JP2000256733A - Induction hardening device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a induction hardening device for hardening a thin and long work, in which a hardening objective zone having the non-plane and the extent in the longitudinal direction exists. SOLUTION: In this induction hardening device, a high frequency induction heating coil body 100 having heating conductors 110, 111 arranged at the position faced to the zone 950 and formed so as to obtain almost accompanied shape with nearly the whole range in the longitudinal direction of the zone 950, and hardening objective zones 950, 951 providing a cooling jacket for jetting cooling liquid for hardening, arranged so as to be faced to the zone 951 and having the non-plane and extent in the longitudinal direction, are provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for quenching a thin and long work, such as a center pillar or a cross member of an automobile, which is non-planar and has a region to be quenched with a spread in a longitudinal direction. The present invention relates to an induction hardening device for performing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A center pillar (a cross member is substantially the same) of an automobile is a long object formed by press-forming a metal plate into a relatively square and substantially gutter-like shape. The center pillar is not symmetrical, not uniform in width and height, and has a biased protrusion, as shown in FIG. 1 described later. In addition, the center pillar has a relatively small thickness for weight reduction. In particular, in the case of mini vehicles, the center pillar had a small overall thickness.

[0003] By the way, the standard of mini vehicles has been changed to a new standard with improved collision safety in October 1998, so that it is necessary to increase the strength of the center pillar as much as that of a small passenger car. I have. On the other hand, with regard to ordinary passenger cars such as small passenger cars, competition to improve the collision safety of the entire vehicle body has been in recent years,
It is in the direction of increasing the strength of the center pillar.

In order to increase the strength of the center pillar, a method of increasing the thickness of the entire center pillar can be considered. However, this would greatly contradict the demand for weight reduction. Therefore, for example, a method is adopted in which a reinforcing material is attached to the rear surface side of the center pillar by spot welding. As a recent method, for example, there is a method in which a differential thickness steel plate is used as a reinforcing material and the thickness is increased only in a portion where strength is required.

[0005]

However, since the weight of the center pillar is increased by the amount of the reinforcing material required, the problem of increasing the strength of the center pillar and reducing the weight as much as possible has been solved. Was an obstacle to weight reduction.

Therefore, it has been considered to improve the strength without increasing the weight of the center pillar by quenching and hardening the area of the center pillar to be strengthened without using a reinforcing material. For this quenching, an induction hardening device including a high-frequency heating coil body and a cooling jacket that injects a cooling liquid for quenching into the center pillar heated by the high-frequency heating coil body is generally used.

There are three types of high-frequency heating devices used in this induction hardening device, for example, disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-208861.

As shown in FIG. 6 of the above-mentioned publication, a first high-frequency heating device includes a movable high-frequency heating coil body smaller than the entire size of a quenching target area of a center pillar, and a high-frequency heating coil body. And a high-frequency oscillation power supply connected to the power supply. This high-frequency heating device moves the high-frequency heating coil body along the vicinity of the region, and at this time, by passing a high-frequency current through the high-frequency heating coil body, the region is moved from one end to the other end. This is so-called moving heating in which heating is performed sequentially.

As shown in FIG. 7 of the above-mentioned publication, a second high-frequency heating apparatus is configured by aligning a plurality of fixed high-frequency heating coil bodies smaller than the entire size of the quenching target area of the center pillar with the area. And one for each of these high-frequency heating coil bodies.
It has a transformer and a high-frequency oscillation power supply provided for each set.

As shown in FIG. 3 of the above-mentioned publication, a third high-frequency heating apparatus includes a plurality of fixed high-frequency heating coil bodies smaller than the entire size of the quenching target area of the center pillar, which are formed by a first group. And the second group, the first
A high-frequency heating coil body of the group and a high-frequency heating coil body of the second group are arranged alternately in accordance with the region. Further, the high-frequency heating device has the first
A first transformer connectable to the group of high-frequency heating coil groups; a second transformer connectable to the second group of high-frequency heating coil groups; one high-frequency oscillation power supply; It has transformer switching means (four IGBTs and the like) for switching connection with two groups of high-frequency heating coil groups. Further, this high-frequency heating device has a movable connection means for connecting each transformer and each high-frequency heating coil body, and a movement control means for controlling the movement of the movable connection means.

In the third high-frequency heating device,
As shown in FIG. 4 of the above publication, a high-frequency current is applied to each of the high-frequency heating coil bodies in a time-division manner in the arrangement order.

The third high-frequency heating device includes:
Some of the specifications are changed as shown in FIG. In this partially changed specification, the number of high-frequency oscillation power supplies in the third high-frequency heating device is changed from one to two (not shown), and the transformer switching means is omitted. As shown in FIG. 2 of the above publication, the energization timing partially overlaps the energization between adjacent high-frequency heating coil bodies.

However, in the first high-frequency heating apparatus disclosed in the above publication, the shape of the quenching target area of the center pillar is complicated, and in particular, if there is a biased protruding portion, the heating cannot be made uniform. The quenching after spraying the cooling liquid for quenching cannot be uniform. Therefore, the first high-frequency heating device of the above publication cannot be used to uniformly quench a wide area of the center pillar having the above shape. In addition, since it is of a mobile type, the heating time (and, consequently, the quenching time) is long. Further, the control program for the movement is complicated, and it is necessary to create a complicated control program every time the type of the center pillar is changed.

