Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
SEQUENTIALLY QI~ENCHING ST EL PIPE~;
The present invention relates to an apparatus and
method for hardening steel and more particularly to a
method and apparatus for sequ~entially quènching steel ;~
pipes of substantial and varying thlckne~sses~
The production oE steel tubular praducts may be
accomplished by a variety~of methods. For example, in
the Fretz-Moon process, which is based~on the principle
of forge welding~ an~endless strip of steel is heated~tv
about 2552F ~1400C) and then fed~through a series of
shapîng and welding~rolls. In the Mannesmann piercing
15~ process, which relies on the principle of helical roll-
ing, the steel is rolled~to a~minlmum width and then
pierced by~a~mandrel,~which forms~a cavity in the steel
bar. The thick-walled tube~prod~uced by this process can
subsequently be~reduced to thin-walled tubin by passing
it through special rolls, which vary in cross-sectional
shape~around their~circumference.~ Other processes include
the use of hot extrusion and ro~ary forging among other
~techni~ues.~ ~
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After completion of these processes for producing
tubular products, the steel must be subsequently hardened
by heat treating. Quenching is one of the oldest and most
common methods of hardening steel by heat treatment. It
S consists of heating the steel above its critical transfor-
mation temperature at which a component known as austenite
begins to form, and then cooling it fast enough, usually
by quenching into a liquid such as water or oil, to avoid
any transformation of the austenite until it reaches the
relatively low temperature range within which it trans-
forms to a hard martensite. The steel is subsequently
reheated or tempered to remove the internal stresses
caused by the inherent expansion of the martensite.
Traditional heat treating processes and apparatus
are generally limited in the number of tubular pieces of
steel which can be handled regardless of the size of each
piece. Thu~, if the same facilities are employed where
smaller tubular products are treated~ the cost per weight
of steel processed increases. ~For example, a typical
quenching unit may only handle up to 160 pipes per hour
regardless of size, although the rate of pipe production
is a function of the weight of steel in the pipes~ Thus,
if a heat treating line, including an austeniæing furnace,
a quenching unit, and a tempering furnace~ is to be
profitable it must be built or adapted to produce a given
range of pipe, such-as 1-7/8 to 5-1/2 inches outside
diameter.
:; :
The traditional methods and apparatus are not only
limited in the number of tubular products that can be
quenched, due to an inability to maintain throughput based
on the weight of steel, but the thickness of the steel is
also a limiting factor. The quenching of steel from its
critical transformation temperature to the martensitic
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transformation temperature requires a rather severe cool-
ing rate i the formation of pearlite is to be avoided.
Given the importance of the cooling rate in producing the
desired properties, the production of large pieces of
steel has always presented particular difficulties, since
the temperature drop at the_center of a given piece of
steel lags the temperature drop at the surface.
A number of processes have been developed in an
attempt to address these problems. As to thickness or
size, metal alloys, such as manganese, siliconr nickel
or chromium have been added to retard the formation of
pearlite to allow for an initial lower quench and to
enhance in other ways the final properties of the steel.
However, the use of alloys adds considerably to the
expense of the steel.
A variety of methods and devices have been developed
or suggested as ways of more readily controlling heat
transfer from both the exterior and interior surfaces
of pipes by using water, as well as other substances, as
a cooling medium. These pr~ior processes employ a variety
of sprays and flow schemes. For example, in U.S. Patent
No. 3,212,766 there is disclosed an apparat~s for quench-
ing a long tube. The apparatus comprises a cooling bath,in which a tube is immersed, and a coolant vortical-flow-
inducing nozzle. The nozzle~forces-a vortical flow of
coolant through th~e interior of the tube.
U.S. Patent No. 3,623,716~discloses an apparatus
for hardening long pipes. The pipe is immersed in a tank
equipped with a nozzle arranged for introducing a cooling
medium into the interior of the pipe in such a manner that
cooling~medium is drawn~from the exterior of the pipe to
the interior of the pipe.
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U~S. Patent NoO 3,877,685 discloses an apparatus for
quenching a steel pipe with a cooling medium including an
isolator which is in fluid communication with a retracta-
ble nozzle. The isolator and retractable nozzle cooperate
so that the relative proportion of cooling liquid pass-
ing into the pipe and around the pipe may be varied. The
flow of cooling medium is directed along the longitudinal
axis of the steel pipe.
U.S. Patent No. 4,165,246 discloses a process for
heat treating steel pipes with a wall thickness ranging
from 16 to 36 mm. After the steel pipe is heated~ it is
passed on rollers to a cooling zone while water directed
from nozzles encircling the pipe quenches the surface
below the martensitic transformation temperature.
U.S~ Patent No~ 4,116,716 discloses an immersion
cooling apparatus including a cooling tank ontaining
cooling liquid, a mechanism for locking the immersed
pipe in position, and a nozzle extending toward the
interior of the pipe in the direction of the pipe axis.
U.S. Patent No. 3,650,282 discloses the use of a
circumferential support equipped with a closely spaced
array of jet structures which apparently establish a water
curtain or solid sheet of water to penetrate a steam film.
These and other devices and methods, which employ a
variety of quenching mechanisms using cooling baths and
the like, as well as varying assembly line techniques,
suffer from one or more of several limitations. For
example, these devices and methods often fail to provide a
sufficiently severe quench, so that the thickness of steel
pipe which may be successfully tr~ated is limited. Like-
wise, the strength and other properties attainable for
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a given thickness of pipe are limited. Also, many devicesand methods do not provide uniform coollng or cannot
accommodate a steel piece of varying thickness such as
upset pipe. Additionally, some devices cannot vary the
character of the quench from segment to segment or along
the length of a pipe. Furthermore, these devices and
methods generally fail to provide a process which can
sequentially quench a number of tubular products at a
steady processing rate based on the weight of steel pro-
cessed. Moreover, such methods and devices are limitedin the number of tubular pieces of steel which may be
processedO This, in turn, often necessitates additional
process steps, such as reheating prior to quenching.
These and other limitations of prior processes and
methods are substantially minimized if not eliminated by
the present invention.
According to the present invention there is provided
an apparatus for quenching a piece of steel including a
rotatable magazine having at least one barrel for detach-
ably holding the steel piece and a cooling medium source
for supplying a cooling medium to each barrel. In one
embodiment the cooling medium source includes a means for
separately directing a cooling medium in a substantially
circumferential flow pattern around the exterior surface
of the steel piece as it is held in a barrel. In another
embodiment each barrel has a primary opening along its
length for accepting the steel piece. Each barrel may
also be equipped with a secondary opening for discharging
the cooling medium. Closing means may be provided for
selectively closing off the primary and secondary open-
ings. Each barrel has at least one sliding clamp for
~electively securing the steel piece in the barrel.
