U.S. patent application number 12/377315 was filed with the patent office on 2010-10-28 for mandrel bar cleaning facility.
This patent application is currently assigned to Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd.. Invention is credited to Yasuyoshi Hidaka, Sumio Iida, Kouji Nakaike.
Application Number | 20100269868 12/377315 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39106650 |
Filed Date | 2010-10-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100269868 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nakaike; Kouji ; et
al. |
October 28, 2010 |
MANDREL BAR CLEANING FACILITY
Abstract
It is an object of the present invention to provide a mandrel
bar cleaning facility capable of effectively suppressing
carburization generated on the inner surface of a pipe or tube
while the pipe or tube is elongated and rolled without hindering an
operation. A mandrel bar cleaning facility 15 of the present
invention cleans a mandrel bar B which is pulled out of a mandrel
bar conveying line after being used for elongating and rolling a
pipe or tube in a mandrel mill 8. The mandrel bar cleaning facility
15 is provided with conveying devices 17, 18 that convey the
mandrel bar B in the axial direction while revolving the mandrel
bar B in the peripheral direction, and cleaning devices 1d that are
arranged oppositely to the side of the mandrel bar B conveyed by
the conveying devices 17, 18, and jet high-pressure water having a
water pressure of 0.2 to 150 MPa (preferably, 20 to 150 MPa) toward
the outer surface of the mandrel bar B.
Inventors: |
Nakaike; Kouji; (Wakayama,
JP) ; Hidaka; Yasuyoshi; (Hyogo, JP) ; Iida;
Sumio; (Hyogo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MARSHALL, GERSTEIN & BORUN LLP
233 SOUTH WACKER DRIVE, 6300 WILLIS TOWER
CHICAGO
IL
60606-6357
US
|
Assignee: |
Sumitomo Metal Industries,
Ltd.
Osaka-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
39106650 |
Appl. No.: |
12/377315 |
Filed: |
August 6, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
August 6, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2007/065351 |
371 Date: |
June 29, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
134/122R |
Current CPC
Class: |
B08B 3/022 20130101;
B21B 17/14 20130101; B21B 23/00 20130101; B21B 17/04 20130101; B21B
25/04 20130101; B21B 25/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
134/122.R |
International
Class: |
B21B 45/02 20060101
B21B045/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 22, 2006 |
JP |
2006-224812 |
Claims
1. A mandrel bar cleaning facility which cleans a mandrel bar
pulled out of a mandrel bar conveying line after being used for
elongating and rolling a pipe or tube in a mandrel mill,
comprising: a conveying device for conveying the mandrel bar in an
axial direction of the mandrel bar while revolving the mandrel bar
in a peripheral direction of the mandrel bar; and a cleaning device
arranged oppositely to a side of the mandrel bar conveyed by the
conveying device, the cleaning device jetting high-pressure water
having a water pressure of 0.2 to 150 MPa toward an outer surface
of the mandrel bar.
2. The mandrel bar cleaning facility according to claim 1, wherein
the high-pressure water has a water pressure of 20 to 150 MPa.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a mandrel bar cleaning
facility which cleans a mandrel bar used for producing a seamless
pipe or tube. Specifically, the present invention relates to a
mandrel bar cleaning facility capable of suppressing carburization
generated on the inner surface of a pipe or tube elongated and
rolled without hindering an operation. Hereinafter, "pipe or tube"
is referred to as "pipe" when deemed appropriate.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] In the production of the seamless pipe due to a
Mannesmann-mandrel mill method, first, a round billet or a square
billet is heated at 1200 to 1260.degree. C. in a heating furnace,
and the billet is then pierced and rolled by a piercer to produce a
hollow shell. Next, a mandrel bar is inserted into the inner
surface of the hollow shell, and the hollow shell is elongated and
rolled by a mandrel mill to produce a pipe reduced to a prescribed
thickness. After the mandrel bar is then extracted from the pipe
having the reduced thickness, the pipe is roll-formed to a
prescribed outer diameter by a sizing mill to produce a seamless
pipe as a product.
