US3746501A

US3746501A - Continuous passage of metal slabs through heating furnace

Info

Publication number: US3746501A
Application number: US00077118A
Authority: US
Inventors: K Sanderson
Original assignee: Lee Wilson Engineering Co Ltd
Current assignee: Lee Wilson Engineering Co Ltd
Priority date: 1970-01-12
Filing date: 1970-10-01
Publication date: 1973-07-17
Anticipated expiration: 1990-07-17
Also published as: CA914407A

Abstract

A method and apparatus for continuously passing metal slabs through a heating furnace, in which the slabs are pushed in abutting relationship and are supported on at least one chain which slides under the action of the slabs along a trough extending through the furnace. The trough is preferably recessed longitudinally in a cooling pipe.

Description

United States Patent Sanderson July 17, 1973 CONTINUOUS PASSAGE OF METAL SLABS [56] References Cited THROUGH HEATING FURNACE UNITED STATES TS [75] lnventor: Karl Sanderson, King City, Ontario, 3,380,722 4/1968 Sopchack 263/6 R Canada 3,374,996 3/l968 K'cough; 263/8 R 3,489,398 l/l970 Hunt A r A 263/8 R [731 A5518nee= Wllsm' Enflmeermg C0mPany of 1,700,366 1 1929 Fahrenwald 263/6 R Canada Ltd., Downsview, Ontario, Canada; a part Interest Primary Examiner-John J. Camby {22] Filed: Oct. 1, 1970 Attorney-Westell 8L Hanley 21 A l.N.:77l18 1 pp v 57 ABSTRACT A method and apparatus for continuously passing [3O] Forelgn Application Priority Data metal slabs through a heating furnace, in which the Jan.- 12, 1970 Canada 71862 slabs are pushed in abutting relationship and are ported on at least one chain which slides under the ac- [52] US. CL, 432/6, 432/11, 432/126, tion of the slabs along a trough extending through the 432/234 furnace. The trough is preferably recessed longitudi- [51] Int. Cl. F27b 9/24 any in a cooling pipe [58] Field of Search 263/6 R, 8 Y

' 14 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENmJuu 1191s I SHEEF 1 0F 2 INVENTOR. SANDERSON KARL PATENTEBJULI 7 I973 SHEET 2 OF .2

KARL

CONTINUOUS PASSAGE OF METAL SLABS THROUGH HEATING FURNACE The present invention relates to the heating of metal shapes and more particularly to the continuous passage of metal shapes such as steel slabs through a reheating furnace.

In the high temperature reheating of metal slabs for the production of finished steel shapes, the slabs are usually passed through a reheating furnace continuously, in some cases by means of a conveyor, to provide for an uninterrupted supply. Such conveyors are constructed with journalled parts such as roller bearings but these incur high maintenance costs. It has been suggested to slide the slabs through the furnace on fixed rails but this procedure leaves skid markings on the slabs which lower the quality of the finished steel. To overcome the problem of skid markings, walking" mechanisms have been developed which move the slabs step-by-step through the furnace. In the construction of such means of conveyance, a longitudinal series of inner, water-cooled movable frames are bracketed by a set of second water-cooled fixed outer frames. In operation, the movable frame rises and lifts a slab from the fixed frame, carries the slab forward a set distance, lowers the slab again to rest on the fixed frame, and retracts whereupon the slab is picked up in the same manner by the next sequence of operation. Not only is the construction and the maintenance of this walking mechanism costly, but it uses considerable quantities of water for cooling purposes with consequent additional fuel costs. 1

The present invention overcomes these disadvantages by pushing the slabs in abutting relationship through a furnace on a skid of simplified construction.

An example embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view in elevation of a heating furnace having a skid;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the skid; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 3.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, a reheating furnace is provided with one or more skid lines 1 1 running through the furnace from its entrance opening 12 to its exit opening 13, as seen in FIG. 1. Each line 11 consists of a pair of parallel pipes 14 running the length of furnace 10 and supported by a series of lateral, arched pipes 15 forming cross members. Both longitudinal pipes 14 and lateral pipes 15 are connected with water circulation means (not shown). Recessed into the upper portion of each longitudinal pipe 14 is a channel or trough 16 opening upwardly. Trough 16 is preferably rectangular in crosssection with a flat, horizontal bottom surface 16' located within the inner circumferential surface 17 of pipe 14. By this construction, each pair of pipes 14 provides a pair of tracks running the length of furnace 10.