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The invention, in its broadest aspect, contemplates an
apparatus for quenching a piece of steel which comprises a ro~
tatable magazine having at least one barrel for detachably
holding the steel piece, and a cooling meclium source for sup-
plying a cooling medium to each barrel. ~'he cooling means com-
prises an exterior quenching means in con~lunication with the
interior of the barrel through a plurality of openings in the
barrel and adapted for separately directing a cooling medium
in a substantially circumferential flow pattern at variable
flow rates around separate exterior segments of the steel piece
as the steel piece is held in the barrel. The barrel is fur-
ther configured to permit sufficient turnover of cooling me-
dium in the barrel to replenish at least a portion of the
cooling medium directed in the circumferential flow pattern
lS once such portion of cooling medium has removed heat from the
piece of steel.
The steel piece preferably rests on partitions mounted a-
long the interior of the barrel. The partitions are preferably
contoured to fit the exterior surface of the steel piece.
When the piece of steel is a hollow bodied steel piece
with an opening at each end thereo~, internal quenching means
may be provided for supplying a cooling medium to the interior
of the hollow bodied steel piece while itis held in a barrel.
In one embodiment the internal quenching means includes a means
for passing a cooling medium through the interior of the steel
piece and a means for injecting a gas into the cooling medium
to insure sufficient turbulence in the cooling medium as it
passes through the interior of the piece to facilitate heat
transfer from the interior surface of the piece to the cooling
medium.
In a further variation of the quenching apparatus, the
piece of steel is a hollow bodied pipe with an opening at each
end and the interior quenching means is held in a barrel and
supplies the cooling medium to the interior of the pipe. A
cooling medium conduit is located along the axis of the pipe
and has a tapered outlet adapted to direct a cooling medium into
the interior of the pipe. A gas conduit is telescopically mated
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in the cooling medium conduit and has a gas conduit outlet
near the tapered outlet of the cooling medium conduit. The ~as
conduit outlet i~ adapted ~o inject a gas from ~he gas conduit
into the cooling medium. A series of hel:ical vanes mounted
in the interior of the cooling medium conduit are adapted to
impart a helical flow pattern to the cooling medium leaving the
tapered outlet.
In another embodiment r the cooling medium source is adap- -
ted to increase the pressure of the cooling medium on the ex-
terior of a hollow bodied steel piece upon the supplying of the
cooling medium to the interior of the piece. For example, the
cooling medium source may include a primary cooling medium con-
duit, exterior and interior cooling medium conduits for respec-
tively delivering a cooling medium to the interior and exterior
of the hollow bodied steel piece in each barrel, and a feeder
conduit for selectively placing the exterior and interior cool-
ing medium conduit in communication with each other. The fee-
der conduit may be equipped with a one-way valve.
In another embodiment the apparatus of the present inven-
tion may include a motor driven rotatablem~gazine having inte-
rior quenching means and an exterior quenching means mounted on
the magazine, a primary cooling medium source for supplying
cooling medium to the interior quenching means and exterior
quenching means, a motor for rotating the magaæine, a feeder
for placing each pipe in a barrei, and a receiver for sequen-
tially receiving each pipe from a barrel. T~e rotatable magazine
includes two circular p1atesr~tatably~ounted in spaaed~relation
to each other. The plates have a plurality of openings spaced
around and at a distance from the center of each plate. The
plates are connected by a plurality of barrels mounted to the
inside face of each plate such that the barrels are in communi-
cation with the openings in the plates. Each barrel is of a
sufficient length to receive a pipe and includes: a prlmary
opening along its length for accepting a pipe, a secondary
opening for discharging water from the barrel, closing means for
selectively closing off the primary and secondary openings, a
plurality of partitions for cradling a pipe and separating the
barrel into a plurality of compartments along its length and a
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plurality of openings in the surface of each barrel for circu-
lating a cooling medium. The interior quenching means may in-
clude a plurality of cooling medium conduits tapered outlets
for directing water into the interior of the pipe. One end of
the conduit is connected to the openings and located along the
axis of a pipe as it res~s in a barrel. Each exterior quenching
conduit may include a series of secondary conduits for supplying
a cooling medium to each compartment of eaLch barrel. The pri~
mary cooling medium source supplies the cooling medium to both
the interior quenching means and the exterior quenching means.
To this end the primary cooling medium source includes a con-
duit r~-atable in relation to~ the base.
According to the present invention there is also proviaed
a method of sequentially quenching pieces of steel including
the steps of (l) moving a plurality of receptacles along a
cyclical path from an inlet station to an outlet station while
placing a piece of steel in each ~eceptacleas it passes the
inlet station, and (2) supplying a cooling medium to each re-
ceptacle in an amount sufficient to quench the piece of steel
in thereceptaaIe~p~rior to removing the piece of steel at the
outlet station. The cooling medium supplied to each receptacle
may be separately directed in a substantially circumferential
flow pattern around separate exterior segments of the steel
piece and the flow rate of the cooling medium supplied to each
segment of the steel piece may be varied with the size of the
segment. If the piece of steel is a hollow bodied piece of
steel with an opening at each end thereof the interior surface
of the piece of steel may also be concurrently quenched.
The invention also encompasses the novel method of sequen-
3~ tially heat treating pieces of steel which comprises the stepsof heating each piece of steel to a temperature above its aus-
teniæing temperature, moving a plurality of barrels from an
inlet station to an outlet station while placing a piece of
steel in each barrel as it passes the inlet station, and sup-
plying a sufficient amount of continually replenished coolingmedium to each barrel to quench the piece of steel in the recep-
tacle prior to removing the piece of steel at the outlet sta-
tion while distributing at least a portion of the cooling me-
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dium including a portion of the continually replenished coolingmedium in a substantially circumferential flow patt~rn around
the steel piece while it is in the barrel to reduce the tem-
perature increase in the cooling medium that results from heat
removal from the steel piece. The flow pattern is capable of
sufficient variation among finite longitudinal segments of the
steel piece to facilitate proper transformation along the length
of the piece oE steel. A sufficient amount of a cooling medium
is supplied to each barrel as it passes from the outlet to the
inlet station to cushion a piece of steel pipe as it is placed
in each barrel as it passes the inlet station.
There is also provided a method of sequentially heat trea-
ting a steel pipe which comprises the steps of heating each
pipe to a temperature above its austenizing temperature, moving
a plurality of barrels along a substantially circular path from
an inlet station to an outlet station while filling each barrel
with a sufficient amount of cooling medium comprising water to
at least partially cushion a pipe as it is placed in the barrel,
placing a pipe in each barrel as it passes the inlet station
while forming a generally annular space around the exterior sur-
face of a portion of the pipe,circulating at least a portion of
the cooling medium substantially circumferentially around finite
longitudinal exterior segments of the pipe while replenishing
at least a portion of the cooling medium, the flow of the cool-
?5 ing medium being sufficient in conjunction with the size of thegenerally annular space such that replenishment of the cooling
medium results in replenishment of at leàst a portion of the
cooling medium directed substantially circumferentially around
the pipe once the cooling medium has removed heat from steel
in the pipe and while directing a cooling medium and a gas
through the interior of the pipe as the receptacle travels from
the inlet to the outlet station, with the gas being under suf-
ficient p~essure to facilitate heat txansfer between the cool-
ing medium and the interior surface of the pipe, and removing
the pipe from the barrel at the outlet station after another
pipe has been placed in a following barrel.
