ADILETTA, Giampaolo (Via L . da Vinci 38, Truccazzano, I-20060, IT)
| CLAIMS
1. Cooling system (10) for at least a rotatable drum (20) in particular of a drawing machine able to progressively reduce the section of a metal wire (90), said system comprising delivery means (30) able to make a cooling liquid coming from at least an entrance pipe (44) flow against or along at least an internal lateral wall (22) of said at least one rotatable drum (20), characterized in that it comprises circulation means associated with said delivery means (30) which are able to introduce into said at least one entrance pipe (44) at least a portion of said cooling liquid which has come into contact with said at least one internal lateral wall (22).
2. Cooling system (10) as in claim 1, characterized in that said circulation means comprise liquid recovery means (40) which are able to collect said cooling liquid after it has come into contact with said at least one internal lateral wall (22) of said at least one rotatable drum (20), preferably said circulation means being able to make said cooling liquid circulate from said liquid recovery means (40) to said delivery means (30).
3. Cooling system (10) as in claim 2, characterized in that said liquid recovery means (40) comprise at least an exit pipe (46) and in particular also at least a chamber (48). 4. Cooling system (10) as in any claim from 1 to 3, characterized in that said delivery means (30) comprise spraying means (30) able to spray and/or squirt said cooling liquid, such as in particular water, against said at least one internal lateral wall (22) of said at least one rotatable drum (20).
5. Cooling system (10) as in any claim from 2 to 4, characterized in that said liquid recovery means (40) are connected to a heating circuit (95) in particular of a work environment.
6. Cooling system (10) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that it comprises heating means (97) in particular of a work environment which preferably comprise a water-water heating pump and/or at least a fan-coil unit and/or a tank of hot sanitary water.
7. Cooling system (10) as in any claim from 2 to 6, characterized in that it comprises mixing means (60), in particular comprising at least a mixing valve (62) preferably commanded electronically, said mixing means (60) being able to mix said cooling liquid coming from said liquid recovery means (40) with a cooling liquid coming from a feed pipe (92) thereof.
8. Cooling system (10) as in any claim from 2 to 7, characterized in that it comprises electronic regulation and control means (70) in particular equipped with at least a temperature sensor (72) preferably associated with said liquid recovery means (40).
9. Drawing machine able to progressively reduce the section of a metal wire (90), which also comprises at least a drawing station, characterized in that it comprises a cooling system (10) as in any claims from 1 to 8. 10. Cooling method for at least a rotatable drum (20) in particular a drawing machine able to progressively reduce the section of a metal wire (90), said cooling method characterized in that it comprises a step a) of making a cooling liquid, such as in particular water, flow against or along an internal lateral surface (22) of said at least one rotatable drum (20), obtaining a delivered cooling liquid, and also characterized in that it comprises a step b) of recovering said delivered cooling liquid and in particular also of repeating step a) with said cooling liquid delivered.
11. Cooling method as in claim 10, characterized in that said step a) comprises a step c) of spraying and/or squirting said cooling liquid against or along said internal lateral surface (22) of said at least one rotatable drum (20), obtaining a sprayed cooling liquid.
12. Cooling method as in claim 11, characterized in that said step b) comprises a step d) of recovering said sprayed cooling liquid and in particular also of repeating step c) with said cooling liquid sprayed. 13. Cooling method as in any claims from 10 to 12, characterized in that it comprises a step e) of mixing said cooling liquid delivered or in particular sprayed, with a portion of cooling liquid which has not come into contact with said internal surface (22) of said at least one rotatable drum (20, obtaining a mixed cooling liquid. 14. Cooling method as in claim 13, characterized in that it comprises a step f) of spraying and/or squirting said mixed cooling liquid against said internal lateral surface (22) of said rotatable drum (20). 15. Cooling method as in any claim from 10 to 14, characterized in that it comprises a step g) of cooling said delivered or in particular sprayed and/or squirted cooling liquid, in particular by means of heat exchange with heating means (97) in particular of a work environment.
16. Cooling method as in any claim from 10 to 15, characterized in that it comprises a step f) of pumping said delivered or in particular sprayed and/or squirted cooling liquid in a heating circuit connected preferably to at least a fan- coil unit and/or connected to a water-water heating pump and/or connected to a thermal tank of hot water for sanitary purposes. |
"COOLING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A ROTATABLE DRUM"
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention concerns a cooling system and method for a rotatable drum.
