EP0296102B1 - Device with several components for heat treatment - Google Patents

Device with several components for heat treatment Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0296102B1
EP0296102B1 EP88810355A EP88810355A EP0296102B1 EP 0296102 B1 EP0296102 B1 EP 0296102B1 EP 88810355 A EP88810355 A EP 88810355A EP 88810355 A EP88810355 A EP 88810355A EP 0296102 B1 EP0296102 B1 EP 0296102B1
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Prior art keywords
components
elements
car
transfer machine
furnaces
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EP88810355A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0296102A1 (en
EP0296102B2 (en
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Pierre Beuret
Pascal Beuret
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Individual
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Individual
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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
    • C21D—MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING
    • C21D1/00—General methods or devices for heat treatment, e.g. annealing, hardening, quenching or tempering
    • C21D1/74—Methods of treatment in inert gas, controlled atmosphere, vacuum or pulverulent material
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
    • C21D—MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING
    • C21D9/00—Heat treatment, e.g. annealing, hardening, quenching or tempering, adapted for particular articles; Furnaces therefor
    • C21D9/0006—Details, accessories not peculiar to any of the following furnaces
    • C21D9/0018—Details, accessories not peculiar to any of the following furnaces for charging, discharging or manipulation of charge

Definitions

  • the object of the present invention is therefore to create a rational arrangement for the essential elements of a treatment installation, that is to say for one or more ovens, as well as one or more treatment elements and one or more handling elements, in such a way that the installation makes it possible to carry out various treatments in a rational manner, the installation comprising a minimum number of elements, arranged in a simple manner, with a minimum bulk, and allowing the extension possible with additional elements.
  • the object of the invention is an installation for carrying out heat treatments on loads of metal parts, comprising a first set of elements which are arranged in a higher position and which comprise at least one oven open at the bottom, a second set of elements which are arranged in a lower position and which comprise at least one quenching tank and at least one carriage, and stationary displacement means for bringing a load into the oven or the quenching tank under the oven, characterized in that said displacement means consist of a horizontal track which constitutes the lowest part of the installation and in that all the elements of the second set are movable on this track and provided with autonomous elevators, each of these ci being supported by the element with which it is associated and comprising - a plate capable of moving a load vertically to engage it in an element of the first assembly located above or to extract it.
  • the installation shown in the drawing is a multipurpose installation, comprising several fixed ovens, several mobile bins, a handling trolley, and the possibility of adding ac elements. trays, either fixed or mobile, each processing element cooperating with any oven in a minimum space and so as to allow the realization of all possible combinations.
  • the assembly is arranged in two parallel horizontal lines and superimposed.
  • the upper line includes a group of stationary ovens 1, 2 and 3, as well as an initial station 4, which can for example be a washing station with several cycles.
  • Elements 1, 2, 3, 4 constitute a first set of elements of the installation described.
  • the furnace 1 will be an furnace allowing a load to rise to 600 C, possibly to 1100 ° C or even, maximum value, to 1230 ° C.
  • the oven 2 will for example be an oven at 600 ° C. with a cooler incorporated in order to allow isothermal quenching operations.
  • oven 3 provision may be made, for example, for a tempering oven at 600 ° C., with internal heating.
  • a tempering oven at 600 ° C. with internal heating.
  • there could also be a fixed element constituting a cooling station allows - both to gradually lower the temperature of a load after an annealing or tempering operation.
  • the detailed construction of elements 1 to 4 need not be described in detail. We will see below the different functions for which they can be designed. In general, these will be elements which are provided with the accessories necessary to maintain a load of metallic objects under a gas atmosphere and to enclose them in a sealed manner with the necessary thermal insulation.
  • the oven 1 could, in another embodiment, be mounted on a carriage and move in the direction of the upper line.
  • the upper line also includes, in the extension of the ovens 1, 2, 3, an upper transport track 10, consisting of two parallel rails, on which a handling machine 11 moves.
  • This latter is composed of a frame 12 mounted on a roller 13, a column with a jack 14 which constitutes the cylinder of an elevator, and a bar of elevator 15 which functions as a piston inside the column 14 and allows to move in height a hooking member 16 in the form of a fork.
  • the lower line comprises at its base a transport track 5, formed of two horizontal rails - on which elements move which form a second set of elements of the installation described.
  • a fourth treatment element 91 is seen.
  • These treatment elements are equipped with wheels, as will be seen below, and move together or separately on the transport track 5.
  • a mobile handling tank under atmosphere that is to say a closed and insulated enclosure provided with a gas circulation allowing the displacement of a load.
  • Another treatment element could be constituted by a mobile oven in an atmosphere and reaching for example a temperature of 1100 ° C.
  • a third treatment element could be a water tank, a fourth an oil tank, the oil of which would be heated to a certain temperature, for example 100 ° C.
  • Another treatment element could be an oil tank, the oil of which could be heated to 200 ° C., or an isothermal salt tank.
  • the transport path 10 extends over one or more additional processing elements such as element 17, which is fixed.
  • element 17 is a gas tank, that is to say a closed enclosure in which are provided means for circulating a gas with, if necessary, heating means or cooling means. This gas tank can be designed so that the interior atmosphere is under pressure. In the installation described, the element 17 represents a third set.
  • Loads such as 18, arrive in the installation through an entry and exit station generally designated by 19 (fig. 1 to 3).
  • This station comprises a carousel 20, rotatably mounted on a base 21.
  • the plan shape of the carousel 20 is polygonal and, during its rotation, the carousel can be stopped in different orientations, which makes it possible to load or unload it, for example from a track of rollers 22 or from a supply means arranged in another direction.
  • the carousel 20 is provided at its periphery with pairs of arms 23 constituting forks, such as 23, on which are placed support frames 24 intended to support the loads 18.
  • a load When a load is in the orientation from the axis of the lower line of the treatment installation, it can be taken up via its frame 24 on the lifting plate 25 (fig. 1 and 3) of the carriage 6.
  • the latter consists of 'A lower H-shaped frame 26 resting, via rollers 27, on the rails 5 of the lower transport track. It carries a hydraulic cylinder 28 which extends vertically and whose piston moves a console 29 secured to a support rod for the plate 25.
  • This console is guided by a fixed vertical column 30 provided at its upper end with a plate d 'stop 31.
  • Motor means (not shown) can be mounted either directly on the frame 26 of the carriage, either on the transport route.
  • fig. 5 shows the relative positions of a treatment element, such as element 9 for example, and of an oven, such as oven 2, these elements also being visible in FIG. 6.
  • the oven 2 comprises, in a conventional manner, an insulating enclosure 32, heating bodies 33, an upper base provided with a fan 34 in - driven by a motor 35, a bell 36 and, at its lower opening, a plug 37 which is mounted on a support plate 38, itself articulated to the rear wall of the oven 2, and maneuverable by means of a jack 39 (fig. 6).
  • the bell 36 will be equipped with projecting internal elements (361) and mounted on a mobile support so as to be able to be displaced in height and rotated in a disposition which is described in application EP 295 207 by the same applicant.
  • a space of height H (eg 100 mm) can be maintained between the oven and the pan.
  • the elements 7, 8, 9 and 91 (fig. 3) of the second set can be of different types.
  • the element 9, for example, is visible in Figures 3 and 5. It is a tray provided with insulating and waterproof walls 40. Its upper wall 49 has a square opening in which is placed a cover 48.
  • the interior space of this tank is divided by partitions 41 into different zones making it possible to guide the circulation of the liquid contained in the tank. This circulation is controlled by pumps 50 (fig. 3).
  • An elevator 42 (fig. 6), provided with a plate 43 of the same type as the plate 25, is driven by a sleeve 44 on a fixed column 45 housed inside the enclosure.
  • This elevator is controlled by a jack 46 which is mounted vertically at the rear part of the tank 9, so as to be able to pass behind the group of ovens and upper elements 1 to 4.
  • the overall dimensions of these elements are shown in FIG. Figure 3.
  • the tray 9 is mounted by means of rollers 47 on the rails 5, so that it can be moved longitudinally on the transport track. He can also take the upper transport route 10.
  • the processing elements 7, 8 and 91 are of the same kind as that which has just been described. They are however executed slightly differently, since they are intended for different purposes.
  • the execution of element 9 is typically provided for a water or oil quench tank.
  • the enclosure can also be provided with heating bodies, so as to maintain this oil at the desired temperature, for example 100 ° C. or 200 ° C. If necessary, above of the liquid level, a nitrogen atmosphere can be maintained, so as to avoid the oxidation of the parts and the oxidation of the oil.
  • Element 91 is also provided with pumps 50.
  • the colon guide 44 instead of being immersed in the enclosure, is separated from this enclosure and provided outside.
  • the actuating cylinder 46 is here arranged at the same height as the tank. In this case, it is a salt quenching tank allowing isothermal quenching.
  • the element 8 is, as can be seen in FIG. 3, of the same construction as the element 9, with however this difference that the pumps 50 are here absent. Although not shown in the drawing, the closure cover will be fitted with insulation. On the other hand, the walls of the enclosure are also provided with thicker insulation than that of the tanks 9 and 91.
  • the treatment element 8 thus constitutes a mobile oven under controlled atmosphere and it is designed for example so as to be able to heat and maintain a load at a temperature, for example of 1100 ° C.
  • element 7 the arrangement of which is practically identical to that of element 8, although its dimension in the direction of the transport track 5 is smaller, this reduction in dimensions comes from the fact that the insulation of the enclosure walls is reduced.
  • This element can function as a mobile handling tank in a controlled atmosphere. It allows, for example, to transport a load between one of the ovens of the upper line and, for example, a fixed processing element such as those which will be described below.
  • FIGS 7 to 10 show two types of fixed or mobile processing elements located in the lower line, beyond the transport track 5 and capable of being unloaded by means of the handling machine 11.
  • the upper transport track 10 which starts from the end of the line, that is to say from the furnace 1, and can extend, if necessary, to an unloading station or otherwise depending on the number of fixed processing elements provided on the lower line.
  • Element 17 is a high pressure gas tank. It is closed at its upper part by a cover 51. It has internal partitions 52 intended to guide the circulation of gas inside the external walls 53 of the tank. This gas circulation is driven by a fan 54 actuated by a motor 55.
  • the arrows 56 show the path of the gas circulation.
  • a mobile guide system 69 allows the reversal of the gas flow to prevent deformation on the parts.
  • Inside the in - girdle 53 is mounted an elevator 57 which is of the same type as the elevator 42 and is controlled by a jack 58.
  • the console of the elevator 57 is guided by a column 59 (fig. 8).
  • FIGS 9 and 10 show another construction of gas tank which can be housed either next to tank 17, or in place of this element.
  • the tank 60 represents a construction of low pressure tanks also allowing the progressive cooling of the gas and, consequently, a controlled variation of the temperature of the charge maintained inside the element.
  • 61 shows the cooling elements located inside the tank. The latter is closed at its upper part by a square cover 62 and it includes an elevator 63 of the same construction as the elevator 57, but whose console is oriented slightly obliquely.
  • the guide column 64 is located in a corner of the enclosure and the jack 65 for operating the elevator is located on the upper face of the tank.
  • the circulation of the gas is ensured by a fan 66 with a vertical axis, located in the bottom of the tank and driven via a belt 67 from a motor 68 which, as seen in FIG. 10, is housed in the rectangular size of the outer walls of the tank 60.
  • a load taken by the plate 25 of the handling carriage on one of the forks 23 integral with the carousel 20, can be moved on the transport track 5, so as to bring it below one of the ovens 1, 2, 3 or 4.
  • the oven having been previously opened by bottom - bottom from its plug 37, the load can be introduced, for example, into the bell 36 of the oven 2 (fig. 5) which, by a lowering and rotation maneuver, brings the projections which it presents on its periphery in positions located below the angles of the frame 24.
  • the trolley having been brought into a position located under this handling machine, the load will be raised (fig. 1) to a position located above the transport track 10. In this position, the fork of the handling machine 11 can be inserted under the load and thus take up the latter, which frees the carriage 6. From there, the load can be transported either to an unloading station (not shown), located at the end of the track 10, either transferred to one of the elements 17 or 60. Then it can be taken up by the machine 11 and re-transferred to the carriage 6 which will bring it back to the entry station 20.
  • These handling operations take relatively little time of time compared to downtime ation of the different processing elements.
  • the lower edge of the bell presses on the edge of the opening of the upper wall of the enclosure 40, which ensures the closure of a sealed enclosure comprising the interior space of the oven and the tray.
  • the load can therefore be lowered in the bath.
  • the installation described allows all possible variants of handling, transfer and transport of loads, and this with a reduced space requirement and the possibility of extending the installation by adding additional elements, either in fixed locations. next to the tray 17, either on the transport track 5, or also in the upper line of the ovens.
  • a transfer station could be provided at this left end on a track parallel to the two lines of the installation, extending laterally at mid-height for example, so that the loads could be brought down from the end left of the line towards the entry carousel 20 on a side track parallel to track 5.
  • This track would be located, for example, at the level of the turntable 20 of the entry carousel.
  • the charges can always be brought back to the carousel 20 by means of the carriage 6, whatever the station in which they have undergone the last treatment.
  • the carousel 20 can therefore function as a loading and unloading station anyway.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Crystallography & Structural Chemistry (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Heat Treatments In General, Especially Conveying And Cooling (AREA)
  • Tunnel Furnaces (AREA)
  • Treatment Of Fiber Materials (AREA)
  • Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)
  • Gloves (AREA)