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In accordance with one aspect of the present inven-
~ion the weight of the steel pieces or pipes heated above
their austenizing temp~rature is at least equal to the
weight of the s~eel pipes quenched in a given period of
time. In accordance with another aspect of the present
invention a portion oE the cooling medium initially
directed to the interior of each pipe is selectively
routed to the exterior of the pipe in order to affect
the pressure of the cooling medium circulating around
the pipe.
If water is used for the cooling medium, the water
used for both interior and exterior quenching should be
maintained at a temperature of 80F or less. Further,
the water passing through the system should be generally
lS at a pressure in the range of 80 to 130 psi.
Examples of the more important features of this
invention have thus been summarized rather broadly in
order that the detailed description thereof that follows
may be better understood 9 and in order that the contribu-
tion to the art may be better appreciated. There are,of course, additional features of the invention that will
be described hereinafter, and which will also form the
subject of claims appended hereto.
Figure 1 is an elevation view of a preferred embodi-
ment of the present invention taken along line 1-1 of
Figure 2;
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Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3 is a closeup view of a portion of the
embodiment shown in Figure 2;
Figure 4 is another view of a portion of the embodi-
shown in Figure 2 and taken along line 4-4 of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is another view of the portion of the
embodiment shown in Figure 3;
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of a portion
of the embodiment shown in Figure 2;
Figure 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a
portlon of an internal quenching means;
: : Figure 8 is a partial cross-sectional frontal view
taken along line 8-8 from Flgure 7; and
Figure 9 is a closeup view of a gas conduit outlet
of the internal quenching means shown in Figure 7.
Reference to these drawings will further e~plain
the invention when taken in conjunction with the descrip-
tion of the preferred embodiments.
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Referring generally to Figures 1-9, there will now
be described a preferred device and method of sequentially
quenching~ steel pipe in accordance with the present
: inventionO Generally, the apparatus may include a means
for imparting rotation 10, a magazine 30, a gas supply
system 40, barrels or receptacles 50, clamping means 70,
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feed mechanism 110, receiver 130~ interior quenching means
or internal quencher 140, cooling medium source 180, and
exterior cooling or quenching means 190. The magazine,
whlch is rotated by means ~or imparting rotation 10,
includes plates 31 and 32 between which are mounted
barrels or receptacles 50. Feed mechanism 110 is adapted
to place a pipe into each barrel as it rotates in magazine
30~ The pipes are held in the barrels 50 by clamping
means 70 and are quenched hy interior quenching means 140
and exterior cooling means 190 as each barrel rotates in
the magazine and moves toward receiver 130. Each quenched
pipe is subsequently released onto receiver 130 from which
it may be forwarded for further processing. Cooling
medium souece 180 supplies cooling medium to the interior
quenching means 140 and the exterior cooling means 190
throughout the process.
As shall hereinafter be more fully described, interior
quenching means and exterior cooling means useful in this
2~ invention as well as other matters related to this inven-
tion are described in part in the appli~ant's copendingCanadian patent application, serial number 420,223, filed
January 25, 1983 and entitled "Method and Apparatus for
Querlching SteeL Pipes".
Referring now to Pigures 1 and 2 means for imparting
rotation shown generally at 1~ include a variable speed
motor 11 which is ~ounted on a motor base 12. Plate
gear yokes 15 and 16 are respectively mounted on bases 13
and 14. Shafts 19 and 20 are journaled at one end into
and through plate gear yokes 15 and 16, respectively, and
are operatively connected at the other end to the variable
speed motor 11. Plate gears 16 and 17 are integrally
mounted on shafts 19 and 20, respectively, such that they
are located within yokes 15 and 16. As the plate gears
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are integrally mounted on shafts 19 and 20, rotation of
those shafts by variable speed motor 11 causes the rota-
tion of the plate gears in plate gear yokes 15 and 16.
.
A magazine shown generally at 30 includes two circu-
lar plates 31 and 32. A portion of each plate is provided
with teeth around its circumference which are adapted to
mesh with the teeth of plate gears 17 and 18, respectively.
Additionally, a circumferential segment of each plate is
adapted to engage grooved rolls 21, which are mounted on
bases 24 by means of pins 22 and flanges 23. Thus, each
of the plates 31 and 32 are rotatably supported at grooved
rolls 21 and plate gears 17 or 18. Additionallyt as
the teeth of plate gears 17 and 18 mesh with the teeth of
plates 31 and 32, respectively, rotation of shafts 19
and 20 by variable speed motor 11 causes the rotation of
plates 31 and 32.
As shown in Figure 1 plates 31 and 32 are connected
by means of barrels or receptacles 50. Access to each
barrel 50 through plates 31 and 32 is provided by means
o~ openings 33, which are spaced around and at a dis-
tance from the center of each plate. As each barrel S0
is integrally mounted at either end to plates 31 and 32,
each circumferentially:spaced barrel 50 rotates with
plates 31 and 32.
.
Plates 31 and 32 are also provided with central
~ openings 34, while plate 32 is equipped with auxiliary
:30 plate openings 35 Gas or air reservoir 44 is integrally
mounted through central plate openings 34, while exterior
feed conduits 191 of exterior quenching means 190 pass
; through auxiliary openings 35 in plate 32 and are attached
at one end to plate 31. As with the barrels or recepta-
cles 50, air or gas reservoir 44 and exterior feed conduits
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191 are integrally mounted to plates 31 and 32 and so
rotate along with plates 31 and 32 and barrels S0.
Gas or air reservoir 44 is supplield by a gas supply
system shown generally at 40. Gas reservoir 44 is essen-
tially a hollow cylinder which is supplied with gas at one
end by conduit 43 and sealed at the other end by means of
gas reservoir wall 45. The gas supply system includes a
gas supply pipe 41 which is fixed in relation to magazine
30. Inlet conduit 43 is in communication at one end with
gas reservoir 44 and at the other end with gas supply pipe
41 through means of swivel coupling 42. Thus, conduit 43
places air reservoir 44 in co~munication with gas supply
pipe 41, while still allowing inlet conduit 43 to rotate
in relation to gas supply conduit 41, which is stationaryO
Referring now to Figures 1 through 6, barrels or
receptacles 50 are provided with primary openings 51
~and secondary openings 52. Primary openings 51 are of
sufficient size to accept each pipe 90 as it is fed to
each barrel 50 from feeding mèchanism 110 as shall here-
inafter be more fully described. The secondary openings
indicated at 52 allow the discharge of:cooling medium
from each barrel. The secondary openings 52 may be
selectively closed by an appropriate closing means such
as shutter 79.
