JP5496963B2 - Vertical vacuum furnace for heat treatment of semi-finished metal products - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vertical vacuum furnace for heat treatment of semi-finished metal products, and more particularly, charged in a vertically standing state (upright configuration) or in a suspended state (suspended configuration). The present invention relates to a vertical vacuum furnace for processing long round workpieces.

  In this type of vacuum furnace, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-188214 (Patent Document 1), the material to be heat-treated is uniformly and rapidly cooled by a cooling mechanism having an appropriate configuration. It is known that the refrigerant gas flow flowing into the chamber can be exchanged in the vacuum chamber at an appropriate time for cooling (for example, after curing).

  When cooling the workpiece after heating in the vacuum heat treatment furnace, the refrigerant gas flows in, for example, through the first gas supply pipe, and then is guided upward through the gap between the heat insulating layer and the flow path cylinder. In addition, the refrigerant gas flows out from the lower gas circulation port by opening the lower gas flow path switching valve from the upper gas circulation port, and finally the processing chamber and the upper gas circulation port. It is discharged to the outside through.

  On the other hand, by closing the switching valve, gas is introduced through the second gas supply pipe, blown up and down the processing chamber through the nozzle, flows out from the upper and lower gas circulation ports, and from the gas discharge pipe. It is discharged outside the furnace.

  For this reason, it is supposed that the flow of the refrigerant gas can be set or changed to one suitable for the state of the article to be processed.

  However, this process has the disadvantage that it can only be performed by an external cooling unit such as a blower with a heat exchanger.

  Examination of a charging system for carrying the charged material for this heat treatment process shows the following.

  According to DE 19 42 801 C3 specification (patent document 2), a protective gas furnace with a cover open at the bottom and an opening at the bottom and a device arranged adjacent to the lower part of the protective gas furnace. There is known a heat treatment facility including an inlet device and a rapid cooling device.

  This charging device is composed of an installation table, a transporting device, and a lifting device, and the rapid cooling device is provided with a curing tank and a lifting device for an annealed article. The lifting device is configured such that the furnace can be swung up and down between a certain position of the lifting device and a certain position of the quenching device about an axis arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis. Has been.

  The cover is installed in the furnace so as to be rotatable about its longitudinal axis, and has a bearing for receiving a support device for the article to be annealed. This furnace is provided with a hooked pulley device that can turn around the longitudinal axis of the furnace.

  However, this heat treatment equipment is not configured to be vacuum-sealed. As a so-called two-chamber facility, the quenching tank is separated from the heating chamber, and an additional charge fixture is required in the furnace, and an additional carrier plate is required in the quenching tank. The entire furnace must be pivotable. Indirect heating via a retort is particularly disadvantageous in terms of energy and technically makes the heating time longer.

  Furthermore, German Patent DE 3218461 C2 (Patent Document 3) discloses a facility for heat treatment while charging a semi-finished metal product. The equipment includes a chamber furnace and furnace chamber that open upward, a device that grips the charge receiving frame, and a liftable chamber that opens downward to receive the charge receiving frame. . The liftable chamber is capable of supplying a protective gas or reactive gas and hermetically closes the furnace chamber.

  Lifting devices are used for loading and unloading from the chamber furnace. Here, the hoistable chamber is configured as a heat treatment chamber that enters the furnace chamber, such as a retort, in which a charge holding frame gripping device that can be operated from the outside and / or the upper part is arranged. Has been.

  This equipment is also not vacuum sealed. In order to charge this facility, a height adjustable table, an additional charge fixture in the furnace, and a further height adjustable table in the quenching bath are required.

  The entire furnace must be operated in a pivotable manner. Indirect heating via a retort leads to longer heating times, which again entails energetic and technical disadvantages.

  Furthermore, according to European Patent Application Publication No. EP0317832 A1 (Patent Document 4), a furnace equipped with a plurality of plane bodies for supporting a plurality of objects to be charged is provided inside a furnace which can be charged from above. The input device is described. The apparatus includes a hearth plate and a central guide bar disposed on the hearth plate.

  The charging device has a tray assembly consisting of a plurality of stacked coaxial trays for supporting the charge, each tray having a central hole and fixed to the lower surface of each tray. Separated from each other by legs.

  Each tray is held by support legs in the overlapping position. This support leg can be accommodated in a tray arranged immediately below.

  The charging apparatus further includes a base plate, and the base plate is provided with a central positioning hole that engages with a guide rod disposed on the hearth plate.