[0003] The mandrel bar and the hollow shell tube tend to be seized
while the hollow shell is elongated and rolled. A lubricant is
applied to the surface of the mandrel bar in order to prevent the
seizing. A graphite-based lubricant containing graphite excellent
in wear resistance characteristic or seizing resistance
characteristic is mainly used as the lubricant. Essentially, the
lubricant applied to the surface of the mandrel bar is dried, and
the mandrel bar is then conveyed to the mandrel mill on a conveying
line on which a conveying device including, for example, a
conveying roll or the like is provided while being brought into
contact with the conveying device, and is used for elongating and
rolling the hollow shell. However, in the actual producing process,
time for completely drying the lubricant cannot be ensured in many
cases. Thereby, the lubricant which is not dried drips while
conveying the mandrel bar, and adheres to the conveying device
located below the mandrel bar. Even when the lubricant is
completely dried and the mandrel bar is then conveyed, the membrane
of the lubricant is dropped out or scaled off by vibration or the
like generated upon conveying the mandrel bar to adhere to the
conveying device. Thereby, the conveying device arranged on the
mandrel bar conveying line is always polluted by the graphite
contained in the adhering lubricant. Thus, since the conveying
device arranged on the mandrel bar conveying line is polluted by
the graphite, the mandrel bar conveyed while being brought into
contact with the conveying device is also polluted by the
graphite.
[0004] When the hollow shell made of low carbon steel having carbon
content of 0.04% by mass or less such as SUS 304L is elongated and
rolled using the mandrel bar polluted by the graphite as described
above, the inner surface of the pipe elongated and rolled is
inevitably carburized.
[0005] As a measure for preventing the carburization of the inner
surface of the pipe, it is considered to apply a non-graphite-based
lubricant to the surface of the mandrel bar. However, since the
non-graphite-based lubricant is generally more expensive than the
graphite-based lubricant, it is difficult to use the
non-graphite-based lubricant for the hollow shell of any steel
grade such as common steel in view of economic efficiency. It is
also difficult to provide the conveying line using only the
non-graphite-based lubricant for elongating and rolling the hollow
shell made of low carbon steel in view of economic efficiency since
it requires new facility investment. Thereby, a measure is mainly
carried out, which shares the mandrel bar conveying line also using
the graphite-based lubricant even when the hollow shell of low
carbon steel is elongated and rolled, and cleans the mandrel bar or
the conveying device arranged on the mandrel bar conveying line and
then applies the non-graphite-based lubricant to the surface of the
mandrel bar when the hollow shell made of low carbon steel is
elongated and rolled (for example, see Japanese Patent Application
Laid-Open Nos. 2002-28705 and 2000-24706).
[0006] The graphite-based lubricant adhering to the surface of the
mandrel bar may be not sufficiently cleaned only when cleaning the
mandrel bar on the conveying line since the cleaning needs to be
completed comparatively in a short time in view of operation
efficiency, and may remain when being used for elongating and
rolling the hollow shell. Therefore, when the mandrel bar is pulled
out of the conveying line, and is carried again in the conveying
line to apply the non-graphite-based lubricant to the mandrel bar
after the mandrel bar to which the graphite-based lubricant is
applied is used for elongating and rolling the hollow shell, it is
effective to previously sweep the surface of the mandrel bar to
which the graphite-based lubricant adheres before the mandrel bar
is again carried in the conveying line (off-line sweeping).
[0007] The conventional off-line sweeping is manually carried out
by a worker using a sweeping tool such as a brush, or is carried
out by rubbing the surface of the mandrel bar with a rotary
brush.
[0008] However, the sweeping efficiency is not good in both the
case of the manual work carried out by the worker and the case of
rubbing the surface with the rotary brush. That is, since a long
time is required for sufficiently removing the graphite-based
lubricant adhering to the surface of the mandrel bar so that the
carburization of the inner surface of the pipe does not become
problems, the cases may hinder an operation.
[0009] On the other hand, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
2002-28705 describes that a graphite-based lubricant adhering to a
mandrel bar is cleaned by water in off line. However, the specific
cleaning method is not disclosed at all.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention has been made to eliminate the problem
of the conventional technique. It is an object of the present
invention to provide a mandrel bar cleaning facility capable of
effectively suppressing carburization generated on the inner
surface of a pipe or tube while the pipe or tube is elongated and
rolled without hindering an operation.
