Temperature control device for the temperature control of a component

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for temperature-controlling a component part. The device has a temperature-control zone, along which the component part is movable along a conveying direction. The temperature-control zone is configured to temperature-control at least one temperature-control section of the component part. Furthermore, the device has a temperature-control zone controller, which is configured to cover a covering region of the temperature-control zone such that in the covering region a temperature-control effect from the temperature-control zone on the temperature-control section of the component part is reducible. Herein, the temperature-control zone controller is configured so as to adjust the size of the covering region.

Claims

1. A high speed cooler for temperature-controlling a metallic component part comprising: a temperature-control zone, in which the metallic component part is continuously moved through along a conveying direction during a temperature controlling process, wherein the temperature-control zone is configured to temperature-control at least a temperature-control section of the metallic component part, a temperature-control zone controller, which is configured to cover a covering region of the temperature-control zone such that in the covering region a temperature-control effect from the temperature-control zone to the temperature-control section of the metallic component part is reducible, wherein the temperature-control zone controller variably adjusts the size of the covering region including when a section of the metallic component part shall be strongly cooled the size is made smaller, and when another section of the metallic component part shall hardly or not be cooled the size is enlarged; and a housing having in the conveying direction an entrance and an exit wherein the metallic component part is continuously guided through in the conveying direction with a predetermined velocity; wherein the temperature-control zone has, along the conveying direction, a plurality of temperature-control elements that are located at a distance to each other; wherein the temperature control elements are cooling elements to cool the metallic component part, and wherein the temperature control elements are nozzles.

2. The high speed cooler according to claim 1, wherein the temperature-control zone has, transverse to the conveying direction, a plurality of temperature-control elements that are located at a distance to each other.

3. The high speed cooler according to claim 1, wherein the temperature-control zone controller has a covering device, wherein the covering device is movable within the temperature-control zone along the conveying direction and/or transverse to the conveying direction.

4. The high speed cooler according to claim 3, wherein the covering device bears on at least one guide roller.

5. The high speed cooler according to claim 3, wherein the covering device being configured such that a first part of the covering device is displaceable along the conveying direction and a second part of the covering device is displaceable at an angle to the conveying device away from the metallic component part.

6. The high speed cooler according to claim 5, wherein the second part of the covering device is displaceable at an orthogonal angle to the conveying device away from the metallic component part.

7. The high speed cooler according to claim 3, wherein the covering device has a fabric material or a sheet plate material.

8. The high speed cooler according to claim 3, wherein the covering device consists of covering portions that are connected to each other in an articulated manner.

9. The high speed cooler according to claim 1, wherein the temperature-control zone controller has at least one covering flap, wherein the covering flap is arranged in the temperature-control zone, wherein the covering flap is pivotable to a first position, in which the temperature-control effect of the temperature-control zone is not influenced and is pivotable to a second position, in which the temperature-control effect of the temperature-control zone is reducible.

10. The high speed cooler according to claim 1, wherein the temperature-control zone controller has at least one covering lamella, wherein the covering lamella is displaceable to a first position, in which the temperature-control effect of the temperature-control zone is not influenced, and is displaceable to a second position, in which the temperature-control effect of the temperature-control zone is reducible.

11. The high speed cooler according to claim 10, wherein the temperature-control zone controller has a plurality of covering lamella, which extend independently from each other transverse to and/or in the conveying direction, wherein the covering lamella are arranged one after the other along the conveying direction or transverse to the conveying direction, wherein each of the covering lamella is displaceable independently from each other to the first position, in which the temperature-control effect of the temperature-control zone is not influenced, and is displaceable to the second position, in which the temperature-control effect of the temperature-control zone is reducible.

12. The high speed cooler according to claim 10, wherein in the covering lamella extends in at least one of the conveying direction or a direction transverse to the conveying direction.

13. The high speed cooler according to claim 1, wherein the temperature-control zone controller has a processor-controlled unit.

Description

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following, embodiment examples are described in more detail with reference to the appended drawings for a further explanation and a better understanding of the present invention. In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a device for temperature-controlling a component part, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, according to which a covering device is employed.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a device for temperature-controlling a component part according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, according to which a deformable covering device is employed.

(4) FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a device for temperature-controlling a component part according to an exemplary embodiment example of the present invention, according to which a covering flap is employed.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of a device for temperature-controlling a component part according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, according to which a covering lamella is employed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

(6) Same or similar components in different figures are provided with same reference numerals. The representations in the drawings are schematical.

(7) FIG. 1 shows a device 100 for temperature-controlling a component part 101. The device 100 may have a temperature-control zone 106, along which the component part 101 may be movable along a conveying direction 102. The temperature-control zone 106 may be configured to temperature-control at least a temperature control section 103 of the component part 101. Furthermore, the device 100 may have a temperature-control zone controller 105, which may be configured to cover a covering region 104 of the temperature-control zone 106 such that, in the covering region 104, a temperature-control effect from the temperature-control zone 106 on the temperature control section 103 of the component part 101 may be reducible. The temperature-control zone controller 105 may hereby be configured so as to adjust the size of the covering region 104.

