Self-annealing enclosure

Abstract

An insulated, self-annealing enclosure is taught, having an enclosure body for encasing one or more heated sheet metal coils, having an open bottom for receiving the heated coils and a floor that sealingly engages the open bottom of the enclosure body. A method is also taught for batch production of annealed sheet metal coils by loading a first batch of coils into an annealing furnace and heating the coils to a predetermined temperature. Next, the heated coils are transferred to a self-annealing enclosure. A second batch of coils is then loaded into the annealing furnace. Finally, a method is described for annealing sheet metal coils, involving heating the coils in an annealing furnace to a predetermined temperature, then loading the heated coils into a self-annealing enclosure and holding the heated coils inside the enclosure for a predetermined length of time.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 : A method of producing annealed sheet metal coils in a batch production, comprising:
 a. loading a first batch of coils into an annealing furnace and heating the coils until a predetermined temperature is reached on an outer surface of the coils;   b. transferring the first batch of heated coils from the furnace to an insulated, self-annealing enclosure to heat-soak the coils; and   c. loading a second batch of coils into the annealing furnace.   
     
     
         18 : A method of annealing one or more sheet metal coils, comprising:
 a. heating the one or more coils in an annealing furnace until a predetermined temperature is reached on an outer surface of the one or more coils;   b. removing the one or more heated coils from the furnace;   c. loading the one or more heated coils in an insulated, self-annealing enclosure; and   c. holding the one or more heated coils inside the enclosure for a predetermined length of time to heat soak the one or more coils.   
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 : The method of  claim 17 , wherein the predetermined temperature in step a. is chosen such that sufficient heat is introduced into the coils to cause the coils to self-anneal in step b. in the absence of additional applied heating. 
     
     
         21 : The method of  claim 17 , wherein heat loss from said enclosure is limited in step b. such that a fall in temperature of said coils is 2° C. per hour or less. 
     
     
         22 : The method of  claim 21 , wherein said heat loss is limited such that said fall in temperature is in a range of from 1 to 2° C. per hour. 
     
     
         23 : The method of  claim 21 , wherein said heat loss from said enclosure is limited by lining said enclosure with heat insulating material. 
     
     
         24 : The method of  claim 23 , wherein said enclosure is lined with said insulating material to a thickness that provides a total R-value of from 30 to 40. 
     
     
         25 : The method of  claim 23 , wherein said enclosure is lined with said insulating material to a thickness between 8 to 12 inches. 
     
     
         26 : The method of  claim 23 , wherein said insulating material is chosen to be mineral wool. 
     
     
         27 : The method of  claim 17 , wherein an enclosure having a door movable on an body of said enclosure from an open position to a closed position sealingly enclosing said enclosure body is provided as said enclosure for step b., and wherein said door is opened prior to transferring said coils to said furnace in step b., and is then closed during step c. 
     
     
         28 : The method of  claim 17 , wherein an enclosure having a movable floor separable from a body of said enclosure is provided as said enclosure of step b., and wherein said coils are transported from said furnace on said floor and said floor is united with said body for step b. 
     
     
         29 : The method of  claim 28 , which further comprises providing a track between said furnace and said enclosure body, and providing means on said floor slidable on said track to facilitate said transport of said coils. 
     
     
         30 : A method for annealing sheet metal in the form of a coil, which comprises heating the coil in a furnace until sufficient heat is transferred to the coil to allow self-annealing of the metal without transfer of further heat to the coil, transferring the coil from the furnace to a separate insulated, self-annealing enclosure, and holding the coil within the enclosure for a period of time effective to cause self-annealing of the metal without further heating of the coil.