[0011] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present
invention provides a mandrel bar cleaning facility which cleans a
mandrel bar pulled out of a mandrel bar conveying line after being
used for elongating and rolling a pipe or tube in a mandrel mill,
comprising: a conveying device for conveying the mandrel bar in an
axial direction of the mandrel bar while revolving the mandrel bar
in a peripheral direction of the mandrel bar; and a cleaning device
arranged oppositely to a side of the mandrel bar conveyed by the
conveying device, the cleaning device jetting high-pressure water
having a water pressure of 0.2 to 150 MPa toward an outer surface
of the mandrel bar.
[0012] Preferably, the high-pressure water has a water pressure of
20 to 150 MPa.
[0013] According to the mandrel bar cleaning facility according to
the present invention, the graphite-based lubricant adhering to the
surface of the mandrel bar can be removed for a short time so that
the carburization of the inner surface of the pipe or tube does not
become problems. Therefore, the mandrel bar conveying line also
using the graphite-based lubricant can be shared for a case of
elongating and rolling a hollow shell made of low carbon steel and
the carburization generated on the inner surface of the pipe or
tube upon elongating and rolling the pipe or tube can be
effectively suppressed without hindering the operation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is an illustration schematically showing a production
line of a seamless pipe or tube having a mandrel bar cleaning
facility (off-line cleaning facility) according to the present
invention.
[0015] FIG. 2 is an illustration showing the schematic
configuration of the off-line cleaning facility according to the
present invention.
[0016] FIG. 3 is an illustration showing the schematic
configuration of a rubbing device used for a conventional off-line
sweeping.
[0017] FIG. 4 is an illustration showing the schematic
configuration of a conveying line cleaning device.
[0018] FIG. 5 (FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B) are illustrations showing the
schematic configuration of the mandrel bar cleaning facility
(on-line cleaning facility) in which FIG. 5A is a front view of the
on-line cleaning facility, and FIG. 5B is an illustration showing
the arrangement of the on-line cleaning facility.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0019] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be
described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this
embodiment, the following case will be described as an example. A
mandrel bar having a surface to which a graphite-based lubricant is
applied and used for elongating and rolling is pulled out of a
mandrel bar conveying line (hereinafter, suitably referred to as
"conveying line"). The mandrel bar is cleaned in a mandrel bar
cleaning facility (hereinafter, suitably referred to as "offline
cleaning facility") according to the present invention. The mandrel
bar is then again carried in the conveying line to apply a
non-graphite-based lubricant to the surface of the mandrel bar, and
a hollow shell made of low carbon steel is elongated and
rolled.
[0020] FIG. 1 is an illustration schematically showing a production
line of a seamless pipe having an off-line cleaning facility
according to the present invention.
[0021] First, a process will be described, which applies the
graphite-based lubricant to the surface of a mandrel bar B, and
elongates and rolls a hollow shell S to produce a pipe S1. As shown
in FIG. 1, the graphite-based lubricant is applied to the surface
of the mandrel bar B carried in the conveying line from a
carrying-in table 6 by a lubricant applicator 7. Then, the mandrel
bar B is inserted into the hollow shell S pierced and rolled by a
piercer (not shown) in the course of the conveying line to an
entrance of a mandrel mill 8. The hollow shell S is elongated and
rolled by the mandrel mill 8 to form the pipe S1. The elongation
rolling of the hollow shell S in the mandrel mill 8 is completed,
and the mandrel bar B is then pulled out, conveyed on a return line
9, and is cooled in a water-cooling apparatus 5. The mandrel bar B
is then cleaned in the mandrel bar cleaning facility (hereinafter,
suitably referred to as "on-line cleaning facility") 2 arranged on
the conveying line, and the graphite-based lubricant is then again
applied to the surface of the mandrel bar B by the lubricant
applicator 7. The mandrel bar B is used for elongating and rolling
at the second pass or later in the same process as that described
above. The mandrel bar B is used circulately for elongating and
rolling the hollow shell S in the mandrel mill 8 as described
above. In this circulation use, a conveying device (not shown)
arranged in the conveying line for the mandrel bar B is polluted by
graphite contained in the graphite-based lubricant.
