Vertical Steel Sheet Heating in Furnace
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional steel sheet heating methods using rollers result in poor radiation efficiency, energy inefficiency, and risk of roller damage due to thermal shock, with issues of meandering and plating material adherence for surface-plated sheets.
Innovation Solution
A steel sheet heating method where the sheet is fixedly supported vertically by support members at both ends within a heating furnace, allowing for uniform heating and tension application, eliminating the need for rollers and reducing thermal stress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If rollers are used to convey the steel sheet horizontally in the furnace, then the steel sheet can be conveyed through the heating furnace, but the radiation efficiency is poor and rapid heating is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional horizontal conveyance method by suspending the steel sheet vertically in the furnace. This inversion eliminates the roller shields that blocked radiation, allowing heaters to radiate heat directly onto the steel sheet surface, thereby improving radiation efficiency and heating speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from horizontal conveyance to vertical suspension, changing the spatial dimension of steel sheet positioning. This dimensional change allows radiation to reach the steel sheet from multiple directions without obstruction, enhancing heating efficiency.
2Reliability
If rollers are used to convey the steel sheet, then the steel sheet can be moved through the furnace, but the rollers must be rolled constantly even at times other than conveyance to prevent thermal deformation, resulting in poor energy efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the steel sheet from the roller-based conveyance system and suspends it vertically using support members. This extraction eliminates the need for continuous roller operation, allowing rollers to remain stationary and avoid thermal deformation while eliminating the energy waste of constant rolling during non-conveyance periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The vertically suspended steel sheet is supported by fixed support members that do not require active operation. The system transitions from an active roller conveyance system requiring continuous energy input to a passive suspension system that maintains steel sheet position without energy consumption during heating.
3Ease of operation
If rollers are used in the furnace, then the steel sheet can be conveyed, but the plating material will adhere to the roller in the melting temperature range and further adhere to the steel sheet again
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces support members as intermediaries between the steel sheet and the furnace environment. These support members suspend the steel sheet vertically without direct contact between the steel sheet (or its plating) and the rollers, eliminating the adherence problem while still enabling conveyance through the furnace.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the steel sheet from contact with rollers by suspending it vertically. This separation prevents plating material from adhering to the rollers during heating in the melting temperature range, eliminating the harmful adherence effect while maintaining conveyance capability.
4Productivity
If the steel sheet is heated while being supported horizontally by rollers, then the steel sheet can be conveyed and heated, but the steel sheet may meander in the furnace
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the horizontal support configuration to vertical suspension. This inversion provides stable positioning of the steel sheet in the furnace, preventing meandering that occurs with horizontal roller support, while still allowing efficient heating and conveyance operations.
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 method enhances radiation efficiency, reduces energy consumption, prevents bending, and avoids roller damage, enabling more uniform and rapid heating of steel sheets without the risks associated with roller-based systems.
Implementation Method 1
performing heating at a prescribed temperature in the heating furnace
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A steel sheet heating method that heats a steel sheet (K) to be pressed before hot press molding includes: bringing the steel sheet into a heating furnace (10) including a heater (15) on an inside surface of the heating furnace in a state where the steel sheet is supported in a vertical direction while an unnecessary portion of the steel sheet that becomes unnecessary after molding is fixedly supported by a support member (30); and performing heating at a prescribed temperature in the heating furnace, then taking the steel sheet out of the heating furnace, and after that cutting and removing the unnecessary portion before hot press molding or during hot press molding.