Round tube quenching device for ferrous metal smelting rolled product

Abstract

The invention discloses a round tube quenching device for ferrous metal smelting rolled products, and relates to the technical field of round tube quenching, the round tube quenching device comprises an induction coil, a shielding ring is arranged in the induction coil, the shielding ring is composed of a plurality of groups of shielding strips, and each shielding strip and the adjacent shielding strip are in independent sliding connection. Thickness data and contour information of different areas of the circular tube are captured in real time through the circular tube thickness detector, the independent shielding strips are driven by the controller to do linear motion, and the contour of the end of the shielding ring is accurately matched with the boundary shape of the thickness of the circular tube. The induction magnetic field is selectively shielded by the shielding ring, so that the heating parameters (quenching temperature and heating time) of areas with different thicknesses can be adjusted in a targeted manner, the problem of substrate defect amplification caused by fixed heating parameters of traditional equipment is avoided, the negative influence of uneven wall thickness and composition segregation on the quenching quality is effectively weakened, and the structural stability of the quenched circular tube is guaranteed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of round tube quenching technology, and in particular to a round tube quenching apparatus for ferrous metal smelting and rolling products. Background Technology

[0002] Induction hardening is a type of quenching method for round tubes. It features rapid heating, typically reaching the target temperature within seconds, reducing oxidation and decarburization of round tubes, and is suitable for the surface quality requirements of smelted and rolled products.

[0003] Ferrous metal smelting and rolling of round tubes has unique characteristics, specifically: it has base material defects such as compositional segregation and uneven wall thickness, which makes it difficult for existing quenching equipment to adjust heating parameters in a targeted manner. That is, the effective heating length of the induction coil cannot be effectively adjusted for different thickness areas of the round tube, thus easily amplifying the base material problems. At the same time, the hardness and toughness of different batches of smelting and rolling products vary, and the equipment lacks adaptive adjustment function, resulting in poor product consistency after quenching. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to solve the problems of easy amplification of the substrate during quenching and poor product consistency after quenching in the existing technology of ferrous metal smelting rolled round tubes, and to propose a quenching device for ferrous metal smelting rolled round tubes.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: a quenching device for round tubes used in ferrous metal smelting and rolling, comprising an induction coil, wherein a shielding ring is provided inside the induction coil, the shielding ring being composed of multiple sets of shielding strips, and each shielding strip being independently slidably connected to its adjacent shielding strip; a round tube thickness detector is provided in front of the induction coil along the round tube conveying direction, the round tube thickness detector being used to detect the thickness of the round tube and convey it to a controller; further comprising: a driving unit, which is driven by the controller to individually control the linear movement of each independent shielding strip along the round tube.

[0006] Preferably, the shielding strip has a sliding protrusion and a sliding groove on both sides, and the inner diameter of the sliding groove is the same as the outer diameter of the sliding protrusion.

[0007] Preferably, the shielding ring is in two sets, namely an inner shielding ring and an outer shielding ring.

[0008] Preferably, the shielding ring is provided with a quenching through hole.

[0009] Preferably, the quenching through hole consists of a connecting rib disposed between the two shielding strips and an opening therebetween.

[0010] Preferably, the shielding ring consists of two parts, a left shielding ring and a right shielding ring, and the quenching through hole is formed by the gap between the left and right shielding rings; and the driving part consists of two parts, located on both sides of the shielding strip, with the two driving parts driving the left and right shielding rings respectively.

[0011] Preferably, the drive unit is driven by at least one of an electric linear drive component or pneumatic pressure.

[0012] Preferably, there are at least two sets of shielding rings, all located behind the tube thickness detector.

[0013] Preferably, the shielding ring is connected to a grounding wire.