In particular the present invention refers to a system and method for cooling a rotatable drum of a drawing machine able to progressively reduce the section of a metal wire.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In current drawing machines a metal wire has a section which is progressively reduced by means of a plurality of drawing stations.
Each drawing station or unit is equipped with pulling means connected to a rotatable drum comprising an external lateral surface on which said metal wire is wound. Between the wound metal wire and each rotatable drum the forces of friction are determinate when the latter is rotated by the corresponding pulling means.
Said forces of friction allow to force the passage of said metal wire through a tool, determining a reduction in section of said metal wire caused by a plastic deformation. Consequently during the plastic deformation said metal wire is reduced in section and heats up, partly transferring heat by heat conduction to each rotatable drum.
To cool said metal wire each rotatable drum is commonly cooled making water flow continuously on an internal lateral surface thereof. In this way the water cools each corresponding rotatable drum which in its turn cools said metal wire.
The volume of water able to exchange heat in a determinate period of time with each rotatable drum depends on the internal surface of each rotatable drum and on the speed of the water which flows near it. As it is not possible to increase the internal lateral surface of each rotatable drum, it is only possible to act on the speed of the water.
To increase the cooling it is necessary to increase the speed of the water which means washers and other elements are necessary, but these have the disadvantage
of making the drawing machine less reliable and even considerably increasing the cost thereof.
Moreover in this way a considerable amount of water is used to cool each rotatable drum. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One purpose of the present invention is to achieve a system and method for cooling a rotatable drum in particular of a drawing machine which has a greater? cooling capacity with the same quantity of cooling liquid used.
Another purpose is to have a system and method for cooling a rotatable drum in particular of a drawing machine which reduce the quantity of cooling liquid necessary to cool said rotatable drum.
Another purpose is to have a system and method for cooling a rotatable drum in particular of a drawing machine which allow reduced times and maintenance costs. Another purpose is to have a system and method for cooling a rotatable drum in particular of a drawing machine which make less noise.
Another purpose is to have a system and method for cooling a rotatable drum in particular of a drawing machine which allow to reduce emissions of CO 2 deriving from heating up a work environment. A further purpose is to have a system and method for cooling a rotatable drum in particular of a drawing machine which are economically advantageous.
These purposes according to the present invention are achieved by making a system and method for cooling a rotatable drum as set forth in claims 1 to 10.
Further characteristics of the invention are shown in the subsequent claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The characteristics and the advantages of a system and method for cooling a rotatable drum according to the present invention will become apparent from the following description, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein: Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a front elevation of a cooling system for at least a rotatable drum in particular of a drawing machine according to a preferential form of embodiment of the present invention;
Fig 2 is a schematic view partially sectioned in a right lateral front elevation of
a cooling system for at least a rotatable drum in particular of a drawing station of a drawing machine according to a further preferential form of embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERENTIAL FORM OF EMBODIMENT
With reference to the drawings, a cooling system 10 for at least a rotatable drum 20 in particular of a drawing machine able to progressively reduce the section of a metal wire 90 is shown.
According to a preferential form of embodiment of the present invention said cooling system 10 comprises delivery means 30 able to make a cooling liquid arriving from at least an entrance pipe 44 flow against or along at least an internal lateral wall 22 of said at least one rotatable drum 20.
Furthermore said system 10 comprises circulation means associated with said delivery means 30 which are able to introduce inside said at least one entrance pipe 44 at least a portion of said cooling liquid which has come into contact with said at least one lateral wall 22.
Advantageously in this way it is possible to make said cooling liquid flow several times against said at least one internal lateral wall 22 in order to cool said at least one rotatable drum 20. Advantageously this allows a greater capacity of cooling given the same quantity of cooling liquid used.
With every heat exchange with said at least one internal lateral wall 22, said cooling liquid increases its temperature typically by about 3-6°C.
For example said cooling liquid can enter a first time into said at least one entrance pipe 44 at about 3O 0 C and exit at about 35°C.
