US5611151A — Strip cooling, heating, wiping or drying apparatu…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 109 words

Apparatus for supplying treatment gas comprising gas handling means having a body portion for receipt and discharge of said gas, said gas handling means having a plurality of elongated nozzles for discharging said gas from said gas handling means, said nozzles being flexible so as to assume a substantially rigid projecting position when gas is flowing through said nozzles and a collapsed or partially collapsed position when said gas is not flowing therethrough, said flexible nozzles having an inlet portion and an outlet portion, said inlet portion being of larger cross-sectional area than said outlet portion, said inlet portions being generally cylindrical, and said outlet portions being generally conical.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 109 words

Apparatus for supplying treatment gas comprising gas handling means having a body portion for receipt and discharge of said gas, said gas handling means having a plurality of elongated nozzles for discharging said gas from said gas handling means, said nozzles being flexible so as to assume a substantially rigid projecting position when gas is flowing through said nozzles and a collapsed or partially collapsed position when said gas is not flowing therethrough, said flexible nozzles having an inlet portion and an outlet portion, said inlet portion being of larger cross-sectional area than said outlet portion, said inlet portions being generally cylindrical, and said outlet portions being generally conical.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 154 words

Apparatus for supplying treatment gas comprising gas handling means having a body portion for receipt and discharge of said gas, said gas handling means having a plurality of elongated nozzles for discharging said gas from said gas handling means, said nozzles being flexible so as to assume a substantially rigid projecting position when gas is flowing through said nozzles and a collapsed or partially collapsed position when said gas is not flowing therethrough, said flexible nozzles having an inlet portion and an outlet portion, said inlet portion being of larger cross-sectional area than said outlet portion, said nozzles being mounted so as to assume a generally horizontal position responsive to flow of said gas therein, said gas handling means having a first set of nozzles projecting in a first direction from said body portion, and said gas handling means having a second set of nozzles projecting in a second direction from said body portion.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 154 words

Apparatus for supplying treatment gas comprising gas handling means having a body portion for receipt and discharge of said gas, said gas handling means having a plurality of elongated nozzles for discharging said gas from said gas handling means, said nozzles being flexible so as to assume a substantially rigid projecting position when gas is flowing through said nozzles and a collapsed or partially collapsed position when said gas is not flowing therethrough, said flexible nozzles having an inlet portion and an outlet portion, said inlet portion being of larger cross-sectional area than said outlet portion, said nozzles being mounted so as to assume a generally horizontal position responsive to flow of said gas therein, said gas handling means having a first set of nozzles projecting in a first direction from said body portion, and said gas handling means having a second set of nozzles projecting in a second direction from said body portion.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus of claim 2 including said first and second directions having an angle between them of approximately 180 degrees.

Claim 6

Independent Claim 164 words

A method of treating a workpiece with gas comprising providing gas handling means having a body portion for receipt and discharge of gas and a plurality of elongated cantilevered nozzles for discharging gas from said gas handling means, employing no external support at the free ends of said cantilevered nozzles, employing a first set of nozzles projecting in a first direction from the body portion of said air handling means and a second set of nozzles projecting in a second direction from said body portion of said gas handling means with said first and second directions having an angle between them of approximately 180 degrees, positioning said nozzles with their free ends about 6 to 16 inches from said workpiece, initiating gas treatment by beginning flow of gas out of said nozzles in a direction generally perpendicular to said workpiece, employing flexible nozzles as said nozzles, and employing said method to cool metal coils by cooling gas applied to the edges of said coil.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 164 words

A method of treating a workpiece with gas comprising providing gas handling means having a body portion for receipt and discharge of gas and a plurality of elongated cantilevered nozzles for discharging gas from said gas handling means, employing no external support at the free ends of said cantilevered nozzles, employing a first set of nozzles projecting in a first direction from the body portion of said air handling means and a second set of nozzles projecting in a second direction from said body portion of said gas handling means with said first and second directions having an angle between them of approximately 180 degrees, positioning said nozzles with their free ends about 6 to 16 inches from said workpiece, initiating gas treatment by beginning flow of gas out of said nozzles in a direction generally perpendicular to said workpiece, employing flexible nozzles as said nozzles, and employing said method to cool metal coils by cooling gas applied to the edges of said coil.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 147 words

