JP3986456B2

JP3986456B2 - Method and apparatus for quenching hollow rack

Info

Publication number: JP3986456B2
Application number: JP2003083693A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 政登石川; 嘉久三上
Original assignee: Showa Corp
Current assignee: Showa Corp
Priority date: 2003-03-25
Filing date: 2003-03-25
Publication date: 2007-10-03
Anticipated expiration: 2023-03-25
Also published as: JP2004292851A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は円筒状のラックバーの長手方向の少なくとも一部にラック歯面を備えた中空ラックの焼入れ装置に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
中空ラックの焼入れ装置として、特許文献１に記載の如く、上型の突部と下型の突部により加熱した中空ラックの被焼入材を拘束した状態で焼入れ液を噴射するものがある。
【０００３】
他の中空ラックの焼入れ装置として、特許文献２に記載の如く、４つの拘束治具により加熱した中空ラックの被焼入材を拘束した状態で、焼入れ液を噴射するものがある。
【０００４】
【特許文献１】
特許3205412（１頁、図１）
【０００５】
【特許文献２】
特開2001-11536（４頁、図１）
【０００６】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
特許文献１の焼入れ装置には以下の問題点がある。
▲１▼中空ラックの被焼入材は加熱により変形し易く、上型の凸部と下型の凸部により被焼入材の断面の全周を一挙に拘束しようとすると、上型の凸部と下型の凸部の拘束領域から被焼入材の変形曲がり部がはみ出て拘束できないことがある。
【０００７】
▲２▼上下型にそれらの凸部を一体に形成しており、被焼入材の断面形状が変われば、上下型の全体を交換する必要がある。
【０００８】
特許文献２の焼入装置には以下の問題点がある。
▲１▼中空ラックの被焼入材は加熱により変形し易く、４つの拘束治具により被焼入材の断面の全周を一挙に拘束しようとすると、４つの拘束治具の拘束領域から被焼入材の変形曲がり部がはみ出て拘束できないことがある。
【０００９】
▲２▼４つの拘束治具のそれぞれを油圧等により個別に進退させ、しかも互いに同期的に進退させる必要があり、構成が複雑になる。
【００１０】
本発明の課題は、加熱によって変形し易い中空ラックの被焼入材を焼入れするに際し、被焼入材の変形を容易に矯正して拘束し、冷却することにある。
【００１１】
本発明の他の課題は、焼入装置の構成の簡素を図ることにある。
【００１２】
【発明の属する技術分野】
請求項１の発明は、中空ラックの被焼入材を上下左右の少なくとも４つのクランパにより拘束した後に、焼入れ液を噴射する中空ラックの焼入れ装置において、上型と下型を相対移動可能に設け、上型に上クランパを上下動可能に設け、下型に下クランパを上下動可能に設け、下型と上型の一方に左右のクランパを左右動可能に設け、上下のクランパにより被焼入材をそのラック歯面に直交する上下方向から拘束可能にし、上下のクランパが左右のクランパより先に被焼入材を拘束可能にしたものである。
【００１３】
請求項２の発明は、請求項１の発明において更に、前記上クランパが上型に支持された弾発体により最終拘束位置よりも突出する側に初期設定され、上下型の相対移動にともなう被焼入材との衝合により弾発体に抗して最終拘束位置まで移動可能にされ、下クランパが下型に支持された弾発体により最終拘束位置よりも突出する側に初期設定され、上下型の相対移動にともなう被焼入材との衝合により弾発体に抗して最終拘束位置まで移動可能にされ、左右のクランパが下型と上型の一方に支持された弾発体により最終拘束位置よりも引込み側に初期設定され、上下型の相対移動により上下のクランパが先に被焼入材を拘束した状態下で、該左右のクランパを上下型の相対移動に連動して弾発体に抗して最終拘束位置まで移動可能にするようにしたものである。
【００１４】
請求項３の発明は、請求項２の発明において更に、前記左右のクランパを下型と上型の一方に支持する状態下で、下型と上型の他方に設けたくさび部により左右のクランパを初期設定位置から最終拘束位置に押動可能にするようにしたものである。
【００１５】
請求項４の発明は、請求項３の発明において更に、前記上下型の型当たり面が接した状態において、上クランパを上型のストッパ面により最終拘束位置に設定し、下クランパを下型のストッパ面により最終拘束位置に設定し、左右のクランパを下型と上型の他方に設けたくさび部により最終拘束位置に設定可能にするようにしたものである。
【００１６】
請求項５の発明は、請求項４の発明において更に、前記上下左右の全てのクランパを最終拘束位置に設定した状態で、それら全てのクランパの先端面が互いに被焼入材の断面形状と同一形状を区画形成するようにしたものである。
【００１７】
請求項６の発明は、請求項１〜５のいずれかの発明において更に、前記上下型が、上下左右の全てのクランパを最終拘束位置に設定した状態で、相隣るクランパの間を通して被焼入材に焼入れ液を噴射する噴射口を備えるようにしたものである。
【００１８】
請求項７の発明は、請求項１〜６のいずれかの発明において更に、前記被焼入材のラック歯面に下クランパの先端面を当てる状態で、下クランパの先端面は平面状をなすものにし、上クランパと左右のクランパの先端面には液流通溝を設けるようにしたものである。
【００２０】
