Liquid quench

Abstract

A liquid quench is disclosed. In one embodiment, a liquid quench apparatus for rapidly cooling a metal strand product includes: a chamber to hold a liquid, configured for placement under a drawn metal stand product, and defined by a length of a predetermined, adjustable value selected to create a desired temperature upon the stand product in a predetermined amount of time; a liquid quenchant disposed within the chamber with which to cool the strand product; a means to raise the liquid quenchant above a height of the strand product to rapidly cool the strand product to the desired temperature in the predetermined amount of time within the predetermined chamber length; and a means to adjust the temperature of the liquid quenchant to the desired temperature upon the stand product. In another embodiment, a system includes an austenitizing furnace, liquid quench, and air fluidized sand bed.

1 . A liquid quench apparatus for rapidly cooling a metal strand product, the apparatus comprising:
 a chamber to hold a liquid for placement under a drawn metal stand product, the chamber defined by a length of a predetermined, adjustable value selected to create a desired temperature upon the drawn metal stand product in a predetermined amount of time;   a liquid quenchant disposed within the chamber to raise up and with which to quench the drawn metal strand product;   a means to raise the liquid quenchant in the chamber to above a height of the drawn metal strand product above the chamber to rapidly cool the drawn metal strand product to the desired temperature in the predetermined amount of time within the adjusted predetermined chamber length; and   a means to adjust the temperature of the liquid quenchant to the desired temperature upon the drawn metal stand product.   
     
     
         2 . The liquid quench apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one divider to separate the chamber into a plurality of sections to accommodate a plurality of banks of product, each bank having at least one drawn stand metal product, wherein each section is independently filled with the liquid quenchant.   
     
     
         3 . The liquid quench apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one adjustable partition to the chamber with which to adjust the length of the chamber to the predetermined, adjustable value selected to create a desired temperature upon the drawn metal stand product.   
     
     
         4 . The liquid quench apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a means to agitate the liquid quench to change a rate at which heat is removed from the drawn metal strand product.   
     
     
         5 . The liquid quench apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the means to agitate the liquid quench to change the rate at which heat is removed from the drawn metal strand product comprises a gas introduced into the liquid quenchant to increase the agitation. 
     
     
         6 . The liquid quench apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the means to raise the liquid quenchant above a height of the drawn metal strand product comprises a lifting pump. 
     
     
         7 . The liquid quench apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the means to adjust the temperature of the liquid quenchant to the desired temperature upon the drawn metal stand product comprises an electrical resistance heater. 
     
     
         8 . The liquid quench apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the means to adjust the temperature of the liquid quenchant to the desired temperature upon the drawn metal stand product comprises a heat exchanger. 
     
     
         9 . The liquid quench apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more water-based chemical additives to add to the liquid quenchant to modify a rate of heat extraction from the drawn metal strand product.   
     
     
         10 . A system for treating a metal strand product, the system comprising:
 an austenitizing furnace to heat a strand product to above an A3, eutectoid, or Acm temperature;   an air fluidized sand bed; and   a liquid quench apparatus disposed between the austenitizing furnace and the air fluidized sand bed, the liquid quench apparatus having: a chamber to hold a liquid for placement under a drawn metal stand product, the chamber defined by a length of a predetermined, adjustable value selected to create a desired temperature upon the drawn metal stand product in a predetermined amount of time; a liquid quenchant disposed within the chamber to raise up and with which to quench the drawn metal strand product; a means to raise the liquid quenchant in the chamber to above a height of the drawn metal strand product above the chamber to rapidly cool the drawn metal strand product to the desired temperature in the predetermined amount of time within the adjusted predetermined chamber length; and a means to adjust the temperature of the liquid quenchant to the desired temperature upon the drawn metal stand product.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a first set of rollers to divert the drawn metal strand product to the chamber for quench by the liquid quenchant.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a second set of rollers to redirect the drawn metal strand product from the chamber after quench by the liquid quenchant.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 at least one divider to separate the chamber into a plurality of sections to accommodate a plurality of banks of product, each bank having at least one drawn stand metal product, wherein each section is independently filled with the liquid quenchant.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 at least one adjustable partition to the chamber with which to adjust the length of the chamber to the predetermined, adjustable value selected to create a desired temperature upon the drawn metal stand product.   
     
     
         15 . A method of treating a metal strand product, the method comprising the steps of:
 utilizing a liquid quench apparatus having: a chamber to hold a liquid for placement under a drawn metal stand product, the chamber defined by a length of a predetermined, adjustable value selected to create a desired temperature upon the drawn metal stand product in a predetermined amount of time; a liquid quenchant disposed within the chamber to raise up and with which to quench the drawn metal strand product; a means to raise the liquid quenchant in the chamber to above a height of the drawn metal strand product above the chamber to rapidly cool the drawn metal strand product to the desired temperature in the predetermined amount of time within the adjusted predetermined chamber length; and a means to adjust the temperature of the liquid quenchant to the desired temperature upon the drawn metal stand product;   drawing the metal strand product in a path at least partially defined over the chamber; and   quenching the metal strand product with the liquid quenchant.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 utilizing a lift pump;   raising the liquid quenchant in the chamber to above the height of the metal strand product; and   overflowing the liquid quenchant back into the chamber.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 utilizing an electrical resistance heater; and   adjusting, thereby, the temperature of the liquid quenchant to the desired temperature upon the drawn metal stand product.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 utilizing a heat exchanger; and   adjusting, thereby, the temperature of the liquid quenchant to the desired temperature upon the drawn metal stand product.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 utilizing at least one divider;   dividing the chamber into a plurality of sections to accommodate a plurality of banks of product, each bank having at least one drawn stand metal product; and   filling, independently, each section with the liquid quenchant;   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 utilizing at least one adjustable partition; and   adjusting the length of the chamber to the predetermined, adjustable value selected, thereby creating the desired temperature upon the drawn metal stand product.