# US 4,398,973 A · Traverse annealer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,398,973 A - Document ID: US4398973A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/314,905 - Filed: 1981-10-26 - Granted: 1983-08-16 - Earliest claimed: 1981-10-26 - Assignees: Southwire Company - Inventors: O. Leon Thomas - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4398973A ## CPC - C21D 9/62: with direct resistance heating - 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) ## Abstract Disclosed is an improved system for annealing strand of the type comprising at least two sheaves across which the strand passes and becomes electrically annealed, the improvement comprising a first flange member, a second flange member concentric with the first flange member and adjacent thereto, a wide annealing band positioned between the first and second flange members and forming the bottom of a sheave groove, and means for guiding the strand being annealed traversely across a traverse zone of the band to increase longevity of the band while substantially eliminating detrimental arcing by providing an insulating air gap between the strand and either of the flange members. ## Claims ### Claim 1 In a system for annealing strand at high speed of the type comprising at least two sheaves across which said strand passes and becomes electrically annealed, the improvement comprising. (a) a first flange member; (b) a second flange member concentric with said first flange member and adjacent thereto; (c) a hardened annealing band positioned between said first and second flange members and forming the bottom of a sheave groove; and (d) means for guiding said strand along a predetermined traverse zone on the surface of said band. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein means (d) further comprises means for preventing contact between said strand and either of said flange members. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein means (d) further comprises means for preventing arcing between said strand and either of said flange members. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein means (d) further comprises means for dampening vibration of said strand. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising means for preventing loss of contact between said strand and said traverse zone. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising means for preventing arcing between said strand and said traverse zone. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein means (d) further comprises means for distributing wear to said band. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said predetermined zone has a width of from about 0.25 inch (6.35 mm) to about 4 inches (101.6 mm), and is longitudinally concentric with said band. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said band is hardened to a depth of about 0.0625 inch (1.6 mm). ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9 characterized by an increase in the useful life of said band from about 20,000 percent to about 30,000 percent over that of a conventional copper band. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising insulating air gaps on both lateral sides of said traverse zone having widths of from about 0.0625 inch (1.6 mm) to about 0.125 inch (3.2 mm). ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein means (d) further comprises. (a) an eyelet through which said strand passes; and (b) reciprocating means for repeatedly moving said eyelet limited distances in directions lateral to the longitudinal axis of the strand path while deflecting said strand a maximum of about 2 angular degrees. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said eyelet further comprises a hard insulating material such as aluminum oxide ceramic. ### Claim 14 A method for annealing strand traveling at high speed across an annealing sheave comprising the steps of: (a) providing a wide hardened band between the flanges of said sheave; and (b) guiding said strand repeatedly back and forth laterally along a predetermined traverse zone on the surface of said band and longitudinally concentric therewith. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of dampening vibration of said strand to prevent loss of contact between said strand and said traverse zone to prevent detrimental arcing therebetween. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of traversing said traversing zone at a rate of from about 2 inches (50.8 mm) per minute to about 4 inches (101.6 mm) per minute. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of providing a space from about 0.0625 inch (1.6 mm) to about 0.125 inch (3.2 mm) wide on each lateral side of said traverse zone to prevent abrasive contact between said strand and said flanges, and to provide an insulating air gap on each side of said traverse zone to prevent detrimental arcing between said strand and said flanges. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of providing a hardened traverse zone having a depth of about 0.0625 inch (1.6 mm) and a width of about 1.5 inches (38.1 mm) to distribute wear by said strand such that while annealing a copper strand having a diameter of 0.076 inch (1.9 mm) the useful life of said band is increased from about 20,000 percent to about 30,000 percent over that of a conventional copper band.