【発明の実施の形態】
図１は焼入装置による被焼入材の加熱状態を示す正面図、図２は焼入装置による被焼入材の拘束冷却状態を示す正面図、図３は図１のIII−III線に沿う矢視図、図４は上型を示し、（Ａ）は断面図、（Ｂ）は下面図、図５は下型を示し、（Ａ）は断面図、（Ｂ）は上面図、図６は下クランパを示し、（Ａ）は側面図、（Ｂ）は平面図、（Ｃ）は（Ａ）のＣ−Ｃ線に沿う断面図、図７は下クランパを示し、（Ａ）は側面図、（Ｂ）は平面図、（Ｃ）は（Ａ）のＣ−Ｃ線に沿う断面図、図８は上クランパを示し、（Ａ）は側面図、（Ｂ）は平面図、（Ｃ）は（Ａ）のＣ−Ｃ線に沿う断面図、図９は左右のクランパを示し、（Ａ）は側面図、（Ｂ）は平面図、（Ｃ）は（Ｂ）のＣ−Ｃ線に沿う断面図である。
【００２１】
焼入装置１０は、中空ラックの被焼入材１を焼入れ可能にする。被焼入材１は、円管状をなし、長手方向の一定長さ範囲において、周方向の一部にラック歯面２を形成する。ラック歯面２は相隣るラック歯の刃先を互いに単一平面状に配置する。
【００２２】
焼入装置１０は、図１〜図３に示す如く、左右のコラム１１、１２に、上下型１３、１４のベース１５、１６を上下動可能にガイドし、不図示の昇降装置により上下型１３、１４を対向移動可能にする。
【００２３】
焼入装置１０は、上下型１３、１４で挟まれる上下方向中央部の焼入作業位置に、不図示のラック保持装置に保持される被焼入材１を位置付ける。
【００２４】
焼入装置１０は、加熱装置１７を有する。加熱装置１７は、高周波誘導加熱装置等からなり、待機位置から焼入作業位置に向けて前進し、ワーク保持装置に保持されている被焼入材１を加熱し、その後、待機位置に復帰する。加熱装置１７による加熱中に、被焼入材１はワーク保持装置により自軸まわりに回転せしめられる。
【００２５】
焼入装置１０は、上下左右の少なくとも４つのクランパ２１〜２４を有し、上型１３に上クランパ２１を上下動可能に設け、下型１４に下クランパ２２を上下動可能に設け、下型１４に左右のクランパ２３、２４を左右動可能に設ける。焼入装置１０は、上下のクランパ２１、２２により加熱状態にある被焼入材１をそのラック歯面２に直交する上下方向から挟圧して拘束可能にし、その後、左右のクランパ２３、２４により被焼入材１を左右方向から挟圧して拘束可能にするものであり、上下のクランパ２１、２２が左右のクランパ２３、２４より先に被焼入材１を拘束可能にする。
【００２６】
ここで、上クランパ２１は、上型１３の中心軸上に設けた凹状ガイド１３Ａによって上下動可能にガイドされ、凹状ガイド１３Ａの奥側のばね格納孔１３Ｂに内蔵されて上型１３に支持された圧縮コイルばね等の弾発体３１により、該上クランパ２１が被焼入材１を最終的に拘束する最終拘束位置よりも突出する側に初期設定され、上下型１３、１４の接近動にともなう該上クランパ２１と被焼入材１との衝合により弾発体３１に抗して最終拘束位置まで移動可能にされる。上クランパ２１は、最終拘束位置において、凹状ガイド１３Ａとばね格納孔１３Ｂとの段差面からなるストッパ面１３Ｃに衝合して移動ロックされる。上クランパ２１の最終拘束位置は、ストッパ面１３Ｃ上に積層されるシム１３Ｄにより調整できる。
【００２７】
下クランパ２２は、下型１４の中心軸上に設けた凹状ガイド１４Ａによって上下動可能にガイドされ、凹状ガイド１４Ａの奥側のばね格納孔１４Ｂに内蔵されて下型１４に支持された圧縮コイルばね等の弾発体３２により、該下クランパ２２が被焼入材１を最終的に拘束する最終拘束位置よりも突出する側に初期設定され、上下型１３、１４の接近動にともなう該下クランパ２２と被焼入材１との衝合により弾発体３２に抗して最終拘束位置まで移動可能にされる。下クランパ２２は、最終拘束位置において、凹状ガイド１４Ａとばね格納孔１４Ｂとの段差面からなるストッパ面１４Ｃに衝合して移動ロックされる。下クランパ２２の最終拘束位置は、ストッパ面１４Ｃ上に積層されるシム１４Ｄにより調整できる。
【００２８】
左右のクランパ２３、２４は、下型１４の左右に設けたＬ型ガイド４１、４２の水平スライド面４１Ａ、４２Ａに左右動可能にガイドされる。クランパ２３、２４の背面に連結された連結ロッド４３、４４は、Ｌ型ガイド４１、４２の垂直壁４１Ｂ、４２Ｂを貫通し、貫通端に固定の止め具４３Ａ、４４Ａと垂直壁４１Ｂ、４２Ｂとの間に、ゴム塊等の弾発体４５、４６を挟み込み保持する。弾発体４５、４６は、左右のクランパ２３、２４を最終拘束位置よりも引込み側、本実施形態では垂直壁４１Ｂ、４２Ｂに接する側に初期設定する。
【００２９】
左右のクランパ２３、２４は、上下型１３、１４の接近動により上下のクランパ２１、２２が先に被焼入材１に衝合して該被焼入材１を拘束した状態下で（上下のクランパ２１、２２が最終拘束位置に到達して拘束完了した状態でも良いし、最終拘束位置に未だ到達せずに拘束中間過程にある状態でも良い）、クランパ２１、２２の移動に連動して弾発体４５、４６に抗し、弾発体４５、４６を圧縮変形させつつ、最終拘束位置まで移動可能にされる。
【００３０】
本実施形態において、左右のクランパ２３、２４は、上型１３において上クランパ２１の両側にて下方に突設したくさび部５１、５２により、初期設定位置から最終拘束位置に押動可能にされる。くさび部５１、５２は、上下型１３、１４の接近動により、左右のクランパ２３、２４の背面とＬ型ガイド４１、４２の垂直壁４１Ｂ、４２Ｂとの間に進入し、クランパ２３、２４を水平スライド面４１Ａ、４２Ａ上で最終拘束位置に向けて押動する。
【００３１】
焼入装置１０は、上下型１３、１４が接近動してそれらの型当たり面６１、６２が接した状態において、上クランパ２１を上型１３のストッパ面１３Ｃにより最終拘束位置に設定し、下クランパ２２を下型１４のストッパ面１４Ｃにより最終拘束位置に設定し、左右のクランパ２３、２４を上型１３に設けたくさび部５１、５２により最終拘束位置に設定する。
【００３２】
