Method for shape control of rail during accelerated cooling

摘要

A method and apparatus for controlling the shape of a hot railroad rail during accelerated cooling of the rail head. The railroad rail is cooled along its web-base junction at a rate which achieves a pre-selected degree of shape control, while avoiding over-cooling of the upper portion of the web or the tips of the rail base. The apparatus comprises spray means for applying selected volumes of coolant to the web-base junction of the rail oriented about the periphery of the rail. Such apparatus may be used to shape a rail during the accelerated cooling thereof in line with a rolling mill.