JP6252785B2 - Work cooling method and work cooling device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a work cooling method and a work cooling apparatus for cooling a heated work to a predetermined temperature.

  Conventionally, when a heated workpiece such as a hot forged part is cooled to a predetermined temperature, it is passed through a cooling chamber in which a flow of air is generated using a fan or the like by a conveying means such as a conveyor, A method of cooling the work by conveying the work is performed (for example, see Patent Document 1). As an example of the cooling chamber used in such a method, there is a structure in which air in the cooling chamber is blown to the workpiece by a fan installed above the cooling chamber.

JP-A-3-75305

  However, in the cooling method of the workpiece that passes through the cooling chamber as described above, the air in the cooling chamber whose temperature has been raised by the heated workpiece is blown by the fan, and blown toward the workpiece from above. Air tends to spread outward as it travels downward. For this reason, the cooling efficiency is poor, and in particular, the cooling effect is low with respect to the workpiece conveyed at the width direction end of the conveying path of the conveying means. In order to compensate for this, the cooling chamber is widely provided on the conveyance direction side, and the time for the workpiece to pass through the cooling chamber is lengthened. However, this increases the volume of the cooling chamber and the air flow also deteriorates. . For this reason, it is difficult to control the temperature in the cooling chamber, and it is difficult to stably cool the workpiece.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to efficiently and stably cool a heated workpiece.

(Aspect of the Invention)
The following aspects of the present invention exemplify the configuration of the present invention, and will be described separately for easy understanding of various configurations of the present invention. Each section does not limit the technical scope of the present invention. Therefore, while considering the best mode for carrying out the invention, some of the constituent elements in each section are replaced, deleted, or further added with other constituent elements. It can be included in the range.

  (1) In a cooling method in which a cooling chamber is provided in a conveyance path that continuously conveys a heated workpiece, and the workpiece is passed through the cooling chamber to cool the workpiece to a predetermined temperature, the cooling chamber includes the cooling chamber. A cooling fan that blows air taken in from the outside toward the conveyance path, a hood installed around the cooling fan toward the conveyance path, and both sides of the cooling chamber parallel to the conveyance direction of the conveyance path An introduction path for introducing gas from the outside of the cooling chamber, and an exhaust path for exhausting gas to the outside of the cooling chamber, having openings on the surface facing the outer surfaces of the hood facing the both side surfaces The outer surface of the hood is inclined or curved at least at a position facing the opening of the introduction path, and the transport path side end of the hood is directed toward the width direction end of the transport path. From the outer surface and the introduction path Using the temperature difference between the gas entered and the gas in the cooling chamber, the gas introduced from the introduction path is guided to the width direction end of the transport path or the vicinity thereof, and the gas flow A work cooling method that guides air blown from a cooling fan toward the conveyance path so as to be within a range of the width of the conveyance path (Claim 1).

  (2) In the above item (1), the total mass per predetermined range of the workpiece conveyed by the conveyance path is measured before being conveyed to the cooling chamber, and the workpiece whose total mass is measured is the cooling chamber. A workpiece cooling method for controlling the air blowing speed of the cooling fan based on the measured total mass of the workpiece when passing (claim 2).

(3) In the above items (1) and (2), the exhaust passage is provided with a size capable of exhausting more gas than the total amount of gas taken into the cooling chamber by the introduction passage and the cooling fan. Work cooling method.
(4) In the above items (1) to (3), the work cooling method for preheating the cooling chamber before transferring the work to the cooling chamber.

  (5) In the above items (1) to (4), the cooling fan is installed so as to protrude downward from the ceiling of the cooling chamber, and the hood is separated from the ceiling of the cooling chamber. Installed so that there is a gap between the inner peripheral part of the upper surface and the outer peripheral part of the cooling fan, and the exhaust passage is directed upward from a position above the cooling fan air outlet inside the hood. Provided to communicate with the outside of the cooling chamber, and the gas rising along the side surface of the cooling chamber is passed between the upper surface of the hood and the ceiling of the cooling chamber, and between the hood and the fan. A work cooling method for exhausting air from the exhaust passage after flowing into the hood through the gap.