そして、上下左右の全てのクランパ２１〜２４を上述の如くにして最終拘束位置に設定した状態で、それら全てのクランパ２１〜２４の先端面２１Ａ〜２４Ａが、互いに被焼入材１の断面形状と同一形状を区画形成する。クランパ２１〜２４の先端面２１Ａ〜２４Ａは、隙間なく、又は微小隙間を介して、被焼入材１の外周を囲む。
【００３３】
焼入装置１０は、上下左右の全てのクランパ２１〜２４を最終拘束位置に設定した状態で、図２に示す如く、上下型１３、１４が、相隣るクランパ２１〜２４の間を通して、被焼入材１に焼入れ液を噴射する噴射口７１、７２、７３、７４を備える。上型１３は、図４に示す如く、焼入液供給源に連なる焼入液供給路７０Ａ、７０Ｂを有し、焼入液供給路７０Ａ、７０Ｂのそれぞれに噴射口７１、７２を連通する。下型１４は、図５に示す如く、焼入液供給源に連なる焼入液供給路７０Ｃ、７０Ｄを有し、焼入液供給路７０Ｃ、７０Ｄのそれぞれに噴射口７３、７４を連通する。噴射口７１〜７４は、被焼入材１の長手方向に沿う多数の孔列（スリットでも可）からなる。噴射口７１〜７４は、被焼入材１の周方向の４等配位置（90度間隔をなす各位置）に対応し、噴射口７３、７４は被焼入材１のラック歯面２の両側部に対応する。
【００３４】
焼入装置１０は、被焼入材１のラック歯面２に下クランパ２２の先端面２２Ａを当てる状態で、該クランパ２２の先端面２２Ａを図６に示す如く、被焼入材１のラック歯面２の刃先が形成する単一平面に沿う如くの平面状をなす平坦面８２からなるものにする。また、焼入装置１０は、上クランパ２１と左右のクランパ２３、２４の先端面２１Ａ、２３Ａ、２４Ａのそれぞれを図８、図９に示す如く、被焼入材１の円弧面に沿う如くの円弧面８１、８３、８４からなるものにし、各先端面２１Ａ、２３Ａ、２４Ａにはそれぞれ縦横の液流通溝８１Ａ、８１Ｂ、８３Ａ、８３Ｂ、８４Ａ、８４Ｂを設ける。
【００３５】
尚、焼入装置１０は、被焼入材１のラック歯面２以外の部分に当たる下クランパ２２の先端面２２Ａを、図７に示す如く、被焼入材１の円弧面に沿う如くの円弧面８５からなるものにし、各先端面２２Ａに縦横の液流通溝８５Ａ、８５Ｂを設ける。
【００３６】
焼入装置１０による被焼入材１の焼入方法は以下の手順でなされる。
(1)ラック素材となる中空管にラック歯を形成して被焼入材１を得た後、被焼入材１のラック歯面２を含む全体を加熱装置１７により同時に加熱する。被焼入材１は加熱による歪として、被焼入材１のラック歯面２に直交する上下方向に例えば0.66mmの曲がり量を生じた。
【００３７】
(2)加熱された被焼入材１を焼入作業位置にセットする。
(3)上下型１３、１４を接近動させ、先ず上下のクランパ２１、２２により被焼入材１を上下方向から拘束開始する。
【００３８】
(4)上下型１３、１４を接近動の最終段階で、左右のクランパ２３、２４により被焼入材１を左右方向から拘束開始する。
【００３９】
(5)上下型１３、１４の型当たり面６１、６２が接した状態において、上下左右のクランパ２１〜２４のそれぞれをそれらの最終拘束位置に設定し、クランパ２１〜２４による被焼入材１の拘束を完了する。
【００４０】
(6)上下型１３、１４の噴射口７１〜７４から焼入液を噴射し、被焼入材１のラック歯面２を含む全体を冷却する。クランパ２１〜２４により被焼入材１の全体を拘束しながら冷却したから、被焼入材１の曲がり量は0.05mmに減じられた。
【００４１】
本実施形態によれば以下の作用効果を奏する。
(a)中空ラックの被焼入材１は、加熱によって、ラック歯面２に直交する上下方向に反りを生じ易い。上下のクランパ２１、２２により被焼入材１をまず上下方向から拘束して矯正し、その後、左右のクランパ２３、２４を含む左右上下の全てのクランパ２１〜２４で被焼入材１の断面の全周を拘束するから、被焼入材１の変形曲がり部を左右上下のクランパ２１〜２４の拘束領域からはみ出しさせることなく、被焼入材１の変形を容易に矯正して拘束できる。
【００４２】
(b)上型１３に上クランパ２１を設け、下型１４に下クランパ２２と左右のクランパ２３、２４を設けたから、被焼入材１の断面形状が変わっても、左右上下のクランパ２１〜２４だけを交換すれば足り、上下型１３、１４の全体を交換する必要がない。
【００４３】
(c)上クランパ２１を上型１３に支持した弾発体３１により最終拘束位置よりも突出する側に初期設定し、下クランパ２２を下型１４に支持した弾発体３２により最終拘束位置よりも突出する側に初期設定し、左右のクランパ２３、２４を上下型１３、１４の相対移動に連動して初期設定位置から最終拘束位置まで移動可能にした。従って、上型１３を下型１４に対して移動させるだけで、左右上下のクランパ２１〜２４による上述(a)の拘束動作を実行できる。
【００４４】
(d)上型１３に設けたくさび部５１、５２により左右のクランパ２３、２４を初期設定位置から最終拘束位置に押動可能にする。即ち、左右のクランパ２３、２４による拘束動作を上型１３の移動に簡易に連動させることができる。
【００４５】
(e)上下型１３、１４の型当たり面６１、６２が接した状態において、上クランパ２１を上型１３のストッパ面１３Ｃにより最終拘束位置に設定し、下クランパ２２を下型１４のストッパ面１４Ｃにより最終拘束位置に設定し、左右のクランパ２３、２４を上型１３に設けたくさび部５１、５２により最終拘束位置に設定可能にする。従って、上型１３を下型１４に型当りするまで移動することにより、上下左右の全てのクランパ２１〜２４を簡易確実に最終拘束位置に設定できる。
【００４６】
(f)上下左右の全てのクランパ２１〜２４を最終拘束位置に設定した状態で、それら全てのクランパ２１〜２４の先端面２１Ａ〜２４Ａが互いに被焼入材１の断面形状と同一形状を区画形成する。従って、上下左右のクランパ２１〜２４の拘束領域が、被焼入材１の断面よりも狭小になることがなく、被焼入材１にクランパ２１〜２４による拘束変形を生じさせることがない。
【００４７】
(g)上下型１３、１４に噴射口７１〜７４を設けることにより、クランパ２１〜２４に噴射口を設ける必要がない。被焼入材１の断面形状の変更によって交換する必要を生ずるクランパ２１〜２４の構造の簡素を図ることができる。