Abstract

An upper line comprises three furnaces 1, 2, 3 and a washing machine 4, in straight side-by-side arrangement. A lower line comprises moveable treatment elements 7, 8, 9 movable on conveyor track 5, and fixed vat 17. car 6 permits feeding all the elements of the upper line, as well as materials handling equipment 11, from entry station 20. Elements 7, 8, 9 and 17 can be fed either directly from the furnaces 1, 2, 3 via the materials handling equipment 11.

Description

Différentes branches de l'industrie utilisent de plus en plus fréquemment des pièces produites en série, d'un seul tenant, formées en alliages ou autres matériaux spéciaux ayant subi des traite - ments thermiques. Or ces derniers peuvent être très variés et, en outre, ils doivent satisfaire à des conditions très spécifiques. Il existe donc un besoin pour des installations permettant d'effectuer des traitements thermiques,et comportant plusieurs éléments, tels que fours ou bacs de trempe, agencés en batterie, et facilement accessibles.Different branches of the industry are increasingly using mass-produced parts in one piece, formed from alloys or other special materials which have undergone heat treatment. However, these can be very varied and, in addition, they must meet very specific conditions. There is therefore a need for installations making it possible to carry out heat treatments, and comprising several elements, such as ovens or quenching tanks, arranged in a battery, and easily accessible.

Des agencements d'éléments permettant d'effectuer des traitements thermiques dans des conditions précises et soignées, notamment en évitant autant que possible le contact des pièces avec l'air, sont déjà connues.Arrangements of elements making it possible to carry out heat treatments under precise and neat conditions, in particular by avoiding as much as possible the contact of the parts with the air, are already known.

Ainsi, dans le brevet autrichien No. 167102, on voit une installation dans laquelle un four du type à cloche peut être déplacé sur une voie de transport au-dessus de fosses susceptibles de contenir différents bacs de trempe et un bac de charge - ment. Le brevet américain 1'876'960 décrit une installation de recuit dans laquelle on prévoit, en - dessous du four, un carrousel susceptible de contenir les charges. Le brevet américain 3'381'947 décrit également une installation avec fours et bacs de trempe, ainsi que des moyens d'introduction des charges dans l'installation.Thus, in the Austrian patent No. 167102, an installation is seen in which an oven of the bell type can be moved on a transport path over pits capable of containing different quenching tanks and a loading tank. US patent 1,876,960 describes an annealing installation in which there is provided, below the oven, a carousel capable of containing the charges. American patent 3,381,947 also describes an installation with ovens and quenching tanks, as well as means for introducing the charges into the installation.