[0014] Preferably, the gap between the shielding ring and the induction coil is 5-10 mm, and the gap between the shielding ring and the outer wall of the circular tube is 2-5 mm.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: First, addressing the common substrate defects such as compositional segregation and uneven wall thickness in rolled round tubes from ferrous metal smelting, this invention uses a round tube thickness detector to capture the thickness data and contour information of different regions of the round tube in real time. A controller drives an independent shielding strip to perform linear motion, ensuring precise matching between the contour of the shielding ring end and the thickness interface of the round tube. By selectively shielding the induced magnetic field through the shielding ring, heating parameters (quenching temperature, heating time) for different thickness regions can be adjusted accordingly. This avoids the problem of traditional equipment amplifying substrate defects due to fixed heating parameters, effectively mitigating the negative impact of uneven wall thickness and compositional segregation on quenching quality, and ensuring the structural stability of the round tube after quenching.

[0016] Secondly, addressing the inherent differences in hardness and toughness between different batches of smelted and rolled products, this invention utilizes a closed-loop "detection-control-adjustment" system to achieve adaptive optimization of the quenching process. Based on thickness detection data, the controller independently regulates the movement of each shielding bar via the drive unit, flexibly adjusting the size of the quenching through-holes, the shielding range, and the action time of the shielding rings. This adapts to the characteristic differences between different batches of products without manual intervention. This design significantly reduces fluctuations in quenching effects caused by batch variations, substantially improving the dimensional accuracy, hardness uniformity, and mechanical property consistency of mass-produced products, and reducing the defect rate.

[0017] In addition, through the staggered arrangement of inner and outer shielding rings and the adjustment of the gap between left and right shielding rings, the intensity and duration of the induced current generated in the round tube can be flexibly controlled, achieving precise control of the quenching temperature (800-950℃) and quenching time. This ensures that the surface metal structure of the round tube is fully transformed into martensite, guaranteeing both the required hardness of the product and the toughness of the material, thus avoiding brittleness caused by over-quenching.

[0018] Finally, the shielding strip adopts an embedded connection structure of sliding protrusions and grooves (the inner diameter of the groove matches the outer diameter of the sliding protrusion), which ensures both the independent freedom of movement of adjacent shielding strips and the integrity of the overall ring structure and the closed-loop shielding effect. The drive unit supports the combination and adaptation of electric linear drive components and pneumatic drive, which can be flexibly selected according to the production scenario to meet different precision and speed requirements. At the same time, the setting of multiple sets of shielding rings (all located behind the thickness detector) can realize continuous quenching of the round tube throughout the process, avoiding the problem of insufficient quenching that may be caused by a single set of shielding rings, adapting to the processing needs of round tubes with different lengths and thickness distributions, and thus having a wider range of applications. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a round tube quenching device for ferrous metal smelting and rolling products proposed in this invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the induction coil and its inner shielding ring in a quenching device for round tubes used in ferrous metal smelting and rolling, as proposed in this invention. Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a quenching through hole in a quenching device for round tubes used in ferrous metal smelting and rolling, as proposed in this invention, consisting of connecting ribs and the openings between them. Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram showing the quenching through hole in a quenching device for round tubes used in ferrous metal smelting and rolling, as proposed in this invention, which is composed of the interval between the left and right shielding rings. Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structural composition of the front shielding section, the middle quenching section, and the rear shielding section in a round tube quenching device for ferrous metal smelting and rolling products proposed in this invention.

[0020] In the diagram: 1. Induction coil; 2. Shielding ring; 20. Shielding strip; 21. Inner shielding ring; 22. Outer shielding ring; 23. Quenching through hole; 24. Connecting rib; 25. Front shielding part; 26. Middle quenching part; 27. Rear shielding part; 28. Mounting ring. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments.

[0022] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0023] Reference Figures 1-5 The core of an induction quenching device for quenching round tubes used in ferrous metal smelting and rolling is an induction coil 1. The induction coil 1 carries an alternating current, generating a high-frequency alternating magnetic field. When the round tube is placed in the magnetic field, a closed induced current (eddy current) is generated inside it. When the eddy current flows inside the metal of the round tube, a large amount of Joule heat is generated due to the resistance, which causes the surface of the round tube or a certain depth to heat up rapidly to the quenching temperature (usually 800-950℃). After quenching by the induction coil 1, it is then rapidly cooled by spraying, immersion, or other methods, so that the surface metal structure of the round tube changes from austenite to martensite, thereby increasing the hardness. This is the working principle of induction quenching.