【００４８】
(h)下クランパ２２は平面状の先端面２２Ａにより、被焼入材１のラック歯面２に広く当接し、被焼入材１を確実に拘束できる。下クランパ２２の先端面２２Ａと被焼入材１の間には、被焼入材１のラック歯面２の溝が焼入れ液を流通可能にする。上クランパ２１と左右のクランパ２３、２４の先端面２１Ａ、２３Ａ、２４Ａと被焼入材１の間には、それら各クランパ２１、２３、２４の先端面２１Ａ、２３Ａ、２４Ａに設けた液流通溝８１Ａ、８１Ｂ、８３Ａ、８３Ｂ、８４Ａ、８４Ｂが焼入れ液を流通可能にする。
【００４９】
以上、本発明の実施の形態を図面により記述したが、本発明の具体的な構成はこの実施の形態に限られるものではなく、本発明の要旨を逸脱しない範囲の設計の変更等があっても本発明に含まれる。
【００５０】
【発明の効果】
本発明によれば、加熱によって変形し易い中空ラックの被焼入材を焼入れするに際し、被焼入材の変形を容易に矯正して拘束し、冷却することができる。、また、本発明によれば、焼入装置の構成の簡素を図ることができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】図１は焼入装置による被焼入材の加熱状態を示す正面図である。
【図２】図２は焼入装置による被焼入材の拘束冷却状態を示す正面図である。
【図３】図３は図１のIII−III線に沿う矢視図である。
【図４】図４は上型を示し、（Ａ）は断面図、（Ｂ）は下面図である。
【図５】図５は下型を示し、（Ａ）は断面図、（Ｂ）は上面図である。
【図６】図６は下クランパを示し、（Ａ）は側面図、（Ｂ）は平面図、（Ｃ）は（Ａ）のＣ−Ｃ線に沿う断面図である。
【図７】図７は下クランパを示し、（Ａ）は側面図、（Ｂ）は平面図、（Ｃ）は（Ａ）のＣ−Ｃ線に沿う断面図である。
【図８】図８は上クランパを示し、（Ａ）は側面図、（Ｂ）は平面図、（Ｃ）は（Ａ）のＣ−Ｃ線に沿う断面図である。
【図９】図９は左右のクランパを示し、（Ａ）は側面図、（Ｂ）は平面図、（Ｃ）は（Ｂ）のＣ−Ｃ線に沿う断面図である。
【符号の説明】
１被焼入材
２ラック歯面
１０焼入装置
１３、１４上下型
１３Ｃ、１４Ｃストッパ面
２１上クランパ
２１Ａ先端面
２２下クランパ
２２Ａ先端面
２３、２４左右のクランパ
２３Ａ、２４Ａ先端面
３１、３２弾発体
４５、４６弾発体
５１、５２くさび部
６１、６２型当たり面
７１〜７４噴射口
８１Ａ、８１Ｂ、８３Ａ、８３Ｂ、８４Ａ、８４Ｂ、８５Ａ、８５Ｂ液流通溝
８２平坦面[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a quenching apparatus for a hollow rack having a rack tooth surface on at least a part of a longitudinal direction of a cylindrical rack bar.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a hollow rack quenching apparatus, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, there is an apparatus that injects a quenching liquid in a state where a quenching material of a hollow rack heated by an upper mold protrusion and a lower mold protrusion is constrained.
[0003]
As another hollow rack quenching apparatus, as disclosed in Patent Document 2, there is an apparatus that injects a quenching liquid in a state in which a quenching material of a hollow rack heated by four restraining jigs is restrained.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Patent 3205412 (1 page, Fig. 1)
[0005]
[Patent Document 2]
JP2001-11536 (4 pages, Fig. 1)
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The quenching apparatus of Patent Document 1 has the following problems.
(1) The hardened material of the hollow rack is easily deformed by heating, and if the entire periphery of the cross section of the hardened material is constrained at once by the convex part of the upper mold and the convex part of the lower mold, the convex part of the upper mold In some cases, the bent portion of the material to be hardened protrudes from the constrained region of the convex part of the lower part and the lower mold and cannot be restrained.
