Method and apparatus for manufacturing rails

US4668308A · kind A · utility

Assignees

• Centre De Recherches Metallurgiques-Centrum Voor Research in De Metallurgie · BE
• Metallurgique et Miniere de Rodange-Athus S.A. · FR

Inventors

• Marios Economopoulos · Liège, BE
• Nicole Lambert · Waremme, BE
• Pierre Simon · Montegnée, BE
• Ren/e/ Conti · Athus, BE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 8, 1985
• Grant date: May 26, 1987
• Expiry date: May 8, 2005

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B21B1/085
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

At the exit from the hot rolling mill the rail temperature is reduced to a value not less than that at which the pearlite transformation begins in the rail head. From this temperature the continuously advancing rail is subjected to rapid cooling in a rapid cooling line. Subsequently the rail is cooled to ambient temperature. For a given rail head temperature at the extreme to the rapid cooling line, the length of the line, the speed of advance of the rail, and the average thermal flux density applied to the head, flange, and web of the rail are controlled so that the final mechanical properties of the rail head are obtained, although less then 60% of the cross-section of the head has undergone the austenite-pearlite transformation upon leaving the rapid cooling line, and differences in elongation between the head and the web and between the head and the flange are minimized.