  The lowermost tray of the plurality of trays is fixed to the base plate and supported by a plurality of legs supported by the base plate. Optionally, black body radiators of different sizes are inserted one by one into the central opening of one tray selected from the overlapping trays.

  This charging device requires a special and structurally burdensome storage frame.

  Overall, these heat treatment facilities investigated do not satisfy the energetically favorable requirements and the transport compact process of the vertical vacuum furnace.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-188214 German patent application DE 1942801 C3 German patent application DE 3218461 C2 European Patent Application Publication No. EP0317832 A1

  The object of the present invention is to treat a vertical vacuum furnace for heat treatment of semi-finished metal products, preferably a group of long round workpieces loaded in a vertically standing state or suspended state. It is a vertical vacuum furnace for the purpose of optimizing the construction effort, miniaturizing the furnace structure to promote energy saving in the heat treatment process, and being affected by gas supply and charging in a functional unit, Increased usability of the vacuum furnace in the heat treatment process by being configured to be equally applicable when the charge is charged into the process chamber from above or from below. It is to provide a vertical vacuum furnace.

  According to the invention, this problem is solved by the features of claims 1 to 10.

  The vertical vacuum furnace according to the present invention first includes a plurality of first gas supply openings disposed in the side periphery of the processing chamber, and at least one second gas disposed in the upper portion or the lower portion of the processing chamber. A gas supply opening is included. These features are equally applicable whether the charge is loaded into the process chamber from above or from below, thus reliably increasing the usefulness of the vacuum furnace in the heat treatment process. It satisfies the functional condition.

  Preferably, the plurality of first gas supply openings and the at least one second gas supply opening are each configured as a closable opening for partial cooling of the charge, Depending on the configuration of the charge, the gas supply and cooling can be individually adapted to help achieve the goal of energy saving cooling. Here, in order to ensure an energy saving effect, a heat-resistant gas supply pipe can be disposed as a heat insulating material between the outer shell and the processing chamber.

  Further, in order to carry the charge and to perform energy efficient heat treatment, a plurality of first gas supply openings and at least one second gas supply opening in the side periphery are provided in the upper or lower part of the processing chamber. The charge rotation device is arranged in a space communicating with each other and formed as a small functional unit. For this reason, a uniform heat treatment during heating and cooling, and thus an energy efficient heat treatment, is ensured.

  Thereafter, the loading / unloading of the processing chamber by means of general external lifting or transport means, depending on the various embodiments, the upper bottom (furnace top) or the lower bottom (furnace bottom) It is possible to do from.

  What is effective to increase energy efficiency in some processes of heating is a heating device disposed in the processing chamber. According to the invention, the heating device is implemented as a multi-zone heating device comprising a multi-zone adjusting device.

Furthermore, the present invention provides
-In the case of charging from above, the suspended form of work constituting the charge is accommodated in the charge rotating device in a state of being held in a fitted or pressed state,
-In the case of charging from the bottom, also in accommodating the upright workpiece constituting the charge in the charge rotating device,
Overall, it makes it possible to completely solve the problems according to the invention.

  Thus, all the features of the present invention are integrated in the overall operation that meets the purpose of the present invention, in its comprehensive use, to optimize construction effort and miniaturize the structure of the furnace. This promotes energy saving in the entire heat treatment process in the vacuum furnace, and is configured to be applicable to both a furnace charged from above the treatment chamber and a furnace charged from below. Increase the usefulness of the vacuum furnace. This is also related to the gas supply.

Further, the vertical vacuum furnace preferably has a combination of at least the following features.
a) a plurality of closable first gas supply openings disposed in a side periphery of the process chamber, and at least one second gas supply opening closable;
b) a charge rotation device formed as a small functional unit in a space communicating with each of the first gas supply opening and the second gas supply opening in the side periphery;
c) In the case of charging from above, the workpiece forming the suspended charge placed in the charging material rotation device, or in the case of charging from the bottom, on the charging material rotation device Work that forms the upright charge placed.

These combined configurations are
-A heat-resistant gas supply pipe can be added as a heat insulating material between the outer shell and the processing chamber,
-It is possible to selectively insert into the processing chamber from the upper bottom or the lower bottom,
-A multi-zone heating device and a multi-zone adjustment device make it more complete, thus forming a new comprehensive functional unit of a vertical vacuum furnace with surprisingly improved energy and transport effects.

Sectional drawing of the vertical vacuum furnace of this invention.

