Method and apparatus for cleaning strip in a molten salt bath

Abstract

Strip is cleaned by passing it through a molten salt bath in a rectangular tank having U-shaped heating tubes arranged horizontally along each longitudinal side of the tank. Agitators positioned within L-shaped ducts at diagonally opposite corners of the tank cause movement of the bath past the heating tubes, thus heating the bath uniformly and keeping it in motion to prevent sludge from settling out. A second tank arranged along one side of the main tank has two spaced apart openings into the main tank and an agitator which causes movement of molten salt therethrough. The second tank also has a settling chamber therein through which molten salt passes slowly so as to cause sludge to settle out.