Back to results
US 7,996,973 B2Granted
Single slitting process for recycling rail
AssigneeCMC Steel Fabricators, Inc.
InventorsGregory Don Moore, James Edward Melton, Stephen Gary Weaver
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for recycling rail is provided wherein the rail is heated, and then slit into two pieces. The two pieces are passed through a single mill pass line such that each piece of the rail is deformed to have a generally uniform shape.
Claims6
A method for recycling a rail, comprising:
- providing a rail;
- and
- slitting the rail longitudinally to separate the rail into only first and second pieces and deforming the first and second pieces, comprising:
- passing the rail into a first reduction pass;
- passing the first piece into a first entry guiding system;
- passing the first piece from the first entry guiding system into a second reduction pass;
- passing the second piece into a second entry guiding system;
- and
- passing the second piece from the second entry guiding system into the second reduction pass.
6 more elements
A method for recycling a rail, the method comprising:
- providing the rail, the rail comprising a lower portion, an upper portion, a web portion linking the lower portion and the upper portion, and a hole extending laterally through the web portion at a location generally midway between the upper and lower portions;
- slitting the rail longitudinally to separate the rail into only first and second pieces, wherein the rail is slit across the hole to thereby create a partial hole in each of the first and second pieces;
- and
- deforming the first and second pieces so that the first and second pieces are substantially similar in shape and cross-sectional area;
- wherein the steps of slitting and deforming are accomplished in a single pass line;
- wherein the first and second pieces are substantially seam-free after the step of deforming;
- and
- wherein the creation of the respective partial holes in the first and second pieces generally reduces the probability of forming structurally deficient seams in the first and second pieces.
5 more elements
A method for recycling a rail, comprising:
- providing the rail, the rail comprising a flange, a head, a web portion linking the flange and the head, and a void extending laterally through the web portion;
- slitting the rail longitudinally across the void to separate the rail into only first and second pieces, the first piece comprising the flange and a first portion of the web portion, the second piece comprising the head and a second portion of the web portion;
- and
- deforming the first and second pieces so that the first and second pieces are substantially similar in shape and cross-sectional area
- wherein only one mill pass line is used to slit the rail longitudinally across the void and deform the first and second pieces.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.