Process and apparatus for producing coated metal
AssigneeCarnaudMetalbox plc
InventorsJohn Hammond, Mark Jeremy Rowland
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for and a method of forming a metal coated with a polymer is achieved through the provision of a reservoir containing a cooling liquid having a relative undisturbed upper surface. A metal coated with a polymer is introduced into the cooling liquid through the upper surface and is subject to quenching liquid at a temperature T.sub.q directed at the polymer coated metal substantially immediately below the cooling liquid upper surface and substantially along the entire predetermined width thereof. This achieves rapid and uniform cooling in the absence of bubble formation and/or quenching liquid surface agitation to assure desired crystalline formation of the polymer absent the polymer blemishes.
Claims20
Apparatus for providing a metal coated with a polymer comprising means for defining a reservoir containing a cooling liquid having an upper surface;
- means for conveying a metal coated with a polymer into the cooling liquid through the cooling liquid upper surface;
- means for directing quenching liquid at a temperature T.sub.q at the polymer coated metal and substantially only immediately below the cooling liquid upper surface and substantially along the entire width of the polymer coated metal whereby the polymer is rapidly and uniformly quenched substantially immediately upon passing beyond the cooling liquid upper surface, means for recycling the cooling liquid from the reservoir to the quenching liquid directing means, means for adjusting the temperature of the cooling liquid to the temperature T.sub.q, and said quenching liquid directing means include at least one relatively elongated substantially horizontally disposed slit.
Apparatus for providing a metal coated with a polymer comprising means for defining a reservoir containing a cooling liquid having an upper surface;
- means for conveying a metal coated with a polymer into the cooling liquid through the cooling liquid upper surface;
- means for directing quenching liquid at a temperature T.sub.q at the polymer coated metal and substantially only immediately below the cooling liquid upper surface and substantially along the entire width of the polymer coated metal whereby the polymer is rapidly and uniformly quenched substantially immediately upon passing beyond the cooling liquid upper surface, means for recycling the cooling liquid from the reservoir to the quenching liquid directing means, means for adjusting the temperature of the cooling liquid to the temperature T.sub.q, and said quenching liquid directing means includes a plurality of spaced holes disposed in a substantially horizontal plane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.