GB1446946A - Cooling process for metal wire or rod - Google Patents

Abstract

1446946 Cooling steel wire DEMAG AG 7 Sept 1973 [7 Sept 1972] 42145/73 Heading C7N [Also in Division B3] A method of cooling hot metal wire or rod leaving the final stand of a rolling mill, wherein the wire or rod 3 is wound under tension into a coil 5 composed of a plurality of superimposed layers of turns, the innermost layer of the coil being supported during winding; the winding operation being carried out by rotating the coil about its axis, the cooling operation being carried out using liquid coolant M applied to the coil, either (a) in one or more regions of each layer of turns, Fig. 4, the or each region advancing axially of the coil, or (b) throughout the entire length of the coil, Fig. 5 (not shown), after the winding of each layer has been completed. In one embodiment the lower part of the coil is enclosed within a trough 6 with hollow beams 7 extending alongside a drum 2. The beams 7 are provided with nozzles 8 for discharging water as sprays 9 on to the coil 5. The beams are displaceable and the discharge from the nozzles may be controlled. The wire or rod is subjected repeatedly and alternately to both cooling and temperature equalization phases while it is being wound on to the drum until it is covered by a subsequent layer. In a modification, Fig. 5 (not shown), the nozzles are dispensed with and the trough is filled with a coolant (11) to allow partial immersion of the coil The method provides a reasonably short cooling period and yet the transformation of the steel is such that the structure is predominantly pearlitic, Fig. 1 (not shown).