Wayne G Conley

US Patent:

44448147, Apr 24, 1984

Filed:

Jun 11, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/387375

Inventors:

Charles Flinchum - Hamilton OH
Alan F. Gibson - Middletown OH
Wayne G. Conley - Russell KY
Gayle P. Fields - Ashland KY

Assignee:

Armco Inc. - Middletown OH

International Classification:

B05C 312

US Classification:

427378

Abstract:

A finishing method and apparatus for use in conventional hot-dip coating of the type wherein a ferrous base metal strip, having been appropriately pretreated so as to be at or near the proper coating temperature and so as to have its surfaces free of oxides, is cause to pass beneath the surface of a bath of molten coating metal, exiting the bath between conventional finishing rolls. The method comprises the steps of providing an enclosure which overlies at least the coating metal meniscus areas created between the finishing rolls and the strip, and maintaining within the enclosure an inert or non-oxidizing atmosphere to shroud the meniscus areas. The apparatus comprises the above mentioned enclosure with an appropriate system to provide and maintain the inert or non-oxidizing atmosphere therein.