In the second high-frequency heating device of the above publication,
Compared with the first high-frequency heating device, it is possible to more uniformly heat the center pillar having a complicated shape, so that the quenching state after quenching coolant is injected by a cooling jacket (not shown) is uniform. It is possible to When the second high-frequency heating device is used, the heating time (and thus the quenching time) can be reduced. However, since the second high-frequency heating device uses a plurality of high-frequency heating coil bodies, it is difficult to take up space for installing a transformer connected to the high-frequency heating coil body and a high-frequency oscillation power supply. There are many. In addition, the second high-frequency heating device has a large number of high-frequency heating coil bodies, transformers, and high-frequency oscillation power supplies, and the overall cost is extremely high. Furthermore, since the second high-frequency heating device has a large number of high-frequency heating coil bodies, when the type of the center pillar is changed, the time required to change the installation of the high-frequency heating coil body also increases.

In the third high-frequency heating device (including the partially changed specification) of the above publication, the number of transformers and high-frequency oscillation power supplies is reduced as compared with the second high-frequency heating device. Improvements in installation space and overall cost have been made. However, since the use of a plurality of high-frequency heating coil bodies is still the same, the time required to change the installation of the high-frequency heating coil bodies when the type of the center pillar is changed is still large.

When a third high-frequency heating apparatus (including the above-mentioned partially changed specification) is used, the heating time is
Although it can be shorter than the case of the first high-frequency heating device (and can also shorten the quenching time), it is longer than the case of the second high-frequency heating device.

Further, in the third high-frequency heating device, the existence of the transformer switching means, the movement control means and the like is an obstacle to further cost reduction. Even in the third high-frequency heating apparatus whose specification has been partially changed, the presence of two necessary high-frequency oscillation power supplies and movement control means is an obstacle to further cost reduction.

A main object of the present invention is to reduce the weight and improve the strength of a thin and long work, such as a center pillar of an automobile, which is non-planar and has a region to be quenched with a spread in the longitudinal direction. It is an object of the present invention to provide an induction quenching method and an induction quenching apparatus which are relatively low in cost and have high quenching work efficiency and which satisfy both requirements.

[0019]

In order to solve the above problem, an induction hardening apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention is a thin induction hardening apparatus having a non-planar and widened in the longitudinal direction and having a hardening target area. An induction hardening device for quenching a long workpiece, which is provided at a position facing the region and is formed so as to have a shape substantially along the substantially entire range in the longitudinal direction of the region. It is characterized by comprising a high-frequency heating coil body having a heating conductor portion, and a cooling jacket provided to face the region and spraying a quenching coolant.

The induction hardening apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the cooling jacket according to the first aspect is provided on the front side and the back side of the quenching target area.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an induction hardening device, wherein the induction hardening device according to the first or second aspect is provided with a clamp mechanism for clamping a plurality of portions in the longitudinal direction of the work. It is characterized by.

The induction hardening apparatus according to claim 4 of the present invention is characterized in that the work is a center pillar or a cross member of an automobile.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an induction hardening apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective explanatory view for explaining a positional relationship between a high-frequency heating coil body, a clamp mechanism, and a workpiece, a hardening target area, and the like used in the high-frequency hardening apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view for explaining a positional relationship between a heating conductor portion of a high-frequency heating coil body, a cooling jacket, and a work, a quenching target region, and the like used in the high-frequency hardening device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional explanatory view, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory view for explaining a clamp mechanism used in the induction hardening apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

A work W to be hardened by the induction hardening apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described by taking a center pillar of an automobile as an example. The work W is, for example, as shown in FIG. 1 and the like, a non-planar and thin and long shape in which two quenching target regions 950 and 951 exist with a spread in the longitudinal direction.

The work W has a relatively angular substantially gutter-shaped portion 900 projecting upward, and substantially horizontal on both sides from the end of the substantially gutter-shaped portion 900 along the longitudinal direction of the substantially gutter-shaped portion 900. And approximately eave-shaped portions 930 and 931 extending in the direction of the arrow.
The roughly gutter-shaped portion 900 includes a top surface portion 910 and the top surface portion 910.
And side surfaces 920 and 921 extending downward from both ends. The width of the top surface portion 910 is narrowest at one end and becomes wider toward the other end. The height of the side portions 920 and 921 is the lowest at one end on the same side as the one end, and is higher toward the other end. In addition, the top surface portion 910 is provided with a protruding portion 911 projecting upward in the middle of the longitudinal direction (at least one such protruding portion 911 is usually provided on the center pillar). ing.
The protruding portion 911 is not provided so as to occupy the entire width of the top surface portion 910, but is provided on one side. Therefore, top surface portion 910 is non-planar. Such a thin and long work W is formed by pressing a thin metal plate. Further, the shape of the work W usually differs depending on the vehicle type.

The two quenching target regions 950 and 951 are portions where the strength is to be increased by quenching, and here are, for example, two corner portions of a substantially gutter-like portion 900. That is, the quenching target region 950 is, in cross-sectional view, a range to the right of the center of the top surface portion 910 in FIG. 2 and a range to the center of the side surface portion 920 following this range. On the other hand, the quenching target region 951 is, in cross-sectional view, a range to the left of the center of the top surface portion 910 in FIG. 2 and a range to the center of the side surface portion 921 following this range.

The quenching target areas 950 and 951 are provided in the longitudinal direction so as to extend toward the center of the long workpiece W in FIG. When the thin and long workpiece W is a center pillar, a preferable region where the strength is increased by quenching is usually at least a portion near the center in the longitudinal direction. The shape of the work W described above is somewhat simplified.

