Abstract A hot-rolled metal body, e.g. a bar, rod, billet, bloom, rail or wire, emerges from between the last rolls of the rolling-mill train in a hot condition and is subjected to a high-pressure water jet to remove all traces of scale and prepare the surface of the body for receiving an enamel coating without substantial cooling of the body. The workpiece is then coated with a powder fusing at a temperature at or below the temperature of the body to form a liquid layer or film which solidifies upon cooling to provide the enamel coating. Since the enamel coating ruptures, cracks, ''''stars'''' or otherwise breaks in the region of surface flaws of the body, the coating serves to indicate the presence of such flaws while protecting the body against oxidation or scaling as the body cools.
A method of accenting and removing surface flaws in a hot metal body emerging from a forming stage comprising the steps of: progressively advancing said body along a trans-port path; applying a glassy coating to the surface of said body by continously depositing on said surface of said body as it emerges from said forming stage a glass-forming substance fusible at least at the temperature of said body to form an enamel-like coating thereon; directing at least one high-pressure jet of water against said body immediately prior to the application of said glass-forming substance thereto to erode residual scale and prepare the surface of said body for receiving said enamel-like coating; selectively cracking said coating in the region of surface flaws of said body by cooling said coating on said body; and removing said flaws from said body at re-gions thereon visually accented by cracks in said coating.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of accenting and removing surface flaws in a hot metal body emerging from a forming stage comprising the steps of: progressively advancing said body along a trans-port path; applying a glassy coating to the surface of said body by continously depositing on said surface of said body as it emerges from said forming stage a glass-forming substance fusible at least at the temperature of said body to form an enamel-like coating thereon; directing at least one high-pressure jet of water against said body immediately prior to the application of said glass-forming substance thereto to erode residual scale and prepare the surface of said body for receiving said enamel-like coating; selectively cracking said coating in the region of surface flaws of said body by cooling said coating on said body; and removing said flaws from said body at re-gions thereon visually accented by cracks in said coating.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
18 words
The method defined in cliam 1 wherein said jet has a pressure in excess of 100 atmospheres gauge.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
18 words
The method defined in cliam 1 wherein said jet has a pressure in excess of 100 atmospheres gauge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method defined in claim 2 where said pressure is about 200 atmospheres gauge.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method defined in claim 2 wherein said jet is directed against said body at a volume rate of flow in excess of 200 l/minute.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method defined in claim 4 wherein said jet is projected against said body at a volume rate of flow of about 400 l/min.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method defined in claim 4 wherein the jet has a diameter between 0.2 and 3mm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method defined in claim 6 wherein said jet is directed at said body from a nozzle having an aperture diameter of about 2.1mm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method defined in claim 6 wherein said jet is directed at said body with a velocity of 15 to 100 m/sec.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method defined in claim 8 wherein said jet is directed against said body with a velocity of about 80 m/sec.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said coating is formed in part by interaction between said substance and said body.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said substance consists at least partially of a material desirable for later surface treatment of said body.