  (6) A cooling device that includes a conveyance path that continuously conveys a heated workpiece and a cooling chamber installed in the conveyance path, and that passes the workpiece through the cooling chamber and cools the workpiece to a predetermined temperature. A mass measuring means for measuring a total mass per predetermined range of the work being installed in the transport path upstream of the cooling chamber in the transport path, and a fan control means, The chamber includes a cooling fan that blows gas taken from outside the cooling chamber toward the conveyance path, a hood installed around the cooling fan toward the conveyance path, and the conveyance path of the cooling chamber On both side surfaces parallel to the conveying direction of the hood, there are openings facing the outer surface of the hood facing the both side surfaces, an introduction path for introducing gas from the outside of the cooling chamber, and an outside of the cooling chamber An exhaust path for exhausting gas and a preheating means The position of the outer surface of the hood facing at least the opening of the introduction path is inclined or curved, and the conveyance path side end of the hood is directed to the width direction end of the conveyance path, The fan control means is a work cooling device that controls the air blowing speed of the cooling fan based on the total mass of the work measured by the mass measuring means (Claim 3).

  (7) In the above item (6), the exhaust passage is provided with a size capable of exhausting more gas than the total amount of gas taken into the cooling chamber from the introduction passage and the cooling fan. Work cooling device.

  (8) In the above items (6) and (7), the cooling fan is installed to protrude downward from the ceiling of the cooling chamber, the hood is separated from the ceiling of the cooling chamber, and the exhaust path is The hood communicates upward from the inside of the hood to the outside of the cooling chamber, and rises along the side surface of the cooling chamber between the inner peripheral portion of the upper surface of the hood and the outer peripheral portion of the cooling fan. A workpiece cooling device provided with a gap for allowing the gas to flow into the hood.

  Since this invention was comprised in this way, it becomes possible to cool the heated workpiece | work efficiently and stably.

It is the schematic diagram which showed the structure of the workpiece | work cooling device used with the workpiece | work cooling method which concerns on embodiment of this invention from the side surface. It is an expanded sectional view of the conveyance direction which shows typically the cooling chamber of the workpiece | work cooling device of FIG. It is a schematic plan view of the conveyor used as a conveyance path of the workpiece | work cooling device of FIG. The flow of the gas in the cooling chamber of the workpiece | work cooling device of FIG. 1 is shown, (a) is the image figure illustrated from the conveyance direction, (b) is the image figure illustrated from the side surface direction. It is a graph which shows the temperature change of the workpiece | work from a cooling process to a soaking | uniform-heating process, (a) is the graph which implemented the cooling process with the workpiece | work cooling method which concerns on embodiment of this invention, (b) is the conventional workpiece | work cooling method. It is the graph which implemented the cooling process by.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Here, the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings. Detailed descriptions of the same or corresponding parts as in the prior art will be omitted.
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a workpiece cooling apparatus 10 used in a workpiece cooling method according to an embodiment of the present invention. The workpiece cooling device 10 is, for example, for cooling a heated workpiece W such as a hot forged part to a predetermined temperature before processing such as cutting. In addition, in FIG. 1, the heat equalization apparatus 70 for performing the heat equalization process implemented after the cooling process using the work cooling device 10 with the work cooling device 10 is shown.

  As shown in the figure, the workpiece cooling device 10 includes a mass measuring unit 12, a cooling chamber 24, a fan control unit 28, and a conveyance path 20. In the example of FIG. 1, the conveyance path 20 includes a first conveyance unit 20 a provided with the mass measuring means 12, a second conveyance unit 20 b, a third conveyance unit 20 c provided with the cooling chamber 24 and the heat equalizing device 70. And the fourth transport unit 20d. The conveyance path 20 conveys the workpiece W in the right direction in FIG.

  The mass measuring unit 12 measures the total mass per predetermined range of the workpiece W being conveyed by the first conveying unit 20a. That is, regardless of the mass of the single workpiece W, the total mass of the single workpiece or the plurality of workpieces W included in the predetermined range on the first transport unit 20a is measured. In the example of FIG. 1, the mass measuring unit 12 measures the total load of the workpiece W within a predetermined range by the load cell 14, converts the measured load value into a pressure value by the pressure transducer 16, and transmits the pressure value to the fan control unit 28. It is configured to do. In addition, the 1st conveyance part 20a in which the mass measurement means 12 was installed is comprised by the conveyor etc.