Dans toutes ces installations connues, on trouve un agencement comportant un petit nombre d'éléments seulement, et qui est d'un encombre - ment excessif. En outre aucune de ces installations ne protège parfaitement les pièces contre le risque d'oxydation.In all these known installations, there is an arrangement comprising a small number of elements only, and which is excessively cluttered. Furthermore, none of these installations perfectly protects the parts against the risk of oxidation.

Le certificat d'addition No. 95877 au brevet français No. 1 555 588 divulgue une installation dans laquelle un premier ensemble d'éléments est disposé en une rangée de fours s'ouvrant hori - zontalement sur un couloir de transfert muni d'une voie sur laquelle peuvent se déplacer des éléments d'un deuxième ensemble comportant un ou plusieurs chariots de chargement susceptibles d'être pourvus de bacs de trempe. Une telle installation est très encombrante et implique le maintien permanente du couloir de transfert sous atmosphère protectrice.The certificate of addition No. 95877 to French patent No. 1,555,588 discloses an installation in which a first set of elements is arranged in a row of ovens opening horizontally on a transfer corridor provided with a channel on which elements of a second assembly can move, comprising one or more loading carriages capable of being provided with quenching tanks. Such an installation is very bulky and implies the permanent maintenance of the transfer corridor under a protective atmosphere.

Des installations qui permettent de transférer des charges d'un four du type à cloche ouvert vers le bas directement dans un bac de trempe qui a été amené au préalable immédiatement sous le four, sont décrits dans le brevet allemand DE-1942801 et dans la publication EP-A-0023546. Toutefois, ces installations ne peuvent pas être agencées de manière à combiner rationnellement l'emploi de plusieurs fours et de plusieurs bacs de trempe ou autres éléments auxiliaires.Installations which make it possible to transfer charges from an oven of the open-top type directly down into a quenching tank which has been brought beforehand immediately under the oven, are described in German patent DE-1942801 and in the publication EP-A-0023546. However, these installations cannot be arranged so as to rationally combine the use of several ovens and of several quenching tanks or other auxiliary elements.

Le but de la présente invention est donc de créer une disposition rationnelle pour les éléments essentiels d'une installation de traitement, c'est-à-dire pour un ou plusieurs fours, ainsi qu'un ou plusieurs éléments de traitement et un ou plusieurs éléments de manutention, de telle manière que l'installation permette d'effectuer des traitements variés d'une manière rationnelle, l'installation comportant un nombre minimum d'éléments, disposés de façon simple, avec un encombrement minimum, et permettant l'extension possible au moyen d'éléments supplémentaires.The object of the present invention is therefore to create a rational arrangement for the essential elements of a treatment installation, that is to say for one or more ovens, as well as one or more treatment elements and one or more handling elements, in such a way that the installation makes it possible to carry out various treatments in a rational manner, the installation comprising a minimum number of elements, arranged in a simple manner, with a minimum bulk, and allowing the extension possible with additional elements.

L'objet de l'invention est une installation pour effectuer des traitements thermiques sur des charges de pièces métalliques, comportant un premier ensemble d'éléments qui sont disposés dans une position supérieure et qui comportent au moins un four ouvert vers le bas, un deuxième ensemble d'éléments qui sont disposés dans une position inférieure et qui comportent au moins un bac de trempe et au moins un chariot, et des moyens stationnaires de déplacement pour amener une charge dans le four ou le bac de trempe sous le four, caractérisée en ce que lesdits moyens de déplacement consistent en une voie horizontale qui constitue la partie la plus basse de l'installation et en ce que tous les éléments du deuxième ensem - ble sont mobiles sur cette voie et munis d'élévateurs autonomes, chacun de ceux-ci étant supporté par l'élément auquel il est associé et com - portant un plateau capable de déplacer une charge verticalement pour l'engager dans un élément du premier ensemble situé au-dessus ou pour l'en extraire.The object of the invention is an installation for carrying out heat treatments on loads of metal parts, comprising a first set of elements which are arranged in a higher position and which comprise at least one oven open at the bottom, a second set of elements which are arranged in a lower position and which comprise at least one quenching tank and at least one carriage, and stationary displacement means for bringing a load into the oven or the quenching tank under the oven, characterized in that said displacement means consist of a horizontal track which constitutes the lowest part of the installation and in that all the elements of the second set are movable on this track and provided with autonomous elevators, each of these ci being supported by the element with which it is associated and comprising - a plate capable of moving a load vertically to engage it in an element of the first assembly located above or to extract it.

On va décrire ci-après, à titre d'exemple, une forme d'exécution de l'objet de l'invention en se référant au dessin annexé, dans lequel:

  • la fig. 1 est une vue en élévation longitudinale de l'installation,
  • la fig. 2 en est une vue en plan de dessus, la fig. 3 est une vue en plan de dessus à échelle agrandie du poste d'entrée et de sortie avec le chariot de manutention et une série de bacs,
  • la fig. 4 est une vue en élévation frontale à la même échelle qu'à la fig. 3, montrant un chariot de manutention et un four,
  • la fig. 5 est une vue en coupe longitudinale partielle, montrant un four, un bac de trempe, et un chariot,
  • la fig. 6 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne 6 - 6 de la fig. 5, et
  • les fig. 7 à 10 sont des vues en élévation et en plan de deux éléments de traitement fixes.
An embodiment of the subject of the invention will be described below, by way of example, with reference to the attached drawing, in which:
  • fig. 1 is a view in longitudinal elevation of the installation,
  • fig. 2 is a plan view from above, FIG. 3 is a top plan view on an enlarged scale of the entry and exit station with the handling trolley and a series of bins,
  • fig. 4 is a front elevation view on the same scale as in FIG. 3, showing a handling trolley and an oven,
  • fig. 5 is a view in partial longitudinal section, showing an oven, a quenching tank, and a carriage,
  • fig. 6 is a sectional view along line 6 - 6 of FIG. 5, and
  • fig. 7 to 10 are views in elevation and in plan of two fixed processing elements.

