containing chromium, boron and silicon. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein subjecting the heated metal to a quenchant comprises the step of subjecting the heated metal to a plurality of cells containing liquid and gas mixtures. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein subjecting the heated metal to a quenchant comprises the step of subjecting the heated metal to an aqueous liquid at about 100° C. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein subjecting the heated metal to a quenchant comprises the step of subjecting the metal to a mixture having at least 4% air by volume. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein subjecting the heated metal to a quenchant comprises the step of subjecting the metal to a mixture having at least 0-25% air by volume. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein subjecting the heated metal to a quenchant comprises the step of subjecting the metal to a mixture having air by volume in the range of 4-25%. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein controlling the liquid/gas mixture comprises the step of controlling the flow rate of the gas through the liquid. 
   
   
       15 . Apparatus for treating metal comprising: a cell, a heater, said heater communicating with said cell, said heater for maintaining the temperature of a liquid contained within said cell, a gas supply, said gas supply in communication with said cell for supplying gas to said cell. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  further comprising a guide, said guide proximate said cell to direct the metal to said cell. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 15  further comprising a liquid, said liquid contained within said cell. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein said liquid comprises water. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 15  further comprising a gas, said gas directed from said gas supply into said cell. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein said gas comprises air. 
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 15  further comprising a gas regulator, said gas regulator in communication with said gas supply. 
   
   
       22 . A treated metal having an improved tensile strength formed by the process of:
 a) heating a metal to a selected temperature;   b) guiding the heated metal into a liquid and gas mixture to treat the metal; and   c) removing the treated metal from the liquid and gas mixture.   
   
   
       23 . The metal formed as in  claim 22  wherein heating the metal comprises the step of heating the metal to about 930° C.-1050° C.

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