Since the temperature of said at least one internal lateral wall 22 is typically about 80 0 C, it is therefore still possible to efficiently exchange heating with it by making the cooling liquid flow two, three or more times on said at least one internal lateral wall 22. For example starting from a temperature of 30 0 C after having made said cooling liquid circulate 5 times inside said at least one entrance pipe 44, said cooling liquid will reach a temperature of about 40 or 50 0 C and would still be able to efficiently cool said at least one internal lateral wall 22, since it has a
temperature of about 30 to 4O 0 C less.
It is therefore clear that the difference in temperature between said at least one internal lateral wall 22 and said cooling liquid will be very high even after having used said cooling liquid repeatedly for n times. Consequently by means of said circulation means it is possible to considerably reduce the amount of cooling liquid necessary to cool said rotatable drum and said metal wire 90.
According to a preferential form of embodiment said circulation means comprise liquid recovery means 40 which are able to collect said cooling liquid after this has been in contact with said at least one internal lateral wall 22 of said at least one rotatable drum 20.
Preferably said circulation means are able to make said cooling liquid circulate from said liquid recovery means 40 to said delivery means 30.
Preferably said liquid recovery means 40 comprise at least an exit pipe 46 and in particular also at least a chamber 48, so as to collect said cooling liquid after it has been in contact with said at least one internal lateral wall 22 of said at least one rotatable drum 20.
Said at least one chamber 48 is able to collect said cooling liquid after it has been delivered by said delivery means 30 and is preferably positioned under said at least one rotatable drum 20.
According to a preferential form of embodiment said liquid recovery means 40 comprise a tank or a liquid recovery tank 42, said at least one chamber 48 positioned in particular under said at least one rotatable drum 20, and said at least one exit pipe 46 of said cooling liquid. Preferably said at least one exit pipe 46 is connected at a first end to said at least one chamber 48 and at a second end to said tank or liquid recovery tank 42.
Advantageously by means of said liquid recovery means 40 it is possible to collect and recover said cooling liquid in a simple way, so as to allow said circulation means to pump it again into said at least one entrance pipe 44 connected to said delivery means 30.
According to a preferred form of embodiment said liquid recovery means 40 are connected to a heating circuit 95 in particular for a work environment.
Preferably said tank or liquid recovery tank 42 is connected to heating means
97 such as in particular a water-water heating pump and/or at least a fan-coil unit.
According to another preferred form of embodiment said cooling system 10 comprises heating means 97 in particular for a work environment which preferably comprise a water-water heating pump and/or at least a fan-coil unit and/or a tank of hot sanitary water.
Advantageously in this way it is possible to transfer the heat absorbed by said at least one rotatable drum 20 for example to a work environment so as to at least partly heat it during the winter months, and consequently cool said cooling liquid. Moreover this reduces the heating costs of said work environment and also the emissions of CO 2 .
Another advantage is that this allows to increase the cooling capacity of said cooling liquid.
Preferably said delivery means 30 comprise spraying means 30 able to spray and/or squirt said cooling liquid, such as in particular water, against said at least one internal lateral wall 22 of said at least one rotatable drum 20.
Advantageously this allows to reduce the costs of said cooling system 10.
It is possible to obtain a better heat exchange by means of said spraying means 30 associated with said circulation means since it is advantageously possible to increase the pressure and the speed of said cooling liquid which is sprayed and/or squirted, without increasing the total amount of cooling liquid needed.
Furthermore said spraying means 30 preferably comprise at least a distributor 32 equipped with at least a nozzle able to spray and/or squirt said cooling liquid against said at least one internal lateral wall 22 of said at least one rotatable drum 20.
Preferably said circulation means comprise pumping means 50, in particular comprising at least a pump 52 preferably commanded electronically.
Preferably said pumping means 50 are able to pump said cooling liquid from said liquid recovery means 40 into said at least one entrance pipe 44 connected in particular to said spraying means 30.
Preferably said cooling system 10 comprises mixing means 60, in particular comprising at least a mixing valve 62 preferably commanded electronically, said mixing means 60 being able to mix said cooling liquid coming from said liquid
recovery means 40 with a cooling liquid coming from a feed pipe 92.
According to a preferential form of embodiment said mixing means 60 are connected to said spraying means 30 and also to said feed pipe 92 of said cooling liquid. Advantageously in this way said spraying means 30 are fed with a cooling liquid at a lower temperature, because said cooling liquid coming from said liquid recovery means 40 is continually cooled by a portion of cooling liquid having a lower temperature and coming from said feed pipe 92.