Apparatus for supplying treatment gas comprising gas handling means having a body portion for receipt and discharge of said gas, said gas handling means having a plurality of elongated nozzles for discharging said gas from said gas handling means, said nozzles being flexible so as to assume a substantially rigid projecting position when gas is flowing through said nozzles and a collapsed or partially collapsed position when said gas is not flowing therethrough, said flexible nozzles having an inlet portion and an outlet portion, said inlet portion being of larger cross-sectional area than said outlet portion, said nozzles being mounted so as to assume a generally horizontal position responsive to flow of said gas therein, said nozzles being arranged in a plurality of generally parallel generally horizontal rows, and the nozzles of one said row being offset with respect to the nozzles of an adjacent said row.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 147 words

Apparatus for supplying treatment gas comprising gas handling means having a body portion for receipt and discharge of said gas, said gas handling means having a plurality of elongated nozzles for discharging said gas from said gas handling means, said nozzles being flexible so as to assume a substantially rigid projecting position when gas is flowing through said nozzles and a collapsed or partially collapsed position when said gas is not flowing therethrough, said flexible nozzles having an inlet portion and an outlet portion, said inlet portion being of larger cross-sectional area than said outlet portion, said nozzles being mounted so as to assume a generally horizontal position responsive to flow of said gas therein, said nozzles being arranged in a plurality of generally parallel generally horizontal rows, and the nozzles of one said row being offset with respect to the nozzles of an adjacent said row.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 25 words

The apparatus of claim 5 including said nozzles being sufficiently flexible so as to substantially completely collapse responsive to reduction or termination in gas flow.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 31 words

The apparatus of claim 5 including said gas handling means having gas supply means for supplying at least one of heating, cooling, wiping and drying gas to said gas handling means.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 17 words

The apparatus of claim 5 including said nozzles having a length of about 6 to 60 inches.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 18 words

The apparatus of claim 8 including said nozzles having an outlet diameter of about 1 to 6 inches.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 113 words

A method of treating with gas comprising providing gas handling means having a body portion for receipt and discharge of gas and a plurality of flexible elongated nozzles for discharging gas from said gas handling means, initiating gas treatment by beginning flow of gas out of said nozzles to cause said nozzles to assume an extended position under the influence of said gas, subsequently causing said nozzles to assume a non-extended position by terminating said flow of gas, employing said flexible nozzles with an inlet portion of greater cross-sectional area than the outlet portion, and employing nozzles having an inlet portion which is generally cylindrical and an outlet portion which is generally conical.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 113 words

A method of treating with gas comprising providing gas handling means having a body portion for receipt and discharge of gas and a plurality of flexible elongated nozzles for discharging gas from said gas handling means, initiating gas treatment by beginning flow of gas out of said nozzles to cause said nozzles to assume an extended position under the influence of said gas, subsequently causing said nozzles to assume a non-extended position by terminating said flow of gas, employing said flexible nozzles with an inlet portion of greater cross-sectional area than the outlet portion, and employing nozzles having an inlet portion which is generally cylindrical and an outlet portion which is generally conical.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 104 words

A method of treating a workpiece with gas comprising providing gas handling means having a body portion for receipt and discharge of gas and a plurality of cantilevered flexible elongated nozzles for discharging gas from said gas handling means, initiating gas treatment by beginning flow of gas out of said nozzles to cause said nozzles to assume an extended position under the influence of said gas and direct said gas in a path toward and generally perpendicular to said workpiece, subsequently causing said nozzles to assume a non-extended position by terminating said flow of gas, and removably securing said nozzles to said body portion.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 104 words

A method of treating a workpiece with gas comprising providing gas handling means having a body portion for receipt and discharge of gas and a plurality of cantilevered flexible elongated nozzles for discharging gas from said gas handling means, initiating gas treatment by beginning flow of gas out of said nozzles to cause said nozzles to assume an extended position under the influence of said gas and direct said gas in a path toward and generally perpendicular to said workpiece, subsequently causing said nozzles to assume a non-extended position by terminating said flow of gas, and removably securing said nozzles to said body portion.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 84 words

A method of treating with gas comprising providing gas handling means having a body portion for receipt and discharge of gas and a plurality of flexible elongated nozzles for discharging gas from said gas handling means, initiating gas treatment by beginning flow of gas out of said nozzles to cause said nozzles to assume an extended position under the influence of said gas, subsequently causing said nozzles to assume a non-extended position by terminating said flow of gas, and employing said treatment in cooling.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 84 words

A method of treating with gas comprising providing gas handling means having a body portion for receipt and discharge of gas and a plurality of flexible elongated nozzles for discharging gas from said gas handling means, initiating gas treatment by beginning flow of gas out of said nozzles to cause said nozzles to assume an extended position under the influence of said gas, subsequently causing said nozzles to assume a non-extended position by terminating said flow of gas, and employing said treatment in cooling.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 135 words