[0022] The pipe S1 elongated and rolled in the mandrel mill 8 is
reheated for about 20 to about 35 minutes at about 940.degree. C.
to about 1060.degree. C. in a reheating furnace 13. The pipe S1 is
finished to a product dimension by a stretch reducer 14 to produce
a seamless pipe.
[0023] Next, a process will be described, which applies the
non-graphite-based lubricant to the surface of the mandrel bar B,
and elongates and rolls the hollow shell S to produce the pipe S1
made of low carbon steel. The mandrel bar B having the surface to
which the graphite-based lubricant is applied as described above
and used for elongating and rolling is pulled out of the conveying
line, and is cleaned in the off-line cleaning facility according to
the present invention. For example, the off-line cleaning facility
is set in a bar warehouse 3 for housing the mandrel bar B separated
from a production line 0 of the seamless pipe.
[0024] FIG. 2 is an illustration showing the schematic
configuration of the off-line cleaning facility according to the
present invention.
[0025] As shown in FIG. 2, the off-line cleaning facility 15
comprises: a conveying device for conveying the mandrel bar B in an
axial direction of the mandrel bar B while revolving the mandrel
bar B in a peripheral direction of the mandrel bar B; and a
cleaning device arranged oppositely to a side of the mandrel bar B
conveyed by the conveying device, the cleaning device jetting
high-pressure water toward an outer surface of the mandrel bar
B.
[0026] The conveying device according to the embodiment includes
conveying rolls 17 and skew rolls 18 that support the mandrel bar
B. The conveying rolls 17 are revolved to convey the mandrel bar B
in the axial direction, and the skew rolls 18 are revolved to
revolve the mandrel bar B in the peripheral direction. Therefore,
the conveying rolls 17 and the skew rolls 18 are revolved to convey
the mandrel bar B in the axial direction while revolving the
mandrel bar B in the peripheral direction.
[0027] The cleaning device according to the embodiment is provided
with two cleaning nozzles 1d arranged below the mandrel bar B.
Since cleaning nozzles 1d are arranged below, a distance between
the cleaning nozzle 1d and the surface of the mandrel bar B can be
made constant in spite of the outer diameter of the mandrel bar B.
When the conveying rolls 17 and the skew rolls 18 are revolved
while high-pressure water 19 is jetted toward the outer surface of
the mandrel bar B from two cleaning nozzles 1d, it is possible to
clean the whole surface of the mandrel bar B. The distance between
the cleaning nozzle 1d and the surface of the mandrel bar B is set
to about several hundreds millimeters. The spread angle of the
high-pressure water 19 jetted from the each cleaning nozzle 1d is
set to 10 degrees to 20 degrees.
[0028] The water pressure of the high-pressure water jetted from
the cleaning nozzle 1d is set to 0.2 to 150 MPa (preferably, 20 to
150 MPa). Hereinafter, this reason will be described.
[0029] The water pressure of the high-pressure water jetted from
the each cleaning nozzle 1d of the off-line cleaning facility 15
was suitably changed, and the cleaning test of the mandrel bar B
having the surface to which the graphite-based lubricant
sufficiently adhered was carried out. Specifically, the cleaning
tests of both a case where the graphite-based lubricant containing
an organic binder (vinyl acetate and an acrylic resin or the like)
for ensuring the adhesion and storage stability of the lubricant in
comparatively high content adheres and a case where the
graphite-based lubricant containing the organic binder in low
content adheres were carried out. Generally, the lubricant
containing a large amount of the organic binder to be added
exhibits water resistance, and it tends to be difficult to clean
the lubricant. The lubricant containing a small amount of the
organic binder to be added exhibits non-water resistance (water
solubility), and tends to be easily cleaned. The mandrel bar B was
cleaned while the conveying speed of the mandrel bar B was suitably
changed (the cleaning time per one of the mandrel bars was
changed). An object adhering to the surface of the cleaned mandrel
bar B was analyzed to obtain a carbon deposition amount (g/m.sup.2)
remaining on the surface of the mandrel bar B. As usual, an
oxidization membrane provided for the prevention of seizing existed
on the surface of the mandrel bar B used in this cleaning test. The
state of the cleaned oxidization membrane was confirmed by surface
micro observation.