[0007]
(2) These convex parts are integrally formed on the upper and lower molds, and if the cross-sectional shape of the material to be hardened changes, it is necessary to replace the entire upper and lower molds.
[0008]
The quenching apparatus of Patent Document 2 has the following problems.
(1) The hardened material of the hollow rack is easily deformed by heating, and if the entire circumference of the cross-section of the hardened material is restrained at once by the four restraining jigs, the hardened material from the restraining areas of the four restraining jigs The deformed bent part of the hardened material sometimes protrudes and cannot be restrained.
[0009]
{Circle around (2)} Each of the four restraining jigs must be advanced and retracted individually by hydraulic pressure, etc., and advanced and retracted synchronously with each other, resulting in a complicated configuration.
[0010]
An object of the present invention is to easily correct, constrain, and cool the quenching material when quenching the quenching material of a hollow rack that is easily deformed by heating.
[0011]
Another object of the present invention is to simplify the structure of the quenching apparatus.
[0012]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hollow rack quenching apparatus for spraying a quenching liquid after restraining a quenching material of a hollow rack by at least four clampers on the upper, lower, left, and right sides, so that the upper mold and the lower mold are relatively movable. The upper mold has an upper clamper that can move up and down, the lower mold has a lower clamper that can move up and down, and one of the lower and upper molds has left and right clampers that can move left and right. The material can be restrained from the vertical direction perpendicular to the rack tooth surface, and the upper and lower clampers can restrain the hardened material before the left and right clampers .
[0013]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the upper clamper is initially set on the side protruding from the final restraining position by a projectile supported by the upper mold, and is covered by the relative movement of the upper and lower molds. It can be moved to the final restraint position against the projectile by collision with the hardened material, and the lower clamper is initially set on the side protruding from the final restraint position by the projectile supported by the lower mold, A projectile that can move to the final restraint position against the projectile by collision with the material to be hardened due to the relative movement of the upper and lower molds, and the left and right clampers are supported by one of the lower mold and the upper mold Is initially set on the retracting side of the final restraint position, and the upper and lower clampers move the left and right clampers in conjunction with the upper and lower mold relative movements while the upper and lower clampers restrain the material to be hardened first. to allow the movement to the final restraining position against the resilient body One in which the.
[0014]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the left and right clampers are further provided by a wedge portion provided on the other of the lower mold and the upper mold in a state where the left and right clampers are supported by one of the lower mold and the upper mold. Can be pushed from the initial setting position to the final restraint position .
[0015]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the invention, in the state where the upper and lower mold contact surfaces are in contact with each other, the upper clamper is set to the final restraining position by the upper mold stopper surface, and the lower clamper is set to the lower mold The final restraining position is set by the stopper surface, and the left and right clampers can be set at the final restraining position by the wedge portion provided on the other of the lower die and the upper die .
[0016]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect of the present invention, in the state where all the upper , lower, left and right clampers are set to the final restrained positions, the front end surfaces of all the clampers are the same as the cross-sectional shape of the material to be hardened. The shape is partitioned .
[0017]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the upper and lower molds are baked through adjacent clampers in a state where all the upper, lower, left, and right clampers are set to the final restrained positions. The injection material is provided with an injection port for injecting the quenching liquid .
[0018]
The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the tip surface of the lower clamper is flat when the tip surface of the lower clamper is in contact with the rack tooth surface of the material to be hardened. In addition, liquid flow grooves are provided on the front end surfaces of the upper clamper and the left and right clampers .
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
1 is a front view showing a heating state of a material to be hardened by a quenching device, FIG. 2 is a front view showing a restrained cooling state of the material to be hardened by a quenching device, and FIG. 3 is a line III-III in FIG. FIG. 4 shows an upper mold, (A) is a sectional view, (B) is a bottom view, FIG. 5 shows a lower mold, (A) is a sectional view, and (B) is a top view, FIG. 6 shows a lower clamper, (A) is a side view, (B) is a plan view, (C) is a sectional view taken along the line CC of (A), FIG. 7 shows a lower clamper, (A) (B) is a plan view, (C) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of (A), FIG. 8 shows an upper clamper, (A) is a side view, and (B) is a plan view. (C) is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC of (A), FIG. 9 shows left and right clampers, (A) is a side view, (B) is a plan view, and (C) is CC of (B). It is sectional drawing which follows a line.
[0021]
The quenching apparatus 10 makes it possible to quench the quenching material 1 having a hollow rack. The material 1 to be hardened has a circular tube shape, and a rack tooth surface 2 is formed in a part of the circumferential direction within a certain length range in the longitudinal direction. The rack tooth surface 2 arranges the blade edges of adjacent rack teeth in a single plane.
[0022]
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the quenching apparatus 10 guides the bases 15 and 16 of the upper and lower molds 13 and 14 to the left and right columns 11 and 12 so as to be movable up and down. , 14 can be moved oppositely.
[0023]
The quenching apparatus 10 positions the material to be hardened 1 held by a rack holding apparatus (not shown) at the quenching work position in the vertical center between the upper and lower molds 13 and 14.
[0024]
The quenching device 10 has a heating device 17. The heating device 17 includes a high-frequency induction heating device and the like, advances from the standby position toward the quenching work position, heats the workpiece 1 held by the work holding device, and then returns to the standby position. . During heating by the heating device 17, the material to be hardened 1 is rotated around its own axis by the work holding device.