: Each barrel 5~0 is divided into compartments along
its~length by means of partitions 53. Each partition 53
: is detachably mounted on the surface of each barrel by
means of flanges 57 and bolts 54.: Flanges 57 are inte-
grally mounted to the interior surface of each barrel 50
such that each partition 53 is securely yet detachably
mounted in each barrel 50 by means of bolts 54.
; 35
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The surface of each barrel SO is also provided with a
plurality of openings 55 which place the interior o each
barrel 50 in communication with a cooling medium passing
from branch pipes 193 through flow chambers 195 Oe exterior
cooling means 190. The openings 55 are adapted to direct
a cooling medium from each ~low chamber 195 in a circum-
ferential flow pattern around the exterior surface of a
pipe or other object resting in the barrel. By way of
example, the openings 55 may be placed at varying angles
1~ depending upon their location around the interior surface
of each barrel 50.
Openings 55 may also be threaded~ Nozzles 56 may
then be inserted in the threaded holes to direct the
cooling medium from each flow chamber 195 in a substan~
tially circumferential flow pattern around the exterior
surface of the pipe resting in each barrel. As the holes
may be filled with plugs, the number, as well the type of
nozzles, may be varied depending on the specific flow
pattern desired~ Alternately, the 10w chambers 195 may
be equipped with deflector plates as described in appli-
cant's co-pending Canadian~application, serial number
420,223, filed January 25, 1983.
:
Each barrel 50 is provided with a plurality of clamp-
ing means 70 which serves to hold each pipe 90 in place
; as:the barrel rotates in magazine 30 from feed mechanism
110 to receiver 130. As best shown in Figures 3-6 the
clamping means includes~a contoured clamping rib 83 which
may be detachably mounted to clamp rib flanges 82 by means
of clamping bolts 81. The clamp rib flanges 82 are in
turn integrally a~tached at one end to clamping arm 71.
: Consequently, the movement of clamping arm 71 causes the
movement of clamp rib flanges 82 and hence contoured
.
S~33L3
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clamping rib 83. Clamping rib flanges 82, contoured
clamping rib 83 and bolts 81 thus form a movable clamp~
ing member 80 which slides circumferentially in each
receptacle.
The clamping means 70 i5 also equipped with a closing
means in the form oE a deflection plate cover or shutter
79. The shutter is integrally attached at one end to
clamping arm 71 and is slidably mounted on the outside
surface of barrel 50. Thus, as shown in Figures 3 and 5,
as cla~ping arm 71 moves along clamping arm slot 84,
deflector plate cover or shroud 79 moves over primary
barrel opening 51. As indicated in Figure 5, an end
segment of shutter 79 overlaps a segment of the exterior
barrel wall on the opposite side of primary opening 51.
Deflection plate cover or shutter 79 runs a sufficient
distance along the length of the barrel to close off an
appropriate segment of primary opening or slot 5t as shall
- hereinafter be more fully de~cribed.
2~
Shutter 79 may be mounted such that a portion of
shutter 79 as indicated at 85 may act as a closing means
to selectively close secondary opening 52~ Thus, when
shutter 79 covers primary opening 51, secondary opening
52 is open. However, when shutter 79 is withdrawn from
primary opening 51, secondary opening 52 is covered.
Although openings 51 and 52 are preferably alternately
opened and closed,~primary opening 51, secondary opening
52, and shutter 79 may also be arranged such that openings
51, 52, or both may be partially uncovered depending upon
the pressure of the cooling medium and the particular
quenching pattern desired.
At the opposite end from movable clamping member
809 clamping arm 71 is attached to flange 73 by means of
3~
clamp arm pin 7~. As best shown in Figures 2 and 6,
flange 73 is integrally attached to clamp cylinder shaft
or piston 76. Movement of clamp cylinder piston 76 by
clamp cylinder 74 thus causes movement of clamping arm
71 and so movement of shutter 79 as well as movable
clamping member 80.
Each clamping cylinder 74 i5 pivotally mounted on
exterior feed conduit 191 by means of flange 75, clamp
cylinder bracket 77 and clamp cylinder pins 78. Flange
75 is integrally mounted to the exterior of ex~erior
feed conduit 191, while clamp cylinder 74 is free to
rotate about pins 78 which are integrally attached to
clamp cylinder 74 at one end and rotatably mounted into
clamp cylinder brackets 77 at the other end.
In accordance with one aspect of the present inven-
tion, the arrangement of the shutter 79, and the openings
55 or nozzles 56 should be such as to provide a circum-
ferential flow pattern of the cooling medium around theexterior of the pipe 90. The cooling medium is preferably
directed so as not to impinge upon the pipe surface in
order to facilitate uniform cooling of the pipe. As
indicated in Figure 5 the closing of shutter 79 aids in
the completion of the circumferential flow pattern about
the upper portion of each pipe 90. Depending upon the
exact nature of the circumferential flow desired, the
shutters 79 should extend substantially along the length
of each barrel 50.
:: 30
As also shown in Figure 5 partitions 53 and contoured
clamping ribs 83 are preferably adapted to closely conform
to the circumference of the pipe 90 as it rests in each
barrel 50~ However, depending upon the type of pipe and
the type of cooling sequence, it may be unnecessary to
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have the partitions or clamping ribs or both contoured to
the surface of the pipe. Additionally, each of the upper
segments of the partitions 53 and the contoured clamping
ribs 83 are adapted to facilitate movement of a pipe 90 in
and out of each barrel or receptacle 50. As the type of
partition 53 or contoured clamping rib 83 may differ along
the length of the barrel 50, pipes of varying sizes and
diameters may be accommodated. Additionally, any given
clamping rib 83 or quenching support or partition 53 may
be readily detached by removal of bolts or pins 81 or 54,
respectively, and replaced with a different rib or parti-
tion. Thus, each barrel may be adapted to handle varying
sizes of pipe with variable circumferences along their
length.
By way of example, the partitions and clamping
ribs closer to the center of a barrel may accommodate a
pipe with an outside diameter of five inches ~12.7 cm)
while partitions or ribs able to accommodate a pipe with
an outside diameter of 5.875 inches (14.9 cm) may be
inserted at each end of the barrel or receptacle. Thus,
five-inch (12.7 cm) pipe with externa~ upset of 5.875
inches (14.9 cm) may be secured along its length within
the barrel 50.
Referring now to Figure 2, feed mechanism 110 in-
cludes feed ramp 111 which is supported by means of feed
ramp support 112. Feed cylinder 118 is pivotally mounted
on feed cylinder base 121 by means of feed cylinder pin
119 and feed cylinder flange 120. Shaft or piston 117
is pivotally mounted to feed arm flange 115 by means of
Eeed arm pin 116. The other side of feed arm flange 115
is integrally attached to feed arm shaft 114 which is in
turn integrally mounted to L-shaped feed arm 113. Feed
arm shaft 114 is rotatably supported by feed base 122.
