Process and apparatus for applying and removing liquid coolant to control temperature of continuously moving metal strip

In multistand cold rolling procedure wherein aluminum strip is advanced continuously longitudinally in succession through at least two roll stands for progressively reducing the thickness of the strip, the roll stands being spaced apart in tandem along a generally horizontal path in which the strip advances with opposed major surfaces of the strip respectively facing upwardly and downwardly, a process for cooling the strip from an initial temperature of up to 300.degree. C. as it advances between said two roll stands, while advancing the strip at a velocity of at least 225 m/min., said process comprising, at a cooling locality disposed between said two roll stands in said path,

• (a) delivering coolant liquid comprising water into contact with only the downwardly facing surface of the advancing strip by discharging said coolant liquid upwardly, onto said downwardly facing strip surface, through a plurality of upwardly opening slots disposed below the strip in spaced relation thereto, said slots being spaced apart along said path and each extending, transversely of the path, across substantially the entire width of the strip, said coolant liquid being supplied to said slots at a pressure such that the coolant liquid impinges on the strip without substantially upwardly deflecting the strip, while
• (b) preventing the discharged coolant liquid from coming into contact with the upwardly facing surface of the strip, and
• (c) between said plurality of slots and the downstream one of said roll stands in the direction of strip advance, removing coolant liquid from the downwardly facing strip surface.

In a multistand line for cold-rolling aluminum strip including at least two roll stands spaced apart in succession along a generally horizontal path in which the strip advances with opposed major surfaces of the strip respectively facing upwardly and downwardly, and means for advancing the metal strip continuously and successively along said path at a velocity of at least 225 m/min. through said two roll stands for progressively reducing the thickness of the strip, apparatus for cooling the strip from an initial temperature of up to 300.degree. C. as it advances between said two roll stands, said apparatus comprising, at a cooling locality disposed between said two roll stands in said path,

• (a) means for delivering coolant liquid into contact with only the downwardly facing surface of the advancing strip by discharging said coolant liquid upwardly, onto said downwardly facing strip surface, through a plurality of upwardly opening slots disposed below the strip in spaced relation thereto, said slots being spaced apart along said path and each extending, transversely of the path, across substantially the entire width of the strip;
• (b) means for supplying said coolant liquid to said slots at a pressure such that the coolant liquid impinges on the strip without substantially upwardly deflecting the strip;
• (c) means for preventing the discharged coolant liquid from coming into contact with the upwardly facing surface of the strip, and
• (d) means for removing coolant liquid from the downwardly facing strip surface between said plurality of slots and the downstream one of said roll stands in the direction of strip advance.

In cold rolling procedure wherein aluminum strip is advanced continuously longitudinally along a generally horizontal path with opposed major surfaces of the strip respectively facing upwardly and downwardly, through at least one roll stand for reducing the thickness of the strip by cold rolling, a process for controlling the temperature of the strip by cooling from an initial temperature of up to 3001/2.degree. C., while advancing the strip at a velocity of at least 225 m/min., comprising the steps of:

• (a) delivering coolant liquid into contact with only the downwardly facing surface of the advancing strip by discharging the coolant liquid upwardly, onto the downwardly facing strip surface, through a plurality of upwardly opening slots disposed below the strip in spaced relation thereto, the slots being spaced apart along the path and each extending, transversely of the path, across substantially the entire width of the strip, at a location downstream of said one roll stand in the direction of strip advance, while
• (b) preventing the discharged coolant liquid from coming into contact with the upwardly facing surface of the strip, and,
• (c) downstream of the plurality of slots in the direction of strip advance, removing coolant liquid from the downwardly facing strip surface, and
• (d) controlling the discharge of coolant liquid through said slots for providing said strip, at a predetermined point in said path downstream of the plurality of slots, at a temperature substantially equal to a predetermined target temperature.

In a line for cold-rolling aluminum strip including a pay-off stand and at least one roll stand spaced apart in succession along a generally horizontal path in which the strip advances with opposed major surfaces of the strip respectively facing upwardly and downwardly, and means for advancing the metal strip continuously and successively at a velocity of at least 225 m/min. along said path from said pay-off stand through said one roll stand for reducing the thickness of the strip, apparatus for cooling the strip from an initial temperature of up to 300.degree. C. as it advances from said pay-off stand to said one roll stand, said apparatus comprising, at a cooling locality disposed between said pay-off stand and said one roll stand in said path,

• (a) means for delivering coolant liquid into contact with only the downwardly facing surface of the advancing strip by discharging said coolant liquid upwardly, onto said downwardly facing strip surface, through a plurality of upwardly opening slots disposed below the strip in spaced relation thereto, said slots being spaced apart along said path and each extending, transversely of the path, across substantially the entire width of the strip;
• (b) means for supplying said coolant liquid to said slots at a pressure such that the coolant liquid impinges on the strip without substantially upwardly deflecting the strip;
• (c) means for preventing the discharged coolant liquid from coming into contact with the upwardly facing surface of the strip, and
• (d) means for removing coolant liquid from the downwardly facing strip surface between said plurality of slots and said one roll stand in the direction of strip advance.