JP2006213935A - Method for quenching workpiece, and quenching device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for quenching a workpiece with improved cooling efficiency by uniformly cooling the workpiece, and to provide a quenching device. <P>SOLUTION: The quenching method comprises the steps of: accommodating the workpiece into a quenching chamber; and instantly charging a mist of a cooling medium into the quenching chamber having accommodated the workpiece therein. The quenching device has the means therefor. The method can uniformly cool the workpiece because of employing mist as the cooling medium and consequently not causing such unevenness in cooling due to bubbles as to occur in the case of immersing the workpiece into water, and can impart the workpiece higher mechanical properties than an air-cooling method because of containing a large amount of moisture in the mist, consequently having the cooling efficiency improved, and shortening the cooling period of time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a workpiece quenching method and a quenching apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to a quenching method and a quenching apparatus that can uniformly cool a workpiece and improve cooling efficiency.

  In recent years, aluminum alloys have been applied to automobile parts. However, because the weight of automobiles can be reduced, parts to which aluminum alloys are applied are large and thin, and have good mechanical properties such as strength. Desired. In order to improve the mechanical properties, it is widely known that various heat treatments are performed on an aluminum alloy. As one of the heat treatments, a supersaturated solid solution structure and an aluminum alloy are formed by solution treatment. After that, there is quenching to quench the aluminum alloy at the solution treatment temperature. It is known that the higher the cooling speed in this quenching, the better the aluminum alloy after cooling in the mechanical properties.

Conventionally, as a technique known as the above-described rapid cooling method, there is a method of cooling by immersing a workpiece in water (Patent Document 1).
JP 7-1111 A

  When quenching the above-mentioned large and thin aluminum alloy, water bubbles are generated by boiling water in the vicinity of the workpiece, and the water bubbles adhere to the workpiece, thereby forming a non-uniform heat insulation state around the workpiece. As a result, the workpiece may be deformed and the workpiece may be deformed.

  In addition, in order to achieve uniform cooling, when cooling is performed by blowing air onto the workpiece, the cooling rate is slow, so sufficient strength is not exhibited in the workpiece after cooling and good mechanical properties are achieved. The problem that cannot be obtained may arise.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the problems associated with the above-described prior art, and an object of the present invention is to quench the workpiece uniformly and improve the cooling efficiency of the workpiece and to improve the cooling efficiency. A filling device is provided.

The object of the present invention is achieved by the following means.
(1) A method for quenching a workpiece, comprising: an accommodating step for accommodating the workpiece in a quenching chamber; and a filling step for instantaneously filling the quenching chamber with mist as a cooling medium.
(2) In the filling step, after the air pressure in the mist storage chamber in which the mist is stored is relatively higher than the air pressure in the quenching chamber in which the workpiece is stored, the quenching chamber and the mist storage The work quenching method according to (1), wherein the mist is instantaneously filled into the quenching chamber by ventilating the chamber.
(3) The work quenching method according to (1) or (2), wherein the quenching chamber is evacuated while the quenching chamber is filled with the mist.
(4) The work quenching method according to (3), wherein the exhaust of the quenching chamber is performed by a pump through a duct that allows ventilation between the quenching chamber and the outside of the quenching chamber. .
(5) A quenching chamber capable of accommodating a workpiece for quenching, a mist accommodating chamber for accommodating a generated mist as a cooling medium, and an atmospheric pressure of the mist accommodating chamber in which the mist is accommodated, A pressure adjusting means for making the pressure relatively higher than the pressure in the quenching chamber, a vent for venting the quenching chamber and the mist storage chamber, and a first for opening and closing the vent. An apparatus for quenching a workpiece, comprising: opening and closing means.
(6) The workpiece quenching apparatus according to (5), wherein the mist is generated by a mist generator installed in the mist storage chamber.
(7) The work quenching according to (5) or (6), further comprising exhaust means for exhausting the quenching chamber while the quenching chamber is filled with the mist. apparatus.
(8) The exhaust means is a duct capable of venting the quenching chamber and the outside of the quenching chamber, and a pump for exhausting the quenching chamber through the duct. The work hardening apparatus as described in (7).
(9) The workpiece quenching apparatus according to any one of (5) to (8), wherein a plurality of the mist storage chambers are provided so as to face each other through the quenching chamber.
(10) The first opening / closing means is a take-up type first shutter for opening / closing the vent hole. (5)-(9) Work hardening device.
(11) The quenching chamber further includes a carry-in port through which a work can be carried in and a carry-out port through which the work can be carried out, a second opening / closing means for opening and closing the carry-in port, Any one of (5) to (10), further comprising: third opening / closing means for opening and closing the outlet; and conveying means for conveying the workpiece from the carry-in port to the carry-out port. The workpiece hardening apparatus as described in one.
(12) The second opening / closing means is a retractable second shutter for opening / closing the carry-in entrance, and the third opening / closing means is a take-up for opening / closing the carry-out exit. The workpiece quenching apparatus according to (11), characterized in that the third shutter of the formula.