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Thus, ~he retraction of piston 117 by feed cylinder 118
causes the clockwise movement of feed arm flange 115
which in turn causes the rotation of shaft 114 and hence
the movement of L-shaped feed arm 113. As shown in Figure
2 a shorter segment 123 of L-shaped feed arrn 113 is
adapted to receive a pipe from feed ramp 111 when the
L-shaped feed arm 113 is in a vertical position, while the
longer portion 124 of L-shaped feed arm 113 is adapted to
facilitate the mov`ement of a pipe 90 into a receptacle 50
when L-shaped feed arm 113 is in a horizontal position.
Although not shown, feed mechanism 110 generally
comprises a plurality of feed ramps 111 and L-shaped
feed arms 113. In such a case feed arm shaft 114 may
run substantially parallel to the pipe as it rests in
the feed arms 113 and so serve to move the feed arms in
a coordinated fashion. Additionally, any suitable number
of feed cylinders 118 may be used.
Feed mechanism 110 may be located or adapted to feed
a pipe at varying locations. By way of examp1e, feed ramp
111 may be adjusted in both height and slope to vary the
position along the cyclical path of each barrel at which
it receives a pipe. However, feed mechanism 110 should be
located so as to allow each barrel 50 to have a sufficient
amount of cooling medium to cushion a pipe as it enters a
barrel. Additionally, feed mechanism 110 and receiver 130
should be located to provide a proper input and output of
pipe for the desired quenching sequence or cycle.
As also shown in Figure 2 receiving ramp 131 of
receiver 130 is mounted on receiving ramp base 132 and
is adapted to receive a pipe 90 which is released from
a barrel 50 as it comes close to ramp 131. Ramp 131 is
slightly inclined in order to facilitate the movement of
pipes 90 away from magazine 30.
~2~57~?
-20-
Referring now to Figures 1, and 7-9, in accordance
with another aspect of the present invention there is also
provided an interior quenching means or internal quencher
140, which comprises a cooling medium feed conduit 141
and a gas feed conduit 142. The gas feed conduit 142 is
mounted in a cylindrical rod 143. Cooling medium feed
conduit 141 is integrally attached at one end to plate 32
and is equipped with an internal fixed sleeve 144, which
is integrally mated along its length to the interior wall
f conduit 141.
Movable sleeve or sliding tube 145, which has a
tapered end portion 146, is telescopically mated with the
internal fixed sleeve 144. The tapered end portion 146 is
adapted to sealingly engage the inlet of a pipe 90 as it
rests in a barrel 50.
Cylindrical rod 143 is integrally mounted in movable
sleeve 145 by means of helical vanes 147, which are
integrally attached along the interior surface of movable
sleeve 145. As shown in Figure 7 cylindrical rod 143 is
also supported by arms or support rods 148 which are mated
on the interior surface of sliding tube 145.
It is preferable that vanes 147 remain essentially
stationary. For example, when the vanes are integrally
mounted in movable sleeve 145, the sleeve should be
mounted to avoid substantial rotation of the vanes by
the swirling cooling medium passing through the sleeve.
By way of example, the sleeve 144 could be fitted with
grooves to accept flanges extending from movable sleeve
145.
The outlet of gas feed conduit 142 is equipped with
a plug or nozzle 156 which is shown in more detail in
3{~
-21-
Figure 9. The plug 156 is threaded into cylindrical rod
143 by means of threads shown at 157. As the end of feed
conduit 142 is equipped with apertures 158 the flow of gas
through gas feed conduit 142 occurs around the tapered end
portion of plug 1S6 as shown by the arrows in Figure 9.
In accordance with another aspect of the present
invention, the spiral vanes are preferably at an angle of
approximately 35 with the horiæontal, particularly when
water is used as a cooling medium~ This angle will impart
a relatively long spiral to the flowing water and so
reduce the time the water travels the length of the pipe
and is discharged through interior discharge outlet 61.
Additionally, multiple vanes are preferred in order to
aid in imparting sufficient turbulence to the cooling
medium. However, the arrangement of the vanes may be
varied depending upon the exact nature of the helical
motion desired in the cooling medium. For example,
variations in the type and amount of cooling medium, the
type of pipe being quenched, the severity of the quench
desired and the amount of gas to be injected may all
afEect the exact configuration chosen for the vanes.
The gas feed conduit 142 is connected to conduit 149
such that the flow of gas through gas feed conduit 142 may
be controlled by shutoff valve 159. Gas feed conduit 142
is supported by cylindrical rod 143 along its length. As
cylindrical rod 143 is telescopically mated into sealed
hou~ing or stuffing box 152 which is attached at one
3Q and to piston 153, movement of piston 153 causes the
movement of rod 143 and hence conduit 14~ and sleeve 145
Conduit 149 is attached to a flexible hose 151 by means
of swivel coupling 150 to accommodate both the movement
of the gas feed conduit 142 with cylindrical rod 143
,,,,,,.. ,:, ~
-22-
and, depending on the source of air supply to flexible
conduit 151, the rotation of the interior quenching means
140 with plate 32.
Internal quench cylinder 154 is attached to cooling
medium feed conduit 141 and hence to magazine 30 by means
of support or flange 155~
Cooling medium source 180 includes a stationary feed
pipe 181 which is placed in communication with primary
feed pipe 182 by means of connecting sleeve 183. Sta-
tionary feed pipe 181 is attached to connecting sleeve 183
by means of swivel joint 184. As primary feed pipe 182 is
integrally mounted to magazine 30 and so rotates with the
magazine swivel joint 184 allows a cooling medium, such as
water, from stationary ~eed pipe 181 to be fed to the maga-
zine 30 in much the same fashion that gas supply pipe 41
supplies a gas, such as air, to gas reservoir 44.
Sleeve 183 is mounted in a steady bearing 185, which
is in turn mo~nted on a bearing support or base 186. Al-
though not always required, the use of steady bearing 185
may be preferable in order to limit the effect of vibra-
tions caused by the rotation of magazine 30. For example,
steady bearing 185 may serve to reduce shock and vibration
to swivel joint 184.
Primary feed pipe 182 supplies cooling medium to the
interior cooling means 140 through cooling medium feed
conduit 141 and valve 169 and to the exterior cooling
means 190 through exterior feed conduit 191 and exterior
feed conduit valve 192~
The exterior cooling means 190 includes exterior feed
conduits 1g1 which run parallel to barrel 50~ ~ranch
-23-
pipes 193 place each exterior feed conduit 191 in communi-
cation with flow chamber 195 and hence the interior of
barrels 50. The flow of cooling medium through each of
the branch pipes 193 is controlled by means of valves 194.