[0030] Table 1 shows a part of the results of the cleaning test
described above.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Water pressure of Efficiency (cleaning time)
high-pressure (minutes per one Carbon deposition State of Overall
water (MPa) Lubricant component mandrel bar) amount (g/m.sup.2)
membrane evaluation 0.1 Less organic binder 20.0 45.3 FINE POOR 0.2
Less organic binder 4.0 5.8 FINE GOOD More organic binder 20.0 62.4
FINE POOR 20 More organic binder 6.5 12.8 FINE VERY GOOD 30 More
organic binder 6.5 6.7 FINE VERY GOOD 50 More organic binder 2.5
4.8 FINE VERY GOOD 70 More organic binder 2.5 4.2 FINE VERY GOOD 90
More organic binder 2.5 2.2 FINE VERY GOOD 150 More organic binder
2.5 1.3 Partial peeling GOOD 160 More organic binder 2.5 1.5
Peeling POOR
[0031] As shown in Table 1, the graphite-based lubricant remaining
on the surface of the mandrel bar B could be sufficiently reduced
(carbon deposition amount: less than 30 g/m.sup.2) so that the
carburization of the inner surface of the pipe S1 did not become
problems for the cleaning time (less than 10 minutes per one
mandrel bar) without hindering an operation by setting the water
pressure of the high-pressure water jetted from the cleaning
nozzles 1d to 20 to 150 MPa.
[0032] When the water pressure of the high-pressure water was set
to 0.2 MPa or more and less than 20 MPa, the remaining
graphite-based lubricant could not be sufficiently reduced (the
carbon deposition amount: 30 g/m.sup.2 or more) even when the
cleaning time was set to 20 minutes per one mandrel bar which was
out of an allowable range in the mandrel bar B to which the
graphite-based lubricant containing the organic binder in high
content adhered. On the other hand, even when the water pressure of
the high-pressure water was set to 0.2 MPa or more and less than 20
MPa in the mandrel bar B to which the graphite-based lubricant
containing the organic binder in low content adhered, both the
cleaning time and the carbon deposition amount could be set within
the allowable range (the cleaning time: less than 10 minutes per
one mandrel bar, the carbon deposition amount: less than 30
g/m.sup.2). When the lubricant containing the organic binder in low
content and having non-water resistance is used, even the lubricant
applied to the surface of the mandrel bar B is flown down by the
drop of cooling water sprayed on a mill roll just before the start
of the elongation rolling and water droplet dripped from the mill
roll if the hollow shell S is frequently elongated and rolled by
the mandrel mill 8 for a fixed time (for example, the hollow shell
S is elongated and rolled every 15 to 30 seconds). Thereby, the
mandrel bar B and hollow shell S may be seized while the hollow
shell S is elongated and rolled. Therefore, the lubricant having
non-water resistance is not preferably used for the hollow shell S
of a steel grade frequently elongated and rolled and the production
line 0 frequently elongating and rolling the hollow shell S. The
lubricant containing the organic binder in high content and having
water resistance is preferably used. Therefore, as described above,
the water pressure of the high-pressure water is preferably set to
20 MPa or more. However, even when the lubricant having non-water
resistance is used for the hollow shell S of a steel grade
infrequently elongated and rolled and the production line 0 that
infrequently elongating and rolling the hollow shell S (for
example, the hollow shell S is elongated and rolled every 60
seconds), the mandrel bar B and the hollow shell S may not be
seized while the hollow shell S is elongated and rolled. Therefore,
the water pressure of the high-pressure water, which may not be
necessarily set to 20 MPa or more, may be set to 0.2 MPa or
more.