  According to the work quenching method and the quenching apparatus of the present invention, when cooling the work, by using mist as a cooling medium, water bubbles are generated and cooled as in the case of cooling the work by immersing the work in water. Does not cause unevenness. Thereby, when cooling a workpiece | work, the nonuniformity of cooling does not arise and a deformation | transformation of a workpiece | work does not arise.

  Further, since the mist contains a lot of moisture, the heat of vaporization of the work per unit time is increased as compared with the case where the work is cooled by air. Thereby, the cooling efficiency of the workpiece is improved, the cooling time is shortened, and the mechanical properties of the workpiece are improved.

  In addition, by instantly filling the quenching chamber containing the workpiece with mist and cooling the workpiece, even large workpieces can be cooled uniformly without causing uneven cooling, preventing deformation of the workpiece due to cooling. Is done.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a workpiece quenching apparatus 1 (hereinafter referred to as quenching apparatus 1) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The quenching apparatus 1 includes a quenching chamber 10, a first mist storage chamber 11A adjacent to the quenching chamber 10 via the side wall 10a, and a quenching chamber 10 adjacent to the quenching chamber 10 via the side wall 10b. And a second mist storage chamber 11B located opposite to the first mist storage chamber 11A. Note that it is not necessary to provide two mist storage chambers as described above, and only one mist storage chamber may be provided.

  The quenching chamber 10 can store workpieces for quenching, and the first and second mist storage chambers 11A and 11B are provided with mist generators 12A and 12B capable of generating mist. Has been.

  The side wall 10a is provided with a vent hole 13 and a first opening / closing means 14 for opening and closing the vent hole 13. Further, the side wall 10b is provided with a vent 15 and further provided with second opening / closing means 16 for opening and closing the vent 15.

  Further, the side wall 10c is provided with a carry-in port 17 into which the workpiece 2 is carried, and further provided with a third opening / closing means 18 for opening and closing the carry-in port 17. Further, the side wall 10d positioned opposite to the side wall 10c is provided with a carry-out port 19 through which the workpiece 2 is carried out, and further, a fourth opening / closing means 20 for opening and closing the carry-out port 19 is provided. Further, the quenching chamber 10 is provided with a conveying means 21 for carrying the workpiece into the quenching chamber 10 from the carry-in entrance 17 and further carrying out the workpiece 2 from the carry-out port 19.

  Further, the quenching chamber 10 and the outside of the quenching chamber 10 can be ventilated via a duct 22, and a pump 23 for exhausting the quenching chamber 10 via the duct 22 is provided inside the duct 22. Provided.

  Next, the quenching process in the quenching apparatus 1 will be described.

  First, the work 2 is carried into the quenching chamber 10 from the carry-in port 17 by the transfer unit 21 in a state where the carry-in port 17 is opened by the third opening / closing unit 18. Next, in a state where the vent holes 13 and 15 are closed by the first and second opening / closing means 14 and 16, respectively, the mist generators 12A and 12B are connected to the first and second mist storage chambers 11A and 12B. The mist is generated until the mist is filled. Next, in a state where the mist is filled in the first and second mist accommodating chambers 11A and 11B, the pump 23 exhausts the quenching chamber 10 through the duct 22, whereby the first and second mist accommodating chambers are exhausted. The pressure in the chambers 11A and 11B is relatively higher than the pressure in the quenching chamber 10. In this manner, in the state where the air pressure in the first and second mist accommodating chambers 11A and 11B is relatively higher than the air pressure in the quenching chamber 10, the first and second opening / closing means 14 and 16 are each ventilated. The mouths 13 and 15 are opened to ventilate the quenching chamber 10 and the first and second mist storage chambers 11A and 11B. At this time, the carry-in port 17 and the carry-out port 19 are closed by the third opening / closing means 18 and the fourth opening / closing means 20, respectively. As a result, the mist filled in the first and second mist storage chambers 11A and 11B rapidly flows into the quenching chamber 10, and the quenching chamber 10 is instantaneously or explosively filled with mist. Is cooled by the mist filled in the quenching chamber 10 instantaneously or explosively. The term instantaneous or explosive used in this specification means that the pressure difference between the first and second mist storage chambers 11A and 11B and the quenching chamber 10, the size of the workpiece 2, the first and second Although it is not uniquely determined because it varies depending on the conditions such as the volume of the second mist storage chambers 11A and 11B and the quenching chamber 10, it is possible for mists to exist almost entirely around the workpiece. It means a certain degree.

