US5201132A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Strip cooling, heating or drying apparatus and associated method
Assignee: Corestates Bank NA
•
Filing: 1991-04-26
•
Granted: 1993-04-13
•
Expires: 2011-04-26
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for cooling, heating, wiping, or drying a strip such as a metal strip has either a first cooling unit employed alone or first and second cooling units disposed in relative spaced relationship with a path therebetween for movement of the strip. Each air handling unit has a hollow body portion and a plurality of elongated projecting gas discharge nozzles. The first and second air handling units respectively discharge gas on the surfaces of opposite sides of the strip and also serve to define a spent gas exhaust region. The system may also be employed to resist undesired strip instability. An associated method is provided.
Inventors
- 👤 William L. Jacob
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:20
CPC Classifications
F; F26; F26B; F26B13/00; F26B13/10; F26B21/00; F26B21/50; F26B21/55
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 51
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
Apparatus for treating a strip comprising thermal treatment gas having means disposed in relative spaced relationship with respect to said strip, said thermal treatment gas handling means having a unit having a first hollow body portion of receipt and discharge of gas and a plurality of elongated first nozzle members extending therefrom toward said path, said thermal treatment gas handling means having a second unit cooperating with said first unit to provide a path for movement of said strip therbetween, said second unit having a hollow body portion for receipt and discharge of gas and a plurality of second elongated nozzle members extending therefrom toward said path, flow creating means for introducing gas into hollow body portions and out of said nozzle members, said nozzles of said first unit are generally axially aligned with the nozzles of said second unit, and said flow creating means having means for moving gas out of said nozzle members at a velocity of about 1,000 to 13,000 feet per minute.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
Apparatus for treating a strip comprising thermal treatment gas having means disposed in relative spaced relationship with respect to said strip, said thermal treatment gas handling means having a unit having a first hollow body portion of receipt and discharge of gas and a plurality of elongated first nozzle members extending therefrom toward said path, said thermal treatment gas handling means having a second unit cooperating with said first unit to provide a path for movement of said strip therbetween, said second unit having a hollow body portion for receipt and discharge of gas and a plurality of second elongated nozzle members extending therefrom toward said path, flow creating means for introducing gas into hollow body portions and out of said nozzle members, said nozzles of said first unit are generally axially aligned with the nozzles of said second unit, and said flow creating means having means for moving gas out of said nozzle members at a velocity of about 1,000 to 13,000 feet per minute.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1, including said apparatus being metal strip treating apparatus, and said nozzles having an internal diameter of about 1 to 4 inches.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 2 including said first unit and said second unit being cooling gas supply units.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 2 including said first unit and said second unit having gas supply means for supplying at least one of heating, wiping or drying gas to said strip.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
The cooling apparatus claim 3 including said nozzle members cooperating with adjacent portions of said first and second hollow body portions and said strip to define a pair of spent gas receiving regions, whereby undesired interference with gas emerging from said nozzle members by said spent gas will be resisted and said apparatus will cause said cooling gas to impinge on both sides of said metal strip to effect cooling thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The cooling apparatus of claim 5 including said first nozzle members being disposed in a plurality of rows with nozzle members of adjacent said rows being in relative staggered relationship.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The cooling apparatus of claim 6 including said second nozzle members being disposed in a plurality of rows with nozzle members of adjacent said rows being in relative staggered relationship.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The cooling apparatus of claim 7 including said first and second nozzle members being of generally circular cross-sectional configuration.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The cooling apparatus of claim 8 including said first and second nozzle members being oriented generally perpendicularly with respect to said path.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
274 words
Apparatus for treating a strip comprising thermal treatment gas having means disposed in relative spaced relationship with respect to said strip, said thermal treatment gas handling means having a unit having a first hollow body portion for receipt and discharge of gas and a plurality of elongated first nozzle members extending therefrom towered said path, flow creating means for introducing gas into hollow body portions and out of said nozzle members, said apparatus being metal strip treating apparatus, said first unit and said second unit being cooling gas supply units, said first unit and said second unit having heating, wiping, or drying gas supply units, flow creating means for introducing gas into hollow body portions and out of said nozzle members, said nozzle member cooperating with adjacent portions of said first and second hollow body portions and said strip to define a pair of spent gas receiving regions, whereby undesired interference with gas emerging from said nozzle members by said spent gas will be resisted and said apparatus will cause said cooling gas to impinge on both of said metal strip to effect cooling thereof, said first nozzle members being disposed in a plurality of rows with nozzle members of adjacent said rows being in relative staggered relationship, said second nozzle members being disposed in a plurality of rows with nozzle members of adjacent said rows being in relative staggered relationship, said first and second nozzle members being of generally circular cross-sectional configuration, said first and second nozzle members being oriented generally perpendicularly with respect to said path, and said first and second nozzle members having a length of about 3 to 12 inches.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