(8) The device 100 for temperature-controlling a component part 101 may in particular heat up or cool down the component part 101. In the embodiment in FIG. 1, the component part 101 may be a belt (or ribbon), in particular a metal belt, which may run through the temperature-control device 100 along a conveying direction 102. Thus, for example, the component part 101 may be conveyed initially along an oven device, in particular a continuous furnace. Further, to the oven device, for example the device 100 for temperature-controlling according to the invention may be arranged and may function for example as a high-speed (or high-rate) cooler, as is described above.

(9) The component part 101 may be run through in the conveying direction 102 with a predetermined velocity. Furthermore, it may also be driven forwardly sequentially. Along the run-through through the device 100, the component part 101 may be cooled down with a predetermined cooling rate (or may be heated up with a predetermined heating rate). The device 100 may have a housing 110, which may have, in the conveying direction 102, an entrance and an exit, such that the component part 101 may be guided through the device 100. Within the device 100, temperature-control elements 107 may be arranged, which temperature-control the component part 101 with a desired temperature. Herein, the temperature-control elements 107 may for example represent nozzles, which may be flown through by a temperature-control fluid 108.

(10) The region within the device 100, in which the component part 101 may be temperature-controlled, is referred to as the temperature-control zone 106. The temperature-control zone 106 of the device 100 may be configured such that at least a temperature control section 103 of the component part 101 may be temperature-controlled. In the case, in which the component part 101 may be larger than the temperature-control zone 106, for example because the component part may represent a metal belt, the temperature-control zone 106 may cover, respectively, only a section of the component part 101.

(11) The temperature-control zone 106 may in particular be configured such that along the whole region thereof, a thermal effect, i.e. heat energy or a cooling effect, may act on the component part 101. In other words, temperature-control elements 107 may be conceived along the whole temperature-control zone 106, which elements may transfer the desired thermal effect on (or to) the component part 101.

(12) The temperature-control zone controller 105 may be employed to cover a covering region 104 of the temperature-control zone 106. For example, the whole temperature-control zone 106 may be covered by the temperature-control zone controller 105, or no region of the temperature-control zone 106 may be covered in an in particular inactive state. The covering (or coverage) of the temperature-control zone 106 may be implemented for example with the elements described in detail further below, such as for example a covering device 109 (see the embodiment example of FIG. 1), covering flaps 301 (see the embodiment example of FIG. 3) or covering lamellae 401 (see the embodiment example of FIG. 4). The covering may be effected in particular between the temperature-control elements 107 within the temperature-control zone 106 and the component part 101 itself. Thus, in other words, the temperature-control zone controller 105 may cover a region 104 of the temperature-control zone 106 such that the thermal effect, which may be directed from the temperature-control zone 106 on (or to) the component part 101, may be covered and/or reduced. In this covering region 104 of the temperature-control zone 106, the component part 101 may thus not be temperature-controlled and/or reducedly temperature-controlled. The temperature-control zone controller 105 may have, for this purpose, furthermore in particular a control unit, for example a processor-controlled unit (for example a computer).

(13) The temperature-control elements 107 may be for example nozzles, through which a temperature-control fluid 108 may be flowable in the direction towards the temperature control section 103 of the component part. The temperature-control fluid 108 may be for example gaseous or liquid.

(14) The temperature-control elements 107 may be arranged along a row parallel to the conveying direction 102 or transverse to the conveying direction 102. In particular, a matrix consisting of rows of temperature-control elements 107 transverse and along the conveying direction 102 may form the temperature-control zone 106.

(15) In the embodiment example in FIG. 1, the temperature-control zone controller 105 may have a covering device 109, wherein the covering device 109 may be movable within the temperature-control zone 106 along the conveying direction 102 and/or transverse to the conveying direction 102, in particular with respect to the temperature-control zone 106. In an exemplary embodiment, the covering device 109 may be a fabric (or cloth) material or a sheet plate (or iron sheeting) material.

(16) As is described already at the beginning, the covering device 109 may be adjustable, at a housing 110 of the device 100, between the component part 101 and the temperature-control zone 106, such that a particular region 104 of the temperature-control zone 106 may be coverable, and thus a temperature-control effect from the temperature-control zone 106 on the component part 101 may be reducible and/or adjustable. The further the covering device 109 may be moved into the temperature-control zone 106, i.e. the more of the nozzle array 107 may be covered, the less area of the belt (component part 101) may be cooled, and/or the smaller may be the temperature control section 103 of the component part 101.

(17) As is illustrated in FIG. 1, the device 100 may have temperature-control zones 106, which may be arranged opposite to the component part 101. Accordingly, for example, a covering device 109 may be moved in between the component part 101 and an upper part of the housing 110, and accordingly an upper temperature-control zone 106. Accordingly, for example, a further covering device 109 may be moved in between the component part 101 and a lower part of the housing 110 and accordingly a lower temperature-control zone 106. Correspondingly, the covering flaps 301 (see FIG. 3) and the covering lamellae 401 (see FIG. 4) may be arranged at both sides of the component part 101.

