JP5642986B2 - Oil quenching equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an oil quenching apparatus that immerses a workpiece heated in a heating chamber in quenching oil in an oil tank in the quenching chamber and cools the workpiece.

  The oil quenching apparatus includes a heating chamber for heating a workpiece in an oxygen-free state such as a modified gas atmosphere, and an oil tank for rapidly cooling the workpiece heated in the heating chamber. In recent years, along with an increase in size of a workpiece to be quenched, an oil tank for rapidly cooling the workpiece tends to increase in size.

  In the oil quenching equipment equipped with such a large oil tank, the quenching oil in the oil tank is agitated and circulated in order to homogenize the cooling method of the work and ensure good quenching quality of the work. Some have an oil tank agitation unit. For example, in a conventional oil quenching apparatus, when the work is in the oil tank, the elevator is moved up and down to perform the quenching process while swinging the work in the oil tank, while the work is pulled up from the oil tank. There exist some comprised so that the oil in an oil tank might be stirred with an oil tank stirring unit (for example, refer patent document 1).

JP-A-2005-350756

  However, depending on the shape and installation state of the workpiece, even if the workpiece is swung up and down in the oil tank, it may be difficult to homogenize the cooling method of the workpiece. For example, when quenching a workpiece such as large bearings, large gears, and impellers, there are places where the workpiece is difficult to quench, which makes it difficult to suppress variations in quenching distortion. was there.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an oil quenching apparatus capable of preventing occurrence of a portion that is hard to be quenched regardless of the size and shape of a workpiece and suppressing variation in quenching distortion.

An oil quenching apparatus according to the present invention includes a quenching chamber having an oil tank in a lower portion for storing quenching oil, and a heating chamber connected to the quenching chamber via a door, and a workpiece heated in the heating chamber. Is soaked in the quenching oil in the oil tank and cooled by oil. This oil quenching equipment is an elevator,
Elevator lifting / lowering means, oil tank stirring means, in-oil injection means, and control means are provided.

  The elevator is configured to support the workpiece from below in the quenching chamber, and is configured to immerse the workpiece heated in the heating chamber in the quenching oil for a set oil cooling period. Considering the circulation efficiency of the quenching oil in the oil tank, it is preferable that the bottom surface of the elevator is configured by a plurality of rollers configured to support the workpiece from below, but by a rail mechanism, a chain conveyor mechanism, or the like. You may comprise a bottom face. The elevator raising / lowering means is configured to drive raising / lowering of the elevator.

The oil tank agitation means discharges the quenching oil sucked from the upper opening located at the upper part of the oil tank upward from the lower opening located below the bottom surface of the elevator inside the upper opening at the lower part of the oil tank. And a stirring propeller disposed between an upper opening and a lower opening in the duct . The in-oil injection means includes a plurality of injection nozzles arranged such that the tip faces the outer peripheral surface of the elevator toward the center of the elevator in plan view .

  The control means is configured to control operations of the elevator lifting means, the oil tank stirring means, and the in-oil injection means. And this control means can operate an elevator raising / lowering means, an oil tank stirring means, and an in-oil injection means in part or all of the oil cooling period. For example, the control means operates the elevator lifting means, the oil tank agitating means, and the in-oil injection means simultaneously during the oil cooling period, or sequentially operates according to a set pattern, or two or more of these means are operated. It is possible to select and operate in combination as appropriate.

  In the above-described configuration, since the elevator elevating means, the oil tank agitating means, and the in-oil injection means operate during the oil cooling period, the quenching oil in the oil tank is circulated during the oil cooling period. The quenching oil easily spreads almost uniformly over the entire work piece being hardened, and in addition, concentrated cooling is performed in parallel to the hard-to-quench portions that are recessed from the outer peripheral surface of the work.

  For this reason, it becomes possible to homogenize the cooling method in the oil tank over the entire area of the work regardless of the size and shape of the work.

  According to the present invention, regardless of the size and shape of the workpiece, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a portion that is difficult to be quenched and to suppress variations in quenching distortion.