The induction hardening apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention is provided at a position facing the quenching target area 950 and extends substantially along the entire length of the quenching target area 950 in the longitudinal direction. High-frequency heating coil body 1 having heating conductor portions 110 and 111 formed to have respective shapes
00, and heating conductor portions 210 and 211 provided at positions facing the quenching target region 951 and formed so as to have a shape substantially along the substantially entire range of the quenching target region 951 in the longitudinal direction. High frequency heating coil body 20
0, a power supply section (not shown) of the high-frequency heating coil bodies 100 and 200, and a cooling jacket 300 (see FIG. 2) provided to face the quenching target areas 950 and 951 and spraying the quenching coolant L (see FIG. 2). ), A clamping mechanism 500 for clamping the work W, a control unit (not shown) for controlling the whole of the induction hardening device, an automatic loading device for the work W (not shown), and an automatic unloading device for the work W ( (Not shown), the cooling jacket 300 and the high-frequency heating coil bodies 100 and 20
Coolant related equipment that supplies coolant to 0 etc. (not shown)
And the like.

The high-frequency heating coil body 100 includes a pair of heating conductors 110 and 111 for high-frequency heating the quenching target region 950 from the front side thereof, and the heating conductors 110 and 111.
11, a connecting conductor 115 provided by detouring one end of the heating conductor 11 in a direction away from the workpiece W;
111 from the other end of the high-frequency heating coil body 1
And supply-side connection conductors 116 and 117 provided toward the 00 current transformer.

The length dimensions of the heating conductor portions 110 and 111 are as follows:
The dimension in the longitudinal direction of the quenching target area 950 is substantially the same.
The heating conductor 110 is provided on the top surface 910 of the quenching target area 950.
The inner region is provided at a position facing the vicinity of the center in the horizontal direction in FIG. 2 (upward position near the center) at a substantially constant interval. Further, the heating conductor portion 111 is provided at a position facing the vicinity of the center in the height direction of the region in the side surface portion 920 of the quenching target region 950 with a substantially constant interval.

On the other hand, the high-frequency heating coil 200 includes a pair of heating conductors 210 and 211 for high-frequency heating the quenching target region 951 from the front side thereof, and the heating conductor 21.
A connecting conductor 215 provided by detouring one end of each of the heating conductors 0 and 211 in a direction away from the workpiece W;
And supply-side connection conductors 216 and 217 provided from the other ends of the power supply units 10 and 211 toward the current transformer for the high-frequency heating coil body 200 of the power supply unit.

The length dimensions of the heating conductors 210 and 211 are as follows:
It is substantially the same as the longitudinal dimension of the quenching target area 951.
The heating conductor 210 is provided on the top surface 91 of the quenching target area 951.
The area 0 is provided at a position facing the vicinity of the center in the horizontal direction in FIG. 2 (upward position near the center) with a substantially constant interval. The heating conductor 211 is
The quenching target region 951 is provided at a position facing the vicinity of the center in the height direction of the region in the side surface portion 921 at a substantially constant interval.

The heating conductors 110, 111, 21
The conductors 110 and the like of the high-frequency heating coil bodies 100 and 200, including 0 and 211, are formed of, for example, a cylindrical tube made of copper or the like. Inside each conductor 110 etc., each conductor 110
A cooling liquid for cooling itself is passed through.

The high-frequency heating coil bodies 100, 2
00 and cooling jackets 301 and 302 described later are entirely attached to a moving mechanism (not shown). The moving mechanism is configured to move between the position for heating the work W (predetermined heating position) and an avoidance position when the work W is set and quenched and taken out.

The cooling jacket 300 comprises four cooling jackets 301 to 304. Cooling jacket 30
Numerals 1 and 302 are provided on the front side of the work W, behind the heating conductors 110, 111, 210 and 211 so as to face the quenching target areas 950 and 951, respectively, and attached to the moving mechanism. ing. The cooling jackets 303 and 304 are attached to a base (not shown) on the back side of the work W so as to face the hardening target regions 950 and 951, respectively. The cooling jackets 301 to 304 are attached to the moving mechanism and the base, respectively, so as to be able to adjust the angle and the front, rear, left and right or oblique positions so as to be able to cope with a change in the type of work.

As shown in FIG. 3, the clamp mechanism 500 includes two support bases 51 for supporting the lower surface of the work W.
0, 510, and a total of four clamp arm mechanisms 520, one each of which is attached to each of the outer side surfaces on both ends in the longitudinal direction of the support bases 510, 510. The support bases 510, 510 are supported from a base (not shown).

The clamp arm mechanism 520 is attached to the side of the work support lever 521 and a work holding lever 521 for holding the work W from above the eaves-shaped part 930 (or 931). A support portion 522 that rotatably supports the side and a tip end of the work holding lever 521 that is rotatably attached to the base end side, and moves the work holding lever 521 to a position where the work W is held down or a work setting position. And a lever moving mechanism 525.

The work holding lever 521 includes a substantially rod-shaped main body 521A and shafts 521B protruding from both sides of the main body 521A near the center in the longitudinal direction. A lever moving mechanism 52 is provided on the base end side of the main body 521A.
A through-hole 521A1 for rotatably holding a shaft portion 525Ab1 described later of No. 5 is provided.

The support portion 522 is formed in a substantially L-shape.
Through hole 5 for rotatably holding the shaft portion 521B of the shaft 21
22A is provided. A pair of the support portions 522 are provided such that the tip ends thereof are on both sides of the work holding lever 521.