Valves 169, 192 and 193 may thus control the pressure
and flow rate of the cooling medium to the interior and
exterior cooling means. However~ valves 192 and 193
preferably remain at least partially open throughout the
process in order to ensure that each barrel 50 has a
sufficient amount of cooling medium to cushion the pipe
before it enters the barrel~
As shown in Figure 1 the branch pipes 193 are located
lS between partitions 53 such that the flow of cooling medium
may be varied in between the partitions. Thus, the flow
of cooling medium to any given segment of the exterior
surface of a pipe 90 resting in a barrel S0 may be varied,
since the flow rate and pressure of the cooling medium
to each compartment formed by the parti~ions may be varied
by means of valves 194. Alternately, a greater number
of branch pipes may be provided to vary flow of the
quenching medium within any compartment. ~owever, in
accordance with the present invention, it is preferable to
at least provide partitions between regions of varying
flow rate where the controlling charac~eristic, such as
thickness of a pipe wall, changes abruptly. By way of
example, when quenching upset pipe a partition is prefer-
ably located at each boundary of the upset to insure a
relatively clear line of demarcation in the cooling
regimes between the upset and the segment of the pipe
adjacent thereto.
The pressure of the cooling medium in any compartment
may also be varied by means of shutters 79. For example,
~2~5~3~
-24-
shutters 79 may extend along the length of each barrel
from one clamping means to the next, thus allowing the
discharge of water substantially only through secondary
openings 52~ Alternately, discharge of cooling medium
from each barrel may be partially or completely regulated
by the discharge of the cooling medium through those
portions of primary openings 51 and secondary openings 52
not covered by shutters 79. In this regard the shutters
may be varied in length or other appropriate dimension
and, depending upon the configuration of the clamping
means 70, may only be partially closed over the opening
51. Additional discharge conduits or openings (not shown)
may also be provided to control the pressure and flow rate
of the cooling medium passing around the pipe or other
object being quenched.
Referring again to Figure 1, valve 169 may be em-
ployed to further control the pressure of the cooling
medium both to the interior and exterior of a pipe 90.
Cooling medium conduit 141 supplies cooling medium to
the interior of each pipe 90 as it rests in a barrel 50.
Feeder conduit 170 places cooling medium feed conduit 141
in communication with exterior ~eed conduit 191, which
provides the fIow of cooling medium to the exterior of
each pipe 90. Thus, the flow of cooling medium to the
interior and exterior of a plpe 90 and, hence, the -
internal and external pressures, may be interrelated.
In accordance with one aspect of the present inven-
tion, feeder conduit 170 is equipped with a check orone-way valve 171 which is mounted in check valve housing
172, such that cooling medium may only flow from cooling
medium feed conduit 141 to exterior feed conduit 191. The
flow of cooling medium through feeder conduit 170 insures
~5~V
-25-
that the cooling medium circulating around a pipe 90 will
have ~sufficiently high pressure to ensure proper cooling
of the pipe.
As previously indicated the flow o:f cooling medium
through cooling medium feed conduit 141 is controlled by
valve 169. The operation of valve 169 is in turn con-
trolled by the operati.on of the interior quenching means
140 through means of internal quench linkage 160r As
shown in Figure 1, link arm 161 is mounted at one end on
cylindrical rod 143 by means of link arm pin 162 and at
the other end to valve stem 166 by means o~ link arm pin
163. Link arm 161 is pivotally mounted to center pivot
arm 165 by means of link arm pivot pin 164. Consequently,
cylindrical rod 143 and valve stem 166 respond to each
other's movements by moving in opposite directions to each
other. Thus, when piston 153 is extended and cylindrical
rod 143 has inserted tapered end portion 146 into a pipe
90, valve stem 166 has moved valve disc or plug 167 to the
right as shown in Figure 1, thus allowing the flow of the
cooling medium from primary feed pipe 182 to the cooling
medium feed conduit 141 and hence into the interior of
pipe 90. Similarly, when piston 153 is retracted into
: internal quench cylinder:154 such that tapered end portion
146 is not in communication with the interior o~ a pipe
90, the flow of cooling medium from primary feed pipe 182
is blocked, since valve stem 166 has pushed valve disc or
plug 167 into the path of the cooling medium~
The number of barrels mounted in magazine 30 may he
varied depending upon the rate at which pipes or other
steel pieces must be quenched and the particular quench-
ing sequence desired. However, -in accordance with the
present invention, it is preferable that the number and
, .
57~3~
-26-
capacity of ~he barrels is such that the steel pipes
may be processed in sufficiently high numbers to avoid
additional process steps, such as the reheating of steel
pipes prior to quenching as shall hereinafter be more
fully described.
Referriny now to Figures 1-9, in operation a series
of pipes are sequentially fed onto eed ramp 111. L-shaped
feed arm 113 is initially in a vertical position with pis-
10 ton 117 of cylinder 118 retracted such that the first pipe
90 rolls onto the shorter portion 123 of L-shaped feed arm
113. Cylinder 118 is then activated to extend piston 117
which in turn causes flange 115 to rotate shaft 114 thus
causing L-shaped arm 113 to rotate such that longer portion
15 124 of feed arm 113 comes into alignment with the upper
segment of partitions 53 and movable clamping members 80.
As portion 124 is slightly inclined, the pipe 90 rolls
through opening 51 into barrel or receptacle 50. As shown
in Figure 2 the lower portion of L-shaped feed arm 113 is
curved thus allowing it to slide along surface of the the
next pipe as it waits to be fed into the next barrel. --
Just before the ~arrel 50 comes into alignment with
the portion 124 of ~ shaped feed arm 113 and thus accepts
25 pipe 90, valves 192 and 194 allow a sufficient flow of
cooling medium from primary feed pipe 182 through exterior
feed pipe 191 and branch pipes 193 such 'hat barrel 50
has a sufficient amount of:water therein to cushion the
entrance of pipe 90 into barrel 50.
: Almost as soon as pipe 90 has entered barrel 50
cylinder 74 retracts clamp cylinder piston 76 thus causing
clamping arm 71 to move thr3ugh clamp arm slot 84. As
movable clamping member 80 and shut~er 79 are integrally
~2~S73~
-27-
attached to clamping arm 71 both movable clamping member80 and shutter 79 move across opening ~1. Thus, pipe 90
is held in barrel 50 as the barrel contlnues to rotate
in a counterclockwise direction as shown by the arrows
in Figure 2.
Almost simultaneously with the movement of the
clamping means, piston 153 is extended by cylinder 154.
This in turn opens valve 169 due to the movement of valve
ste~ 166 and hence valve disc or plug 167 through means
of internal quench linkage 160. Cylindrical rod 143 also
moves forward. This forward movement of the cylindrical
rod t.hrough the sealed housing or stuffing box 152 in turn
causes the forward movement of movable sleeve or sliding
tube 145. As movable sleeve 145 travels forward toward
the inlet of pipe 90 it slides through fixed sleeve 144
until the tapered end segment 146 sealingly engages the
inlet of pipe 90.
