Stress Free Steel and Rapid Production of Same

• US 20110036467A1
• Filed: 10/26/2010
• Published: 02/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rex Enterprises, LLC
• Original Assignee: Rex Enterprises, LLC
• Inventors: Stebbing, Franklin Leroy
• Granted Patent: US 8,545,645 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 148/558
• CPC Class Codes: B21B 1/08 for rolling structural sections, i.e. work of special cross-section, e.g. angle steel rolling metal of indefinite length in repetitive shapes specially designed for the manufacture of particular objects B21H8/00
• CPC Class Codes: B21B 1/18 in a continuous process
• CPC Class Codes: B21B 1/22 for rolling plates, strips, bands or sheets of indefinite length B21B1/42 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B21B 1/46 for rolling metal immediately subsequent to continuous casting metal-rolling stands B21B13/22; continuous casting B22D11/00, e.g. into moulds with rolls B22D11/06
• CPC Class Codes: B21B 11/00 Subsidising the rolling process by subjecting rollers or work to vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B21B 39/002 Piling, unpiling, unscrambling
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 3/00 Straightening or restoring form of metal rods, metal tubes, metal profiles, or specific articles made therefrom, whether or not in combination with sheet metal parts straightening of well casings in situ E21B; straightening rails or rail joints E01B31/08
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 27/08 Shaking, vibrating, or turning of moulds
• CPC Class Codes: C21D 1/04 with simultaneous application of supersonic waves, magnetic or electric fields
• CPC Class Codes: C21D 1/30 Stress-relieving
• CPC Class Codes: C21D 1/84 Controlled slow cooling cooling-beds for metal rolling B21B43/00
• CPC Class Codes: C21D 10/00 Modifying the physical properties by methods other than heat treatment or deformation
• CPC Class Codes: C21D 7/13 by hot working

Abstract

A method of producing steel with reduced internal stress concentrations is disclosed. In an embodiment, hot steel is shaped by a rolling mill. The resultant steel product is bundled as soon as practicable and the bundle is allowed to cool. Vibration energy is applied to the bundle of steel product so that internal stress concentrations within the steel product are relieved. In an embodiment, a plurality of bundles are stored on a rack and the rack is vibrated, the vibrations being transmitted to the plurality of bundles so that undesired internal stress concentrations within the steel products are relieved. Alternatively, magnetics may be used to relieve the undesired internal stress concentrations within the steel products. Thus, improved steel is produced as well as improved steel that can be produced more rapidly than known techniques.

Claims

1. A method of producing steel product with reduced internal stress, comprising the steps of:

processing a semis with a rolling mill to create a steel product;

preparing a bundle of the steel product while the steel product is still hot;

cooling the bundle of steel product;

generating a magnetic field;

exposing the bundle of steel product to the magnetic field; and

vibrating the cooled bundle of steel product so as to relieve unwanted internal stress concentrations present in the steel product, wherein the vibration occurs from the steel product expanding and contracting while exposed to the magnetic field.

2. The method of producing steel product of claim 1, wherein the semis is a billet.

3. The method of producing steel product of claim 1, wherein the steel product is a steel bar and the bundle is a bundle of steel bars.

4. The method of producing steel product of claim 1, wherein the steel product is steel strip or sheet.

5. The method of producing steel product of claim 1, wherein the steel product is selected from the group consisting of a bar, rod, strip, sheet, plate, band, hot-band, beam, channel, tube, pipe, track, rail, wire, and structural and special shapes.

6. The method of producing steel product of claim 1, wherein the magnetic field is generated from a solenoid coil.

7. The method of producing steel product of claim 6, wherein the step of exposing the bundle of steel product to the magnetic field occurs when the bundle of steel product is placed within the core of the solenoid coil.

8. The method of producing steel product of claim 1, wherein the magnetic field is generated from a plurality of solenoid coils.

9. The method of producing steel product of claim 1, wherein the magnetic field is generated from a plurality of magnets.

10. A method of producing steel product with reduced internal stress, comprising the steps of:

processing a semis with a rolling mill to create a steel product;

preparing a bundle of the steel product while the steel product is still hot;

cooling the bundle of steel product;

generating an electrical current;

exposing the bundle of steel product to the electrical current; and

vibrating the cooled bundle of steel product so as to relieve unwanted internal stress concentrations present in the steel product.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

generating a magnetic field; and

exposing the bundle of steel product to the magnetic field.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the electrical current is applied to ends of the steel product.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the external surface of the steel product is exposed to the magnetic field.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the magnetic field is generated from magnetic conveyor rolls on a conveyer system transferring the steel product.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of vibrating the cooled bundle of steel product occurs from a liquid supply transferring vibration to the steel product.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the vibration is generated by magnetically vibrating the housing of the liquid supply.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the magnetic field is generated from a plurality of magnets.

18. A method of removing gasses from a metal product, comprising the steps of:

heating the metal product until the metal product is in a liquid form; and

vibrating the liquid metal product to remove gasses.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the gasses removed from the liquid metal are hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of vibrating the liquid metal product also includes magnetically stirring the liquid metal.