METHOD AND DEVICE FOR THERMAL TREATMENT OF RAILS Russian patent published in 2013 - IPC C21D9/04 C21D1/42 C21D11/00 C21D1/18 

FIELD: metallurgy.

SUBSTANCE: proposed method comprises the steps that follow. Rail head, web and foot are preheated from austenitising start temperature to that of its end. Additional heating by heat cycling in the region of phase α-γ transitions with cooling of rail cross-section to temperature that provides for fine perlite structure. Note here that heating is controlled continuously or in steps by separate heaters so that temperatures over rail cross-section are leveled. After cooling, self-tempering is performed at temperature sufficient for stress removal. Now, additional differential cooling of rail is performed to ≤250°C. Final cooling is made to temperature below 60°C. Proposed device comprises induction heaters with preliminary and final heating zones, cooling modules with the unit of control and adjustment of cooling parameters, differential and final coolers, self-tempering zone.

EFFECT: higher mechanical properties, rail head hardness of up to HB415, required straightness.

8 cl, 6 dwg, 2 tbl