274 words
Apparatus for treating a strip comprising thermal treatment gas having means disposed in relative spaced relationship with respect to said strip, said thermal treatment gas handling means having a unit having a first hollow body portion for receipt and discharge of gas and a plurality of elongated first nozzle members extending therefrom towered said path, flow creating means for introducing gas into hollow body portions and out of said nozzle members, said apparatus being metal strip treating apparatus, said first unit and said second unit being cooling gas supply units, said first unit and said second unit having heating, wiping, or drying gas supply units, flow creating means for introducing gas into hollow body portions and out of said nozzle members, said nozzle member cooperating with adjacent portions of said first and second hollow body portions and said strip to define a pair of spent gas receiving regions, whereby undesired interference with gas emerging from said nozzle members by said spent gas will be resisted and said apparatus will cause said cooling gas to impinge on both of said metal strip to effect cooling thereof, said first nozzle members being disposed in a plurality of rows with nozzle members of adjacent said rows being in relative staggered relationship, said second nozzle members being disposed in a plurality of rows with nozzle members of adjacent said rows being in relative staggered relationship, said first and second nozzle members being of generally circular cross-sectional configuration, said first and second nozzle members being oriented generally perpendicularly with respect to said path, and said first and second nozzle members having a length of about 3 to 12 inches.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The cooling apparatus of claim 10 including said first and second nozzle members having free ends spaced about about 3 to 7 times the nozzle internal diameter from said path.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The cooling apparatus of claim 11 including said apparatus having a plurality of said first units and a plurality of said second units.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
334 words
Apparatus for cooling a strip comprising said apparatus being metal strip treating apparatus, thermal treatment gas handling means disposed in relative spaced relationship with respect to said strip, said thermal treatment gas handling means having a unit with a first hollow body portion for receipt and discharge of gas and a plurality of elongated first nozzle members extending therefrom toward said path, flow creating means for introducing gas into hollow body portions and out of said nozzle members, said thermal treatment gas handling means having a second unit cooperating with said first unit to provide a path for movement of said strip therebetween, said second unit having a hollow body portion for receipt and discharge of gas and a plurality of second elongated nozzle members extending therefrom toward said path, said first unit and said second unit being cooling gas supply units, said nozzle members cooperating with adjacent portion of said first and second hollow body portions and said strip to define a pair of spent gas receiving regions, whereby undesired interference with gas emerging from said nozzle members by said spent gas will be resisted and said apparatus will cause said cooling gas to impinge on both sides of said metal strip to effect cooling thereof, said first nozzle members being disposed in a plurality of rows with nozzle members of adjacent said rows being in relative staggered relationship, said second nozzle members being disposed in a plurality of rows with nozzle members of adjacent said rows being in relative staggered relationship, said first and second nozzle members being of generally circular cross-sectional configuration, said first and second nozzle members being oriented generally perpendicularly with respect to said path, said first and second nozzle members having a length of about 3 to 12 inches, said first and second nozzle members having free ends spaced about 3 to 7 times the nozzle internal diameter from said path, and said apparatus having a plurality of said first units and a plurality of said second units.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
334 words
Apparatus for cooling a strip comprising said apparatus being metal strip treating apparatus, thermal treatment gas handling means disposed in relative spaced relationship with respect to said strip, said thermal treatment gas handling means having a unit with a first hollow body portion for receipt and discharge of gas and a plurality of elongated first nozzle members extending therefrom toward said path, flow creating means for introducing gas into hollow body portions and out of said nozzle members, said thermal treatment gas handling means having a second unit cooperating with said first unit to provide a path for movement of said strip therebetween, said second unit having a hollow body portion for receipt and discharge of gas and a plurality of second elongated nozzle members extending therefrom toward said path, said first unit and said second unit being cooling gas supply units, said nozzle members cooperating with adjacent portion of said first and second hollow body portions and said strip to define a pair of spent gas receiving regions, whereby undesired interference with gas emerging from said nozzle members by said spent gas will be resisted and said apparatus will cause said cooling gas to impinge on both sides of said metal strip to effect cooling thereof, said first nozzle members being disposed in a plurality of rows with nozzle members of adjacent said rows being in relative staggered relationship, said second nozzle members being disposed in a plurality of rows with nozzle members of adjacent said rows being in relative staggered relationship, said first and second nozzle members being of generally circular cross-sectional configuration, said first and second nozzle members being oriented generally perpendicularly with respect to said path, said first and second nozzle members having a length of about 3 to 12 inches, said first and second nozzle members having free ends spaced about 3 to 7 times the nozzle internal diameter from said path, and said apparatus having a plurality of said first units and a plurality of said second units.