Method and device for cooling or quenching slabs and sheets with water in a cooling pond

1. Method for cooling or quenching metal slabs and metal sheets ( 2 ) with water, comprising the steps of: setting the slabs and sheets upright with a tilting device ( 18 ); lowering the slabs and sheets vertically into a cooling basin ( 1 , 14 ) containing water and temporarily maintaining the slabs and sheets on edge so that the slabs or sheets define a vertical plane; directing cooling water laterally to the plane of the slabs or sheets and against both sides of the slabs and sheets ( 2 ) when in the cooling basin; and changing a level of the water in the cooling basin so that the slabs and sheets are sprayed with the water when both above and below the level of the water in the cooling basin.

2. Method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the slabs and sheets ( 2 ) are fully immersed in the cooling basin ( 1 ) filled with water, and, in addition, the cooling water is directed against them in the water bath of the cooling basin ( 1 ).

3. Method in accordance with claim 2 , wherein a water level in the cooling basin ( 1 , 14 ) is lowered, the slabs and sheets ( 2 ) project above the water level ( 13 a ), and the cooling water is directed at the slabs and sheets ( 2 ).

4. Method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the cooling water is directed by jets, and the water pressure and/or the volume flow of the cooling water jets is automatically controlled.

5. Method in accordance with claim 4 , wherein the distance of the jets ( 10 ; ll a , 11 b ) from the surface of the slabs and sheets ( 2 ) is automatically controlled.

6. Device for cooling or quenching metal slabs and metal sheets ( 2 ) with water in a cooling basin ( 1 , 14 ), into which the slabs and sheets, which have first been set upright by a tilting device ( 18 ), are lowered and temporarily maintained on edge, especially for carrying out the method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the cooling basin ( 1 ) has jet devices ( 10 ; 11 a , 11 b ), which are arranged on both sides of the lowered vertically arranged slabs/sheets ( 2 ), are directed laterally to the plane of the slabs/sheets and towards broadside surfaces of the slabs/sheets, and are connected to a cooling water circulation ( 12 ), which has means ( 25 a , 25 b and 29 ) for lowering the water level in the cooling basin from a maximum, upper water level ( 13 b ) to a low, lower water level ( 13 a ) so that the slabs and sheets are selectively sprayed with the water when both above and below the level of the water in the cooling basin.

7. Device in accordance with claim 6 , wherein the cooling basin ( 1 ) is connected by flow with a pump receiving basin ( 14 ).

8. Device in accordance with Clam 6 , and further comprising a raisable and lowerable carriage ( 9 ), wherein the cooling basin ( 1 ) is designed with tracks ( 9 ) for the raisable and lowerable carriage ( 3 ) that holds a slab or a sheet ( 2 ).

9. Device in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the carriage ( 3 ) is connected to a cable drive ( 4 ).

10. Device in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the cable drive ( 4 ) has cables ( 7 ), which are guided by cable drums ( 5 ) mounted on the carriage ( 3 ), and the cable drums ( 5 ) are mechanically coupled with a frequency-controlled three-phase motor.

11. Device in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the carriage ( 3 ) is guided on the tracks ( 9 ) by rollers or wheels ( 8 ).