The lever moving mechanism 525 includes a drive section 525A for moving the work holding lever 521 to a position for holding the work W or a position for setting the work W, and a support section 525B for rotatably supporting the drive section 525A. The drive section 525A includes a main body section 525Aa and a rod section 525Ab. Shafts 525Aa1 are provided on both side surfaces of the main body 525Aa to make the main body 525Aa itself rotatable with respect to the support 525B. The distal end of the rod portion 525Ab is bent and formed in a substantially L-shape to form a shaft portion 525Ab1 rotatably held in the through hole 521A1. The drive unit 525A is, for example, an air cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder. Support 52
5B is formed in a substantially I-shape, and one end thereof is
0 side. A through hole 525B1 for rotatably holding the shaft portion 525Aa1 is provided on the distal end side of the support portion 525B. Supporting part 525B
Are provided in a pair such that the tips thereof are located on both sides of the main body 525Aa of the drive section 525A.

The clamp arm mechanism 520 is attached to the support base 510 so that the following relationship is established, and the dimensions of the components are designed. The work holding lever 521 is in the position at the time of work setting and removal (that is, the state where the work holding lever 521 is flipped up).
Thus, in principle, the workpiece W is not contacted with the workpiece W set from above. In addition, the center [A between the pair of shaft portions 525Aa1 of the main body portion 525Aa of the drive portion 525A [A
Point] and the tip of the rod portion 525Ab (the shaft portion 525Ab1
It is also the base end. ) [Point B] and a center [C between a pair of shaft portions 521B that are the rotation axes of the work holding lever 521.
Is designed not to be aligned in any case.

The power supply section (not shown) includes two current transformers and a high-frequency oscillation power supply connected to the current transformers. The high-frequency heating coil 100 is connected to one current transformer, and the high-frequency heating coil 200 is connected to the other current transformer.

The work W is quenched as follows by the induction hardening apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention thus configured. In the initial state, the four work holding levers 521 of the clamp mechanism 500 are set at the work set / take-out positions (that is, the work holding levers 52).
1 is flipped up), and the high-frequency heating coil bodies 100 and 200 and the cooling jackets 301 and 302
Is moved to the avoidance position by the moving mechanism. The following operation is performed according to an instruction from the control unit.

First, the work W is set on the support bases 510 from above by the automatic loading device. The four work holding levers 521 of the clamp mechanism 500 are moved from the work setting position to the holding position by operating the drive unit 525A.
Thus, the work W is clamped by the four work holding levers 521 pressing the eave-shaped portions 930 and 931 from the upper surface thereof toward the support bases 510 and 510.

When the clamping is completed, the high-frequency heating coil bodies 100 and 200 and the cooling jackets 301 and 3
02 is set at the predetermined heating position by the moving mechanism. Thereafter, the high-frequency heating coil bodies 100, 20
0 is energized from the power supply unit for a predetermined time, and predetermined high-frequency heating is performed on the hardening target regions 950 and 951 of the work W. Since the work W is thin, the temperature of the front surface and the temperature of the back surface of the work W immediately after high-frequency heating in the quenching target regions 950 and 951 are substantially the same.

In this case, the hardening target areas 950 and 95
1 is not a quenching target, the direction of the current flowing through the heating conductors 110, 111, 210, 211 during the energization is synchronized so that the heating conductors 110, 210 are in the same direction as each other. preferable. This is the heating conductor 1
This is because if the directions of the currents 10 and 210 are the same, the magnetic field generated therefrom is offset between the hardening target regions 950 and 951. Therefore, the quenching target area 9
This is because an induced current is hardly generated in the region between 50 and 951, so that no extra high-frequency heating is performed, and thus no extra quenching is performed.

Immediately after the heating, four cooling jackets 3
From 01 to 304, the cooling liquid L is injected substantially simultaneously for a predetermined time. Thereby, the hardening target areas 950 and 95 of the workpiece W
1 is cooled almost simultaneously from the front and back, and quenching is completed. Since the cooling is balanced on both sides, distortion (bending) during quenching can be suppressed. In addition, since the workpiece W is clamped near both ends in the longitudinal direction by the clamp mechanism 500 from before the heating to the completion of the quenching as described above, the distortion during the quenching is also suppressed from this point.

Further, the heating conductor portions 110, 1 of the high-frequency heating coil bodies 100, 200 are applied to the quenching target areas 950, 951 which are spread in the longitudinal direction of the work W.
Since 11, 210 and 211 are provided substantially along and high-frequency heating is performed, uniform high-frequency heating and thus quenching are performed in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, when the work is like a center pillar, there is no unevenness in strength in the longitudinal direction of the work, so that the strength can be appropriately increased.

After the quenching is completed, the four work holding levers 521 of the clamp mechanism 500 are moved from the holding position to the work setting / unloading position (ie, the state where the work holding lever 521 is flipped up), and the clamp state is established. Is completed.

The work W having undergone the predetermined quenching is taken out by the automatic unloading device. After this, the next work W
Are set on the support bases 510, 510 by the automatic loading device, and the above-described quenching operation is repeatedly performed.

When changing to a different type of work, at least the high-frequency heating coil bodies 100 and 200 are replaced with another high-frequency heating coil body formed according to the shape of the work after the change. On the other hand, the clamp mechanism 500 does not need to be changed as long as the shape of the work after the change is compatible with the support bases 510, 510. However, in general, the shape of a work is often greatly different. Support base 5
When changing to a work that does not conform to 10, 510,
The clamp mechanism 500 is also replaced with another clamp mechanism formed according to the shape of the work after the change.

