METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COOLING INDUCTION HEATED MATERIAL

摘要

Method and apparatus for the induction heating of a metallic material (T) comprising the steps of forming the material (T) into a desired shape, passing the formed material (T) in heat exchange relationship with an induction heating coil (16), passing the heated material (T) directly from the induction heating coil (16) into the reaction chamber (30) of a cooling shroud (20) at a temperature above its lowest reaction temperature, delivering hydrogen gas and an inert gas into the reaction chamber (30) of the cooling shroud (20) to expose the material (T) entering the reaction chamber (30) to this gas mixture so as to reduce the surface oxidation on the material (T), cooling the material (T) in the reaction chamber (30) while exposing the surface thereof to the inert gas, and passing the material (T) from the cooling shroud (20) at a reduced temperature which is less than the reaction temperature of the material (T) whereby the formation of heavy surface oxides is eliminated and the material (T) has a workable hardness.