[0025]
The quenching apparatus 10 has at least four clampers 21 to 24 on the upper, lower, left and right sides, an upper clamper 21 is provided on the upper mold 13 so as to be movable up and down, and a lower clamper 22 is provided on the lower mold 14 so as to be movable up and down. 14, left and right clampers 23 and 24 are provided so as to be movable left and right. The quenching apparatus 10 can restrain the hardened material 1 in a heated state by the upper and lower clampers 21 and 22 so as to be clamped from the vertical direction perpendicular to the rack tooth surface 2, and then the left and right clampers 23 and 24. The to-be-quenched material 1 can be restrained by pinching from the left and right directions, and the upper and lower clampers 21 and 22 can restrain the to-be-quenched material 1 before the left and right clampers 23 and 24.
[0026]
Here, the upper clamper 21 is guided by a concave guide 13A provided on the central axis of the upper mold 13 so as to be movable up and down, and is built in a spring housing hole 13B on the back side of the concave guide 13A and supported by the upper mold 13. The upper clamper 21 is initially set to the side protruding from the final restraining position where the hardened material 1 is finally restrained by the elastic body 31 such as a compression coil spring, and the upper and lower molds 13 and 14 are moved closer to each other. As a result, the upper clamper 21 and the material to be hardened 1 are allowed to move to the final restraining position against the projectile 31. At the final restrained position, the upper clamper 21 is moved and locked against a stopper surface 13C formed of a stepped surface between the concave guide 13A and the spring storage hole 13B. The final restraining position of the upper clamper 21 can be adjusted by a shim 13D stacked on the stopper surface 13C.
[0027]
The lower clamper 22 is guided by a concave guide 14A provided on the central axis of the lower mold 14 so as to be movable up and down, and is a compression coil incorporated in a spring storage hole 14B on the back side of the concave guide 14A and supported by the lower mold 14. The lower clamper 22 is initially set to a side projecting from the final restraining position where the hardened material 1 is finally restrained by an elastic body 32 such as a spring. The collision between the clamper 22 and the material to be hardened 1 enables movement to the final restraining position against the projectile 32. In the final restrained position, the lower clamper 22 is moved and locked against a stopper surface 14C formed of a stepped surface between the concave guide 14A and the spring storage hole 14B. The final restraining position of the lower clamper 22 can be adjusted by a shim 14D stacked on the stopper surface 14C.
[0028]
The left and right clampers 23 and 24 are guided by the horizontal slide surfaces 41A and 42A of L-shaped guides 41 and 42 provided on the left and right sides of the lower mold 14 so as to be movable left and right. The connecting rods 43 and 44 connected to the rear surfaces of the clampers 23 and 24 pass through the vertical walls 41B and 42B of the L-shaped guides 41 and 42, and fixed stoppers 43A and 44A and vertical walls 41B and 42B are fixed to the through ends. In between, the elastic bodies 45 and 46, such as a rubber lump, are pinched | interposed and hold | maintained. The bullet bodies 45 and 46 initially set the left and right clampers 23 and 24 to the retracting side from the final restraining position, in this embodiment, the side in contact with the vertical walls 41B and 42B.
[0029]
The left and right clampers 23, 24 are in a state where the upper and lower clampers 21, 22 abut against the material 1 to be hardened first by the movement of the upper and lower molds 13, 14 and restrain the material 1 (upper and lower). The clampers 21 and 22 may reach the final restraint position and the restraint is completed, or the clampers 21 and 22 may be in the restraint intermediate process without reaching the final restraint position), in conjunction with the movement of the clampers 21 and 22 It can be moved to the final restraining position while compressing and deforming the bullets 45 and 46 against the bullets 45 and 46.
[0030]
In the present embodiment, the left and right clampers 23 and 24 can be pushed from the initial set position to the final constrained position by the wedge portions 51 and 52 projecting downward on both sides of the upper clamper 21 in the upper mold 13. . The wedge parts 51 and 52 are moved between the rear surfaces of the left and right clampers 23 and 24 and the vertical walls 41B and 42B of the L-shaped guides 41 and 42 by the approach movement of the upper and lower molds 13 and 14, and the clampers 23 and 24 are moved. It pushes toward the last restraint position on the horizontal slide surfaces 41A and 42A.
[0031]
The quenching apparatus 10 sets the upper clamper 21 to the final restrained position by the stopper surface 13C of the upper mold 13 in a state where the upper and lower molds 13 and 14 move close to each other and the mold contact surfaces 61 and 62 are in contact with each other. The clamper 22 is set to the final restraint position by the stopper surface 14C of the lower mold 14, and the left and right clampers 23, 24 are set to the final restraint position by the wedge portions 51, 52 provided on the upper mold 13.
[0032]
Then, in a state where all the upper, lower, left and right clampers 21 to 24 are set to the final restraining positions as described above, the front end surfaces 21A to 24A of all the clampers 21 to 24 are cross-sectional shapes of the material 1 to be hardened. And form the same shape. The tip surfaces 21A to 24A of the clampers 21 to 24 surround the outer periphery of the material to be hardened 1 without a gap or through a minute gap.
[0033]
The quenching apparatus 10 has the upper and lower molds 13 and 14 passed between adjacent clampers 21 to 24 as shown in FIG. Injecting holes 71, 72, 73, 74 for injecting a quenching liquid into the quenching material 1 are provided. As shown in FIG. 4, the upper mold 13 has quenching liquid supply paths 70A and 70B connected to the quenching liquid supply source, and the injection ports 71 and 72 communicate with the quenching liquid supply paths 70A and 70B, respectively. As shown in FIG. 5, the lower mold 14 has quenching liquid supply paths 70 </ b> C and 70 </ b> D connected to the quenching liquid supply source, and the injection ports 73 and 74 communicate with the quenching liquid supply paths 70 </ b> C and 70 </ b> D, respectively. The injection ports 71 to 74 are composed of a large number of hole rows (or slits are possible) along the longitudinal direction of the material to be hardened 1. The injection ports 71 to 74 correspond to the four equal positions in the circumferential direction of the material to be hardened 1 (each position having an interval of 90 degrees), and the injection ports 73 and 74 correspond to the rack tooth surface 2 of the material to be hardened 1. Corresponds to both sides.
