# US 2013/0152650 A1 · Method and device for treatment of continuous or discrete metal products > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0152650 A1 - Document ID: US20130152650A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/639,152 - Filed: 2011-03-24 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2010-04-06 - Inventors: Rudiger Eichler; Anders Engbom - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130152650A1 ## CPC - C21D 1/52: with flames - B21D 11/20: Bending sheet metal, not otherwise provided for - C21D 9/46: for sheet metals - C21D 9/56: Continuous furnaces for strip or wire - C21D 9/562: {Details} - F27B 9/10: heated by hot air or gas - F27D 99/0033: {using burners} - F27D 2099/004: {directed upon the charge, e.g. vertically} - C21D: MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING (surface treatment of metallic material involving at least one process provided for in class C23 and at least one process covered by this subclass C23F17/00; unidirectional solidification of eutectic materials or unidirectional demixing of eutectoid materials C30B) - B21D: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL (working or processing of wire B21F) - F27B: FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS OR RETORTS IN GENERAL; OPEN SINTERING OR LIKE APPARATUS - F27D: DETAILS OR ACCESSORIES OF FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS OR RETORTS, IN SO FAR AS THEY ARE OF KINDS OCCURRING IN MORE THAN ONE KIND OF FURNACE ## Abstract A method for heating an elongated metal product includes heating at a first heating location with at least one burner the metal product, and conveying combustion products from the burner through at least one channel, isolated from the metal product, from the first heating location to at least a second heating location arranged along a conveyor path for the combustion products to impinge upon an opposite surface of the metal product when the metal product passes the second heating location. A device for heating the elongated metal product is also provided. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-15. (canceled) ### Claim 16 A method for heating a metal product, comprising: transporting the metal product along a conveyor path; heating a first surface of the metal product with a flame from at least one burner disposed at a first heating location at the conveyor path; conveying combustion products from the first heating location through at least one channel isolated from the metal product to a second heating location arranged at the conveyor path; and impinging the combustion products from the at least one channel onto a second surface of the metal product at the second heating location. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the burner comprises a direct flame impingement burner and the heating to the first surface is at an upper side of the metal product. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the second heating location is located upstream of the first heating location. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the conveyor path is perforated and the channel is in communication with the conveyor path, and further comprising passing the flame through the conveyor path into the channel. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the perforated conveyor path comprises a transport surface selected from the group consisting of a mesh belt and walking beams. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising arranging said at least one channel to provide the combustion products past the metal product on at least one side of the metal product to another channel leading to the second heating location. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising providing a portion of the combustion products at the first heating location along the conveyor path for directly contacting the metal product, and joining said portion with the combustion products from the at least one channel for contacting the metal product. ### Claim 23 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising operating the burner with an oxidant having at least 85% by weight of oxygen. ### Claim 24 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising arranging a ramp of a plurality of the burners at an angle with respect to a direction of travel of the metal product along the conveyor path, and providing a single, elongated flame from the plurality of burners for heating the first surface of the metal product. ### Claim 25 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the metal product comprises an aluminum coated metal sheet, and further comprising heating the metal product at the first and second heating locations to a select temperature for alloying the aluminum coating with steel material of the metal sheet, and pressing the metal sheet into a select shape. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, further comprising transporting the metal sheet at a velocity along the conveyor path past the first and second heating locations at a rate for preventing overheating of the first and second surfaces of the metal sheet. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, further comprising providing additional heating without direct flame impingement heating to the metal sheet before the alloying. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, wherein the alloying occurs in a hydrogen-free atmosphere. ### Claim 29 An apparatus for heating a metal product, comprising: a conveyor path; a first heating location at the conveyor path having at least one burner arranged to emit a flame to the conveyor path for contacting a first surface of the metal product; a second heating location at the conveyor path and remote from the first heating location; and a channel having a first end in communication within the first heating location for receiving combustion products from the flame, and extending to a second end in communication with the second heating location for the combustion products to contact a second surface of the metal product. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the conveyor path comprises perforations therethrough and through which the flame can pass into the first end of the channel. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising a ramp having a plurality of the burners, wherein the ramp is arranged at an angle relative to a direction of travel of the metal product for providing a single, elongated flame for impinging upon the metal product.