It is a figure which shows the outline of an oil quenching apparatus. It is a figure which shows the outline of a quenching chamber. It is a schematic plan view of an oil tank. It is a block diagram which shows the outline of an oil quenching apparatus. It is a figure which shows the vertical rocking | fluctuation process of a workpiece | work, and the injection process in oil. It is a figure which shows the circulation process of quenching oil.

  A schematic configuration of an oil quenching apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The oil quenching apparatus 10 includes a heating chamber 14 and a quenching chamber 12.

  The heating chamber 14 includes a heater 142 that heats the workpiece 100. The heating chamber 24 includes a plurality of rollers 144 configured to carry in and carry out the workpiece 100.

  The quenching chamber 12 is connected to the heating chamber 14 via the intermediate door 20. The quenching chamber 12 is connected to the transfer unit 16 via the front door 160. The conveyance unit 16 is configured to carry the workpiece 100 into and out of the oil quenching apparatus 10.

  Furthermore, the quenching chamber 12 has an oil tank 120 for storing the quenching oil 122 in the lower part. In addition, the quenching chamber 12 includes an elevator 124 for immersing the workpiece 100 in the oil tank 120. The elevator 124 is configured to move up and down along a plurality of guides 128 configured to extend vertically by receiving a driving force from an elevator lifting unit 126 having a cylinder mechanism or the like.

  Then, the structure of the oil tank 120 is demonstrated using FIG. 2 and FIG. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, four oil tank stirring units 22 configured to stir the quenching oil 122 are provided in the oil tank 120. The oil tank agitation unit 22 drives the agitation propeller 224 disposed in the cylindrical duct 222 to suck in the quenching oil 122 from above the duct 222 and discharge it below the duct 222.

  Below the oil tank agitation unit 22, two oil rectifying ducts 24 having a U-shaped cross-sectional view configured to communicate with the cylindrical duct 222 are disposed. The oil rectifying duct 24 is disposed over substantially the entire area of the oil tank 120 in the furnace length direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 1 and the vertical direction on the paper in FIG. 2). While guiding to the center of the oil tank 120, an upward flow is formed in the center of the oil tank 120. Two oil circulation paths are generated inside the oil tank 120 by the four oil tank stirring units 22 and the two oil rectifying ducts 24 described above. Note that the configurations of the oil tank agitation unit 22 and the oil rectifying duct 24 are not limited to those of this embodiment, and the number of the oil tank agitation units 22 and the oil rectifying ducts 24 are determined according to the size of the workpiece 100 and the oil tank 120. It can be increased or decreased as appropriate.

  Next, an in-oil injection mechanism that injects oil from the periphery of the workpiece 100 to the workpiece will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, in the oil tank 120, four injection oil introduction ducts 243, 244, 245, and 246 are provided in a plurality of stages (for example, two stages) so as to surround each guide 128 and the elevator 124. It is done. Each of the injection oil introduction ducts 243, 244, 245 and 246 includes a plurality of injection nozzles 250. Each of the plurality of injection nozzles 250 is disposed such that the tip thereof faces the outer peripheral surface of the workpiece 100. At this time, it is preferable that each injection nozzle 250 is arranged to face the center of the workpiece 100. Moreover, it is preferable that the injection nozzle 250 is configured to be capable of adjusting the angle manually or automatically so that the oil injection angle can be changed in accordance with the shape of the workpiece 100. In particular, it can be said that it is preferable to adopt a configuration in which the injection nozzle 250 rotates both in the horizontal direction and in the vertical direction by a universal joint or the like.