The cooling jackets 301 to 304 are
There is no need to change it as long as it matches the shape of the work after the change. If the cooling jackets 301 to 304 are changed to a work that can be handled by adjusting the angle and position,
Adjust the position again. When the work is changed to a work that cannot be handled by adjusting the angle and the position, the cooling jacket may be replaced with a cooling jacket having a size suitable for the work.

In the induction hardening apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the number of cooling jackets is four in total, but the two lower jackets may be integrated into one. The upper side can also be integrated into one. Further, for example,
By using the clamp mechanism or the like, it is possible to omit the lower or upper cooling jacket when the distortion is not so large or when the magnitude of the distortion does not matter much.

In the induction hardening apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the number of the clamp arm mechanisms 520 of the clamp mechanism 500 is four. When the bending is relatively small, for example, it may not be provided. However, in the induction hardening apparatus of the present invention, since a thin work is targeted, distortion (bending) at the time of work hardening is performed.
Is likely to occur relatively largely, so that the straightening work time after quenching can be eliminated or reduced.
Preferably, a clamp arm mechanism such as 20 is provided.

The number of the clamp arm mechanisms 520 provided is
In the case of the quenching target regions 950 and 951 as described above, it is preferable that two or more eaves-shaped portions 930 and 931 are provided respectively. For example, the eaves portion 930
When three clamp arm mechanisms 520 are provided on each of the side and the eaves-shaped portion 931 side, for example, the clamp arm mechanisms 520 may be provided on both ends and near the center. Further, one clamp arm mechanism 520 may be provided on each of the one end side of the eaves-shaped portion 930 and the other end side of the eaves-shaped portion 931 (that is, one clamp arm mechanism 520 may be provided on each of the diagonally opposite ends). Clamp arm mechanism 520
May be provided. ).

Further, as described above, the quenching target region 950,
In the case where only one of the quenching 951 is hardened (hereinafter, referred to as “one-side hardening”), one clamp arm mechanism 520 may be provided only on the hardening target area side and on both ends thereof. The clamp arm mechanism 520 may be provided one by one on both ends of the opposite side to the insertion target area side, or may be installed diagonally. Needless to say, three or more clamp arm mechanisms 520 may be provided also in the case of one-sided firing.

In the above description, the clamp arm mechanism 520 is provided on both the eave-shaped portion 930 and the eave-shaped portion 931.
Is provided, it is not always necessary to make the number of the clamp arm mechanisms 520 provided on the eaves-shaped portion 930 and the number of clamp arm mechanisms 520 provided on the eaves-shaped portion 931 coincide with each other.

In the induction hardening apparatus according to the present invention, the position to be clamped by the clamp mechanism may be any position that does not hinder quenching. For example, in the case of the work W,
Instead of clamping the eaves 930 and 931, the trough 900 may be clamped. For example, in the case of clamping the vicinity of the center on both ends in the longitudinal direction of the substantially gutter-like portion 900, a clamp arm mechanism such as the clamp arm mechanism 520 is moved to both sides of the installation position of the work W in the longitudinal direction, and the clamp is performed. What is necessary is just to additionally install a supporting portion below the position where the work holding lever of the arm mechanism presses the work W to support the lower part of the work W at that position and attach the clamp arm mechanism.

When the clamp mechanism is provided at a position where high-frequency heating is easily performed from the heating conductor portion 100 or the like, components at positions where high-frequency heating is likely to be performed may be formed of an insulating material such as ceramic which is hardly subjected to induction heating.

In the induction hardening apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the clamp mechanism 500
0, 510, and four clamp arm mechanisms 520 protruding from the side surfaces of the support bases 510, 510. For example, the support bases 510, 510, and the support bases 510, 510 are separate from each other. And a movable clamp arm mechanism. In this case, the support base 510,
After the work W is set on the work 510, the separate movable clamp arm mechanism is moved to the work W side and the work W
Is pressed down to the support bases 510 and 510 side.
Further, the separate movable clamp arm mechanism may not only hold down from above but also hold down from below. That is, the separate movable clamp arm mechanism may have a claw-shaped one that is picked up and down. In this case, the work W
Is set, this separate movable clamp arm mechanism is placed together with the support bases 510, 510 or the work W (however, in this case, the end of the work W is protruded from the support bases 510, 510). ) Will be clamped.

In the induction hardening apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, when the quenching is not performed between the regions 950 and 951 to be quenched, the current direction of the heating conductors 110 and 210 is as described above. However, the directions or phases opposite to each other may be shifted. Also,
Combinations of heating conductors per one high-frequency heating coil body may be other than those described above. For example, the heating conductor 110,
High-frequency heating coil body having a heating conductor portion 210
It is also possible to use a high-frequency heating coil body having 1,211.

In the induction hardening apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, it has been described that the hardening target area of the work W is two and both are non-planar. The quenching device includes at least one quenching surface.
The configuration is particularly effective when one is non-planar and has a spread in the longitudinal direction, so that it functions effectively even when one is non-planar and the other is flat. Of course, there may be three or more quenching target areas, and four cases will be described later.