According to a preferential form of embodiment said cooling system 10 comprises electronic regulation and control means 70 in particular equipped with at least a temperature sensor 72 preferably associated with said liquid recovery means 40.
Preferably said electronic regulation and control means 70 are connected to said pumping means 50 and to said mixing means 60. Said electronic regulation and control means 70 are also preferably connected to said circulation means.
In accordance with another feature of the present invention a drawing machine is provided, able to progressively reduce the section of a metal wire 90, which comprises at least a drawing station and a cooling system 10 according to any of the particular forms of embodiment described hereinbefore.
According to another feature of the present invention a cooling method is provided for at least a rotatable drum 20 in particular a drawing machine able to progressively reduce the section of a metal wire 90.
Said cooling method comprises a step a) of making a cooling liquid flow, such as in particular water, against or along an internal lateral surface 22 of said at least one rotatable drum 20, obtaining a cooling liquid delivered.
Preferably said cooling method comprises a step b) of recovering said cooling liquid delivered and in particular of also repeating said step a) with said cooling liquid delivered. Advantageously in this way it is possible to use said cooling liquid several times in order to cool said at least one rotatable drum 20 and in particular consequently also said metal wire 90.
In this way the efficiency of the cooling of said metal wire 90 is also increased
without increasing the total amount of cooling liquid needed to cool said at least one rotatable drum 20.
This advantageously also allows to progressively increase the temperature of said cooling liquid sprayed, so as to be able to use it to heat up a work environment for example.
Preferably said step a) comprises a step c) of spraying and/or squirting said cooling liquid against or along said internal lateral surface 22 of said at least one rotatable drum 20, obtaining a cooling liquid sprayed.
Preferably said step b) comprises a step d) of recovering said cooling liquid sprayed and in particular to also repeat step c) with said sprayed cooling liquid.
In this way the heat exchange between said cooling liquid and said internal lateral surface 22 is increased.
Advantageously at the same time it is possible to increase the pressure and the speed of said cooling liquid without increasing the total amount of cooling liquid needed to cool said at least one rotatable drum 20.
Preferably said method provides to repeat several times said step b) and said step a).
In this way it is advantageously possible to increase the cooling of said at least one rotatable drum 20. In particular said cooling method comprises a step e) of mixing said cooling liquid delivered and sprayed, with a portion of cooling liquid which has not come into contact with said internal surface 22 of said at least one rotatable drum 20, obtaining a mixed cooling liquid.
In this way the temperature of said delivered or sprayed cooling liquid is reduced, consequently increasing the efficiency of heat exchange.
In other words said step e) provides to mix said cooling liquid delivered or in particular sprayed, which has come into contact with said internal lateral surface
22 of said at least one rotatable drum 20, with a portion of cooling liquid in particular coming from a feed pipe 92 of said cooling liquid, obtaining a mixed cooling liquid.
Preferably said cooling method comprises a step f) of spraying and/or squirting said mixed cooling liquid against said internal lateral surface 22 of said rotatable drum 20.
Preferably said method provides to repeat said step e) and said step f) several times.
This advantageously allows to increase the speed of cooling of said at least one rotatable drum 20. Preferably said cooling method comprises a step g) of cooling said delivered or in particular sprayed cooling liquid in particular by means of heat exchange with heating means 97 in particular of a work environment.
Advantageously in this way CO 2 emissions can be considerably reduced, since in this way the use of fossil fuels is in part reduced. This also allows to save on costs for heating the work environment
In particular said cooling method comprises a step h) of pumping said delivered or in particular sprayed cooling liquid to a heating circuit preferably connected to at least a fan-coil unit and/or connected to a water/water heating pump and/or connected to a thermal tank of hot water for sanitary purposes. Advantageously in this way it is possible to cool said delivered or sprayed cooling liquid and at the same time to heat up, during the winter months, a work environment such as that in which the drawing machine is found.
Advantageously in this way the costs for heating said work environment can be considerably reduced, also reducing CO 2 emissions. In this way it can be seen that a system and a method for cooling a rotatable drum according to the present invention achieve the purposes previously described.
The system and method for cooling a rotatable drum according to the present invention as thus conceived may be subject to numerous modifications and variants, all of which shall come within the same inventive concept.
Furthermore, in practice, the materials used and their sizes and components may be of any type, according to the technical requirements.
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