(18) The covering devices 109, which may be movable into and out of the temperature-control zone 106 above and below the component part 101, may be moved uniformly and identically to each other. Furthermore, the temperature-control zone controller 105 may also control the covering devices 109 differently, such that for example the upper covering device 109 may be movable into the temperature-control zone 106 differently far than the lower covering device 109.

(19) FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment of the device 100. The device 100 of FIG. 2 may have the same construction as the device of FIG. 1. In addition, guide rollers 201 are illustrated. The covering device 109 may rest on at least one of the guide rollers 201. The guide rollers 201 may be drivable for example as a part of the temperature-control zone controller 105, in order to move the covering device 109 targetedly to a desired position along the temperature-control zone 106.

(20) Furthermore, the covering device 109 may be formed deformably (e.g. formed as a covering curtain), such that a first part 203 of the covering device may be movable along the conveying direction 102, and a second part 202 of the covering device 109 may be movable at an angle to the conveying direction 103, in particular orthogonal, away from the component part 101. Thus, a space-saving covering device 109 may be provided. If for example the first part 203 of the covering device 109 leaves the temperature-control zone 106, then the covering device 109 may be deflected, for example via the deflection roller 201, such that the second part 202 may no longer be aligned parallel to the conveying direction 102.

(21) FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of the device 100. The device 100 of FIG. 3 may have the same construction as the device 100 of FIG. 1, except that covering flaps 301 may be formed instead of a covering device 109.

(22) The covering flaps 301 may be arranged in the temperature-control zone 106. A covering flap 301 may be rotatable to a first position (or posture), in which the temperature-control effect of the temperature-control zone 106 may not be influenced (temperature control section 103), and may be rotatable to a second position, in which the temperature-control effect of the temperature-control zone may be reducible (covering region 104). The covering flap 301 may be arranged in particular between the temperature-control elements 107 and the component part 101. The covering flap 301 may be rotatable around a rotation axis in order to be rotated to the desired position. In a first e.g. opened position, the covering flap 301 may let flow the temperature-control flow 108 of a temperature-control fluid, which may flow through according nozzles as the temperature-control element 107, in the direction towards the component part. In a second e.g. closed position, the covering flap 301 may hinder the temperature-control flow of the temperature-control fluid 108, such that the temperature-control fluid 108 may have no and/or hardly any temperature-control effect on the component part 101 in this region (covering region 104).

(23) In FIG. 3, a blower 300 is furthermore illustrated, which may control the flow of the temperature-control fluid 108.

(24) A plurality of covering flaps 301 may be arranged along the conveying direction 102 and/or transverse to the conveying direction 102. Herein, the temperature-control zone controller 105 may be configured to control particular selected covering flaps 301, such that a first covering profile of opened covering flaps 301 may be adjusted variably, and a second covering profile of closed covering flaps 301 may be adjusted variably, in order to thus possibly adjust the temperature-control effect of the component part 101 more precisely and more flexibly.

(25) FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of the device 100. The device 100 of FIG. 4 may have the same construction as the device 100 of FIG. 1, except that covering lamellae 401 may be formed instead of the covering device 109.

(26) The covering lamellae 401 may extend transverse to the conveying direction 102. The covering lamella 401 may be movable, in particular transverse to and/or in the conveying direction 102, to a first position, in which the temperature-control effect of the temperature-control zone 106 may not be influenced, and may be movable to a second position, in which the temperature-control effect of the temperature-control zone 106 may be reducible. The covering lamella 401 may be movable and/or displaceable in particular along a translational movement direction. The covering lamella 401 may have areas having an opening, wherein these opening areas may cover the temperature-control elements 107, for example the nozzles, in the first position of the covering lamella 401, such that the temperature-control effect of the temperature-control elements 107 may act through the opening area on the component part 101. In the second position of the covering lamella 401, for example, a material region of the covering lamella 401 may cover the temperature-control element 107, such that no and/or only hardly any temperature-control effect may act on the component part 101 in this second position.

(27) A plurality of covering lamellae 401 may be arranged beside each other for example along the conveying direction 102, and may extends independently from each other transverse to the conveying direction 102. Each one of the covering lamellae 401 may be movable independently from each other, in particular by the control of the temperature-control zone controller 105, to the first position, in which the temperature-control effect of the temperature-control zone 106 may not be influenced, and may be movable to the second position, in which the temperature-control effect of the temperature-control zone 106 may be reducible.

(28) Supplementarily, it is noted that “having” (or “comprising”) does not exclude other elements or steps, and that “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. Furthermore, it is noted that features or steps, which have been described with reference to one of the embodiment examples above, can also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiment examples described above. Reference numerals in the claims are not to be considered as a limitation.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(29) 100 device 101 component part 102 conveying direction 103 temperature control section 104 covering region 105 temperature-control zone controller 106 temperature-control zone 107 temperature-control element 108 temperature-control fluid 109 covering device 110 housing 201 guide roller 202 second one of the covering device 203 first one of the covering device 300 blower/compressor 301 covering flap 401 covering lamella