[0034]
The quenching apparatus 10 is configured such that the front end surface 22A of the lower clamper 22 is brought into contact with the rack tooth surface 2 of the material to be hardened 1 and the front end surface 22A of the clamper 22 is racked as shown in FIG. It is made of a flat surface 82 having a planar shape along a single plane formed by the cutting edge of the tooth surface 2. Further, the quenching apparatus 10 is configured so that the tip surfaces 21A, 23A, 24A of the upper clamper 21 and the left and right clampers 23, 24 are along the arc surface of the material 1 to be hardened, as shown in FIGS. The front end surfaces 21A, 23A, and 24A are respectively provided with vertical and horizontal liquid flow grooves 81A, 81B, 83A, 83B, 84A, and 84B.
[0035]
The quenching apparatus 10 is configured so that the tip end surface 22A of the lower clamper 22 that hits a portion other than the rack tooth surface 2 of the material to be hardened 1 has an arc shape along the arc surface of the material to be hardened 1 as shown in FIG. Each of the front end surfaces 22A is provided with vertical and horizontal liquid flow grooves 85A and 85B.
[0036]
The quenching method of the material 1 to be quenched by the quenching apparatus 10 is performed according to the following procedure.
(1) After forming the rack teeth on the hollow tube as the rack material to obtain the material to be hardened 1, the whole of the material to be hardened 1 including the rack tooth surface 2 is simultaneously heated by the heating device 17. The to-be-quenched material 1 produced a bending amount of, for example, 0.66 mm in the vertical direction perpendicular to the rack tooth surface 2 of the to-be-quenched material 1 as strain due to heating.
[0037]
(2) The heated workpiece 1 is set at the quenching work position.
(3) The upper and lower molds 13 and 14 are moved closer to each other, and first, the upper and lower clampers 21 and 22 start to restrain the material to be hardened 1 from the upper and lower directions.
[0038]
(4) At the final stage of the close movement of the upper and lower molds 13 and 14, the left and right clampers 23 and 24 start restraining the material to be hardened 1 from the left and right directions.
[0039]
(5) While the upper and lower molds 13 and 14 are in contact with the mold contact surfaces 61 and 62, the upper, lower, left and right clampers 21 to 24 are set to their final restraining positions, and the material to be hardened by the clampers 21 to 24 is hardened. Complete the restraint.
[0040]
(6) The quenching liquid is sprayed from the injection ports 71 to 74 of the upper and lower molds 13 and 14, and the whole including the rack tooth surface 2 of the material to be quenched 1 is cooled. Since the entire material to be quenched 1 was cooled by the clampers 21 to 24 while being bent, the amount of bending of the material 1 to be quenched was reduced to 0.05 mm.
[0041]
According to this embodiment, there exist the following effects.
(a) The hardened material 1 of the hollow rack is likely to warp in the vertical direction perpendicular to the rack tooth surface 2 by heating. The hardened material 1 is first constrained and corrected by the upper and lower clampers 21 and 22 from the vertical direction, and then the cross section of the hardened material 1 by all the left and right upper and lower clampers 21 to 24 including the left and right clampers 23 and 24. Therefore, the deformation of the material to be hardened 1 can be easily corrected and constrained without causing the deformation bent part of the material to be hardened 1 to protrude from the restriction regions of the left and right clampers 21 to 24.
[0042]
(b) Since the upper mold 13 is provided with the upper clamper 21 and the lower mold 14 is provided with the lower clamper 22 and the left and right clampers 23, 24, the left and right upper and lower clampers 21 to 21 are changed even if the cross-sectional shape of the material 1 is changed. It is sufficient to replace only 24, and it is not necessary to replace the entire upper and lower molds 13,14.
[0043]
(c) The upper clamper 21 is initially set to the side protruding from the final restraint position by the projectile 31 supported by the upper mold 13, and the lower clamper 22 is moved from the final restraint position by the projectile 32 supported by the lower mold 14. Also, the left and right clampers 23 and 24 are moved from the initial set position to the final restrained position in conjunction with the relative movement of the upper and lower molds 13 and 14. Therefore, the above-described restraining operation (a) by the left and right clampers 21 to 24 can be executed only by moving the upper mold 13 relative to the lower mold 14.
[0044]
(d) The left and right clampers 23 and 24 can be pushed from the initial setting position to the final restraining position by the wedge portions 51 and 52 provided on the upper die 13. That is, the restraining operation by the left and right clampers 23 and 24 can be easily linked to the movement of the upper mold 13.
[0045]
(e) With the upper and lower molds 13 and 14 in contact with the mold contact surfaces 61 and 62, the upper clamper 21 is set to the final restrained position by the stopper surface 13C of the upper mold 13, and the lower clamper 22 is set to the stopper surface of the lower mold 14. The final restraining position is set by 14C, and the left and right clampers 23, 24 can be set to the final restraining position by the wedge portions 51, 52 provided in the upper mold 13. Therefore, by moving the upper mold 13 until it comes into contact with the lower mold 14, all of the upper, lower, left and right clampers 21 to 24 can be set to the final restrained position easily and reliably.
[0046]
(f) In a state where all the upper, lower, left, and right clampers 21 to 24 are set to the final restraining positions, the tip surfaces 21A to 24A of all the clampers 21 to 24 define the same shape as the cross-sectional shape of the material 1 to be hardened. Form. Therefore, the constrained regions of the upper, lower, left and right clampers 21 to 24 are not narrower than the cross section of the material to be hardened 1, and the material to be hardened 1 is not restrained by the clampers 21 to 24.