L'installation représentée au dessin est une installation polyvalente, comportant plusieurs fours fixes, plusieurs bacs mobiles, un chariot de manu - tention, et la possibilité d'ajouter des éléments accessoires, soit fixes, soit mobiles, chaque élément de traitement coopérant avec n'importe quel four dans un encombrement minimum et de façon à permettre la réalisation de toutes les combinaisons possibles. Comme on le voit aux figures 1 et 2, l'ensemble est agencé en deux lignes horizontales parallèles et superposées. La ligne supérieure comporte un groupe de fours fixes 1, 2 et 3, ainsi qu'une station initiale 4, qui peut être par exemple une station de lavage à plusieurs cyles. Les élé - ments 1, 2, 3, 4 constituent un premier ensemble d'éléments de l'installation décrite. Dans une réalisation typique, le four 1 sera un four permettant de faire monter une charge à 600 C, éventuelle - ment à 1100°C ou même, valeur maximale, à 1230°C. Le four 2 sera par exemple un four à 600 ° C avec un refroidisseur incorporé dans le but de permettre des opérations de trempe isothermi - que. Comme four 3 on pourra prévoir, par exemple, un four de revenu à 600 ° C, avec un chauffage interne. Au lieu de ou en plus de ce dernier four, on pourrait également avoir un élément fixe constituant une station de refroidissement permet - tant d'abaisser progressivement la température d'une charge après une opération de recuit ou de revenu. La construction de détail des éléments 1 à 4 n'a pas besoin d'être décrite en détail. On verra plus loin les différentes fonctions pour lesquelles ils peuvent être conçus. De façon générale, il s'agira d'éléments qui sont pourvus des accessoires né - cessaires pour maintenir une charge d'objets mé - talliques sous atmosphère de gaz et les enfermer de façon étanche avec les isolations thermiques nécessaires. On notera d'ailleurs que le four 1 pourrait, dans une autre forme d'exécution, être monté sur chariot et se déplacer dans le sens de la ligne supérieure.The installation shown in the drawing is a multipurpose installation, comprising several fixed ovens, several mobile bins, a handling trolley, and the possibility of adding ac elements. trays, either fixed or mobile, each processing element cooperating with any oven in a minimum space and so as to allow the realization of all possible combinations. As seen in Figures 1 and 2, the assembly is arranged in two parallel horizontal lines and superimposed. The upper line includes a group of stationary ovens 1, 2 and 3, as well as an initial station 4, which can for example be a washing station with several cycles. Elements 1, 2, 3, 4 constitute a first set of elements of the installation described. In a typical embodiment, the furnace 1 will be an furnace allowing a load to rise to 600 C, possibly to 1100 ° C or even, maximum value, to 1230 ° C. The oven 2 will for example be an oven at 600 ° C. with a cooler incorporated in order to allow isothermal quenching operations. As oven 3, provision may be made, for example, for a tempering oven at 600 ° C., with internal heating. Instead of or in addition to the latter furnace, there could also be a fixed element constituting a cooling station allows - both to gradually lower the temperature of a load after an annealing or tempering operation. The detailed construction of elements 1 to 4 need not be described in detail. We will see below the different functions for which they can be designed. In general, these will be elements which are provided with the accessories necessary to maintain a load of metallic objects under a gas atmosphere and to enclose them in a sealed manner with the necessary thermal insulation. It will also be noted that the oven 1 could, in another embodiment, be mounted on a carriage and move in the direction of the upper line.

La ligne supérieure comporte encore dans le prolongement des fours 1, 2, 3, une voie de trans - port supérieure 10, constituée de deux rails paral - lèles, sur laquelle se déplace un engin de manu - tention 11. Ce dernier est composé d'un cadre 12 monté sur galet 13, d'une colonne à vérin 14 qui constitue le cylindre d'un élévateur, et d'une barre d'élévateur 15 qui fonctionne comme piston à l'in - térieur de la colonne 14 et permet de déplacer en hauteur un organe d'accrochage 16 en forme de fourche.The upper line also includes, in the extension of the ovens 1, 2, 3, an upper transport track 10, consisting of two parallel rails, on which a handling machine 11 moves. This latter is composed of a frame 12 mounted on a roller 13, a column with a jack 14 which constitutes the cylinder of an elevator, and a bar of elevator 15 which functions as a piston inside the column 14 and allows to move in height a hooking member 16 in the form of a fork.

La ligne inférieure comporte à sa base une voie de transport 5, formée de deux rails horizon - taux et sur laquelle se déplacent des éléments qui forment un deuxième ensemble d'éléments de l'installation décrite. Ainsi, on voit à la fig. 1 un chariot de manutention 6, et trois éléments de traitement 7, 8 et 9. A la fig. 3 on voit un quatrième élément de traitement 91. Ces éléments de traite - ment sont équipés de roues, comme on le verra plus loin, et se déplacent ensemble ou séparément sur la voie de transport 5. Comme éléments de traitement on pourra avoir, sur la ligne inférieure, par exemple un bac mobile de manutention sous atmosphère, c'est-à-dire une enceinte fermée et isolée pourvue d'une circulation de gaz permettant le déplacement d'une charge. Un autre élément de traitement pourrait être constitué par un four mobile sous atmosphère et atteignant par exemple une température de 1100°C. Un troisième élément de traitement pourrait être un bac à eau, un quatrième un bac à huile, dont l'huile serait chauffé à une certaine température, par exemple 100°C. Un autre élément de traitement pourrait être un bac à huile dont l'huile pourrait être chauffée à 200 C, ou un bac à sel isothermique.The lower line comprises at its base a transport track 5, formed of two horizontal rails - on which elements move which form a second set of elements of the installation described. Thus, we see in fig. 1 a handling trolley 6, and three processing elements 7, 8 and 9. In FIG. 3 a fourth treatment element 91 is seen. These treatment elements are equipped with wheels, as will be seen below, and move together or separately on the transport track 5. As treatment elements, it is possible to have, on the lower line, for example a mobile handling tank under atmosphere, that is to say a closed and insulated enclosure provided with a gas circulation allowing the displacement of a load. Another treatment element could be constituted by a mobile oven in an atmosphere and reaching for example a temperature of 1100 ° C. A third treatment element could be a water tank, a fourth an oil tank, the oil of which would be heated to a certain temperature, for example 100 ° C. Another treatment element could be an oil tank, the oil of which could be heated to 200 ° C., or an isothermal salt tank.

La voie de transport 10 s'étend au-dessus d'un ou plusieurs éléments de traitement supplé - mentaires tel que l'élément 17, qui est fixe. L'élé - ment 17 est un bac à gaz, c'est-à-dire une enceinte fermée dans laquelle sont prévus des moyens de circulation d'un gaz avec, le cas échéant, des moyens de chauffage ou des moyens de refroidissement. Ce bac à gaz peut être conçu de façon que l'atmosphère intérieure soit sous pression. Dans l'installation décrite, l'élément 17 représente un troisième ensemble.The transport path 10 extends over one or more additional processing elements such as element 17, which is fixed. The element 17 is a gas tank, that is to say a closed enclosure in which are provided means for circulating a gas with, if necessary, heating means or cooling means. This gas tank can be designed so that the interior atmosphere is under pressure. In the installation described, the element 17 represents a third set.

