Patent ID: 7601226

Claim:
An apparatus that removes scale from sheet metal, the apparatus comprising: a descaler that receives lengths of sheet metal and removes scale from at least one surface of the length of sheet metal as the length of sheet metal is moved in a first direction through the descaler; a supply of a scale removing medium communicating with the descaler and supplying the scale removing medium to the descaler, the scale removing medium comprising a liquid and grit based particle slurry; a pair of wheels on the descaler positioned adjacent the at least one surface of the length of sheet metal passed through the descaler, a first wheel and a second wheel of the pair of wheels having respective first and second axes of rotation, the first wheel and the second wheel being positioned on the descaler to receive the scale removing medium from the supply of scale removing medium; and, at least one motive source operatively connected to the first wheel and the second wheel to rotate the first wheel and the second wheel whereby rotation of the first wheel causes the scale removing medium received by the first wheel to be propelled from the first wheel against the at least one surface across substantially an entire width of the length of sheet metal passed through the descaler and rotation of the second wheel causes the scale removing medium received by the second wheel to be propelled from the second wheel against the at least one surface across substantially an entire width of the length of sheet metal passed through the descaler; wherein the first wheel rotates in a first rotary direction and the second wheel rotates in a second rotary direction, the first rotary direction being opposite to the second direction; wherein the second wheel is spaced from the first wheel along the first direction a distance sufficient such that the scale removing medium propelled from the second wheel does not substantially interfere with the scale removing medium propelled from the first wheel; and wherein the first wheel and the second wheel are positioned adjacent opposite side edges defining the width of the sheet metal with the sheet metal centered between the first wheel and the second wheel.