GB577044A - Improved apparatus for the heat treatment of camshafts and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

577,044. Heat-treating metals. FORD MOTOR CO., Ltd., and SWAN, J. Dec. 29, 1943, No. 21804. [Class 72] Relates to apparatus for the heat treatment of articles such as cam-shafts which require certain selected parts to be heated followed by a quenching in oil or other medium, a number of such articles being carried in succession to and past the heating means, and each article being continuously rotated about its own axis while being heated and while being quenched. The apparatus may comprise a quenching tank a, a frame or spider b rotatably carried therein and comprising a plurality of pairs of centres c, d, between each pair of which a cam-shaft or other workpiece e may be rotatably carried. A Geneva-wheel mechanism q causes intermittent rotation of the frame b so as to move the workpiece from the loading station to the heating station at which a flame torch f having spaced burners f<1> effects the selective heating of the work piece. The Geneva-wheel mechanism also effects the constant rotation of a spur wheel h which in turn rotates engaging pinions i by which the workpiece is rotated on its own axis while being heated. The next partial rotation of the frame b carries the heated workpiece into the quenching-medium and the newly loaded workpiece to the heating station, and so on. As each pinion i arrives at the loading station it is moved by a cam or other device out of engagement with the spur wheel so that there is no rotation of the workpiece being removed from or placed between the centres r, d. Instead of a flame torch, electrical heating means may be employed. For example, a number of split induction blocks may be provided, one for each cam or part to be hardened, the parts of the block being closed round the rotating workpiece for the heating operation and then separated to permit movement of the frame carrying the workpieces.