[0033] On the other hand, as shown in Table 1, when the water
pressure of the high-pressure water was set to less than 0.2 MPa,
the remaining graphite-based lubricant could not be sufficiently
reduced for the cleaning time of the allowable range in even the
mandrel bar B to which the lubricant having non-water resistance
adhered. When the high-pressure water having a water pressure
higher than 150 MPa was jetted, the oxidization membrane formed on
the surface of the mandrel bar B was peeled.
[0034] For these reasons, the water pressure of the high-pressure
water jetted from the cleaning nozzles 1d is set to 0.2 to 150 MPa
(preferably, 20 to 150 MPa).
[0035] A test was also carried out, which compared the efficiency
of the cleaning of the surface of the mandrel bar B carried out by
the off-line cleaning facility 15 described above with that of the
sweeping of the surface of the mandrel bar B carried out by a
rubbing device using the conventional rotary brush. The
graphite-based lubricant containing the organic binder in high
content and having water resistance was made to adhere to the
surface of the mandrel bar B before the test.
[0036] FIG. 3 is an illustration showing the schematic
configuration of a rubbing device used for the conventional
off-line sweeping used for the test.
[0037] As shown in FIG. 3, a rubbing device 16 is provided with the
conveying rolls 17, the skew rolls 18 that support the mandrel bar
B, and a rotary brush 4 that is arranged so as to be brought into
contact with the mandrel bar B. While the rotary brush 4 is
revolved, the skew rolls 18 are revolved to revolve the mandrel bar
B in the peripheral direction and the conveying rolls 17 are
revolved to convey the mandrel bar B in the axial direction.
Thereby, the rotary brush 4 can rub the whole surface of the
mandrel bar B to clean the surface of the mandrel bar B.
[0038] Table 2 shows the results of the test.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Water Carbon Sweeping pressure of
Cleaning/sweeping deposition (cleaning) high-pressure time (minutes
per amount Overall facility water (MPa) one mandrel bar)
(g/m.sup.2) evaluation Rubbing -- 5.0 58.1 POOR device 15.0 2.3
POOR Off-line 30 6.5 6.7 VERY cleaning GOOD facility 70 2.5 4.2
VERY GOOD 150 2.5 1.3 VERY GOOD
[0039] As shown in Table 2, when the conventional rubbing device 16
was used, the graphite-based lubricant (the carbon deposition
amount) remaining on the surface of the mandrel bar B could not be
sufficiently reduced for the sweeping time (5 minutes per one
mandrel bar) without hindering an operation so that the
carburization of the inner surface of the pipe S1 did not become
problems. In order to sufficiently reduce the graphite-based
lubricant remaining on the surface of the mandrel bar B, the
sweeping time needs to be set to no less than 10 minutes per one
mandrel bar which is out of the allowable range, thereby causing
operational problems. On the other hand, according to the off-line
cleaning facility 15, the graphite-based lubricant remaining on the
surface of the mandrel bar B could be sufficiently reduced (the
carbon deposition amount: less than 30 g/m.sup.2) so that the
carburization of the inner surface of the pipe S1 did not become
problems for the cleaning time (less than 10 minutes per one
mandrel bar) without hindering an operation as in that described
with reference to Table 1.
[0040] The mandrel bar B cleaned by the off-line cleaning facility
15 as described above is again carried in the conveying line from
the carrying-in table 6. It is preferable that the conveying device
arranged at least between the lubricant applicator 7 set on the
conveying line of the mandrel bar B and the entrance of the mandrel
mill 8 is previously cleaned before the mandrel bar B is again
carried in.
[0041] FIG. 4 is an illustration showing the schematic
configuration of the conveying line cleaning device 1 used for
cleaning the conveying rolls constituting the conveying device.
[0042] As shown in FIG. 4, the conveying line cleaning device 1 is
provided with two cleaning nozzles 1a, 1b arranged at a position
separated above by about several hundreds millimeters from the
surface of a conveying roll 10. The conveying roll 10 is cleaned by
jetting high-pressure water 11 toward the conveying roll 10 from
the cleaning nozzles 1a, 1b while the conveying roll 10 is
revolved. It is preferable that the spread angle of the
high-pressure water 11 jetted from each of the cleaning nozzles 1a,
1b is set to 10 degrees to 20 degrees, and the water pressure of
the high-pressure water 11 is set to 30 to 150 MPa.