[0047]
(g) By providing the injection ports 71 to 74 in the upper and lower molds 13 and 14, it is not necessary to provide the injection ports in the clampers 21 to 24. It is possible to simplify the structure of the clampers 21 to 24 that need to be replaced by changing the cross-sectional shape of the material to be hardened 1.
[0048]
(h) The lower clamper 22 is in wide contact with the rack tooth surface 2 of the material to be hardened 1 by the flat tip end surface 22A, so that the material to be hardened 1 can be reliably restrained. Between the front end surface 22A of the lower clamper 22 and the material to be hardened 1, a groove in the rack tooth surface 2 of the material to be hardened 1 allows the quenching liquid to flow. Between the upper clamper 21 and the tip surfaces 21A, 23A, 24A of the left and right clampers 23, 24 and the material to be hardened 1, the liquid flow provided on the tip surfaces 21A, 23A, 24A of the respective clampers 21, 23, 24 The grooves 81A, 81B, 83A, 83B, 84A, 84B allow the quenching liquid to flow.
[0049]
Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration of the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and there are design changes and the like without departing from the scope of the present invention. Are also included in the present invention.
[0050]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, when quenching a quenching material of a hollow rack that is easily deformed by heating, the deformation of the quenching material can be easily corrected, constrained, and cooled. Moreover, according to the present invention, the configuration of the quenching apparatus can be simplified.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view showing a heating state of a material to be hardened by a quenching apparatus.
FIG. 2 is a front view showing a constrained cooling state of a material to be quenched by a quenching apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 1;
4A and 4B show an upper mold, FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view, and FIG. 4B is a bottom view.
FIG. 5 shows a lower mold, (A) is a cross-sectional view, and (B) is a top view.
6A and 6B show a lower clamper, in which FIG. 6A is a side view, FIG. 6B is a plan view, and FIG. 6C is a sectional view taken along line CC in FIG.
7A and 7B show a lower clamper, in which FIG. 7A is a side view, FIG. 7B is a plan view, and FIG. 7C is a sectional view taken along line CC in FIG.
8A and 8B show an upper clamper, in which FIG. 8A is a side view, FIG. 8B is a plan view, and FIG. 8C is a sectional view taken along line CC in FIG.
9A and 9B show left and right clampers, where FIG. 9A is a side view, FIG. 9B is a plan view, and FIG. 9C is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Hardened material 2 Rack tooth surface 10 Hardening devices 13 and 14 Upper and lower molds 13C and 14C Stopper surface 21 Upper clamper 21A Tip surface 22 Lower clamper 22A Tip surfaces 23 and 24 Left and right clampers 23A and 24A Tip surfaces 31 and 32 Projection bodies 45, 46 Ejection bodies 51, 52 Wedge portions 61, 62 Mold contact surfaces 71-74 Injection ports 81A, 81B, 83A, 83B, 84A, 84B, 85A, 85B Liquid flow groove 82 Flat surface

Claims

In a quenching device for a hollow rack that injects a quenching liquid after restraining the quenching material of the hollow rack by at least four clampers on the top, bottom, left, and right,
An upper mold and a lower mold are provided so as to be relatively movable,
The upper clamper is provided on the upper mold so that it can move up and down.
A lower clamper is provided on the lower mold so that it can move up and down.
Left and right clampers are provided on one of the lower and upper molds so that they can move left and right
The hollow rack is characterized in that the hardened material can be restrained by the upper and lower clampers from the vertical direction perpendicular to the rack tooth surface, and the upper and lower clampers can restrain the hardened material before the left and right clampers. Quenching equipment.

The upper clamper is initially set on the side protruding from the final restraining position by the projectile supported by the upper mold, and resists the projectile by the collision with the material to be hardened due to the relative movement of the upper and lower molds. It can be moved to the final restraint position,
The lower clamper is initially set to the side protruding from the final restraining position by the projectile supported by the lower mold, and finally resists the projectile by the collision with the hardened material due to the relative movement of the upper and lower molds. It can be moved to the restraint position,
The left and right clampers are initially set to the retract side from the final restraint position by the projectiles supported by one of the lower and upper molds, and the upper and lower clampers restrain the hardened material first by the relative movement of the upper and lower molds. while under quenching apparatus of the hollow rack according to claim 1, movable to the final restraining position against the elastic member in association with the left and right damper to the upper and lower molds of the relative movement.

The left and right clampers can be pushed from the initial set position to the final restrained position by a wedge portion provided on the other of the lower mold and the upper mold while the left and right clampers are supported on one of the lower mold and the upper mold. Item 3. The hollow rack quenching apparatus according to Item 2 .

With the upper and lower mold contact surfaces in contact with each other, the upper clamper is set to the final restraint position by the upper mold stopper surface, the lower clamper is set to the final restraint position by the lower mold stopper face, and the left and right clampers are lowered. The hollow rack quenching apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the final restraining position can be set by a wedge portion provided on the other of the mold and the upper mold.

The quenching of the hollow rack according to claim 4 , wherein the tip surfaces of all the clampers form the same shape as the cross-sectional shape of the material to be hardened in a state where all the upper, lower, left, and right clampers are set at the final restraining positions. apparatus.

Said upper and lower molds is, in a state of setting all of the clamper vertical and horizontal to a final restraining position, any one of claims 1 to 5 comprising an injection port for injecting a quench liquid onto baked Irizai throughout the Aitonaru clamper The hollow rack quenching apparatus according to claim 1.

The lower clamper tip surface is flat with the rack tooth surface of the material to be hardened in contact with the tip surface of the lower clamper, and liquid flow grooves are provided on the tip surfaces of the upper clamper and the left and right clampers. Item 7. The hollow rack quenching apparatus according to any one of Items 1 to 6 .