In the induction hardening apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the case where the workpiece W has two hardening target areas will be described.
Is based on the fact that two are used for heating at the same time.
It may be used for heating one by one. In this case, it is possible to reduce the number of current transformers required for the high-frequency heating coil bodies 100 and 200 to one each. Although the high-frequency heating coil bodies 100 and 200 are separate, two high-frequency heating coil bodies may be used as one high-frequency heating coil body. That is, the heating conductors 110 and 210
When the direction of the current is the same, the connection conductor 11
What is necessary is just to connect between 7 and 216, bypassing the work W. On the other hand, when the directions of the currents of the heating conductors 110 and 210 are set to be opposite to each other, the connection conductors 116 and 216 may be connected so as to bypass the work W. Also in this case, the number of current transformers can be reduced to one.

In the induction hardening apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the case where the workpiece W has two hardening target areas has been described. However, as shown in FIG. Of the quenching target area in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the quenching. Hereinafter, the number of heating conductor portions for one quenching target area width varies depending on the size of the quenching target area. . One or three or more quenching target region widths may be used instead of two. Some examples are shown as induction hardening devices according to the second to fourth embodiments of the present invention, and FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG. Note that a basic configuration other than the following configuration may be configured based on the above-described content, and a description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining a positional relationship between a heating conductor portion of a high-frequency heating coil body and a work and a region to be hardened in an induction hardening apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining a positional relationship between a heating conductor portion of a high-frequency heating coil body and a work and a hardening target region of an induction hardening device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Explanatory drawing, FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining a positional relationship between a heating conductor portion of a high-frequency heating coil body and a work and a region to be hardened in an induction hardening apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. Since the work is the work W described above, its longitudinal shape is the same as that of FIG.

An induction hardening apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this case, like the high-frequency heating coil bodies 100 and 200 of the high-frequency quenching apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, a high-frequency heating coil having two heating conductors per one high-frequency heating coil body The bodies 100A and 200A are provided facing the work W. However, the high-frequency heating coil body 100A,
200A includes four hardening target areas 960 to 9 of the workpiece W.
The heating conductors are provided so as to face one by one. The four quenching target regions 960 to 963 are formed by two corners of the roughly gutter-like portion 900 (960 on the right side in FIG.
The left side is 961. ) And two corners extending from the two base end sides of the roughly gutter-shaped part 900 to the base end sides of the following eave-shaped parts 930 and 931 (the right side is 962 and the left side is 963 in FIG. 4). ).

The high-frequency heating coil body 100A includes a heating conductor portion 110A for high-frequency heating the quenching target region 960 from the front side thereof, a heating conductor portion 111A for high-frequency heating the quenching target region 962 from the front side thereof, A connecting conductor (not shown) provided by connecting one end of both heating conductors 110A and 111A in a direction deviating from the workpiece W.
And a supply-side connection conductor (not shown) provided from the other end of the heating conductors 110A and 111A to the current transformer for the high-frequency heating coil body 100A of the power supply similar to the power supply. I have.

The high-frequency heating coil 200A includes a heating conductor portion 210A for high-frequency heating the quenching target region 961 from the front side thereof, a heating conductor portion 211A for high-frequency heating the quenching target region 963 from the front side thereof, A connecting conductor (not shown) provided by connecting one end of both heating conductors 210A and 211A in a direction deviating from the workpiece W.
And a supply-side connection conductor (not shown) provided from the other end of the heating conductors 210A and 211A to the current transformer for the high-frequency heating coil 200A of the power supply similar to the power supply. I have.

Heating conductors 110A, 111A, 210
A and 211A are provided so as to be opposed to the corners of the work W, and therefore, along the shape of this corner area,
They are provided at substantially constant intervals.

Next, an induction hardening apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this case, the induction hardening device according to the third embodiment (FIG. 4)
4), four quenching target areas are provided. The quenching target areas 960 and 961 are common. However, the width of the quenching target area around the two corners extending from the two base end sides of the roughly gutter-shaped part 900 to the base end sides of the eaves-shaped parts 930 and 931 that follow, respectively, is the quenching target area 96.
2, 963 (see FIG. 4), and are quenching target regions 964, 965, respectively.

Regarding the regions 960 and 964 to be hardened,
High-frequency heating is performed from the front side by the high-frequency heating coil body 100B having the heating conductor portions 110B, 111B, and 112B. On the other hand, regarding the quenching target areas 961 and 965,
High-frequency heating is performed from the front side by the high-frequency heating coil body 200B having the heating conductor portions 210B, 211B, and 212B.

The heating conductors 110B and 210B are arranged in the same manner as the heating conductors 110A and 210A of FIG. 4, respectively, and contribute to high-frequency heating of the quenching target regions 960 and 961, respectively. Heating conductors 111B, 112B
Are usually provided facing each other with a substantially constant interval from each surface of the quenching target region 964, and
64 for high frequency heating. Heating conductor 211B, 2
12B are usually provided facing each other with a substantially constant interval from each surface of the quenching target region 965, and contribute to high-frequency heating of the quenching target region 965.

Here, the connection state at both ends of each of the heating conductor portions 110B to 112B of the high-frequency heating coil body 100B is as follows. In principle, from the viewpoint of power efficiency, connecting one end and the other end of the long heating conductor sections 110B to 112B to the power supply section via the supply side connection conductor section (not shown) is performed on the supply side. It is not preferable because the connection conductor becomes too long. Therefore, for example, the current flowing through the heating conductor 110B is
B and 112B, and when flowing backward, the current flowing through the heating conductors 111B and 112B is
(That is, the heating conductor portion 111)
B, 112B connected in parallel to the heating conductor 110
B is connected in series. ], The supply-side connection conductor connected to the power supply can be shortened, so that the power efficiency is relatively good. The specific connection is as follows.