  The above-described injection oil introduction ducts 243, 244, 245, and 246 are communicated with a predetermined location in the oil tank 120 (for example, the oil rectifying duct 24 in this embodiment) via each of the plurality of injection drive units 242. Yes. Each injection drive unit 242 has a built-in pump or the like, and is configured to suck the oil in the oil tank 120 and send it to the injection oil introduction ducts 243, 244, 245, or 246 in a pressurized state.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the oil quenching apparatus 10. The oil quenching apparatus 10 includes a sensor unit 58, a door opening / closing mechanism 56, a transport driving unit 60, a ROM 52, and a CPU 50. The sensor unit 58 is configured to detect environmental information of the oil quenching apparatus 10 (for example, the temperature of the heating chamber 12 and the quenching oil 122), the position of the elevator 124, and the like. The door opening / closing mechanism 56 controls the opening / closing operation of the front door 160 and the intermediate door 20. The transport driving unit 60 is configured to drive the transport unit 160, the roller 125, and the roller 144. The ROM 52 stores a plurality of programs necessary for the operation of the oil quenching apparatus 10. The CPU 50 comprehensively controls the operation of each part of the oil quenching apparatus 10 based on a program stored in the ROM 52.

  Subsequently, the operation of the oil quenching apparatus 10 will be described. In the oil quenching apparatus 10, first, the workpiece 100 is roller-conveyed to the heating chamber 14 via the conveyance unit 16 and the quenching chamber 12. The workpiece 100 that has been subjected to the desired heat treatment in the heating chamber 14 is conveyed by rollers to the quenching chamber 12 through the intermediate door 20 in order to perform oil cooling. The workpiece 100 introduced into the quenching chamber 12 is transported into the oil tank 120 and immersed in the quenching oil 122 while being supported from below by rollers 125 provided in the elevator 124.

  When it is confirmed by a signal from a position sensor or the like that the workpiece 100 has been placed at a predetermined immersion position, the CPU 50 executes the vertical swing processing of the workpiece 100, the in-oil injection processing, and the quenching oil 122 circulation processing. . Here, any combination of the vertical swing process, the in-oil injection process, and the quenching oil 122 circulation process is appropriately selected according to the type of the workpiece 100. For example, the CPU 50 simultaneously executes the vertical swing process, the in-oil injection process, and the quenching oil 122 circulation process during the oil cooling period, or sequentially executes according to the set pattern, or of these It is possible to select and execute two or more processes in combination as appropriate.

  Here, the vertical swing process of the workpiece 100 is performed by the CPU 50 moving the elevator 124 up and down intermittently or continuously over the desired period as shown in FIG. Repeated. Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, the in-oil injection process is performed by the CPU 50 operating the injection drive unit 242 over a desired period. Furthermore, the circulation process of the quenching oil 122 is performed by the CPU 50 operating the oil stirring device 22 over a desired period as shown in FIG.

  As described above, an arbitrary combination of the vertical swing process, the in-oil injection process, and the circulation process of the quenching oil 122 is appropriately selected according to the type of the work 100, so that the most suitable for the type of the work is achieved. Oil cooling operation can be performed.

  It is preferable that the CPU 50 appropriately select and execute any combination of the elevator elevating unit 126, the injection drive unit 242, and the oil agitating device 22 during the entire oil cooling period. There is no need to run over a period of time. For example, it is possible to obtain the desired effects of the present invention by executing the above-described processing in a part of the oil cooling period.

  After the oil cooling is performed for a desired time, the workpiece 100 is pulled up from the oil tank 22 by the elevator 124, and after a predetermined oil draining time has elapsed, the work 100 is sent out from the front door 16 to the transport unit 16.

  According to the above-described configuration, the workpiece 100 is shaken while being immersed in the quenching oil 122, so that the quenching oil 122 can be easily distributed over the entire area of the workpiece 100 during the quenching process. Further, since the quenching oil 122 is circulated by the oil agitator 22 in parallel over a desired oil cooling period, the temperature variation of the quenching oil 122 in the oil tank 120 is reduced even during the quenching process. The temperature of only the quenching oil 122 around the workpiece 100 is prevented from rising. In particular, since a plurality of rollers 125 arranged with gaps between each other are arranged at the bottom of the elevator 124, compared with a configuration in which a rail mechanism or a chain conveyor mechanism is arranged at the bottom of the elevator 124, the quenching oil is used. Since it becomes difficult to hinder the circulation of 122, it becomes possible to perform the circulation process of the quenching oil 122 by the oil stirring device 22 more efficiently.

