A system for air quenching a heat treated element comprises a tubular component, an internal air quench device moveably disposed within the interior of the tubular component, and an external air quench device moveably disposed about the tubular component. The internal air quench device comprises a nozzle configured to induce an airflow within the tubular component. The external air quenching device can comprise an annular ring disposed about the tubular component that is configured to generate a cone of air about the tubular component.

A system for air quenching a heat treated element comprises a tubular component, an internal air quench device moveably disposed within the interior of the tubular component, and an external air quench device moveably disposed about the tubular component. The internal air quench device comprises a nozzle configured to induce an airflow within the tubular component. The external air quenching device can comprise an annular ring disposed about the tubular component that is configured to generate a cone of air about the tubular component.

Systems and methods of quenching a metal substrate include cooling a top surface and a bottom surface of the metal substrate until a strip temperature is cooled to an intermediate temperature. Cooling of the top surface of the metal substrate is discontinued when the strip temperature reaches the intermediate temperature, and cooling of the bottom surface of the metal substrate continues until the metal substrate reaches a target temperature, where the target temperature is less than the intermediate temperature.

The invention relates to a component in the form of a wheel comprising: a hub portion, a rim portion with an outer rim flange and an inner rim flange, a plurality of circumferentially distributed spokes extending between the hub portion and the rim portion, wherein the spokes and the hub portion are arranged offset with respect to a wheel center plane towards the outer rim flange and have an inner side facing the wheel center plane and an outer side directed away from the wheel center plane, wherein the outer rim flange has greater tensile residual stresses at least in a partial region than at least a partial region of the inner rim flange.

Disclosed are implementations for heat treatment of steel components. In one or more first regions of a steel component, a predominantly austenitic structure can be adjusted, from which, by way of quenching, a mainly martensitic structure is educible. In one or more second regions of the steel component, there is a mainly bainitic structure, wherein the metal component is initially heated in a first furnace to a temperature above the Ac3 temperature. Subsequently, the steel component is transferred into a treatment station, wherein the steel component can cool down during the transfer. In the treatment station, the one or more second regions of the steel component are cooled down to a cooling stop temperatures ϑ.sub.2 during a treatment period. Subsequently, said metal component is transferred to a second furnace, wherein the temperature of the one or more second regions increases again to a temperature below the Ac3 temperature.

A method and a system for cooling treating metal parts exiting a nitriding/nitrocarburizing treatment in molten salt baths, comprising a cooling chamber in direct relation with a nitriding/nitrocarburizing station for receiving parts therefrom; a gaseous nitrogen feeding unit connected to the cooling chamber and configured to create an inert atmosphere within the cooling chamber; and a screened transfer path between the nitriding/nitrocarburizing station and the cooling chamber; wherein after exiting molten salt baths of the nitriding/nitrocarburizing station, the treated parts are transferred to the cooling chamber through the screened transfer path, and cooled therein to a minimum temperature above a temperature at which salts congeal.

A process for manufacturing compact coils of ultra-fine grained, martensite-free steel bars, the process comprising the following stages:

a) rolling a steel billet by means of a roughing rolling mill producing a steel bar;

b) performing at least one first cooling stage so that the steel bar has a surface temperature higher than the martensite start temperature, and performing at least one first equalization stage in air;

c) rolling the steel bar by means of at least one intermediate rolling mill;

d) performing at least one second cooling stage always maintaining the surface temperature higher than the martensite start temperature, and performing at least one second equalization stage in air;

e) rolling the steel bar by means of a finishing rolling mill in a non-recrystallization temperature range, maintaining the whole cross-section of the steel bar within said non-recrystallization temperature range, and with a total reduction between 25 and 50% with respect to the cross-section of the steel bar at the entry of the finishing rolling mill, in order to obtain an ultra-fine-grained austenitic matrix;

f) winding the steel bar in a compact coil, by means at least one spooling device, so that the ultra-fine-grained austenitic matrix transforms in a mixture of ferrite and pearlite.

After the winding operation is completed, the compact coil can be transferred to a storage area through a transferring device, for example a walking beam, where a natural or forced or retarded cooling is applied to the coil.

The invention relates to a cooling device (100) for cooling at least one element (150, 151) passing through said device, comprising a metal block (115), having a first side and a second side, and comprising a cooling channel (130) for cyrogenic gas. The at least one element (150, 151) can be guided along the sides of the first side of the metal block (115), the cooling channel (130) is at least partially in heat conductive connection with the second side of the metal block (115), and the cooling channel (130) has an attachment (131) on a first end for the entry of cryogenic gas and an attachment on a second end for the exit of cryogenic gas. The invention also comprises a hardening device having such a cooling device (100) and a method for cooling at least one element (150, 151) passing through said device.

One or more hollow billets are loaded onto an elongate mandrel bar for extrusion. The billets are transported along the mandrel bar to a rotating die. The billets are transported through fluid clamps, which engage the mandrel bar and provide cooling fluid to the mandrel bar tip, and through mandrel grips, which engage the mandrel bar and prevent the mandrel bar from rotating. One or more press-rams advance the billets through a centering insert and into the rotating die. A quench assembly is provided at an extrusion end of the extrusion press to quench the extruded material. A programmable logic controller may be provided to control, at least in part, operations of the extrusion press system.

One or more hollow billets are loaded onto an elongate mandrel bar for extrusion. The billets are transported along the mandrel bar to a rotating die. The billets are transported through fluid clamps, which engage the mandrel bar and provide cooling fluid to the mandrel bar tip, and through mandrel grips, which engage the mandrel bar and prevent the mandrel bar from rotating. One or more press-rams advance the billets through a centering insert and into the rotating die. A quench assembly is provided at an extrusion end of the extrusion press to quench the extruded material. A programmable logic controller may be provided to control, at least in part, operations of the extrusion press system.