Process and apparatus for treating the surface of an elongated, steel alloy form to facilitate cold working thereof
AssigneeCRS Holdings, Inc.
InventorMichael J. Lubas
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process for cold working an elongated form of a steel alloy includes the step of forming a matte texture on substantially all of the surface of the elongated form. The matte texture is characterized by a plurality of random, minute, shallow indentations, uniformly distributed on the elongated form's surface. The process provides an elongated form of steel alloy that has a significantly improved capability to carry lubricant into a cold working tool or die, thereby benefiting the cold workability of the elongated form. An apparatus for carrying out the process according to the invention, in line with one or more other processing operations is also disclosed.
Claims27
A process for cold working an elongated form of a steel alloy comprising the steps of:
- forming a smooth, reflective surface on the elongated form of steel alloy, including the step of removing at thin peripheral layer of material from the surface of the elongated form such that a new surface is exposed on the elongated form;
- forming a matte texture on substantially all of the new surface of the elongated form, said matte texture comprising a plurality of random, minute, shallow indentation;
- applying a lubricant to the elongated form such that the lubricant contacts the matte textured surface;
- and then cold working said elongated form.
A process for treating the surface of an elongated form of a steel alloy to facilitate cold working of said elongated form, said process comprising the steps of:
- forming a smooth, reflective surface on an elongated form of a steel alloy, including the step of removing an thin peripheral layer of material from the surface of the elongated form such that a new surface is exposed on the elongated form;
- and then
- forming a matte texture on substantially all of the new surface of the elongated form, said matte texture comprising a plurality of random, minute, shallow indentations, whereby the lubricant retention capability of the surface of the elongated form is significantly increased.
Apparatus for treating the surface of an elongated form of a steel alloy to facilitate cold working of the elongated form, said apparatus comprising:
- surface smoothing means for forming a smooth, reflective surface on the elongated form, said surface smoothing means including apparatus that is adapted to remove a thin, peripheral layer of material from the elongated, steel alloy form;
- surface texturing means for forming a matte texture comprising a plurality of random, minute indentations on substantially all of the surface of the elongated form;
- and
- means for pulling the elongated, steel alloy form longitudinally through said surface smoothing means and said surface texturing means.
A process for treating the surface of an elongated form of a steel alloy to facilitate cold working of said elongated form, said process comprising the steps of:
- forming a smooth, reflective surface on an elongated form of a steel alloy, including the step of bright strand annealing the elongated form;
- and then
- forming a matte texture on substantially all of the surface of the elongated form, said matte texture comprising a plurality of random, minute, shallow indentations, whereby the lubricant retention capability of the surface of the elongated form is significantly increased.
Apparatus for treating the surface of an elongated form of a steel alloy to facilitate cold working of the elongated form, said apparatus comprising:
- surface smoothing means for forming a smooth, reflective surface on the elongated form, said surface smoothing means including a furnace for bright strand annealing said elongated form;
- surface texturing means for forming a matte texture comprising a plurality of random, minute indentations on substantially all of the surface of the elongated form;
- and
- means for pulling the elongated, steel alloy form longitudinally through said surface smoothing means and said surface texturing means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.