  Furthermore, even when quenching quality is required for the inner surface sandwiched between structures such as an impeller, the injection nozzle 250 also performs concentrated injection of the quenching oil 122 onto such a portion. Therefore, it becomes possible to homogenize the cooling method of the workpiece 100 regardless of the shape of the workpiece 100.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration in which a plurality of rollers 125 are arranged on the bottom of the elevator 124 has been described as an optimal embodiment, but even when a rail mechanism or a chain conveyor mechanism is arranged on the bottom of the elevator 124. It is possible to apply the technical idea of the present invention.

  In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the jet oil introduction ducts 243, 244, 245, and 246 and the plurality of jet nozzles 250 are provided in two stages has been described. However, the number of stages can be increased or decreased as appropriate. . For example, when the quenching oil 122 can be concentratedly injected by the injection nozzle 250 throughout the height direction of the workpiece 100 by raising and lowering the elevator 124, the injection oil introduction ducts 243, 244, 245, and 246 are in one stage. May be. On the other hand, when frequently quenching the large workpiece 100 having a height, it can be said that it is preferable to provide the injection oil introduction ducts 243, 244, 245, and 246 in three or more stages in the height direction.

  The above description of the embodiment is to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above embodiments but by the claims. Furthermore, the scope of the present invention is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10- Oil quenching furnace 12- Quenching chamber 14- Heating chamber 16- Transfer part 22- Oil tank stirring unit 120- Oil tank 124- Elevator 126- Elevator raising / lowering part 243, 244, 245, 246- Injection oil introduction duct 250- Injection nozzle

Claims (6)

A quenching chamber having an oil tank at the bottom for storing quenching oil;
A heating chamber connected to the quenching chamber via a door, and an oil quenching device that immerses the workpiece heated in the heating chamber in the quenching oil in the oil tank and oil-cools the workpiece. ,
Bottom in the sintered entry is configured to support the workpiece from below, and an elevator configured to be immersed into the quenching oil for oil cooling period set the heated workpiece by said heating chamber,
Elevator lifting and lowering means configured to drive the lifting and lowering of the elevator;
An oil tank stirring means configured to stir and circulate the quenching oil in the oil tank;
An in-oil injection means comprising a plurality of injection nozzles arranged such that the tip faces the outer peripheral surface of the elevator toward the center of the elevator in plan view ;
Control means configured to control operations of the elevator lifting means, the oil tank stirring means, and the in-oil injection means,
The oil tank agitating means moves the quenching oil sucked from an upper opening located at the upper part of the oil tank upward from a lower opening located below the bottom surface of the elevator and inside the upper opening at the lower part of the oil tank. A duct to be discharged and circulated in the oil tank, and a stirring propeller disposed between the upper opening and the lower opening in the duct,
Each of the plurality of injection nozzles is located between the upper opening and the lower opening in a plan view and a side view,
The control means is an oil quenching apparatus in which the elevator elevating means, the oil tank agitating means, and the in-oil injection means are operable during part or all of the oil cooling period. The oil quenching apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a pair of the ducts are arranged so as to face each other with the elevator interposed therebetween in a plan view . The duct is disposed along each of the two side walls of the oil tank facing each other with the elevator in plan view, and has a vertical portion having the upper opening at the upper end and an outer end at the lower end of the vertical portion. A lateral portion that communicates and is disposed along the bottom surface of the oil tank and has the lower opening facing upward at an inner end; and
The oil quenching apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the lower opening is formed over substantially the entire length of the side wall in a plan view . The in-oil injection means includes an injection oil introduction duct extending in a horizontal direction at a position inside a vertical portion of the duct and outside the lower opening in a plan view,
The oil quenching apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the spray nozzle communicates with the spray oil introduction duct so as to be adjustable in angle. The oil according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the bottom surface of the elevator is a plurality of rollers that support a work from below, and each axial direction is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the two side walls in a plan view. Quenching equipment. The heating chamber includes a plurality of rollers for conveying a workpiece in parallel with the plurality of rollers of the elevator,
The elevator lifting device, the oil quenching device according to claim 5 in which a plurality of rollers of the elevator raises and lowers the elevator on the range including a plurality of rollers and flush with a position of the heating chamber.

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