GB944510A - Improvements in wire annealing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<FORM:0944510/C3/1> A wire annealing machine, e.g. for copper wire, comprises a housing 40 formed to provide an upright U-shaped body 42 with two channels 42a and 42b, means for advancing wire longitudinally through the body, e.g. power driven capstans 20, 36 and 52, the latter capstan being inside the chamber part 42c of the body, inlet means, e.g. inlets 82, 83 and 84, for supplying cooling fluid such as water separately to each of the channels, separate outlet means for the cooling fluid preferably including a common outlet 85 at the base of the chamber part 42c for both channels, and a cooling fluid supply, e.g. a tank 16, connected to the inlet means for circulating the fluid through the body 42 from the inlet to the outlet means. The body may be air-sealed by gaskets and have a restriction in one channel 42a to subdivide it into an upper and a lower portion. The restriction may be formed by a partition 65 with an aperture in which a tube 67 is placed, both provided with a forwardly facing slot 69 for stringing up the machine when the cover 44 of the housing 40 is swung open about hinges 46, as in Fig. 4. As shown, cooling fluid is continuously supplied to the upper portion of the channel 42a through the inlet 83 and drained off through the drain 86 to prevent the fluid boiling for the protection of the incoming wire where it is hottest, the wire being electrically heated to different temperatures in different sections according to a desired heating schedule by adjusting the machine controls 12 for the transformer 10. As the wire descends, it encounters fresh turbulent cooling fluid (water) at the inlet 84 in the lower portion whereby the insulating steam jacket on the wire is stripped resulting in rapid cooling of the wire. The inlet 82 for the other channel 42b serves to produce a downward flow of fluid opposite to the advancing wire to the common outlet 85 and to provide a fluid column above the level of the inlet 83. After cooling the wire is finally dried by an air wiper 80 supplied with pressurized air from blower 102.