Avant d'expliquer les possibilités d'emploi de ces ensembles d'éléments, on va encore décrire ces derniers un peu plus en détail. Les charges, telle que 18, parviennent dans l'installation par une station d'entrée et de sortie désignée de façon générale par 19 (fig. 1 à 3). Cette station comporte un carrousel 20, monté rotativement sur un socle 21. La forme en plan du carrousel 20 est polygo - nale et, au cours de sa rotation, le carrousel peut être stoppé dans différentes orientations, ce qui permet de le charger ou de le décharger, par exemple à partir d'une voie de galets 22 ou à partir d'un moyen d'amenée disposé dans une autre direction. Le carrousel 20 est muni à sa périphérie de paires de bras 23 constituant des fourches, telle que 23, sur lesquelles viennent se placer des cadres de support 24 destinés à supporter les charges 18. Lorsqu'une charge se trouve dans l'orien - tation de l'axe de la ligne inférieure de l'installation de traitement, elle peut être reprise par l'intermé - diaire de son cadre 24 sur le plateau élévateur 25 (fig.1 et 3) du chariot 6. Ce dernier est constitué d'un cadre inférieur en forme de H 26 reposant, par l'intermédiaire de galets 27, sur les rails 5 de la voie de transport inférieure. Il porte un vérin hydraulique 28 qui s'étend verticalement et dont le piston déplace une console 29 solidaire d'une tige de support du plateau 25. Cette console est guidée par une colonne verticale fixe 30 munie à son extrémité supérieure d'une plaque d'arrêt 31. Des moyens moteurs (non représentés) peuvent être montés soit directement sur le cadre 26 du chariot, soit sur la voie de transport. Ceci permet donc de prendre une charge sur le carrousel d'entrée 20 et de la déplacer sous la ligne supérieure des fours 1, 2, 3 et 4, les autres éléments de traitement montés sur la voie de transport 5 étant eux - mêmes déplacés longitudinalement sur une distance suffi - sante pour permettre au chariot d'arriver à la po - sition finale désirée. Ainsi, la fig. 5 montre les positions relatives d'un élément de traitement, tel que l'élément 9 par exemple, et d'un four, tel que le four 2, ces éléments étant également visibles à la fig. 6. Le four 2 comporte, de façon classique, une enceinte isolante 32, des corps de chauffe 33, un socle supérieur muni d'un ventilateur 34 en - traîné par un moteur 35, une cloche 36 et, à son ouverture inférieure, un bouchon 37 qui est monté sur une plaque de support 38, elle - même articulée à la paroi arrière du four 2, et manoeuvrable par le moyen d'un vérin 39 (fig. 6). On notera que la cloche 36 sera équipée d'éléments internes saillants (361) et montée sur un support mobile de façon à pouvoir être déplacée en hauteur et mue en rotation selon une disposition qui est décrite dans la demande EP 295 207 du même déposant. Un espace de hauteur H (p. ex. 100 mm) peut être maintenu entre le four et le bac.Before explaining the possibilities of using these sets of elements, we will describe them a little more in detail. Loads, such as 18, arrive in the installation through an entry and exit station generally designated by 19 (fig. 1 to 3). This station comprises a carousel 20, rotatably mounted on a base 21. The plan shape of the carousel 20 is polygonal and, during its rotation, the carousel can be stopped in different orientations, which makes it possible to load or unload it, for example from a track of rollers 22 or from a supply means arranged in another direction. The carousel 20 is provided at its periphery with pairs of arms 23 constituting forks, such as 23, on which are placed support frames 24 intended to support the loads 18. When a load is in the orientation from the axis of the lower line of the treatment installation, it can be taken up via its frame 24 on the lifting plate 25 (fig. 1 and 3) of the carriage 6. The latter consists of 'A lower H-shaped frame 26 resting, via rollers 27, on the rails 5 of the lower transport track. It carries a hydraulic cylinder 28 which extends vertically and whose piston moves a console 29 secured to a support rod for the plate 25. This console is guided by a fixed vertical column 30 provided at its upper end with a plate d 'stop 31. Motor means (not shown) can be mounted either directly on the frame 26 of the carriage, either on the transport route. This therefore makes it possible to take a load on the input carousel 20 and to move it under the upper line of the ovens 1, 2, 3 and 4, the other treatment elements mounted on the transport track 5 being themselves displaced longitudinally enough distance to allow the cart to reach the desired final position. Thus, fig. 5 shows the relative positions of a treatment element, such as element 9 for example, and of an oven, such as oven 2, these elements also being visible in FIG. 6. The oven 2 comprises, in a conventional manner, an insulating enclosure 32, heating bodies 33, an upper base provided with a fan 34 in - driven by a motor 35, a bell 36 and, at its lower opening, a plug 37 which is mounted on a support plate 38, itself articulated to the rear wall of the oven 2, and maneuverable by means of a jack 39 (fig. 6). It will be noted that the bell 36 will be equipped with projecting internal elements (361) and mounted on a mobile support so as to be able to be displaced in height and rotated in a disposition which is described in application EP 295 207 by the same applicant. A space of height H (eg 100 mm) can be maintained between the oven and the pan.

Les éléments 7, 8, 9 et 91 (fig. 3) du deuxième ensemble peuvent être de différents types. L'élé - ment 9, par exemple, est visible aux figures 3 et 5. Il s'agit d'un bac muni de parois isolantes et étan - ches 40. Sa paroi supérieure 49 comporte une ouverture carrée dans laquelle vient se placer un couvercle 48. L'espace intérieur de ce bac est divisé par des cloisons 41 en différentes zones permettant de guider la circulation du liquide contenu dans le bac. Cette circulation est com - mandée par des pompes 50 (fig. 3). Un élévateur 42 (fig. 6), muni d'un plateau 43 du même type que le plateau 25, est conduit par un manchon 44 sur une colonne fixe 45 logée à l'intérieur de l'enceinte. Cet élévateur est commandé par un vérin 46 qui est monté verticalement à la partie arrière du bac 9, de façon à pouvoir passer derrière le groupe de fours et d'éléments supérieurs 1 à 4. Les encombrements en plan de ces éléments sont représentés à la figure 3. Le bac 9 est monté par l'intermédiaire de galets 47 sur les rails 5, de sorte qu'il peut être déplacé longitudinalement sur la voie de transport. Il peut également s'engager sous la voie de transport supérieure 10.The elements 7, 8, 9 and 91 (fig. 3) of the second set can be of different types. The element 9, for example, is visible in Figures 3 and 5. It is a tray provided with insulating and waterproof walls 40. Its upper wall 49 has a square opening in which is placed a cover 48. The interior space of this tank is divided by partitions 41 into different zones making it possible to guide the circulation of the liquid contained in the tank. This circulation is controlled by pumps 50 (fig. 3). An elevator 42 (fig. 6), provided with a plate 43 of the same type as the plate 25, is driven by a sleeve 44 on a fixed column 45 housed inside the enclosure. This elevator is controlled by a jack 46 which is mounted vertically at the rear part of the tank 9, so as to be able to pass behind the group of ovens and upper elements 1 to 4. The overall dimensions of these elements are shown in FIG. Figure 3. The tray 9 is mounted by means of rollers 47 on the rails 5, so that it can be moved longitudinally on the transport track. He can also take the upper transport route 10.

Les éléments de traitement 7, 8 et 91 sont du même genre que celui qui vient d'être décrit. Il sont cependant exécutés de façon légèrement différente, puisqu'ils sont prévus dans des buts différents. L'exécution de l'élément 9 est prévu typiquement pour un bac de trempe à eau ou à huile. Dans le cas d'un bac à huile, l'enceinte peut encore être munie de corps de chauffe, de façon à maintenir cette huile à la température voulue, par exemple 100°C ou 200 ° C. Le cas échéant, au - dessus du niveau du liquide, on peut maintenir une atmosphère d'azote, de façon à éviter l'oxydation des pièces et l'oxydation de l'huile.L'élément 91 est également pourvu de pompes 50. Ici, la colon - ne de guidage 44, au lieu d'être immergée dans l'enceinte, est séparée de cette enceinte et prévue à l'extérieur. Le vérin de manoeuvre 46 est ici disposé à la même hauteur que le bac. Il s'agit dans ce cas d'un bac de trempe à sel permettant une trempe isothermique.The processing elements 7, 8 and 91 are of the same kind as that which has just been described. They are however executed slightly differently, since they are intended for different purposes. The execution of element 9 is typically provided for a water or oil quench tank. In the case of an oil tank, the enclosure can also be provided with heating bodies, so as to maintain this oil at the desired temperature, for example 100 ° C. or 200 ° C. If necessary, above of the liquid level, a nitrogen atmosphere can be maintained, so as to avoid the oxidation of the parts and the oxidation of the oil. Element 91 is also provided with pumps 50. Here, the colon guide 44, instead of being immersed in the enclosure, is separated from this enclosure and provided outside. The actuating cylinder 46 is here arranged at the same height as the tank. In this case, it is a salt quenching tank allowing isothermal quenching.

L'élément 8 est, comme on le voit à la figure 3, de la même construction que l'élément 9, avec toutefois cette différence que les pompes 50 sont ici absentes. Bien que cela ne soit pas représenté au dessin, le couvercle de fermeture sera équipé d'une isolation. D'autre part, les parois de l'en - ceinte sont également pourvues d'une isolation plus épaisse que celle des bacs 9 et 91. L'élément de traitement 8 constitue ainsi un four mobile sous atmosphère contrôlée et il est conçu par exemple de façon à pouvoir chauffer et maintenir une charge à une température , par exemple de 1100°C.The element 8 is, as can be seen in FIG. 3, of the same construction as the element 9, with however this difference that the pumps 50 are here absent. Although not shown in the drawing, the closure cover will be fitted with insulation. On the other hand, the walls of the enclosure are also provided with thicker insulation than that of the tanks 9 and 91. The treatment element 8 thus constitutes a mobile oven under controlled atmosphere and it is designed for example so as to be able to heat and maintain a load at a temperature, for example of 1100 ° C.