  The cooling chamber 24 cools the workpiece W transported by the third transport unit 20 c of the transport path 20 and is surrounded by a heat insulating material 30. The configuration of the cooling chamber 24 will be described in detail. The cooling chamber 24 includes a cooling fan 32, a preheating means 34, a hood 36, an introduction path 46, and an exhaust path 50, as shown in FIG. In addition, below the cooling chamber 24, a space is provided that is partitioned by the partition portion 58 and the heat insulating material 30 and through which a return portion 62 of a slat conveyor as a third transport portion 20 c described later passes.

The cooling fan 32 blows gas (for example, air) taken from the outside of the cooling chamber 24 toward the third transfer unit 20c of the transfer path 20, and is installed so as to protrude from the ceiling 24e of the cooling chamber 24. Yes. Furthermore, although the cooling fan 32 is mentioned later in detail, the ventilation speed is controlled by the fan control means 28. FIG.
The introduction path 46 is for introducing gas from the outside to the inside of the cooling chamber 24, and is provided on both the left and right sides of the cooling chamber 24. In each of the introduction paths 46, one end side where the introduction fan 48 is installed in the example of FIG. 2 opens to the outside of the cooling chamber 24, and the other end side opens to the side surface 24 a or 24 b of the cooling chamber 24. The opening 46 a on the other end side of the introduction path 46 opens toward the outer surface 38 of the hood 36.

  The hood 36 is installed around the cooling fan 32 toward the third transport unit 20 c of the transport path 20. In other words, the opening for directing the air blown from the cooling fan 32 to pass therethrough is arranged at the conveyance path side end 42 of the hood 36. The hood 36 has a shape in which a position 38 a of the outer surface 38 facing the opening 46 a of the introduction path 46 is inclined downward toward the central axis C of the cooling fan 32. That is, the position 38a facing the opening 46a of the outer surface 38 is inclined toward the lower right or lower left in FIG. The inclined transport path side end 42 is directed to the width direction end 54 of the third transport section 20 c of the transport path 20. Naturally, the width in the left-right direction in the drawing of the conveyance path side end portion 42 is larger than the width in the left-right direction in the drawing of the work W being conveyed on the third conveyance unit 20 c of the conveyance path 20. . The hood 36 is installed away from the ceiling 24 e of the cooling chamber 24, and the ceiling 24 e of the cooling chamber 24 and the upper surface 40 of the hood 36 are separated from each other. Further, a gap S is annularly provided between the inner peripheral portion 40 a of the upper surface 40 of the hood 36 and the outer peripheral portion 32 a of the cooling fan 32.

  The exhaust passage 50 is for exhausting gas from the inside of the cooling chamber 24 to the outside. In the example of FIG. 2, the exhaust passage 50 extends upward from the inside of the hood 36 and communicates with the outside of the cooling chamber 24. 36 are connected to both the left and right sides. Further, the exhaust passage 50 has a total cross-sectional area of the two exhaust passages 50 larger than the sum of the cross-sectional area of the two introduction passages 46 and the effective cross-sectional area of the outside air intake port of the cooling fan 32. Is formed.

  Moreover, the 3rd conveyance part 20c of the conveyance path 20 is comprised by the conveyor-shaped conveyance means in the example of FIG.1 and FIG.2. More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the third transport unit 20 c includes a plurality of transport plates 60 that move in the transport direction (right direction in FIG. 3) of a slat conveyor as the third transport unit 20 c. It has the structure connected endlessly so that an endless track part may be formed. As shown in FIG. 3, each of the transport plates 60 of the third transport unit 20 c is provided with a plurality of vent holes 56, and the workpiece W transported by the third transport unit 20 c is on the transport plate 60. The air holes 56 are placed in a region where the air holes 56 are provided. FIG. 3 shows only four transport plates 60 of the third transport unit 20c. However, as described above, the plurality of transport plates 60 are the third transport as shown in FIG. The quantity which comprises the slat conveyor of the part 20c is connected endlessly.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 again, the preheating means 34 preheats the inside of the cooling chamber 24 before the heated work W is transferred to the cooling chamber 24. The example shown in FIGS. Then, as the preheating means 34, two burners are installed above the side surface 24a of the cooling chamber 24.
Referring to FIG. 1, the second transport unit 20b transports the workpiece W from the first transport unit 20a in which the mass measuring means 12 is installed to the third transport unit 20c in which the cooling chamber 24 is installed. Is for. The fourth transport unit 20d is for transporting the workpiece W after being transported by the third transport unit 20c and passing through the cooling chamber 24 and the heat equalizing device 70. In the example of FIG. 1, each of the second transport unit 20 b and the fourth transport unit 20 d is configured by a chute that slides down the workpiece W using gravity. The first to fourth transfer units 20a to 20d of the transfer path 20 are made of materials that can transfer the heated workpiece W and can cope with the temperature environment of the cooling chamber 24 and the heat equalizing device 70, respectively. Has been.

