Device and Method for Controllably Cooling Metal Billets to be Hot Extruded

Abstract

A method for carrying out a controlled cooling thermal processing of aluminium billets or other metal materials to be extruded, characterized in that said billets, at a temperature of about 560° C., are arranged one at a time on a horizontally arranged cradle, including locking jaws, said cradle, with a billet arranged therein, being rotatively driven through 90° about a horizontal pivot pin thereby performing a partial controlled immersion, at one end portion thereof, into a water basin having a temperature equal to or slightly larger than an environment temperature.

1 . A method for carrying out a controlled cooling thermal processing of aluminium billets or other metal materials to be extruded, characterized in that said billets, at a temperature of about 560° C., are arranged one at a time on a horizontally arranged cradle, including locking jaws, said cradle, with a billet arranged therein, being rotatively driven through 90° about a horizontal pivot pin thereby performing a partial controlled immersion, at one end portion thereof, into a water basin having a temperature equal to or slightly larger than an environment temperature. 
     
     
         2 . A method, according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said billet immersion operation is carried out by an immersion depth corresponding to about 90% of the linear extension of said billet. 
     
     
         3 . A method, according to  claim 1 , characterized in that in said water basin the water is held under a turbulence condition thereby bringing the temperature of said billet, at the back portion thereof, to a temperature which is by about 80-90° C. less for each meter of the length of said billet with a linear conical variation of said temperature. 
     
     
         4 . A method, according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said method provides to use a water basin containing water held in a turbulence condition by a water inlet duct ending at one portion thereof with a circular pattern including a plurality of nozzles directed toward a center of said circular duct, thereby water is conveyed to said water basin and subjected to a turbulent movement, thereby providing a quicker billet cooling down. 
     
     
         5 . A device for carrying out a method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said device comprises a water basin ( 1 ), supplied with water or other liquid for cooling billets ( 18 ), the water in said water basin ( 1 ) being held in a turbulence condition by a duct ( 2 ) ending with a circular duct ( 3 ) including a plurality of nozzles ( 4 ) therefrom is ejected a water flow holding in a turbulence condition the water in said water basin ( 1 ). 
     
     
         6 . A device, according to  claim 5 , characterized in that said device comprises a device base ( 5 ) and a device upright ( 6 ) supporting a carriage ( 10 ) including a raising hydraulic cylinder ( 28 ) clamped at the bottom thereof, to said base ( 5 ) through a plate element ( 31 ), said hydraulic cylinder ( 28 ) including a rod ( 29 ) applied to an element ( 30 ) fixed on said carriage ( 10 ). 
     
     
         7 . A device, according to  claim 5 , characterized in that said cylinder ( 28 ) is operatively coupled to said carriage ( 10 ) to raise and lower said carriage, said carriage being adapted to slide on vertical sliding guides ( 7 ). 
     
     
         8 . A device, according to  claim 5 , characterized in that said carriage ( 10 ) comprises carriage wheels ( 26 ) and supports a carriage cylinder ( 24 ) having a cylinder stem ( 16 ) operating a leverage ( 15 ). 
     
     
         9 . A device, according to  claim 8 , characterized in that said leverage rotatively drives a shaft ( 13 ) supporting a plurality of jaws ( 12 ) constituting an integrating part of a cradle ( 11 ) for housing therein a billet ( 18 ). 
     
     
         10 . A device, according to  claim 9 , characterized in that said jaws ( 12 ) are closed toward said cradle base ( 11 ) thereby locking and restraining said billet ( 18 ) to allow said locked billet to be vertically immersed into said basin water. 
     
     
         11 . A device, according to  claim 5 , characterized in that said billets ( 18 ) are arranged and locked in said cradle ( 11 ) with said carriage ( 10 ) being arranged in a raised position with respect to the cradle vertical supporting upright ( 6 ). 
     
     
         12 . A device, according to  claim 5 , characterized in that said billet is locked in said cradle ( 11 ) by closing said jaws ( 12 ). 
     
     
         13 . A device, according to  claim 5 , characterized in that said cradle ( 11 ) and billets ( 18 ) are adapted to be inclined through 90° by operating a cylinder ( 8 ) including a cylinder stem ( 8 ′) coupled to a leverage ( 9 ) rotatively driving a horizontal shaft ( 32 ) thereby causing said cradle ( 11 ) to be downwardly inclined through 90°, thereby correspondingly inclining said billet ( 18 ). 
     
     
         14 . A device, according to  claim 5 , characterized in that said device allows a billet to be partially immersed by operating the piston ( 28 ) and lowering the carriage ( 10 ) and cradle ( 11 ) assembly.