Quant à l'élément 7, dont la disposition est pratiquement identique à celle de l'élément 8, bien que sa dimension dans le sens de la voie de transport 5 soit plus faible, cette réduction des dimensions vient du fait que l'isolation des parois de l'enceinte est réduite. Cet élément peut fonc - tionner comme bac mobile de manutention sous atmosphère contrôlée. Il permet par exemple de transporter une charge entre un des fours de la ligne supérieure et, par ex., un élément de traite - ment fixe tel que ceux qui vont être décrits ci - après.As for element 7, the arrangement of which is practically identical to that of element 8, although its dimension in the direction of the transport track 5 is smaller, this reduction in dimensions comes from the fact that the insulation of the enclosure walls is reduced. This element can function as a mobile handling tank in a controlled atmosphere. It allows, for example, to transport a load between one of the ovens of the upper line and, for example, a fixed processing element such as those which will be described below.

Les figures 7 à 10 représentent deux types d'éléments de traitement fixes ou mobiles situés dans la ligne inférieure, au-delà de la voie de transport 5 et susceptible d'être déchargé au moyen de l'engin de manutention 11. On voit aux figures 7 et 9 la voie de transport supérieure 10 qui part de l'extrémité de la ligne, c'est-à-dire du four 1, et peut se prolonger, le cas échéant, jusqu'à une station de déchargement ou autrement en fonction du nombre d'éléments de traitement fixes prévus sur la ligne inférieure. L'élément 17 est un bac à gaz à haute pression. Il est fermé à sa partie supérieure par un couvercle 51. Il comporte des cloisons intérieures 52 destinées à guider la circulation du gaz à l'intérieur des parois extérieures 53 du bac. Cette circulation du gaz est entraînée par un ventilateur 54 actionné par un moteur 55. Les flèches 56 montrent le chemin de la circulation du gaz. Un système de guidage mobile 69 permet le renversement du flux de gaz pour éviter la déformation sur les pièces. A l'intérieur de l'en - ceinte 53 est monté un élévateur 57 qui est du même type que l'élévateur 42 et est commandé par un vérin 58. La console de l'élévateur 57 est guidée par une colonne 59 (fig. 8).Figures 7 to 10 show two types of fixed or mobile processing elements located in the lower line, beyond the transport track 5 and capable of being unloaded by means of the handling machine 11. We see in Figures 7 and 9 the upper transport track 10 which starts from the end of the line, that is to say from the furnace 1, and can extend, if necessary, to an unloading station or otherwise depending on the number of fixed processing elements provided on the lower line. Element 17 is a high pressure gas tank. It is closed at its upper part by a cover 51. It has internal partitions 52 intended to guide the circulation of gas inside the external walls 53 of the tank. This gas circulation is driven by a fan 54 actuated by a motor 55. The arrows 56 show the path of the gas circulation. A mobile guide system 69 allows the reversal of the gas flow to prevent deformation on the parts. Inside the in - girdle 53 is mounted an elevator 57 which is of the same type as the elevator 42 and is controlled by a jack 58. The console of the elevator 57 is guided by a column 59 (fig. 8).

Les figures 9 et 10 représentent une autre construction de bac à gaz qui peut se loger soit à côté du bac 17, soit en lieu et place de cet élément. Le bac 60 représente une construction de bacs à basse pression permettant également d'assurer le refroidissement progressif du gaz et, par conséquent, une variation contrôlée de la température de la charge maintenue à l'intérieur de l'élément. On voit en 61 les éléments de refroidis - sement situés à l'intérieur du bac. Ce dernier est fermé à sa partie supérieure par un couvercle carré 62 et il comporte un élévateur 63 de même construction que l'élévateur 57, mais dont la console est orientée légèrement obliquement. La colonne de guidage 64 est située dans un angle de l'enceinte et le vérin 65 de manoeuvre de l'élévateur se trouve sur la face supérieure du bac. La circulation du gaz est assurée par un ventilateur 66 à axe vertical, situé dans le fond du bac et entraîné par l'intermédiaire d'une courroie 67 à partir d'un moteur 68 qui, comme on le voit à la figure 10, est logé dans l'encombrement rectangulaire des parois extérieures du bac 60.Figures 9 and 10 show another construction of gas tank which can be housed either next to tank 17, or in place of this element. The tank 60 represents a construction of low pressure tanks also allowing the progressive cooling of the gas and, consequently, a controlled variation of the temperature of the charge maintained inside the element. 61 shows the cooling elements located inside the tank. The latter is closed at its upper part by a square cover 62 and it includes an elevator 63 of the same construction as the elevator 57, but whose console is oriented slightly obliquely. The guide column 64 is located in a corner of the enclosure and the jack 65 for operating the elevator is located on the upper face of the tank. The circulation of the gas is ensured by a fan 66 with a vertical axis, located in the bottom of the tank and driven via a belt 67 from a motor 68 which, as seen in FIG. 10, is housed in the rectangular size of the outer walls of the tank 60.