  Subsequently, until the workpiece 2 is cooled to a predetermined temperature, the mist generators 12A and 12B generate mist in the first and second mist generating chambers 11A and 11B, and the pump 23 is brought into contact with the workpiece 2 by contact. The mist whose temperature has risen is exhausted to the outside of the quenching chamber 10 through the duct 22. In addition, since the exhaust creates a negative pressure in the quenching chamber 10, mist newly generated in the first and second mist storage chambers 11 </ b> A and 11 </ b> B is supplied to the quenching chamber 10. When the workpiece 2 is cooled to a predetermined temperature, the mist generators 12A and 12B stop generating mist, and the duct 22 also stops exhausting. Subsequently, the fourth opening / closing means 20 opens the carry-out port 19, and the transfer means 21 carries the workpiece 2 out of the quenching chamber 10 from the carry-out port 19.

  As is apparent from the above, the pump 23 and the duct 22 are used as exhaust means for exhausting the quenching chamber 10 after the work 2 is accommodated in the quenching chamber 10, and the mist is first and second. Pressure adjusting means for making the air pressure in the first and second mist storage chambers 11A and 11B relatively higher than the pressure in the quenching chamber 10 before the quenching chamber 10 is filled from the mist storage chambers 11A and 11B. Also used as

  Next, effects of the present invention will be described.

  According to the present invention, when cooling a workpiece, by using mist as a cooling medium, water bubbles are not generated and cooling unevenness is not generated as in the case where the workpiece is cooled by being immersed in water. Thereby, when cooling a workpiece | work, the nonuniformity of cooling does not arise and a deformation | transformation of a workpiece | work does not arise.

  Further, since the mist contains a lot of moisture, the heat of vaporization of the work per unit time is increased as compared with the case where the work is cooled by air. Thereby, the cooling efficiency of the workpiece is improved, the cooling time is shortened, and the mechanical properties of the workpiece are improved.

  In addition, by cooling the work by instantaneously or explosively filling the quenching chamber in which the work is stored, even large works can be cooled uniformly without causing uneven cooling. To prevent deformation.

  In addition, the mist heated by the contact with the workpiece is exhausted from the quenching chamber, and the newly generated mist is supplied to the quenching chamber, so that the periphery of the workpiece is always newly generated and kept in a high temperature state. Can be charged with no mist. As a result, the cooling of the workpiece is promoted to further improve the cooling efficiency, and the temperature unevenness of the mist filling the periphery is prevented, so that a more uniform cooling can be achieved and the deformation of the workpiece due to the cooling is further prevented. The

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.

  For example, the mist generators 12A and 12B are not installed in the first and second mist storage chambers 11A and 11B, and mist is generated in a room different from the first and second mist storage chambers 11A and 11B. The first and second mist accommodation through a duct that allows the mist to ventilate the first and second mist accommodation chambers 11A and 11B and a room different from the first and second mist accommodation chambers 11A and 11B. The chambers 11A and 11B may be filled.

  Further, any one of the first mist storage chamber 11A and the second mist storage chamber 11B may be provided.

  In the above, the pressure adjusting means for making the pressure in the quenching chamber 10 relatively higher than the pressure in the first and second mist storage chambers 11A and 11B is the pump 23 that lowers the pressure in the quenching chamber 10. However, it may be a means for increasing the air pressure in the first and second mist storage chambers. Here, the atmospheric pressure in the first and second mist storage chambers 11A and 11B is increased by the first and second mist generators 12A and 12B generating mist. Accordingly, the first and second mist generators 12A and 12B can be said to be one of the pressure adjusting means described above.

<Example>
Next, examples of the present invention will be described. Note that in this example, the same reference numerals are used for configurations corresponding to the configurations described in the above embodiments.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the workpiece is carried into the quenching chamber 10 to be cooled in the quenching apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The workpiece cooled in the quenching chamber 10 is an aluminum alloy casting 2 having a U-shape and having a thickness of 2 to 5 mm. In this embodiment, the aluminum alloy casting 2 is formed into a solid body (not shown). It is carried into the quenching chamber 10 in a state where it is subjected to a solution treatment in a furnace and heated to a high temperature of 500 to 550 degrees. And after cooling in the quenching chamber 10, in order to improve proof stress, such as intensity | strength, it is conveyed to the aging furnace which is not shown in which an aging treatment is performed.

