US 4,629,418 A · Process and furnace for reheating metallic objects

Abstract

The process of operating a reheating furnace for slabs involves the transport of slabs through the heating chamber of the furnace and contacting the slabs with a hot gaseous fluid which is supplied by one or more channels at a level below the path for the slabs. The fluid is thereby cooled and the cooled fluid is withdrawn to be readmitted into the channels subsequent to mixing with hot combustion products which are furnished by burners. The temperature of the fluid which is a mixture of cooled fluid and combustion products matches or approximates the optimum temperature for rolling of the slabs. That portion of the heating chamber which is adjacent to its inlet constitutes a magazine for temporary storage of slabs and contains ways for a charging machine which delivers slabs into the range of a walking-beam conveyor in the heating chamber.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A process for heating blooms, billets, slabs and analogous metallic objects to a predetermined temperature in a reheating furnace wherein the objects are contacted by a heated gaseous fluid with attendant cooling of the fluid, comprising the steps of transporting the objects through the furnace;

withdrawing the cooled fluid from the furnace;
establishing and maintaining a mixing chamber;
admitting into the mixing chamber variable quantities of the withdrawn cooled fluid;
admitting into the mixing chamber a freshly heated gaseous fluid which is mixed with the admitted quantities of cooled fluid;
maintaining the temperature of the resulting mixture at a value which is at least close to said predetermined temperature;
and causing such mixture to contact the objects in the furnace.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Process and furnace for reheating metallic objects

Life of this patent

Process and furnace for reheating metallic objects

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18