Toutes les manutentions désirées peuvent être effectuées aisément au moyen du chariot 6, de l'engin 11 et des moyens de déplacement des éléments 7, 8 et 9. Ainsi, une charge, prise par le plateau 25 du chariot de manutention sur une des fourches 23 solidaire du carrousel 20, peut être déplacée sur la voie de transport 5, de façon a l'amener en-dessous de l'un des fours 1, 2, 3 ou 4. Le four ayant été ouvert au préalable par bas - culement de son bouchon 37, la charge peut être introduite, par exemple, dans la cloche 36 du four 2 (fig. 5) qui, par une manoeuvre d'abaissement et de rotation, amène les saillies qu'elle présente sur son pourtour dans des positions situées en-dessous des angles du cadre 24. Il suffit dès lors d'abaisser la console d'élévateur 29 pour que le plateau 25 libère le cadre 24 de la charge et maintienne cette dernière assujettie à la cloche 36. Le chariot étant déplacé à nouveau, le four peut être refermé et le traitement thermique voulu en - clenché. On se rend compte que toutes les opérations de transfert et de déplacement sont des opérations qui occupent des temps relativement très courts par rapport aux durées de traitement proprement dites. Ainsi, après avoir mis en place une charge dans un four tel que 2, le chariot peut facilement venir rechercher une autre charge dans la station d'entrée, pour l'amener par exemple dans la station de lavage ou dans un autre des fours. On peut également, pendant le même laps de temps, déplacer un ou plusiurs des éléments de traitement 7, 8 et 9 pour, par exemple, permettre au chariot 6 de transférer une charge à l'engin de manutention 11. Dans ce cas, le chariot ayant été amené dans une position située sous cet engin de manutention, la charge sera élevée (fig. 1) jusque dans une position située au-dessus de la voie de transport 10. Dans cette position, la fourche de l'engin de manutention 11 peut être insérée sous la charge et reprendre ainsi cette dernière, ce qui libère le chariot 6. A partir de là, la charge peut être trans - portée soit dans une station de déchargement (non représentée), située à l'extrémité de la voie 10, soit transférée à l'un des éléments 17 ou 60. Ensuite elle pourra être reprise par l'engin 11 et retransfé - rée au chariot 6 qui la ramènera à la station d'en - trée 20. Ces manutentions prennent relativement peu de temps par rapport au temps d'immobilisation des différents éléments de traitement. Enfin, il convient de mentionner plus spécialement l'opé - ration de transfert qui peut être effectuée lors - qu'une charge est transmise directement d'un four, ou d'un autre élément de la ligne supérieure, dans un élément situé dans la ligne inférieure. Dans ce cas, revenant à la figure 5, le four ayant été ouvert par abaissement de la plaque 38 au moment où le traitement de chauffage est terminé, l'élément de traitement mobile sur la voie inférieure, par exem - ple l'élement 8, est amené immédiatement sous le four 2 et c'est au moyen de l'élévateur 42 et du plateau 43 que l'on opère dès lors le transfert. La cloche 36 est alors abaissée. L'élévateur est élevé jusqu'à ce qu'il supporte la charge sur le plateau 43, après quoi la cloche 36 libère la charge par un mouvement de rotation. Au cours de ce mouvement, le bord inférieur de la cloche appuie sur le bord de l'ouverture de la paroi supérieure de l'en - ceinte 40, ce qui assure la fermeture d'une en - ceinte étanche comportant l'espace intérieur du four et celui du bac. La charge dès lors peut être abaissée dans le bain. Lorsque les conditions permettent de séparer les deux éléments 2 et 8, on commence par remettre en place le tiroir 48, ce qui permet ensuite de refermer la porte 37, 38 du four. La cloche sera alors remontée, le cas échéant en plusieurs étapes, de façon que, dès que l'élément 8 est libéré, il puisse être déplacé latéralement.All the desired handling operations can be carried out easily by means of the carriage 6, of the machine 11 and of the means of displacement of the elements 7, 8 and 9. Thus, a load, taken by the plate 25 of the handling carriage on one of the forks 23 integral with the carousel 20, can be moved on the transport track 5, so as to bring it below one of the ovens 1, 2, 3 or 4. The oven having been previously opened by bottom - bottom from its plug 37, the load can be introduced, for example, into the bell 36 of the oven 2 (fig. 5) which, by a lowering and rotation maneuver, brings the projections which it presents on its periphery in positions located below the angles of the frame 24. It is therefore sufficient to lower the elevator console 29 so that the plate 25 releases the frame 24 from the load and keeps the latter subject to the bell 36. The carriage being moved again, the oven can be closed and the heat treatment v oulu - engaged. We realize that all transfer and displacement operations are operations which occupy relatively very short times compared to the actual processing times. Thus, after having set up a load in an oven such as 2, the trolley can easily come to seek another load in the input station, to bring it for example to the washing station or to another of the ovens. It is also possible, during the same period of time, to move one or more of the processing elements 7, 8 and 9 to, for example, allow the carriage 6 to transfer a load to the handling machine 11. In this case, the trolley having been brought into a position located under this handling machine, the load will be raised (fig. 1) to a position located above the transport track 10. In this position, the fork of the handling machine 11 can be inserted under the load and thus take up the latter, which frees the carriage 6. From there, the load can be transported either to an unloading station (not shown), located at the end of the track 10, either transferred to one of the elements 17 or 60. Then it can be taken up by the machine 11 and re-transferred to the carriage 6 which will bring it back to the entry station 20. These handling operations take relatively little time of time compared to downtime ation of the different processing elements. Finally, special mention should be made of the transfer operation which can be carried out when a load is transmitted directly from an oven, or from another element of the upper line, into an element located in the bottom line. In this case, returning to FIG. 5, the oven having been opened by lowering the plate 38 at the time when the heating treatment is finished, the treatment element movable on the lower track, for example the element 8 , is brought immediately under the oven 2 and it is by means of the elevator 42 and the plate 43 that the transfer is therefore carried out. The bell 36 is then lowered. The elevator is raised until it supports the load on the plate 43, after which the bell 36 releases the load by a rotational movement. During this movement, the lower edge of the bell presses on the edge of the opening of the upper wall of the enclosure 40, which ensures the closure of a sealed enclosure comprising the interior space of the oven and the tray. The load can therefore be lowered in the bath. When the conditions allow to separate the two elements 2 and 8, we start by replacing the drawer 48, which then allows to close the door 37, 38 of the oven. The bell will then be reassembled, if necessary in several stages, so that, as soon as the element 8 is released, it can be moved laterally.

Ainsi, l'installation décrite permet toutes les variantes possibles de manutention, de transfert et de transport de charges, et cela avec un encombrement réduit au minimum et la possibilité d'étendre l'installation en rajoutant des éléments supplémentaires, soit dans des emplacements fixes à côté du bac 17, soit sur la voie de transport 5, soit également dans la ligne supérieure des fours.Thus, the installation described allows all possible variants of handling, transfer and transport of loads, and this with a reduced space requirement and the possibility of extending the installation by adding additional elements, either in fixed locations. next to the tray 17, either on the transport track 5, or also in the upper line of the ovens.

Cette conception permet de créer des élé - ments de traitement spécifiques, qui étaient in - connus jusqu'à maintenant mais dont l'emploi est avantageux en liaison avec l'installation décrite. On donnera plus loin des exemples de tels éléments.This design makes it possible to create specific treatment elements which were hitherto unknown but whose use is advantageous in connection with the installation described. We will give further examples of such elements.

En variante de l'installation décrite, qui com - porte une station de déchargement et de sortie à son extrémité gauche à la fig. 1, on pourrait prévoir à cette extrémité gauche un poste de transfert sur une voie parallèle aux deux lignes de l'installation, s'étendant latéralement à mi - hauteur par exem - ple, de sorte que les charges pourraient être ramenées depuis l'extrémité gauche de la ligne vers le carrousel d'entrée 20 sur une piste latérale parallèle à la voie 5. Cette piste serait située, par exemple, au niveau du plateau tournant 20 du carrousel d'entrée. Toutefois, il résulte des indications ci-dessus que les charges peuvent toujours être ramenées au carrousel 20 au moyen du chariot 6, quelle que soit la station dans laquelle elles ont subi le dernier traitement. Le carrousel 20 peut donc de toute manière fonctionner comme station de chargement et de déchargement.As a variant of the installation described, which has an unloading and outlet station at its left end in FIG. 1, a transfer station could be provided at this left end on a track parallel to the two lines of the installation, extending laterally at mid-height for example, so that the loads could be brought down from the end left of the line towards the entry carousel 20 on a side track parallel to track 5. This track would be located, for example, at the level of the turntable 20 of the entry carousel. However, it follows from the above indications that the charges can always be brought back to the carousel 20 by means of the carriage 6, whatever the station in which they have undergone the last treatment. The carousel 20 can therefore function as a loading and unloading station anyway.

Dans une exécution typique, on peut prévoir, par exemple, les éléments suivants :

  • a) fours statiques ou mobiles : quatre fours ayant les caractéristiques suivantes
    • - max. 600 ° C sous gaz
    • - max. 1100 ° C sous gaz
    • - max. 1230°C sous gaz
    • - max. 11000 C sous gaz avec refroidisseur
  • b) éléments de traitement mobiles :
    • bac à eau
    • bac à huile, max. 100°C
    • bac à huile, max. 200 C
    • bac à sel, max. 600 ° C
  • c) bacs fixes :
    • bac à gaz avec refroidisseur
    • bac à gaz avec refroidisseur sous haute pres - sion.
  • d) éléments auxiliaires :
    dans la ligne supérieure, on peut prévoir encore
    • - un four - pot de refroidissement intermédiaire avec protection gazeuse
    • - une machine à laver, max. 90 ° C

    dans la ligne inférieure :
    • - pot de manutention avec protection gazeuse
    • - pot de manutention avec protection gazeuse et refroidisseur.
In a typical execution, the following elements can be provided, for example:
  • a) static or mobile ovens: four ovens with the following characteristics
    • - max. 600 ° C under gas
    • - max. 1100 ° C under gas
    • - max. 1230 ° C under gas
    • - max. 11000 C under gas with cooler
  • b) mobile processing elements:
    • water tray
    • oil pan, max. 100 ° C
    • oil pan, max. 200 C
    • salt container, max. 600 ° C
  • c) fixed tanks:
    • gas tank with cooler
    • gas tank with high pressure cooler.
  • d) auxiliary elements:
    in the upper row we can still plan
    • - an oven - intermediate cooling pot with gas protection
    • - a washing machine, max. 90 ° C

    in the bottom line:
    • - handling pot with gas protection
    • - handling pot with gas protection and cooler.

