Patent ID: 6783612
Filing Date: 2004-08-31
Classification: B21B,C21D

Abstract:
A method for in-line heat treating of steel wire and bar product stock of varying cross sections and compositions, hot rolled in a rolling mill, comprising the combined steps, conducted in-line with the rolling mill, of:a. cutting the rolled stock into pieces of predetermined length; b. quenching the pieces of hot rolled stock in a quenching box; c. in preparation for tempering of the quenched stock, preparing at least one layer of a predetermined number of cut pieces of stock in a layers preparation zone, with use of a layers preparation system, wherein the number of cut pieces of stock per layer depends on the section of the rolled stock; d. tempering the prepared layer(s) of stock arranged in one or more level(s) in an in-line annealing furnace for controlled cooling, holding or heating of the layer(s) of stock for obtaining various metallurgical microstructures; e. providing a separating and discharging device; f. separating and discharging the layer(s) from the one or more level(s) into individual pieces of quenched and tempered stock with use of the separating and discharging device; and g. cooling the quenched and tempered stock in a cooling bed; wherein said items of equipment to carry out heat treatment of said stock of various cross sections are arranged in-line such that said heat treating steps and conditions are selectable in order to obtain the desired metallurgical microstructures for the various wire and bar product stock being heat treated while the wire and bar product stock is maintained in-line with the rolling mill.