  The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings based on the principle of a vertical vacuum furnace for heat treatment of a semi-finished metal product (for example, a long round workpiece) according to the present invention. In the drawings, characteristic details are extracted and shown.

  First, please refer to FIG. Basically, a vertical vacuum furnace for heat treatment of semi-finished metal products includes an outer shell 1, and a process defined by an upper part (upper end part), a lower part (lower end part) and a side peripheral part in the outer shell 1. A chamber 2 is provided, and heat treatment such as heating and cooling of a long round workpiece group (collectively referred to as “charge 3”) is performed in the processing chamber 2. The furnace is provided with an openable / closable upper lid (for example, a movable roof portion) or a lower lid (for example, a movable hatch portion). Whether the charge 3 is loaded into the processing chamber 2 from above by opening the upper lid. Alternatively, the lower lid is opened, and the charge 3 can be charged into the processing chamber 2 from below.

  In the cross-sectional view of FIG. 1, an enlarged detail of the lower part of the furnace is shown in detail B). Detail A) is an enlarged view of the upper part of the processing chamber 2 in another embodiment to be described later. The charge 3 is shown in detail A) as a suspended charge 3.1 and in detail B) as an upright charge 3.2.

  The charge 3 is a charge storage frame (for example, a heat treatment jig) 3 mounted on a charge rotation device (for example, a turntable) 3.3.1 as in the embodiment shown in detail B). .3 can be placed vertically upright. Alternatively, the charge 3 is stored in a charge rotating device (not shown in detail A) disposed in the upper part of the processing chamber as in the embodiment shown in detail A). It can also be arranged suspended from the frame 3.3. In any of the embodiments, it is possible to adjust the rotation speed of the charge rotating device according to the type of the charge, the heat treatment condition, and the like. Specifically, the charge rotating device can be formed as a mechanism (small functional unit) that rotates in a constant cycle by driving a motor in accordance with, for example, a preprogrammed residence time.

  Furthermore, a heating device 4 (for example, a heating element) for heating the charged material charged in the processing chamber 2 and a cooling device 5 for cooling a gas used for cooling the heated charged material are provided. Thus, the entire heat treatment process in the vacuum furnace can be performed. When heating the charge 3 and blowing a cooling gas flow onto the charge 3, the charge is rotated by the charge rotating device disposed at the lower or upper part of the processing chamber. Uniform temperature and gas distribution without unevenness can be realized.

  According to the invention, a plurality of first gas supply openings 1.3 are provided in the side periphery of the processing chamber 2, which are the plurality of closable first gas supply openings 1 in detail C). .3.1. The closable first gas supply opening 1.3.1 is closed when heated and opened when cooling gas is introduced, for example because the length of the charge to be treated is short When it is not necessary to supply cooling gas from all the openings, it is configured to be selectively opened and closed so that some openings are opened and the remaining openings remain closed. Can be done. Such a configuration makes it possible to supply the cooling gas partially into the processing chamber 2 without waste according to the shape of the charge 3, and contributes to energy saving of the furnace. Furthermore, a second gas supply opening 2.1 is provided in the lower part in the processing chamber 2, which is shown as a second gas supply opening 2.1.1 that can be closed in detail D). Has been. In the present embodiment, only one second gas supply opening 2.1.1 is provided, but a plurality of second gas supply openings 2.1.1 can be provided according to a user's request. As with the gas supply openings, partial cooling can be performed such that the openings are closed when heated, some openings are opened when cooling gas is introduced, and the remaining openings remain closed. .

  The principles of the present invention can be applied to a variety of structures, i.e. suspended and upright charges, with individual gas supply and energy savings in a comprehensive heat treatment process. Cooling can be guaranteed.

  Thus, this process of alternating heating and subsequent cooling for each charge is improved and energy is saved by comprehensively interacting the embodiments according to the present invention. This effect is further enhanced by the heat-resistant gas supply pipe 6 arranged as a heat insulating material between the outer shell 1 and the processing chamber 2 as shown in detail A).

  Although not described in detail herein, in the embodiment of the vertical vacuum furnace depending on this function and structure, a lifting means usually operated from the outside for loading / unloading of charges or By means of the transport means, variants are possible in which the charge is charged from above or below the furnace. For this reason, it becomes possible to perform advantageous charging according to the type of the vacuum furnace.

Therefore, the above-described variants are dependent on user conditions.
In the case of charging from above, the work forming the suspended charging material 3.1 is fitted into the charging material receiving frame 3.3 of the charging material rotating device 3.3.1. It can be carried out by being held or held in a pressed state by a clamp or the like, or
In the case of charging from below, the work forming the upright charge 3.2 is accommodated in the charge accommodation frame 3.3 on the charge rotation device 3.3.1. In this way, it can be implemented.