Toutes les opérations de déplacement des chariots ou des bacs, ainsi que leur ouverture et leur fermeture, l'enclenchement et le déclenche - ment des ventilations, du chauffage, des circulations de fluide, peuvent être commandées à partir d'un poste central. Ainsi les charges de pièces peuvent passer d'un élément à un autre en étant parfaitement protégées de l'oxydation. Une instal - lation de ce genre permet dans certains cas de produire des pièces dans un état interne et externe impossible à atteindre jusqu'à maintenant. Les commandes d'organes mobiles peuvent s'effectuer par vérin. Il est possible ainsi d'établir une com - mande par programme, contrôlée et vérifiée, de façon à se dérouler automatiquement, en assurant toutes les conditions de sécurité requises.All the operations of moving the carriages or trays, as well as their opening and closing, the switching on and off of the ventilation, heating and fluid circulation can be controlled from a central station. Thus the charges of parts can pass from one element to another while being perfectly protected from oxidation. An installation of this kind makes it possible in certain cases to produce parts in an internal and external state impossible to reach until now. Movable parts can be controlled by cylinder. It is thus possible to establish a command by program, controlled and verified, so as to take place automatically, while ensuring all the required security conditions.

Claims (11)

1. Device for carrying out heat treatments on charges of metal parts, comprising a first set of components (1, 2, 3) of which at least one is a furnace, a second set of components (6, 7, 8, 9) of which at least one is a hardening vat and at least one other a car (6), and stationary guide means (5) permitting conveyance of each component of the second set with respect to at least one of the components of the first set, device in which the components of the first set are disposed in an upper position and are open toward the bottom and the components of the second set are movable on the said guide means (5) and are disposed in a lower position, characterized in that the said stationary guide means (5) consist of a hori - zontal track and occupy the lowest portion of the device, and in that all the components of the second set are provided with autonomous lifts (28, 29, 30), each of these being supported by the one to which it is associated and comprising a platform (43) capable of vertically displacing a charge to engage with an com - ponent of the first set situated above or for disengaging it.
2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises at the level of the said upper position a transfer machine (11) capable of receiving a charge from the lift (28, 29, 30) of an component of the second set.
3. Device according to claim 2, characterized by an upper conveyor track (10) on which the transfer machine (11) is movable.
4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that it further comprises, at the level of the said lower position, a third set of components composed of at least one additional treatment station arranged so as to cooperate with the transfer machine.
5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that it further comprises at the level of the upper line <sic. track> one or more supplementary stations, aligned with the component or components of the first set and capable of carrying out treatments of long dura - tion.
6. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the furnace or furnaces of the said first set are bell furnaces and are provided with support means permitting the transfer of a charge from a lift to the furnace and vice versa.
7. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that several movable treatment stations are placed in series on the conveyor track between the materials handling car and the transfer machine.
8. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the transfer machine comprises a lift mounted on a car and capable of seizing a charge on the lift of a car or on that of a treatment station, said lifts of the transfer machine and of the car or of the treatment station being complementary.
9. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that characterized in that the entry station comprises a turntable arranged for receiving and presenting charges from and into one or more directions and transferring them to or from the car at one end of the conveyor track.
10. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the lifts of the components of the second set comprise a fixed guide column, a bracket guided by the guide column, and a vertical hydraulic jack comprising a piston integral with the bracket and a fixed cylinder.
11. Installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the first set of components comprises a plurality of furnaces placed side by side along a straight line, closed at their base by a cover which pivots about an axis parallel to the said straight line and situated on one side of the furnace, and in that at least some of the com - ponents of the second set comprise lifts actuated by vertical jacks, the cylinders of which extend facing one side of the furnaces, opposite to that of the said pivoting axis.
EP88810355A 1987-06-03 1988-06-01 Device with several components for heat treatment Expired - Lifetime EP0296102B2 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT88810355T ATE89036T1 (en) 1987-06-03 1988-06-01 DEVICE WITH SEVERAL COMPONENTS FOR HEAT TREATMENTS.

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH209987 1987-06-03
CH2099/87 1987-06-03
CH209987 1987-06-03

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0296102A1 EP0296102A1 (en) 1988-12-21
EP0296102B1 true EP0296102B1 (en) 1993-05-05
EP0296102B2 EP0296102B2 (en) 1999-10-06

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ID=4225859

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Country Status (5)

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US (1) US4861000A (en)
EP (1) EP0296102B2 (en)
AT (1) ATE89036T1 (en)
DE (1) DE3880743T3 (en)
ES (1) ES2041335T5 (en)

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FR2640999A1 (en) * 1988-12-27 1990-06-29 Stein Heurtey
FR2666818A1 (en) * 1990-09-18 1992-03-20 Kripton Sa FLEXIBLE MODULAR HEAT TREATMENT DEVICE.
EP0533615A1 (en) * 1991-09-19 1993-03-24 Codere Sa Installation for the thermal treatment of successive charges
WO1993014229A1 (en) * 1992-01-15 1993-07-22 Aichelin Gmbh Device for heat-treating metal workpieces
US5402994A (en) * 1992-01-15 1995-04-04 Aichelin Gmbh Device for heat-treating metal workpieces
EP0893510A1 (en) * 1997-07-21 1999-01-27 Refrattari Brebbia S.r.l. Automatic plant for thermal treatment of metals, in particular steel

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DE4316841A1 (en) * 1993-05-19 1994-11-24 Aichelin Gmbh Device for the heat treatment of metallic workpieces
DE69612655T2 (en) * 1996-01-17 2001-08-09 Pierre Beuret Heat treatment plant for a load of metallic pieces
DE69611905D1 (en) * 1996-05-03 2001-04-05 Patherm Sa Draining station and a heat treatment device containing a draining station
EP0806485A1 (en) * 1996-05-06 1997-11-12 Patherm SA Heat treatment installation
FR2779217B1 (en) * 1998-06-02 2000-08-04 Francois Studer Sa HEAT TREATMENT PLANT
ATE241705T1 (en) * 1998-10-23 2003-06-15 Pierre Beuret HEAT TREATMENT SYSTEM FOR A BATCH OF METALLIC WORKPIECES
EP1018562A1 (en) * 1999-01-08 2000-07-12 Patherm SA Device and method for opening and closing automatically the cover of a quenching tank

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EP0376832A1 (en) * 1988-12-27 1990-07-04 STEIN HEURTEY, Société Anonyme: Automatic thermal treatment installations
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FR2666818A1 (en) * 1990-09-18 1992-03-20 Kripton Sa FLEXIBLE MODULAR HEAT TREATMENT DEVICE.
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WO1992005289A1 (en) * 1990-09-18 1992-04-02 Kripton S.A. Flexible modular heat treatment device
EP0533615A1 (en) * 1991-09-19 1993-03-24 Codere Sa Installation for the thermal treatment of successive charges
WO1993014229A1 (en) * 1992-01-15 1993-07-22 Aichelin Gmbh Device for heat-treating metal workpieces
US5402994A (en) * 1992-01-15 1995-04-04 Aichelin Gmbh Device for heat-treating metal workpieces
EP0893510A1 (en) * 1997-07-21 1999-01-27 Refrattari Brebbia S.r.l. Automatic plant for thermal treatment of metals, in particular steel
US6093367A (en) * 1997-07-21 2000-07-25 Refrattari Brebbia S.R.L. Automatic plant for thermal treatment of metals, in particular steel

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0296102A1 (en) 1988-12-21
US4861000A (en) 1989-08-29
ATE89036T1 (en) 1993-05-15
ES2041335T5 (en) 2000-02-16
DE3880743D1 (en) 1993-06-09
DE3880743T2 (en) 1993-11-04
DE3880743T3 (en) 2000-03-02
ES2041335T3 (en) 1993-11-16
EP0296102B2 (en) 1999-10-06

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