Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus for continuously removing fine scale dust comprising oxides of iron, such as FeO, Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, and Fe.sub.3 O.sub.4 from mechanically descaled hot-rolled or heat-treated steel strand as preparation for wire drawing. Generally hot-rolled or heat-treated steel wire strand must be descaled prior to cold drawing into wire products. When mechanically descaled, as by reverse bending, large pieces of brittle scale separate readily from the steel surface but smaller dust-like particles remain attached to the surface as by electromagnetic or electrostatic forces. These small particles must be removed prior to cold drawing into wire; otherwise, drawing die life is seriously reduced by the abrasive nature of the fine scale dust particles. The invention herein comprises an apparatus for the continuous removal of iron oxide scale dust from mechanically descaled steel strand. The invented apparatus is intended for use in tandem with mechanical descaling equipment. Both pieces of equipment operate continuously and in-line with the wire drawing equipment in preparing the steel strand for processing into wire. The invention herein is designed to remove fine scale dust from mechanically descaled strands using compressed air only. The compressed air is made to form equal, opposing high velocity jets that perform the cleaning. The design also causes containment of the removed scale dust and prevents escape to the atmosphere.

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First Claim