GB1037483A - Heat treating apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<PICT:1037483/C6-C7/1> A quenching fixture for supporting a heated elongate workpiece during quenching thereof comprises upper and lower dies 270,272 which define a workpiece receiving nest. The lower die is carried by the framework 84 and the upper die by the upper member 114 which is in turn connected to the upper framework 110 by means of holding links 160. The upper ends of the links 160 are pivotally connected to the upper framework 110 and may be swung relative thereto by means of a power cylinder 166 (Fig. 6, not shown) thereby raising or lowering the upper member 114 enabling insertion of a workpiece between the dies. The framework 84 and the upper framework 110 are connected by the vertical extensio 80 of the lower framework 84, the edge of the upper framework 110 lying between stop members 100, 102 (Fig. 3, not shown), and also by a hook-latch assembly 120 comprising a plurality of hooks 122 pivoted about axes 124 (Fig. 5, not shown) the hook ends 130 connecting with pins 132 affixed to the lower framework 84. The hooks are operated by a mechanism comprising an actuating bar 144 and power cylinder 146, and may be raised to allow insertion of a workpiece transversely. After insertion of the workpiece the hooks engage the pins 132 and the power cylinder 146 is actuated to force the upper member 114, and hence the upper die 270, downwards to firmly engage the workpiece, tension being produced in the hooks 122. The workpiece is then lowered into the quenching bath 29. The means for clamping the workpiece may be split transversely into three parts (Fig. 2, not shown) so that as the workpiece contracts on cooling, the clamping means may also contract. The quenching fixture may form part of a structure comprising a conveyer E which supplies workpieces to the apparatus and removes them therefrom a heat treating furnace A, furnace carriages 13 upon which the workpieces are conveyed into, and out from, the furnace A, and a transfer carriage F which serves to transfer workpieces from the conveyer E to the carriages B, from said carriages B to the quenching fixture D and from there back to the conveyer E for removal.