[0024] In this invention, considering the special characteristics of ferrous metal smelting rolled round tubes, there are substrate defects such as component segregation and uneven wall thickness, which make it difficult for existing quenching equipment to adjust heating parameters in a targeted manner and easily amplify substrate problems. At the same time, the hardness and toughness of different batches of smelting rolled products vary, and the equipment lacks adaptive adjustment function, resulting in poor product consistency after quenching.

[0025] The innovation of this invention lies in the inclusion of a shielding ring 2 within the induction coil 1. The shielding ring 2 effectively shields the magnetic field generated by the induction coil 1, thereby suppressing the induced current generated in the circular tube. Alternatively, by controlling the shielding time of the shielding ring 2, the duration of the induced current generated in the circular tube can be controlled, thus controlling the quenching temperature or time of the circular tube. This invention, through the installation of the shielding ring 2, controls the temperature and time during the quenching process of the circular tube. During quenching, it adjusts heating parameters to address substrate defects such as uneven wall thickness, thereby stabilizing the influence of the substrate on quenching. Simultaneously, it adds an adaptive adjustment function during quenching, reducing the problem of large product errors after quenching.

[0026] It should be added that the main material of the shielding ring 2 is a metal with low magnetic permeability and high electrical conductivity, such as copper or brass, but it is not limited to these two materials. It can also be aluminum and aluminum alloys or copper-nickel alloys. Preferably, the gap between the shielding ring 2 and the induction coil 1 is 5-10mm, and the gap between the shielding ring 2 and the outer wall of the circular tube is 2-5mm.

[0027] In practice, the wall thickness of round tubes varies in different areas due to the smelting and rolling process and the removal of oxide scale (oxide scale is generated during the smelting and rolling of round tubes, so pretreatment is required, namely oxide scale removal and straightening processes. Among them, the oxide scale removal process mainly adopts high-pressure water descaling, sandblasting / shot blasting or chemical descaling, while the straightening methods mainly adopt roller straightening, pressure straightening or low-temperature tempering straightening. However, the oxide scale removal and straightening processes will affect the wall thickness of the round tubes again). This results in different thicknesses in different areas of the same round tube, and the shapes of the areas with different thicknesses will also be different. This has a significant impact on the setting and function of the shielding ring 2, because the shielding ring 2 has a large overall structure and poor adaptability, making it difficult to adapt to wall thicknesses with different shapes.

[0028] Furthermore, this embodiment makes improvements to the shielding ring 2, thereby reducing the problem of "poor adaptability and difficulty in adapting to wall thicknesses of different shapes and thicknesses". The specific improved structure is as follows: the shielding ring 2 is composed of multiple sets of shielding strips 20, and each shielding strip 20 is independently slidably connected to the adjacent shielding strips 20.

[0029] Based on the above improvements, its working principle is as follows: This embodiment is based on the shape difference at the junction of different thicknesses. This embodiment shields along the shape of the junction edge. The main principle of this shielding is: it is composed of multiple sets of shielding strips 20 through the shielding ring 2. By moving the shielding strips 20 back and forth, the shape of the moving end is made to be approximately the same as the shape of the junction of different thicknesses. This minimizes the quenching influence at the junction of different thicknesses, ensures that the different thicknesses on both sides of the junction adapt to their respective quenching temperatures, minimizes the product error after quenching, and ensures the consistency of the product after quenching.

[0030] Among them, reference Figures 2-5 The method of adjusting the end profile of the shielding ring 2 is as follows: by moving the independent shielding strips 20, the shape profile at the junction of different thicknesses is roughly formed, and then the quenching effect is controlled by the time after the end profile of the shielding ring 2 and the shape profile at the junction of different thicknesses of the round tube are aligned.