  Of course, the vacuum furnace according to the present invention is also provided with a gas discharge section which is not described and illustrated in detail in the present specification. The gas discharge part may be arranged at the upper part or the lower part of the processing chamber 2 as usual, but has no special meaning in the process related to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Outer shell 1.1 Upper bottom 1.2 Lower bottom 1.3 1st gas supply opening 1.3.1 Closeable 1st gas supply opening 2 Processing chamber 2.1 2nd gas supply opening Section 2.1.1 Closeable second gas supply opening 3 Charge 3.1 Suspended charge 3.2 Upright charge 3.3 Charge storage frame 3.3 .1 Charge Rotating Device 4 Heating Device 4.1 Multi-zone Heating Device 5 Cooling Device 6 Gas Supply Pipe

Claims (8)

A vertical vacuum furnace for heat treatment of a semi-finished metal product, comprising an outer shell (1), a processing chamber (2) disposed in the outer shell and defined by an upper part, a lower part and a side periphery, A charge storage frame (3.3) for holding the charge (3) in a suspended form (3.1) or an upright form (3.2) in the treatment chamber (2); A heating device (4) for heating the charge (3) charged in the chamber (2) and a cooling for cooling a gas used for cooling the heated charge (3) An apparatus (5), gas supply means for supplying cooling gas into the processing chamber (2), and gas discharge means for discharging the cooling gas from the processing chamber (2),
The processing chamber (2) is
a) a plurality of first gas supply openings (1.3) disposed in the side periphery;
b) at least one second gas supply opening (2.1) arranged in the upper part or the lower part,
The first gas supply opening (1.3) and the second gas supply opening (2.1) form the gas supply means;
In order for the plurality of first gas supply openings (1.3) to partially cool, some of the openings are opened and the remaining openings remain closed, Configured as a first gas supply opening (1.3.1) that can be selectively closed ;
A vertical vacuum furnace characterized in that a heat-resistant gas supply pipe (6) is disposed as a heat insulating material between the outer shell (1) and the processing chamber (2) . A plurality of the second gas supply openings (2.1) are provided, and the plurality of second gas supply openings (2.1) have a part of the openings to perform partial cooling. 2. A second gas supply opening (2.1.1) configured to be selectively closable so that it is open and the remaining opening remains closed. Alternatively, the vertical vacuum furnace according to claim 1 . The apparatus further includes a charge rotation device (3.3.1) disposed at an upper portion or a lower portion in the processing chamber (2), and the charge rotation device (3.3.1) includes the first charge rotation device (3.3.1). It is in a space communicating with the gas supply opening (1.3) and the second gas supply opening (2.1), respectively, and the charge is removed by the charge rotation device (3.3.1). The vertical vacuum furnace according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the vertical vacuum furnace can be rotated. The workpiece forming the charge (3) in the suspended form (3.1) is charged into the processing chamber (2) from above, and the charge rotating device (3.3.1). 4. The vertical vacuum according to claim 3 , wherein the charge is stored in a state of being held in a fitted state or a pressed state in the charge storage frame (3.3) that is attached to and rotated together. Furnace. The workpiece forming the charge (3) in the upright configuration (3.2) is charged into the processing chamber (2) from below, and is loaded into the charge rotation device (3.3.1). 4. A vertical vacuum furnace according to claim 3 , wherein the vertical vacuum furnace is accommodated in the charge accommodation frame (3.3) which is mounted and rotates together. The vertical vacuum furnace according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the heating device (4) is configured as a multi-zone heating device (4.1). The vertical vacuum furnace according to claim 6 , wherein the multi-zone heating device (4.1) includes a multi-zone adjusting device. A plurality of the second gas supply openings (2.1) are provided, and the plurality of second gas supply openings (2.1) have a part of the openings to perform partial cooling. Configured as a second gas supply opening (2.1.1), which can be selectively closed, so that it remains open and the remaining opening remains closed;
The apparatus further includes a charge rotation device (3.3.1) disposed in a lower portion of the processing chamber (2), and the charge rotation device (3.3.1) is configured to be closed in the first position. Gas supply opening (1.3.1) and the closable second gas supply opening (2.1.1), respectively. 2. The vertical vacuum furnace according to claim 1, wherein the charge (3) in the upright configuration (3. 2) charged from below can be rotated by 1). 3.

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