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The cooling apparatus of claim 13 including said cooling apparatus being apparatus for cooling galvanized steel strip.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The cooling apparatus of claim 14 including said flow creating means having means for moving said gas at a velocity of about 8,000 to 13,000 feet per minute.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The cooling apparatus of claim 3 including said nozzle members within a said row having a center-to-center spacing of about 4 to 5 times the nozzle internal diameter.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The cooling apparatus of claim 16 including each of said first and second cooling units having about 100 to 250 nozzle members.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
The cooling apparatus of claim 5 including said spent gas receiving regions being so disposed as to facilitate withdrawal of heat from the exterior surfaces of said nozzles and adjacent plenum surfaces by said spent gas.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
256 words
A method of treating a strip of material comprising providing thermal treatment gas handling means with a first unit having a plenum in communication with a plurality of first elongated nozzle members projecting therefrom for directing gas onto said strip as it moves in a path adjacent to said thermal treatment gas handling means, moving said strip in said path, directing said gas through said first unit plenum and out of the nozzle elements onto a first side of said strip, effecting exhaust of said gas after it has contracted said strip through spent gas recovery regions defined by the exterior surfaces of nozzle elements and a wall of said unit, whereby said gas will flow from said nozzle elements to said strip and subsequently through said spent gas recovery region, effecting said air flow out of said nozzle elements at a velocity of about 1,000 to 13,000 feet per minute, providing said thermal treatment gas handling means with a second unit having a hollow body portion for receipt and discharge of gas and a plurality of second elongated nozzle members projecting therefrom for directing gas onto said strip, and positioning said second unit on the opposite side of said path from said first unit and positioning said second unit with its nozzles generally axially with the nozzles of said first unit and directing gas through such second nozzle members onto a second side of said strip, and positioning the nozzle element discharge ends about 3 to 7 times the nozzle internal diameter from said path.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
256 words
A method of treating a strip of material comprising providing thermal treatment gas handling means with a first unit having a plenum in communication with a plurality of first elongated nozzle members projecting therefrom for directing gas onto said strip as it moves in a path adjacent to said thermal treatment gas handling means, moving said strip in said path, directing said gas through said first unit plenum and out of the nozzle elements onto a first side of said strip, effecting exhaust of said gas after it has contracted said strip through spent gas recovery regions defined by the exterior surfaces of nozzle elements and a wall of said unit, whereby said gas will flow from said nozzle elements to said strip and subsequently through said spent gas recovery region, effecting said air flow out of said nozzle elements at a velocity of about 1,000 to 13,000 feet per minute, providing said thermal treatment gas handling means with a second unit having a hollow body portion for receipt and discharge of gas and a plurality of second elongated nozzle members projecting therefrom for directing gas onto said strip, and positioning said second unit on the opposite side of said path from said first unit and positioning said second unit with its nozzles generally axially with the nozzles of said first unit and directing gas through such second nozzle members onto a second side of said strip, and positioning the nozzle element discharge ends about 3 to 7 times the nozzle internal diameter from said path.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 19, including treating galvanized metal strip by said method.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 20 including employing said method to cool said strip.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 21 including employing said method to heat, wipe, or dry said strip.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
227 words
A method of cooling treating strip comprising providing thermal treatment gas handling means with a first unit having a plenum in communication with a plurality of first elongated nozzle members projecting therefrom for directing gas onto said strip as it moves in a path adjacent to said thermal treatment gas handling means, moving said strip in said path, directing said gas through said first unit plenum and out of the nozzle elements onto a first side of said strip, providing said thermal treatment gas handling means with a second unit having a hollow body portion for receipt and discharge of gas and a plurality of second elongated nozzle members projecting therefrom for directing gas onto said strip, positioning said second unit on the opposite side said of said path from said first unit and directing gas through such second nozzle members onto a second side of said strip, effecting exhaust of said gas after it has contacted said strip through spent gas recovery regions defined by the exterior surfaces of nozzle elements and a wall of said unit, whereby said gas will flow from said nozzle elements to said strip and subsequently through said spent gas recovery region, treating metal strip by said method, employing said method to cool said strip, and cooling said strip from about 1,000° F. or more to about 350° F. or less.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