One end of each of the heating conductors 111B and 112B is bypassed in a direction away from the work W via a connection conductor (not shown), and the other end is also connected to the work W via a connection conductor (not shown). Make a detour connection in the direction away from you. In this state, a detour connection is made between the connection conductor on one end and one end of the heating conductor 110B in a direction away from the workpiece W via a connection conductor (not shown). On the other hand, the connection conductor on the other end is connected to the power supply via the supply-side connection conductor. Also, the heating conductor 1
The other end of 10B is also connected to the power supply unit via a supply-side connection conductor.

The parallel relationship may be other than this.
That is, for example, the heating conductor portions 110B and 111B may be arranged in parallel, or the heating conductor portions 110B and 112B may be arranged in parallel.

Further, the amount of current flowing through each heating conductor portion differs between the heating conductor portion having a parallel relationship and the heating conductor portion not having a parallel relationship. The amount of high-frequency heating is adjusted by, for example, installing a heating conductor closer to a heating conductor that does not have a parallel relationship with the heating conductor.

Next, an induction hardening apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this case, like the induction hardening apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention (see FIG. 2), two hardening target areas 966 and 9 are provided.
67. However, the quenching target areas 966, 96
7, the width of the quenching region is widened, and corresponding to this, the high-frequency heating coil bodies 100C and 200C are provided as in the case of the high-frequency quenching apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention (see FIG. 5). Each of the three heating conductor portions 110C to 112C,
210C to 212C. The heating conductors 110C to 112C and 210C to 212C are respectively spaced from each other by an appropriate distance, and
67 are provided facing each other with a substantially constant interval from each surface.

Heating conductors 110C to 112C, 210C
The connection relationship between the ends of the to 212C and the adjustment of the distance from the quenching target area are the same as those described in the case of the induction hardening apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention (see FIG. 5).

In the case of the induction hardening devices according to the second to fourth embodiments of the present invention (see FIGS. 4 to 6), the two high-frequency heating coil bodies are replaced by the first embodiment of the present invention. Induction heating coil body 10 of induction hardening device according to embodiment
The number may be one as in the case where one is 0 or 200. In this case, FIG. 4 shows a heating conductor 110A,
111A and the heating conductor portions 210A and 211A are connected in parallel, and one end of the heating conductor portions 110A and 111A and one end of the heating conductor portions 210A and 211A are detour-connected in a direction away from the workpiece W via a connection conductor portion (not shown). Alternatively, the other ends may be detour-connected to the current transformer of the power supply unit in a direction away from the work W via a supply-side connection conductor (not shown).

5 and FIG.
The two heating conductors are connected in parallel, and one end of each heating conductor is detour-connected in a direction away from the work W via a connection conductor (not shown), and the other end is not shown in FIG. A detour connection may be made in a direction away from the workpiece W via the supply-side connection conductor.

In the above, the number of current transformers in the power supply section has been described as one or two. However, three or more current transformers may be used. In the case of the induction hardening device according to the third embodiment of the present invention (see FIG. 5), for example, the heating conductor portions 110B and 210B are connected to one current transformer, and the heating conductor portion 111B is connected.
B, 112B to another current transformer,
The heating conductors 211B and 212B may be connected to another current transformer. Similarly, in the case of the induction hardening device according to the third embodiment of the present invention (see FIG. 6),
For example, the heating conductors 110C and 210C are connected to one current transformer, the heating conductors 111C and 112C are connected to another current transformer, and
1C and 212C may be connected to yet another current transformer. In the case of the induction hardening apparatuses according to the third and fourth embodiments of the present invention (see FIGS. 5 and 6), other combinations are of course possible.

In the case of the induction hardening apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention (see FIG. 5), for example, the heating conductors 110B and 210B are connected to one current transformer, and the heating conductors 111B and 111B are connected. 211B may be connected to another current transformer, and the heating conductors 112B and 212B may be connected to another current transformer. Similarly, in the case of the induction hardening device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention (see FIG. 6), for example, the heating conductor portions 110C,
10C may be connected to one current transformer, the heating conductors 111C and 211C may be connected to another current transformer, and the heating conductors 112C and 212C may be connected to yet another current transformer. In the case of the induction hardening apparatuses according to the third and fourth embodiments of the present invention (see FIGS. 5 and 6), other combinations are of course possible.

As described above, if a current transformer is provided for each of the three high-frequency heating coil bodies, the amount of current flowing through each of the three high-frequency heating coil bodies can be made different, so that the two current transformers The heating amount can be adjusted more finely than in the case.

In the induction hardening apparatuses according to the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention, the heating conductor is formed as a cylindrical tube, but may be, for example, a square tube.
In this case, a cross section having a substantially rectangular shape (flat on the side of the work W) rather than a substantially quadrangular shape is preferable for uniform heating over a wide range (a wide range in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the work), and for quenching. Furthermore, a metal plate made of copper or the like (having a width wider than the above surface) may be attached to the work-side surface of the rectangular tube by brazing or the like.

By the way, in the induction hardening devices according to the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention, the case where the heating conductor portion has a shape substantially along the entire range in the longitudinal direction of the region to be hardened may be considered. The case where the quenching target area is continuous has been described. However, the quenching target area may be discontinuous (that is, jump) because, for example, a hole is provided in the longitudinal direction of the quenching target area. In this case, to prevent overheating of the edge of the hole, for example,
What is necessary is just to form a heating conductor part so that it may bypass the said hole part. Such a case is a case where the heating conductor portion has a shape substantially along the substantially entire range in the longitudinal direction of the quenching target region.

