Continuous method of rolling a powder metallurgical metallic workpiece
AssigneePhilip Morris USA Inc.
InventorsDavid Sharpe, Firooz Rasouli, John F. Cunningham
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Abstract
An apparatus for rolling of a powder metallurgical metallic workpiece is provided having a feeding device, a first induction heating apparatus in operable communication with a first RF generator and at least a first hot rolling mill. A process control device monitors at least one parameter of the first RF generator and outputs a signal. A method for continuous rolling of a metallic workpiece is also provided using the apparatus for rolling. The process control device signal can be used to monitor metallurgical properties of the workpiece and provide in-line evaluation of the workpiece.
Claims25
A method for continuous rolling of a powder metallurgical metallic workpiece comprising the steps of:
- feeding the workpiece at a first speed into a process line;
- continuously heating the workpiece during movement along the process line to a first temperature in at least a first inductive heating apparatus in operable communication with a first RE generator;
- monitoring at least one parameter of the first RE generator;
- and
- hot rolling the workpiece in at least a first hot rolling mill;
- tensioning the work piece during the heating step by operating the first rolling mill at a second speed greater than the first speed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.