227 words
A method of cooling treating strip comprising providing thermal treatment gas handling means with a first unit having a plenum in communication with a plurality of first elongated nozzle members projecting therefrom for directing gas onto said strip as it moves in a path adjacent to said thermal treatment gas handling means, moving said strip in said path, directing said gas through said first unit plenum and out of the nozzle elements onto a first side of said strip, providing said thermal treatment gas handling means with a second unit having a hollow body portion for receipt and discharge of gas and a plurality of second elongated nozzle members projecting therefrom for directing gas onto said strip, positioning said second unit on the opposite side said of said path from said first unit and directing gas through such second nozzle members onto a second side of said strip, effecting exhaust of said gas after it has contacted said strip through spent gas recovery regions defined by the exterior surfaces of nozzle elements and a wall of said unit, whereby said gas will flow from said nozzle elements to said strip and subsequently through said spent gas recovery region, treating metal strip by said method, employing said method to cool said strip, and cooling said strip from about 1,000° F. or more to about 350° F. or less.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
The cooling method of claim 23 including employing air as said cooling gas.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
42 words
The cooling method of claim 24 including providing said nozzle elements with a receiving end in communication with said plenums and discharge ends, and positioning said nozzle element discharge ends about 3 to 7 times the nozzle internal diameter from said path.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
The cooling method of claim 25 including establishing the flow of said air emerging from said nozzle in a direction generally perpendicular to said strip path.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
The cooling method of claim 26 including employing nozzle elements having a length of about 3 to 12 inches.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
The cooling method of claim 26 including employing nozzle elements having a generally circular cross-sectional configuration.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
27 words
The cooling method of claim 28 including effecting said air flow out of said nozzle elements at a velocity of about 1,000 to 13,000 feet per minute.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
32 words
The cooling method of claim 29 including supplying a generally equal velocity of air from the nozzle elements of the first cooling unit and the nozzle elements of the second cooling unit.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
352 words
A method of cooling strip comprising providing thermal treatment gas handling means with a first unit having a plenum in communication with a plurality of first elongated nozzle members projecting therefrom for directing gas onto said strip as it moves in a path adjacent to said thermal treatment gas handling means, moving said strip in said path, directing said gas through said first unit plenum and out of the nozzle elements onto a first side of said strip, providing said thermal treatment gas handling means with a second unit having a hollow body portion for receipt and discharge of gas and a plurality of second elongated nozzle members projecting therefrom for directing gas onto said strip, positioning said second unit on the opposite side of said path from said first unit and directing gas through such second nozzle members onto a second side of said strip, effecting exhaust of said gas after it has contracted said strip through spent gas recovery regions defined by the exterior surfaces of nozzle elements and a wall of said unit, whereby said gas will flow from said nozzle elements to said strip and subsequently through said spent gas recovery region, treating metal strip by said method, employing said method to cool said strip, cooling said strip from about 1,000° F. or more to about 350° F. or less, employing air as said cooling gas, providing said nozzle elements with a receiving end in communication with said plenum and discharge ends, positioning said nozzle element discharge ends about 3 to 7 times the nozzle internal diameter from said path, establishing the flow of said air emerging from said nozzle in a direction generally perpendicular to said strip path, employing nozzle elements having a length of about 3 to 12 inches, employing nozzle elements having a generally circular cross-sectional configuration, effecting said air flow out of said nozzle elements at a velocity of about 1,000 to 13,000 feet per minute, supplying a greater velocity of air from at least some of the nozzle elements of the first cooling unit than the nozzle elements of the second cooling unit.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
352 words
A method of cooling strip comprising providing thermal treatment gas handling means with a first unit having a plenum in communication with a plurality of first elongated nozzle members projecting therefrom for directing gas onto said strip as it moves in a path adjacent to said thermal treatment gas handling means, moving said strip in said path, directing said gas through said first unit plenum and out of the nozzle elements onto a first side of said strip, providing said thermal treatment gas handling means with a second unit having a hollow body portion for receipt and discharge of gas and a plurality of second elongated nozzle members projecting therefrom for directing gas onto said strip, positioning said second unit on the opposite side of said path from said first unit and directing gas through such second nozzle members onto a second side of said strip, effecting exhaust of said gas after it has contracted said strip through spent gas recovery regions defined by the exterior surfaces of nozzle elements and a wall of said unit, whereby said gas will flow from said nozzle elements to said strip and subsequently through said spent gas recovery region, treating metal strip by said method, employing said method to cool said strip, cooling said strip from about 1,000° F. or more to about 350° F. or less, employing air as said cooling gas, providing said nozzle elements with a receiving end in communication with said plenum and discharge ends, positioning said nozzle element discharge ends about 3 to 7 times the nozzle internal diameter from said path, establishing the flow of said air emerging from said nozzle in a direction generally perpendicular to said strip path, employing nozzle elements having a length of about 3 to 12 inches, employing nozzle elements having a generally circular cross-sectional configuration, effecting said air flow out of said nozzle elements at a velocity of about 1,000 to 13,000 feet per minute, supplying a greater velocity of air from at least some of the nozzle elements of the first cooling unit than the nozzle elements of the second cooling unit.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