[0031] It should be added that: (refer to) Figure 2 The connection structure between the multiple shielding strips 20 is as follows: Each shielding strip 20 has a sliding protrusion and a groove on both sides. The inner diameter of the groove and the outer diameter of the sliding protrusion are the same, ensuring that adjacent shielding strips 20 can slide relative to each other and make contact. This contact ensures that the shielding ring 2 can form a ring-shaped structure and be connected to each other. The grounding wire can transfer the current within the shielding ring 2 to the ground, while also ensuring a closed-loop effect after shielding. Preferably, the sliding protrusion is T-shaped, meaning that the T-shaped sliding protrusion prevents adjacent shielding strips 20 from separating in the horizontal direction.

[0032] In this embodiment, in order to further identify the different thicknesses of the circular tube and the contour shape at the junction of different thicknesses, a circular tube thickness detector is provided in front of the induction coil 1 along the conveying direction of the circular tube. The circular tube thickness detector is used to detect the thickness and contour of the circular tube and transmit it to the controller. After identifying the different thicknesses of the circular tube and the contour shape at the junction of different thicknesses, it is transmitted to the controller, and the controller drives multiple shielding strips 20 to move back and forth.

[0033] Among them, the thickness detector for round tubes can be selected as either contact or non-contact, with non-contact round tube thickness detectors being the preferred choice.

[0034] Contact-type inspection equipment can employ ultrasonic thickness gauges or magnetic thickness gauges. Ultrasonic thickness gauges calculate thickness by utilizing the reflection time of ultrasonic waves within the pipe wall. They can measure the thickness of both metallic and non-metallic round pipes, supporting online / offline inspection with an accuracy of up to 0.01 mm. They are suitable for thickness inspection and corrosion monitoring of steel, copper, and plastic pipes. Magnetic thickness gauges, on the other hand, are only suitable for magnetically permeable metallic round pipes such as carbon steel. They calculate thickness by measuring the magnetic attraction between the probe and the pipe wall. They are easy to operate and suitable for rapid on-site sampling inspections.

[0035] Non-contact inspection equipment can employ laser thickness gauges or X-ray thickness gauges. Laser thickness gauges use laser scanning technology to measure pipe wall thickness without contact, offering high accuracy and fast response, making them suitable for online real-time inspection on production lines. X-ray thickness gauges calculate thickness by utilizing the attenuation of X-rays / gamma rays as they penetrate the pipe wall, enabling the measurement of thick-walled alloy pipes and making them suitable for inspecting closed pipelines where contact with the pipe wall is not possible.

[0036] After the thickness of the tube is detected by the tube thickness detector, the thickness data and contour are uploaded to the controller, which then adaptively adjusts the movement of the shielding strip 20.

[0037] Based on the structural configuration of the shielding ring 2, this embodiment also discloses a structural composition of the shielding ring 2. In this embodiment, the shielding ring 2 consists of two sets, namely an inner shielding ring 21 and an outer shielding ring 22. Specifically, the inner shielding ring 21 is disposed inside the outer shielding ring 22. By setting the inner and outer shielding rings, that is, by adjusting the degree of overlap between the inner shielding ring 21 and the outer shielding ring 22, the effective thickness of the shielding ring 2 during use can be adjusted.

[0038] In some other embodiments, based on the case where the shielding ring 2 is composed of an inner shielding ring 21 and an outer shielding ring 22, a composition of the shielding ring 2 is also disclosed. This structure is located in the middle rather than at the end of the shielding tube according to the shielding method of different thicknesses. This structure can effectively adjust the effective length required for shielding or quenching for different thicknesses of the tube. Specifically, it can be adjusted by the size of the quenching through hole 23 exposed after the inner shielding ring 21 and the outer shielding ring 22 are staggered. This size corresponds to the outer wall contour occupied by the tube of different thicknesses.

[0039] The quenching through hole 23 is provided on the shielding strip 20 of the shielding ring 2. In some embodiments, the quenching through hole 23 is composed of the connecting rib 24 provided between the two shielding strips 20 and the opening between them. In the implementation process, the degree of staggering between the inner shielding ring 21 and the outer shielding ring 22 allows the shielding area or the quenching through hole 23 to be adaptively adjusted for different thicknesses of the round tube after the inner shielding ring 21 and the outer shielding ring 22 are staggered.

[0040] It should be noted that in this embodiment, both the inner shielding ring 21 and the outer shielding ring 22 are composed of multiple shielding strips 20.

[0041] In other embodiments, considering that the quenching through hole 23 is composed of a connecting rib 24 disposed between two shielding strips 20 and an opening therebetween, the arrangement of the connecting rib 24 may affect the quenching effect. Therefore, the quenching through hole 23 has been improved. The improved quenching through hole 23 is configured as follows: the shielding ring 2 consists of two parts, as shown in the figure. Figure 4 and Figure 5 It consists of a left shielding ring and a right shielding ring, and the quenching through hole 23 is composed of the gap between the left shielding ring and the right shielding ring. Based on the above improvement of the quenching through hole 23, the quenching through hole 23 does not have the structural setting of the connecting rib 24, thereby avoiding the influence of the connecting rib 24 on the quenching process.

[0042] The shielding ring 2 consists of a left shielding ring and a right shielding ring, offering greater flexibility in use. It can be a continuous three-segment structure, divided into a front shielding section 25, a middle quenching section 26, and a rear shielding section 27 along the conveying direction of the circular tube. The front shielding section 25 and the rear shielding section 27 provide shielding for thinner circular tubes, while the middle quenching section 26 is for thicker circular tubes. In some embodiments, when adjusting the quenching degree, shielding can be omitted initially for thinner circular tubes, allowing the circular tube to be conveyed... During the delivery process, whether the induction coil 1 is long enough or the induction coil 1 is finite in length, the thin cylindrical tube thickness area is quenched by controlling the unshielded shielding time. For example, the thin cylindrical tube thickness area can be quenched in just 10 seconds, while the thick cylindrical tube thickness area requires 16 seconds to complete the quenching process. After the thin cylindrical tube thickness area completes the quenching process for 10 seconds without shielding, the thin cylindrical tube thickness area is shielded by the linear movement of the inner shielding ring 21 and the outer shielding ring 22.

[0043] Additionally, it should be noted that in this embodiment, when adjusting the area of ​​regions with different thicknesses, since both the left and right shielding rings are composed of an inner shielding ring 21 and an outer shielding ring 22, the area adjustment can be achieved by moving one set of inner shielding rings 21 or outer shielding rings 22 in the left shielding ring and moving one set of inner shielding rings 21 or outer shielding rings 22 in the right shielding ring.

[0044] Finally, it should be noted that in this embodiment, each shielding strip 20 needs to be individually linearly controlled by an independent control unit. Therefore, in some embodiments, this embodiment also includes a drive unit, which is driven by the controller to individually control the linear movement of each independent shielding strip 20 along the circular tube. After receiving the thickness data of the circular tube from the circular tube thickness detector, the controller controls the conveying speed of the circular tube according to the thickness of the circular tube and the effective length of the induction coil 1. For example, if the maximum thickness of the circular tube after detection is A, the quenching time required at this thickness is B, and the effective length of the induction coil 1 is C, then the conveying speed of the circular tube is C / B. During this process, the quenching through hole 23 can always be aligned with the circular tube thickness area with a maximum thickness of A, and the shielding strip 20 moves forward at the same moving speed as the circular tube.

[0045] It should be added that there are at least two sets of shielding rings 2, both located behind the tube thickness detector. Since one set of shielding rings 2 is quenched along with the tube speed when it is working, it may cause the subsequent tube parts to be unable to be quenched. Therefore, the entire tube can be quenched by setting up a structure of multiple sets of shielding rings 2 plus shielding rings 2.

[0046] In some embodiments, the drive unit is driven by at least one of an electric linear drive component or pneumatic drive. The electric linear drive component can be composed of a cylinder or a push rod motor, while the pneumatic drive operates on a principle similar to that of a cylinder. Preferably, a drive rod is connected to the shielding strip 20, and the drive rod is inserted into the inflation seat. The linear movement length of the drive rod is controlled by the amount of gas injected into the inflation seat; that is, the more gas injected into the inflation seat, the more the drive rod moves outward, and vice versa. The drive unit can be mounted on the mounting ring 28 at the end of the shielding ring 2, and the mounting ring 28 can be fixed by an external bracket or other fixing structure.

[0047] It should be further noted that when the quenching through hole 23 is composed of the connecting rib 24 between two shielding strips 20 and the opening between them, the driving part is set as a group and located at one end of the shielding ring 2.

[0048] When the quenched through hole 23 is formed by the gap between the left and right shielding rings, the driving part consists of two parts, located on both sides of the shielding strip 20 respectively. The two driving parts drive the shielding strip 20 in the left and right shielding rings to control the linear motion independently.

[0049] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any equivalent substitutions or modifications made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in the present invention, based on the technical solution and inventive concept of the present invention, should be covered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A quenching apparatus for round tubes used in ferrous metal smelting and rolling, comprising an induction coil (1), characterized in that, The induction coil (1) is provided with a shielding ring (2), which is composed of multiple shielding strips (20), and each shielding strip (20) and the adjacent shielding strip (20) are independently slidably connected; a round tube thickness detector is provided in front of the induction coil (1) along the conveying direction of the round tube, which is used to detect the thickness of the round tube and convey it to the controller; it also includes a driving unit, which is driven by the controller and individually controls each independent shielding strip (20) to move linearly along the round tube.

2. The quenching apparatus for round tubes used in ferrous metal smelting and rolling as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The shielding strip (20) has a sliding protrusion and a sliding groove on both sides, and the inner diameter of the sliding groove is the same as the outer diameter of the sliding protrusion.

3. The quenching apparatus for round tubes used in ferrous metal smelting and rolling as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The shielding ring (2) consists of two sets, namely an inner shielding ring (21) and an outer shielding ring (22).

4. The quenching apparatus for round tubes used in ferrous metal smelting and rolling as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The shielding ring (2) is provided with a quenching through hole (23).

5. The quenching apparatus for round tubes used in ferrous metal smelting and rolling according to claim 4, characterized in that, The quenching through hole (23) consists of a connecting rib (24) disposed between the two shielding strips (20) and an opening therebetween.

6. The quenching apparatus for round tubes used in ferrous metal smelting and rolling as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The shielding ring (2) consists of two parts, namely a left shielding ring and a right shielding ring, and the quenching through hole (23) is formed by the gap between the left shielding ring and the right shielding ring; and the driving part consists of two parts, respectively located on both sides of the shielding strip (20), and the two driving parts drive the left shielding ring and the right shielding ring respectively.

7. The quenching apparatus for round tubes used in ferrous metal smelting and rolling as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The drive unit is driven by at least one of an electric linear drive component or pneumatic pressure.

8. The quenching apparatus for round tubes used in ferrous metal smelting and rolling as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The shielding ring (2) consists of at least two sets, both located behind the tube thickness detector.

9. A quenching apparatus for round tubes used in ferrous metal smelting and rolling according to claim 1, characterized in that, The shielding ring (2) is connected to a grounding wire.

10. A quenching apparatus for round tubes used in ferrous metal smelting and rolling according to claim 1, characterized in that, The gap between the shielding ring (2) and the induction coil (1) is 5-10 mm, and the gap between the shielding ring (2) and the outer wall of the circular tube is 2-5 mm.

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