In the induction hardening apparatuses according to the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention, the work is described as being a center pillar. If the work is a thin long object with a hardening area with a wide area,
It is clear that the above is the same. Therefore, when a cross member or the like substantially similar to the center pillar is a work, the description thereof is omitted.

[0087]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
Is an induction hardening device for hardening a thin and long workpiece having a non-planar and widened in the longitudinal direction and a hardening target region, and facing the region. And a high-frequency heating coil body having a heating conductor portion formed so as to have a shape substantially along the entire area in the longitudinal direction of the area, and cooling for quenching provided opposite the area. And a cooling jacket for injecting the liquid.

Therefore, in the case of the induction hardening apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, one of the publications described in the prior art is used.
Compared to the induction hardening device using the second induction heating device, even if the shape of the quenching target area is complicated, quenching can be performed uniformly in the longitudinal direction, and the control program of the induction hardening device is also In addition to being simple, a mechanism for movement is not required, cost can be reduced, and quenching time can be reduced.

Further, in the case of the induction hardening device according to claim 1 of the present invention, the induction heating device is compared with the case of the induction hardening device using the second high frequency heating device of the above publication. It is compact and easy to install, the high-frequency heating device is low in cost, and the exchange time of the high-frequency heating coil can be short even if the type of work is changed.

Further, in the case of the induction hardening apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention, the induction hardening using the third high-frequency heating apparatus (including the above-mentioned partially changed specification) of the above-mentioned publication. Compared to the case of the equipment, the high frequency heating device is compact and easy to install, the high frequency heating device is low cost, the exchange time of the high frequency heating coil body is short even if the type of work is changed, the control of the high frequency hardening device The program is simple and quenching time can be reduced.

The induction hardening apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the cooling jacket according to the first aspect is provided on the front side and the back side of the quenching target area.

Therefore, in the case of the induction hardening apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, the cooling at the time of quenching of the work is substantially simultaneously performed on the front surface and the back surface. ) Is suppressed. Therefore, the work time for straightening work after quenching can be shortened, and the efficiency of hardening work including straightening work is improved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the induction hardening apparatus according to the first or second aspect is provided with a clamp mechanism for clamping a plurality of portions of the workpiece in a longitudinal direction. It is characterized by.

Therefore, in the case of the induction hardening device according to claim 3 of the present invention, the distortion (bending) at the time of hardening of the work is further suppressed by the clamp mechanism. Therefore, the work time for straightening work after quenching can be further reduced, and the efficiency of hardening work including straightening work is further improved.

The induction hardening apparatus according to claim 4 of the present invention is characterized in that the work is a center pillar or a cross member of an automobile. Therefore, in the case of the induction hardening apparatus according to claim 4 of the present invention, a thin and long work having a non-planar and quenched region with a spread in the longitudinal direction exists in a center pillar or the like of an automobile. is there. Although the center pillar and the like have a complicated shape, the configuration of the induction hardening device of the present invention makes it possible to achieve a relatively low cost and a high work efficiency with both the weight reduction and the improvement of the strength achieved by the center pillar and the like. Induction hardening is possible. Also, since the center pillar and the like are thin and long,
Distortion (bending) is liable to occur when quenching. However, due to the configuration of the induction hardening apparatus of the present invention, distortion (bending) occurs even in a work such as a center pillar.
Is suppressed. Therefore, according to the configuration of the induction hardening apparatus of the present invention, even for a work such as a center pillar, the work time for straightening the work after hardening can be shortened. Work efficiency is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view for explaining a positional relationship between a high-frequency heating coil body, a clamp mechanism, and a work, a hardening target area, and the like used in an induction hardening apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

FIG. 2 is a view for explaining a positional relationship between a heating conductor portion, a cooling jacket, and a work, a region to be quenched, and the like used in the induction hardening device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic sectional view explanatory drawing.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a clamp mechanism used in the induction hardening device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining a positional relationship between a heating conductor portion of a high-frequency heating coil body and a work and a hardening target region of an induction hardening apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. It is.

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view explanatory view for explaining a positional relationship between a heating conductor portion of a high-frequency heating coil body and a work and a region to be hardened in an induction hardening apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention. It is.

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining a positional relationship between a heating conductor portion of a high-frequency heating coil body and a work and a region to be hardened in an induction hardening apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. It is.

[Description of Signs] 100 High-frequency heating coil 110, 111 Heating conductor 200 High-frequency heating coil 210, 211 Heating conductor 950, 951 Quenching target area W Work

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An induction hardening device for hardening a thin and long workpiece having a non-planar and quenching target region with a spread in a longitudinal direction, the device being located at a position facing the region. A high-frequency heating coil body provided with a heating conductor portion formed so as to have a shape substantially along the entire area in the longitudinal direction of the region, and a cooling liquid for quenching provided opposed to the region. An induction quenching apparatus, comprising: a cooling jacket that performs cooling. 2. The induction hardening apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cooling jacket is provided on a front side and a back side of the hardening target area. 3. The induction hardening device according to claim 1, further comprising a clamp mechanism for clamping a plurality of positions in a longitudinal direction of the work. 4. The work according to claim 1, wherein the work is a center pillar or a cross member of an automobile.
The induction hardening device according to 2 or 3.