Once the pipe i5 held in position by means of clamp
ing means 70 and brought into:contact with the internal
quenching means 14~, water lows through feed conduit
141. Concurrently therewith valves 194 open to deliver
the water through openings 55 or appropriately placed
nozzles 56 and hence in a circumferential flow pattern
around the exterior of pipe 90, while shut off valve 149
opens to allow gas from flexible conduit 151 to pass
through conduit 149 and gas feed conduit 142 and hence
into the water passing through the tapered end por-
tion 146 of sleeve 145. As~the water must pass through
helical vanes 147y the water enters the inlet of pipe
90 in a helical flow patternO Additionally, the water
is injected with sufficient amount of gas, such as air,
to aerate the water and insure sufficient turbulence to
avoid the creation of steam and vapor pockets and so
, ~
i73~
-28-
prevent non-uniform cooling and otherwise facilitate heat
transfer from the pipe wall into the water.
In accordance with one aspect of the present inven-
tion, the internal and external quenching preferably
begin almost simultaneously in order to promote a more
uniform cooling sequence across the thickness of a pipe
wall as the pipe rests in a barrel 50. Thus, the full
circum~erential flow of water from flow chamber 195 and
tapered end portion 146 preferably begins within a few
tenths of a second or less after the pipe 90 is rolled
into the barrel or receptacle 50. Additionally, the flow
of water from the flow chambers preEerably begins before
the pipe leaves feed arm 113 such that the entrance of the
pipe into the barrel is appropriately cushioned. In this
regard it is noted that the continual removal of water
through secondary openings 52 or gaps in the coverage of
primary opening 51 by shutters 79 serves to remove impuri-
ties and maintain the water temperature and pressure at
desired levels.
:
In accordance with one aspect of the present inven-
tion, it is important ~o maintain the flow of water into
each of the exterior quenching compartments formed by
partition 53 in a substantiall~ circumferential pattern
such that the flow of water moves along the exterior sur-
face of each pipe 9Q. The water should generally not
directly impinge on the pipe if uniform cooling is to be
achieved.
The pressure of the water entering from valves 194
should be sufficient to create sufficient turbulence so
the pockets of steam or vapor are removed as the water
flows circumferentially along the pipe surface. Addi-
tionally, the flow rate should be such as to provide
~573~
-29-
a fairly rapid turnover of the water in each compartment
in order to prevent the circumferentially flowing turbu-
lent water within each compartment from rising above a
specified temperature. More particularly, the flow rate
is preferably such as to keep the water at an overall
temperature of about 80F (27C) and preferably 70F
(2lC) or less, since the cooling power of water increases
rapidly as the water temperature increases beyond about
75F (24C). In fact, this loss of cooling power is
almost expotential such that water at a temperature of
120F (49C) has only about 20% of the cooling power of
water at 70F (21C). However, use of water at a higher
temperature can still prove advantageous when compared to
prior processes using water of similar temperature due to
the favorable circumferential flow pattern created, the
high turnover of the water in each compartment, and the
use of a plurality of barrels or receptacles in a rotating
magazine.
.
The water ~lowing into the in~erior of the pipe 90
is preferably at a pressure of about 100 psi and should
be within the range o abou~ 60 to 110 psi prior to
injection o~ the gas. This is believed to be a high
enough pressure to provide needed turbulence and allow
the gas to force the water to adhere more closely to
the interior pipe wall as it passes through the pipe. To
this end the pressure of water in feed pipe 181 should be
at a sufficiently higher pressure, such as 135 psi.
The internal and external guenches are continued for
a predetermined amount of time during which the barrel
continues its rotation in magazine 30. The time of the
quench, the speed of rotation of the magazine, the extent
to which primary and secondary openings 51 and 52 are
closed off, the rate of flow of the cooling medium through
~2~573~
-30-
flow chambers 195 and cooling mediwm feed conduit 141, as
well the flow of gas through gas feed conduit 142 and
other variables may all be regulated during the quenching
operation to provide a proper cooling sequence for the
pipe 90. To this end thermocouples and other sensors ~not
shown) may be employed along with appropriate process
controls to control the flow of the cooling medium and gas
in order to control the cooling sequence undergone by each
pipe as well as the rate at which the pipes are passed
through the magazine.
As the barrel 50 continues to rotate in the magazine
and approach receiver 130, the cooling sequence is com-
pleted and cylinder 154 retracts the piston 153 thus
causing the retraction of cylindrical rod 143. This in
turn causes the movement of plug 167 due to the action of
internal quench linkage 160 and the withdrawal of movable
sleeve 145 such that the tapered end portion 146 of the
movable sleeve disengages the pipe 90 as the flow of water
- to the cooling medium feed conduit 141 is cut off by valve
169~ Additionally, the flow of water to flow chambers 195
is cut off or reduced by means of valves 194 and cylinder
74 retracts piston 76 thus causing shutter 79 and movable
clamping member 80 to withdraw from primary opening 51.
Given the orientation of the barrel 51 as it approaches
the receiver 130, the withdrawal of the clamping mechanism
from opening 51 allows barrel 90 to slide out onto ramp
131 of receiver 13~.
3~ The barrel then continues to rotate in the magazine
toward feeding mechanism 110 and begins filling with
water in order to repeat the sequence. The position in
the magazine 30 where each barrel 50 receives a pipe 90
from L-shaped feed arm 113 may be thought of as an inlet
position or station. Similarly, the position in the
~, . .
~2~3~3
31-
magazine 30 where each barrel 50 releases a pipe 90 onto
receiving ramp 131 may be thought of as an outlet position
or station. Thus, as each barrel rotates in the magazine
it makes a cylical path between the inlet and outlet
stations. As best shown in Figures 2 and 6, the orienta-
tion of the barrels as they approach the outlet station is
such that any e~cess water supplied to the barrel flows
through the primary opening over the lip of the barrel.
Thus, the amount of water in the barrel as it passes the
inlet station is already being replenished.
In operation, valve 169 is preferably closed when the
pipe rolls out onto receiving ramp 131. However, valve
192 preferably remains at least partially open such that
the barrel is continually supplied with water through
exterior conduit 191 and branch pipes 193. Consequently,
a pipe 90 entering the barrel 50 from feed mechanism 110
rolls into a cushion of water. Thereafter, as previously
described valve 169 is opened and water flows through the
cooling medium feed conduit 141 and into the interior of
pipe 90. Water also flows through feeder conduit 170,
since check valve 171 permits fluid flow into exterior
feed conduit 191. Due to this additional flow from
conduit 170, the water on the exterior surface of the pipe
is more easily maintained at sufficiently high pressures
to promote proper heat transfer from the exterior surface
of the pipe to the water. Howeverr feeder conduit 170 may
not be required depending upon the water pressure in
stationary feed pipe 181 and the control of valve 192.