28 words
The cooling method of claim 31 including effecting said air flow out of said nozzle element at a velocity of about 8,000 to 13,000 cubic feet per minute.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
16 words
The cooling method of claim 31 including employing said nozzle elements in a steel galvanizing process.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
20 words
The cooling method of claim 31 including employing nozzle elements with an internal diameter of about 1 to 4 inches.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
36 words
The cooling method of claim 31 including providing said nozzle elements in rows, and staggering the said nozzle elements in one row with respect to the nozzle elements in an adjacent row on said cooling units.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
31 words
The cooling method of claim 31 including establishing said nozzle elements with a said row with a center to center spacing of about 4 to 5 times the nozzle internal diameter.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
14 words
The cooling method of claim 31 including employing said cooling gas at ambient temperature.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
30 words
The cooling method of claim 31 including effecting said cooling with the nozzles of said first cooling unit being generally axially aligned with the nozzles of said second cooling unit.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 31 including removing heat from the exterior surfaces of said nozzles by flow of said spent gas thereby.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 39 including removing heat from exterior surfaces of said plenum by flow of said spent gas thereby.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 31 including providing a plurality of said first units and a plurality of said second units.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
238 words
A method of treating a strip of material comprising providing thermal treatment gas handling means with a first unit having a plenum in communication with a plurality of first elongated nozzle members projecting therefrom for directing gas onto said strip as it moves in a path adjacent to said thermal treatment gas handling means, moving said strip in said path, directing said gas through said first unit plenum and out of the nozzle elements onto a first side of said strip, providing said thermal treatment gas handling means with a second unit having a hollow body portion for receipt and discharge of gas and a plurality of second elongated nozzle members projecting therefrom for directing gas onto said strip, positioning said second unit on the opposite side of said path from said first unit and directing gas through such second nozzle members onto a second side of said strip, effecting exhaust of said gas after it has contacted said strip through spent gas recovery regions defined by the exterior surfaces of nozzle elements and a wall of said unit, whereby said gas will flow from said nozzle elements to said strip and subsequently through said spent gas recovery region, providing a plurality of said first units and a plurality of said second units, and employing said units to resist undesired strip vibration by employing different gas flow velocity out of some nozzles than velocity out of other nozzles.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
238 words
A method of treating a strip of material comprising providing thermal treatment gas handling means with a first unit having a plenum in communication with a plurality of first elongated nozzle members projecting therefrom for directing gas onto said strip as it moves in a path adjacent to said thermal treatment gas handling means, moving said strip in said path, directing said gas through said first unit plenum and out of the nozzle elements onto a first side of said strip, providing said thermal treatment gas handling means with a second unit having a hollow body portion for receipt and discharge of gas and a plurality of second elongated nozzle members projecting therefrom for directing gas onto said strip, positioning said second unit on the opposite side of said path from said first unit and directing gas through such second nozzle members onto a second side of said strip, effecting exhaust of said gas after it has contacted said strip through spent gas recovery regions defined by the exterior surfaces of nozzle elements and a wall of said unit, whereby said gas will flow from said nozzle elements to said strip and subsequently through said spent gas recovery region, providing a plurality of said first units and a plurality of said second units, and employing said units to resist undesired strip vibration by employing different gas flow velocity out of some nozzles than velocity out of other nozzles.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 42 including resisting said undesired vibrations by varying said gas flow velocity between a pair of cooperating units.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 42 including resisting said undesired vibrations by terminating said gas flow in at least one said unit.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-04-12 | 1996-10-12 | 1997-04-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-04-12 | 2000-10-12 | 2001-04-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-04-12 | 2004-10-12 | 2005-04-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |