Steel Pipe Quenching Layout for Fast Conveyance and Uniform Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steel pipe quenching methods face productivity issues due to slow conveyance speeds and high initial costs, with potential damage during conveyance and non-uniform cooling leading to inefficient cooling processes.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a walking-arm type revolving conveyance apparatus combined with inclined and flat spray nozzles for uniform cooling, allowing rapid conveyance and cooling of steel pipes while preventing damage and ensuring consistent water flow distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a walking-arm type revolving conveyance apparatus is used for rapid conveyance of steel pipes, then productivity is improved and conveyance time is reduced, but the complexity of the conveyance mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a walking-arm type revolving conveyance apparatus that dynamically changes position and orientation to convey steel pipes rapidly through the quenching zone. The mechanism uses controlled motion in multiple directions (revolving and walking movements) to achieve high conveyance speeds while maintaining proper positioning of pipes relative to spray nozzles, resolving the contradiction between speed and mechanical complexity through sophisticated dynamic control.
2Manufacturing precision
If spray nozzles are disposed only in the swept range of the conveyance apparatus, then the device complexity is reduced, but uniform cooling distribution cannot be achieved in the entire longitudinal direction of the steel pipe
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the spray coverage by utilizing the spatial dimension created by the walking-arm apparatus motion. Spray nozzles are positioned to cover specific zones, and the revolving conveyance apparatus moves pipes through these zones, ensuring that the entire longitudinal direction of the pipe receives uniform cooling coverage through the combination of fixed nozzle positions and dynamic pipe movement.
3Reliability
If a kicker method is used for conveying steel pipes, then the device complexity is reduced, but hitting damage and bending troubles occur during conveyance
Solution Approach 1:
The walking-arm type revolving conveyance apparatus acts as an intermediary mechanism between the heat treatment zone and the quenching zone. It provides a gentle, controlled conveyance method that avoids direct impact (kicking) on the steel pipes, thereby preventing hitting damage and bending troubles while maintaining pipe integrity throughout the quenching process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables rapid conveyance and cooling of steel pipes, improving productivity and reducing manufacturing costs by minimizing conveyance-related issues and ensuring uniform cooling, even for pipes with cambers.
Implementation Method 1
rapidly cooling a steel pipe after heating it to a predetermined heat treatment temperature
Implementation Method 2
A steel pipe such as a seamless pipe is quenched to increase strength and toughness
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention is intended to provide a method for quenching a steel pipe, equipment for quenching a steel pipe, and a method of manufacturing a steel pipe that enable a steel pipe to be conveyed at high speed. The method for quenching a steel pipe includes the steps of: conveying a steel pipe onto a rotatable supporting member using a walking-arm type revolving conveyance apparatus; and rapidly cooling the steel pipe with first spray nozzles disposed above the pipe while the steel pipe is being rotated about a pipe axis of the steel pipe on the rotatable supporting member in a state where movements of the steel pipe in a direction parallel to and in a direction perpendicular to the pipe axis are stopped. The first spray nozzles are disposed along an axial direction of the steel pipe with an angle of 20 to 70° from the uppermost part of the pipe in a circumferential direction. The first spray nozzles are disposed except a swept range W of the walking-arm type revolving conveyance apparatus in a longitudinal direction of the steel pipe. The first spray nozzles include inclined spray nozzles that are disposed by being tilted toward the swept range W, and flat spray nozzles that are disposed adjacent to the inclined spray nozzles at equal intervals with a predetermined pitch D in the longitudinal direction of the steel pipe. The inclined spray nozzles are disposed by being offset by a distance S from the predetermined pitch D, and being tilted with an angle θ of 30° or less, where the angle θ is determined in terms of the relationship θ = arctan(S/H), where S is the distance from the predetermined pitch D of the flat spray nozzles and H is an injection height of the first spray nozzles.