A series of spaced blocks 18 cooperate with each track 16 and these blocks are connected by links 19 through pivot pins 20 to form an endless articulated 6 gular in transverse cross-section of a size to rest on the bottom surface 16' of trough 16 with shoulder 23 projecting upwardly above the trough, as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings. Blocks 18 are spaced a suitable distance for a pair to support one side of a metal slab. I

Chain 21 extends the length of furnace 10, passes over idlers 24 located outside the furnace, adjacent entrance opening 12 and exit opening 13, and is coupled with an auxiliary drive apparatus 25. Each skid line 11 consists of a pair of chains 21 and their associated troughs l6. Suitable feeding means such as a conveyor 26 contiguous with skid line 11, is located outside entrance opening 12 of furnace 10. Similarly, suitable transfer means such as a conveyor 27 is located outside exit opening 13 of furnace l0 and contiguous with skid line 11. 4

In the operation of the'described embodiment, skid line 11 stands idle until activated by slabs 30 which are fed onto it by feed conveyor 26. Each slab 30 comes to rest on a plurality of shoulders 23 of blocks 18 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 and the forward movement of the slab, when pushed in the direction of arrow 31 by subsequent slabs being fed onto skid line 11, causes chains 21 to skid or slide along bottoms 16 of troughs 16 with no relative movement between the slabs and the shoulders of the blocks on which the slabs rest. If desired, the forward motion of chains 21 in furnace 10 can be aug mented by auxiliary drive 25. When slabs 30, moving on skid line 11 in this manner, traverse furnace l0 and leave through exit opening 13, conveyor 27 picks up each reheated slab and carries it away for working. During the operation of the furnace, cooling fluid, preferably water, is circulated continuously through

pipes

14 and 15, as indicated by arrows 32 in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

It will be seen that the apparatus of the invention has no complex moving parts to construct and maintain. Also, the reduced amount of circulatory piping for the cooling system reduces both capital and maintenance costs as well as water and fuel consumption.

It will be appreciated that a single line of blocks 18, forming a single endless chain 21 sliding in a single trough 15, could be used in place of a pair of such chains and troughs if the blocks were suitably adapted to support a slab.

I claim: 1. A method of passing metal slabs through a heating furnace, comprising:

delivering successive slabs each to rest on at least one bearing block and in abutting relationship; and

sliding the block, by pushing successive slabs through the furnace, along a trough adapted to receive the block and extending through the furnace.

2. A method as defined in claim l'in which the slab is delivered to rest on at least two bearing blocks slid along a parallel pair of said troughs.

3. A method as defined in claim 1 including the step of cooling the trough by circulating fluid along the outer side thereof.

4. Apparatus for passing metal slabs through a reheating furnace, comprising:

at least one line of blocks articulated one with another to form an endless chain, each block being adapted to support a slab and being spaced .whereby the slabs may rest thereon in abutting relationship; and

a trough adapted to receive the endless chain, the

blocks being adapted to slide, by delivery of successive slabs to rest thereon in abutting relationship, longitudinally in the trough while projecting above the trough. V

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 including means extending along the outside of the trough for cooling the trough. i

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which the trough extends the length of the heating furnace between an entrance opening and an exit opening, and in- 9; Apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which the chain compriseslinks pivotally interconnecting the blocks spaced the'realong.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which each block has a raised bearing portion adapted to support a slab, at least the bearing portion of the block projecting above the trough.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which each block has a flat sliding bottom portion and a top portion raised to form a shoulder having a flat upper bearing surface thereon, the trough having a flat inner bottom portion.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which each block is rectangular in transverse cross-section with a raised bearing porton comprising a shoulder having a flat upper bearing surface thereon, the trough being also rectangular in cross-section, the cooling means comprising a pipe having the trough recessed longitudinally into its upper portion and being adapted to pass circulating cooling fluid therealong.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 in' which the cooling means comprises a pipe having the trough recessed longitudinally into its upper portion, the pipe being supported within the furnace by a plurality of transverse pipes adapted to pass circulating cooling fluid along said transverse pipes. I

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which a pair of said endless chains are adapted to support a slab, together with a pair of substantially parallel troughs each adapted to receive one of said chains.

Claims

1. A method of passing metal slabs through a heating furnace, comprising: delivering successive slabs each to rest on at least one bearing block and in abutting relationship; and sliding the block, by pushing successive slabs through the furnace, along a trough adapted to receive the block and extending through the furnace.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 in which the slab is delivered to rest on at least two bearing blocks slid along a parallel pair of said troughs.

4. Apparatus for passing metal slabs through a reheating furnace, comprising: at least one line of blocks articulated one with another to form an endless chain, each block being adapted to support a slab and being spaced whereby the slabs may rest thereon in abutting relationship; and a trough adapted to receive the endless chain, the blocks being adapted to slide, by delivery of successive slabs to rest thereon in abutting relationship, longitudinally in the trough while projecting above the trough.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 including means extending along the outside of the trough for cooling the trough.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which the trough extends the length of the heating furnace between an entrance opening and an exit opening, and including means adjacent the entrance opening of the furnace tO deliver slabs onto the endless chain for support by a plurality of the blocks and means adjacent the exit opening of the furnace to receive the heated slabs from the endless chain.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 including auxiliary drive means mounted outside the furnace and coupled with the endless chain.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which the cooling means comprises the pipe having a trough recessed longitudinally in its upper portion, the pipe being adapted to pass circulating fluid therealong.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which the chain comprises links pivotally interconnecting the blocks spaced therealong.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which the cooling means comprises a pipe having the trough recessed longitudinally into its upper portion, the pipe being supported within the furnace by a plurality of transverse pipes adapted to pass circulating cooling fluid along said transverse pipes.