[0043] As described above, the conveying device arranged on the
mandrel bar conveying line is previously cleaned, and the mandrel
bar B is then again carried in the conveying line from the
carrying-in table 6. The non-graphite-based lubricant is applied to
the surface of the carried mandrel bar B by the lubricant
applicator 7. Then, the mandrel bar B is inserted into the hollow
shell S made of low carbon steel in the course of the conveying
line to an entrance of a mandrel mill 8. The hollow shell S is
elongated and rolled by the mandrel mill 8 to form the pipe S1. The
elongation rolling of the hollow shell S in the mandrel mill 8 is
completed, and the mandrel bar B is then pulled out, conveyed on a
return line 9, and is cooled in a water-cooling apparatus 5. The
mandrel bar B is then cleaned in the on-line cleaning facility 2
arranged on the conveying line.
[0044] FIG. 5 (FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B) are illustrations showing the
schematic configuration of the on-line cleaning facility 2 in which
FIG. 5A is a front view of the on-line cleaning facility 2, and
FIG. 5B is an illustration showing the arrangement of the on-line
cleaning facility 2.
[0045] As shown in FIG. 5, the on-line cleaning facility 2, which
is arranged on the upstream side of the lubricant applicator 7,
cleans the mandrel bar B used for elongating and rolling the hollow
shell. The on-line cleaning facility 2 is provided with a total of
eight cleaning nozzles 1c circularly provided so that the maximum
distance between the cleaning nozzles 1c and the mandrel bar B is
set to about several hundreds millimeters. The surface of the
mandrel bar B is cleaned by jetting high-pressure water 12 toward
the mandrel bar B from each of the cleaning nozzles 1c. It is
preferable that the spread angle of the high-pressure water 12
jetted from each of the cleaning nozzles 1c is set to 10 degrees to
20 degrees, and the water pressure of the high-pressure water 12 is
set to 30 to 150 MPa.
[0046] The mandrel bar B is cleaned by the on-line cleaning
facility 2 as described above, and the non-graphite-based lubricant
is then again applied to the surface of the mandrel bar B by the
lubricant applicator 7. The mandrel bar B is used for elongating
and rolling the hollow shell S made of low carbon steel at the
second pass or later in the same process as that described
above.
[0047] Table 3 shows results obtained by evaluating the
carburization situation of the inner surface of the seamless pipe
made of low carbon steel produced by the process described above,
and the carburization situation of the inner surface of the
seamless pipe made of low carbon steel produced without carrying
out the off-line cleaning of the mandrel bar B by the off-line
cleaning facility 15. In the evaluation of the carburization
situation, samples for analysis were respectively cut from the
inner surface of the seamless pipe elongated and rolled at the
second pass by the mandrel mill 8 in conditions 1, 3, and from the
inner surface of the seamless pipe elongated and rolled at the
first pass (therefore, no on-line cleaning of the mandrel bar B) in
conditions 2, 4. The carbon concentration of each of the samples
was measured by Quantvac (emission spectral analysis). A case where
the carbon concentration was equal to or lower than that of the
material of the seamless pipe (no carburization) was defined as
very good. A case where the increasing amount of the carbon
concentration was 0.001 to 0.01% (the allowable range) was defined
as good. A case where the carbon concentration increased over 0.01%
was defined as poor. The cases were respectively evaluated.
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Conveying Carbu- Off-line On-line line
rization cleaning cleaning cleaning situation Note Condition
Presence Presence Presence VERY Present 1 GOOD invention Condition
Presence Absence Presence GOOD Present 2 invention Condition
Absence Presence Presence POOR Comparative 3 example Condition
Absence Absence Presence POOR Comparative 4 example
[0048] As shown in Table 3, the carburization was generated in the
seamless pipe produced without carrying out the off-line cleaning
of the mandrel bar B. On the other hand, the carburization could be
suppressed to a degree practically out of the problem regardless of
presence/absence of the cleaning by the on-line cleaning facility 2
in the seamless pipe produced by carrying out the off-line cleaning
of the mandrel bar B by the off-line cleaning facility 15.
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