  The quenching apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment can transport the aluminum alloy casting 2 in the order of a solidification furnace (not shown), a quenching chamber 10, and an aging furnace (not shown), using the above steps as a series of flow operations. It has a configuration. This will be specifically described below.

  The quenching chamber 10 is installed so as to be adjacent to a containerizing furnace (not shown) via a side wall 10c, and to be adjacent to a aging furnace (not shown) via a side wall (not shown) positioned opposite to the side wall 10c. A carry-in port 17 is provided in the side wall 10c, and a carry-out port (not shown) is provided in a side wall (not shown) located opposite to the side wall 10c. Further, the quenching chamber 10 is provided with a roller conveyor 21 (conveying means) for carrying the aluminum alloy casting 2 into the quenching chamber 10 from the carry-in entrance 17 and carrying out the aluminum alloy casting 2 from the carry-out exit (not shown). It is done. The direction A shown in the figure indicates the conveying direction of the roller conveyor 21.

  Further, a retractable shutter 18 (third opening / closing means) for opening and closing the carry-in port 17 is provided above the carry-in port 17, and a carry-out port (not shown) is provided above the carry-out port (not shown). A retractable shutter (fourth opening / closing means) (not shown) for opening and closing is provided.

  Furthermore, a first mist storage chamber (not shown) is provided adjacent to the quenching chamber 10 via the side wall 10a, and the first mist storage chamber (not shown) and the quenching chamber 10 are ventilated through the side wall 10a. A possible vent 13 (see FIG. 3) is provided. Further, a retractable shutter 14 (first opening / closing means) for opening and closing the vent hole 13 is provided above the vent hole 13. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the shutter 14 closes the vent hole 13. In addition, a second mist storage chamber (not shown) is provided adjacent to the quenching chamber 10 via the side wall 10b and is opposed to the first mist storage chamber (not shown) via the quenching chamber 10, and the side wall 10b is provided. Is provided with a vent 15 (see FIG. 3) through which the quenching chamber 10 and a second mist chamber (not shown) can be vented. Further, a retractable shutter 16 (second opening / closing means) for opening and closing the ventilation hole 15 is provided above the ventilation hole 15.

  Two fluid nozzles (not shown), which are mist generators, are installed in the first and second mist storage chambers (not shown). The two-fluid nozzle ejects mist from the nozzle by ejecting water and air simultaneously. The particle size of water contained in the generated mist is in the range of 10 to 50 microns.

  A duct (not shown) that can ventilate the quenching chamber 10 and the outside of the quenching chamber 10 is provided in a ceiling portion (not shown) of the quenching chamber 10. A vacuum pump (not shown) for exhausting the quenching chamber 10 through a duct (not shown) is provided inside the duct (not shown).

  Next, the quenching process in the present embodiment will be described.

  In a state where the shutter 18 opens the carry-in port 17, the aluminum alloy casting 2 is carried into the quenching chamber 10 from the carry-in port 17 by the roller conveyor 21. The aluminum alloy casting 2 is conveyed on the roller conveyor 21 while being suspended on the jig 22. Subsequently, in the first and second mist storage chambers with the shutters 14 and 16 closing the vent holes 13 and 15 respectively, the two-fluid nozzle (not shown) has the mist stored in the first and second mist. Mist is generated until the room is full. When the mist is filled in the first and second mist storage chambers (not shown), a vacuum pump (not shown) exhausts the quenching chamber 10 through a duct (not shown), whereby the first and second mist storages (not shown) are accommodated. The pressure in the chamber is relatively higher than the pressure in the quenching chamber 10. In addition, the above-described pressure difference is also generated when a two-fluid nozzle (not shown) generates mist.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state where the quenching chamber 10 into which the aluminum alloy casting 2 is carried is filled with mist.

  The shutters 14 and 16 open the vent holes 13 and 15 in a state where the air pressure in the first and second mist storage chambers (not shown) is relatively higher than the air pressure in the quenching chamber 10. At this time, the shutter 18 and the shutter (not shown) close the carry-in port 17 and the carry-out port (not shown). Thereby, the mist filled in the first and second mist storage chambers (not shown) rapidly flows into the quenching chamber 10, and the quenching chamber 10 is instantaneously or explosively filled with the mist. The aluminum alloy casting 2 is cooled by the mist filling the quenching chamber 10.