Additionally, a two-way valve may be substituted for check
valve 171 to provide grPater control over the flow o
water through feed condult 170.
As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art
having the benefit of this disclosure, given the variable
~2~S73~
-32-
flow rates, pressures, and other condi~ions attainable in
each compartment, the present invention is particularly
suitable for quenching internal and external upset pipe,
casing or tapered steel pieces. Of course, in the case of
pipe with uniform thickness the flow rates do not neces
sarily have to be varied. Additionally, steel pipe with
walls of greater thickness or lower alloy content may now
be successfully heat treated
The process and apparatus of the present invention
may also be used to treat tool joints after they are
welded to a tubular member such as drill pipe. Thus, the
tool joint and pipe may be of similar composition and the
tool joint need not have a higher alloy content to with- -
stand the temperature changes caused by welding. For
example, a tool joint, which may be thought of as a sleeve
of additional thickness added to the end of the pipe, may
first be welded to a piece of pipe. Thereafter, the pipe-
tool joint combination may be heated above its critical
austenizing temperature and quenched in accordance with
~the present invention. ;
~ As will also be appreciated by~one skilled in the art
having the benefit of this disclosure, the quenching of
steel pipe in accordance wlth the present invention pro-
vides a process~which can sequentially quench a number of
tubular products at a sufficiently high rate such that a
steady production rate may be~maintained based on the
weight of steel~processed. This may be illustrated by the
following examples.
The~capacity of a typical pipe~mill system, such as
a Mannesman system, is generally measured in terms of the
tons of steel pipe rolled every hour. Examples of quench-
ing times for various sizes Oe tubing or casing are shown
.. .
573~
-33-
in Table 1~ The estimated minimum quenching ~ime is cal-
culated assuming that each pipe is quenched from 1600F
to ambient temperature using water at 80T. The water
supplied to each barrel would have a flow rate of approxi-
mately 1400 gallons per minute and a pressure in the range
of 80 to 130 psi.
TABLE 1
_
Outside Wall Weight Minimum
Diameter Thickness Length per piece Quenching
Ty~e (inches) (inches) (feet) (tons) Time
Tubing 2-7/8 .316 32 .140 9 seconds
Casing 4-1/2 .250 48 .220 18 seconds
Casing 7 .317 48 .540 36 seconds
Table 2 illustrates the number and tonnage of pieces
of steel quenched if the tubing or casing set forth in
Table 1 were quenched in line with a rolling mill of the
designated capacity. As indicated, it i5 generally
preerable to increase the number oE barrels in the
rotating magazine as the capacity of the rolling mill
increases. A loading and unloading time of ten seconds is
assumed for the traditional inside-outside quench unit.
~0 ~ .
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:~21P~73~
-35-
These calculations demonstrate the increased process-
ing capacity that will result through use of the present
invention. Since most prior processes can only separately
quench a percentage of the pipes produced~ additional
quenching units must be built, production rates reduced,
or additional furnaces provided to reheat the pipes which
have cooled prior to quenching. In contrast, the magazine
of the present invention can separately quench a varying
number of pipes at varying rates, ~hus more clssely
matching or exceeding the capacity of the production units
to the extent desired, and, alternately, also provide more
quenching time for each pipe.
In regard ~o this last alternative all of the total
available quench time need not be used. The flow rate or
pressure of the water flowing to each barrel can be
separately controlled, such that the quench may be varied
or cut-off depending upon the weight of the pipe and the
type of quench desired.
~0
I~ may be preferable in some instances to provide
different size receptacles or barrels 53 to accommodate
varying sizes of pipe or other tubular proaucts. Addi-
tionally, different units could be provided. By way ofexample one unit might have receptacles adaptable to
accept pipe with outside diameters of 4.5 to 10 inches
~11.4 to 25.4 cm) ~while another unit might have barrels
adaptable to accept pipe ranging from 1.5 to 4.5 inches
~3.8 to 11.4 cm) in outside diameter.
The various cylinders such as clamp cylinder 74,
feed cylinders 118, quench cylinders 154 may be operated
by air or other gas from reservoir 44. Alternately, the
cylinders may be hydraulic.
~2~S73~
-~6-
The appara~us of the present invention may be
equipped with appropriate process controls to insure
proper timing sequence for the various valves and other
devices. Based on the foregoing disclosure the nature
of such controls should be apparent to one skilled in
the art. ~owever, pneumatic controls will generally be
preferred to electrical ones in view of the extensive
use of water or ~imilar cooling mediums. Additionally,
a cam system may be employed to aid in the control and
sequencing of the quenching operation. For example, a cam
system push rod device similar to one used on automated
screw making lathes may be employed. The cam system could
be operatively connected to the pneumatic or hydraulic
control system and so used to ultimately control the flow
of a cooling medium such as water to each barrel depending
upon the location of the barrel as it rotates in the
magazine.
As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art
having the benefit of this disclosure a number of modi~i-
cations may be made to the foregoing apparatus and method
within the spirit of the present invention. For example,
each receptacle 50 may be varied in shape and the number
of flow chambers may be varied depending on the source of
the cooling medium, the maximum and minimum thickness of
pipe or other object to be quenched by a given barrel and
other variables. A blank may also be supplied such that a
barrel of a given length may accommodate pipes of differ-
ing lengths. Additionally, although the cooling medium
is preferably water and the gas is preferably air, any
variety of cooling media or gases may be employed or
interchanged within the spirit of khe present invention.
Furthermore, the interior quenching means may be used with
conventional quenching techniques. Similarly~ the exterior
circumferential quenching means may be used to quench the
5~3~
-37-
exterior of the pipe while conventional quenching tech-
niques are used on the interior. However9 it is prefer-
able in most cases to use both the internal gas-injected
quench and the circumferential exterior quench in order
to facilitate uniform and rapid heat transfer from the
pipe to the cooling medium and otherwise take kull advan-
tage of the present invention. Also the nature and extent
of the partitionsl the number of compartments, or the
number of barrels in the magazine may be varied depending
upon the cooling sequence or other effects desiredO Fur-
thermore, provision may be made to cool and recycle the
cooling medium for repeated use in the magazine. Also
hydraulic rather than air cylinders may be employed,
though the former is preferable.
Further modifications and alternative embodiments
of the apparatus and method of this invention will be
apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this
description. Accordingly, this description is to be
construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of
teaching those skilled in the art the manner of carrying
ou~ the invention. It is to be understood that the forms
of the invention herewith shown and described will be
taken as the presently preferred embodiments. Various
changes may be made in size, shape and arrangement of
parts. For example, e~uivalent elements or materials may
be substituted for those illustrated and described herein,
parts may be reversed, and certain features of the inven-
tion may be utilized independent of the use of other fea-
tures, all of which would be apparent to one skilled inthe art af~er having the benefit of this description of
the invention.