A method of treating with gas comprising providing gas handling means having a body portion for receipt and discharge of gas and a plurality of flexible elongated nozzles for discharging gas from said gas handling means, initiating gas treatment by beginning flow of gas out of said nozzles to cause said nozzles to assume an extended position under the influence of said gas, and subsequently causing said nozzles to assume a non-extended position by terminating said flow of gas, and employing a first set of nozzles projecting in a first direction from the body portion of said gas handling means and a second set of nozzles projecting in a second direction from said body portion of said gas handling means with said first and second directions having an angle between them of approximately 180 degrees.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 135 words

A method of treating with gas comprising providing gas handling means having a body portion for receipt and discharge of gas and a plurality of flexible elongated nozzles for discharging gas from said gas handling means, initiating gas treatment by beginning flow of gas out of said nozzles to cause said nozzles to assume an extended position under the influence of said gas, and subsequently causing said nozzles to assume a non-extended position by terminating said flow of gas, and employing a first set of nozzles projecting in a first direction from the body portion of said gas handling means and a second set of nozzles projecting in a second direction from said body portion of said gas handling means with said first and second directions having an angle between them of approximately 180 degrees.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 103 words

Apparatus for supplying treatment gas comprising gas handling means having a body portion for receipt and discharge of said gas, said gas handling means having a plurality of elongated nozzles for discharging said gas from said gas handling means, said nozzles being flexible so as to assume a substantially rigid projecting position when gas is flowing through said nozzles and a collapsed or partially collapsed position when said gas is not flowing therethrough, said apparatus being coil cooling apparatus, and a first array of said nozzles having a plurality of rows of said nozzles for directing said gas generally in a first direction.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 103 words

Apparatus for supplying treatment gas comprising gas handling means having a body portion for receipt and discharge of said gas, said gas handling means having a plurality of elongated nozzles for discharging said gas from said gas handling means, said nozzles being flexible so as to assume a substantially rigid projecting position when gas is flowing through said nozzles and a collapsed or partially collapsed position when said gas is not flowing therethrough, said apparatus being coil cooling apparatus, and a first array of said nozzles having a plurality of rows of said nozzles for directing said gas generally in a first direction.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 25 words

The apparatus of claim 14 including said rows of nozzles having nozzles of one row offset with respect to nozzles of an adjacent said row.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 36 words

The apparatus of claim 15 including a second array of said nozzles for directing said gas in a generally second direction with the first and second directions having an angle between them of approximately 180 degrees.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 34 words

The apparatus of claim 16 including said gas handling means having gas inlet means, and said gas handling means having flow creating means for transporting gas from said inlet means to said nozzle means.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 55 words

The apparatus of claim 17 including said gas handling means having a first support wall to which said first array of nozzles is secured and a second support wall to which second array of nozzles is secured, and each said support wall having generally parallel upper and lower ends and sidewalls which converge generally upwardly.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 24 words

The apparatus of claim 14 including at least one of said nozzle rows having a different number of nozzles than other said nozzle rows.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 99 words

A method of treating with gas comprising providing gas handling means having a body portion for receipt and discharge of gas and a plurality of flexible elongated nozzles for discharging gas from said gas handling means, initiating gas treatment by beginning flow of gas out of said nozzles to cause said nozzles to assume an extended position under the influence of said gas, subsequently causing said nozzles to assume a non-extended position by terminating said flow of gas, employing said nozzles to cool metal coils, and positioning the discharge ends of said nozzles a predetermined distance from said coils.

Claim 30

Independent Claim 99 words

A method of treating with gas comprising providing gas handling means having a body portion for receipt and discharge of gas and a plurality of flexible elongated nozzles for discharging gas from said gas handling means, initiating gas treatment by beginning flow of gas out of said nozzles to cause said nozzles to assume an extended position under the influence of said gas, subsequently causing said nozzles to assume a non-extended position by terminating said flow of gas, employing said nozzles to cool metal coils, and positioning the discharge ends of said nozzles a predetermined distance from said coils.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 20 including positioning said discharge ends of said nozzles so as to direct said gas toward the edge of said coil.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 21 including directing said gas in a generally axial direction with respect to said coil.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 22 including positioning said coils such that the free ends of said nozzles will be about 6 to 16 inches from the coil edge after gas flow has been initiated in said nozzles.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2000-03-17	2000-09-16	2001-03-18	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2004-03-17	2004-09-16	2005-03-18	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2008-03-17	2008-09-16	2009-03-18	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Strip cooling, heating, wiping or drying apparatus and associated method

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