  While the aluminum alloy casting 2 is cooled to a predetermined temperature, a two-fluid nozzle (not shown) generates mist in first and second mist storage chambers (not shown), and a vacuum pump (not shown) exhausts the quenching chamber 10. . As a result, the mist heated by the contact with the aluminum alloy casting 2 is exhausted from the quenching chamber 10 and the newly generated mist is supplied to the quenching chamber 10. Thereby, the aluminum alloy casting 2 is always cooled in a state in which the newly generated mist that is not in a high temperature state is filled in the periphery. In addition, the cooling time in a present Example is 20-30 seconds.

  After the aluminum alloy casting 2 is cooled to a predetermined temperature, the two-fluid nozzle (not shown) stops the generation of mist, and the vacuum pump (not shown) also stops the quenching chamber 10 from being exhausted. Subsequently, the shutter (not shown) opens the carry-out port, and the roller conveyor 21 carries the aluminum alloy casting 2 from the carry-out port (not shown) to an aging furnace (not shown).

  In the examples described above, it was confirmed that the aluminum alloy casting 2 that had been cooled did not deform and had sufficient proof stress.

  In this embodiment, as a means for opening / closing the carry-in port 17, a carry-out port (not shown), the vent 13, and the vent 15, a roll-up type sitter is used, but an open / close-type shutter may be used instead. good.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the hardening apparatus in embodiment of this invention. In the quenching apparatus in an Example, it is a perspective view which shows the state carried in in a quenching chamber in order to cool a workpiece | work. It is a perspective view which shows the state with which the quenching chamber into which the aluminum alloy casting was carried in is filled with mist.

Explanation of symbols

1 quenching equipment,
2 Aluminum alloy casting (work),
10 Quenching room,
11A 1st mist storage chamber,
11B 2nd mist accommodation room,
12A First mist generator,
12B second mist generator,
13,15 Vents,
14 shutter (first opening / closing means),
16 shutter (second opening / closing means),
17 Carriage entrance,
18 shutter (third opening / closing means),
19 Unloading port,
20 4th opening-closing means,
21 Roller conveyor (conveying means),
22 Duct,
23 Vacuum pump (pump).

Claims (12)

An accommodating process for accommodating the workpiece in the quenching chamber;
A filling step of instantly filling the quenching chamber with mist as a cooling medium;
A method for quenching a workpiece, characterized by comprising:   In the filling step, after the air pressure in the mist storage chamber in which the mist is stored is relatively higher than the air pressure in the quenching chamber in which the workpiece is stored, the quenching chamber and the mist storage chamber are The method for quenching a workpiece according to claim 1, wherein the mist is instantaneously filled into the quenching chamber by aeration.   3. The workpiece quenching method according to claim 1, wherein the quenching chamber is evacuated while the mist is filled in the quenching chamber.   The work quenching method according to claim 3, wherein the exhaust of the quenching chamber is performed by a pump through a duct that allows ventilation between the quenching chamber and the outside of the quenching chamber. A quenching chamber that can accommodate workpieces for quenching;
A mist storage chamber for storing the mist that is the generated cooling medium;
Pressure adjusting means for making the pressure of the mist storage chamber in which the mist is stored relatively higher than the pressure of the quenching chamber;
A vent that can ventilate the quenching chamber and the mist storage chamber;
First opening and closing means for opening and closing the vent;
A workpiece quenching apparatus characterized by comprising:   6. The work hardening apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the mist is generated by a mist generator installed in the mist storage chamber.   The workpiece quenching apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, further comprising exhaust means for exhausting the quenching chamber while the mist is filled in the quenching chamber.   8. The exhaust means is a duct capable of ventilating the quenching chamber and the outside of the quenching chamber, and a pump for exhausting the quenching chamber through the duct. Hardening equipment for workpieces as described in 1.   9. The workpiece quenching apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of the mist storage chambers are provided so as to face each other with the quenching chamber interposed therebetween.   The work hardening apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 9, wherein the first opening / closing means is a take-up type first shutter for opening and closing the vent hole. . The quenching chamber is further provided with a carry-in port through which workpieces can be carried in and a carry-out port through which workpieces can be carried out,
Second opening and closing means for opening and closing the carry-in port;
Third opening and closing means for opening and closing the carry-out port;
Conveying means for conveying a workpiece from the carry-in port to the carry-out port;
The workpiece quenching apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: The second opening / closing means is a retractable second shutter for opening and closing the carry-in port,
The work hardening apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the third opening / closing means is a take-up type third shutter for opening and closing the carry-out port.

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