  The fan control means 28 controls the blowing speed of the cooling fan 32 installed in the cooling chamber 24 based on the total mass per predetermined range of the work W being conveyed, which is measured by the mass measuring means 12. is there. That is, in the example of FIG. 1, when the work W whose load value is measured passes through the cooling chamber 24 according to the pressure value converted from the load value of the work W in a predetermined range, which is transmitted from the pressure converter 16. The ventilation speed of the cooling fan 32 is controlled.

  In the example of FIG. 1, the heat equalizing device 70 includes four heat equalizing chambers 72 that are continuously provided in the transport direction (right direction in FIG. 1) following the cooling chamber 24. Each soaking chamber 72 is provided with a fan 74 and a heater 76 so as to keep the soaking chamber 72 at a constant temperature. Further, between the soaking chambers 72 and between the cooling chamber 24 and the soaking chamber 72 on the left side in the figure are partitioned by an arch-shaped partition wall 78.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, a work cooling method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described along the flow of processing.
First, before the work W is transferred to the cooling chamber 24, the inside of the cooling chamber 24 is preheated by the preheating means 34. At this time, the heated work W is carried into the cooling chamber 24 in a state where the air is blown by the cooling fan 32 and the gas is introduced from the introduction path 46, and the temperature in the cooling chamber 24 is lowered by the work W. The inside of the cooling chamber 24 is preheated to the same temperature as when the temperature rises. Further, the temperature in the soaking chamber 72 is made constant by the fan 74 and the heater 76.

  Next, the total mass per predetermined range of the workpiece W is measured by the mass measuring unit 12 while the workpiece W heated in the previous process such as hot forging is being conveyed by the first conveyance unit 20a of the conveyance path 20. . Then, the load value of the workpiece W measured by the load cell 14 is converted into a pressure value by the pressure converter 16 and transmitted to the fan control means 28. Then, the workpiece | work W which measured total mass is conveyed to the 3rd conveyance part 20c via the 1st conveyance part 20a and the 2nd conveyance part 20b.

  Subsequently, the workpiece W is cooled in the cooling chamber 24 while the workpiece W is transferred by the third transfer unit 20c. At this time, the fan control means 28 controls the blowing speed of the cooling fan 32 based on the total mass per predetermined range of the work W passing through the cooling chamber 24. Specifically, when the workpiece W having a small total mass per predetermined range passes through the cooling chamber 24, the total heat quantity of the workpiece W is also small. When W passes through the cooling chamber 24, the total heat quantity of the workpiece W is also large, so that the blowing speed is increased. The preheating in the cooling chamber 24 by the preheating means 34 is stopped in consideration of the timing at which the heated workpiece W is transported to the cooling chamber 24 and the like.

  Here, the gas flow in the cooling chamber 24 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. In FIG. 4, for convenience of illustration, some reference numerals of the configuration of the cooling chamber 24, illustration of the introduction fan 48, and the like are omitted, and therefore, for the omitted parts, refer to FIG. 2 as appropriate. . In FIG. 4, the arrows indicate the gas flow in the cooling chamber 24, and the black dots indicate the branching or merging of the airflow.

  As described above, in the cooling chamber 24, the cooling fan 32 that blows the gas taken from the outside of the cooling chamber 24 toward the third transfer unit 20 c and the introduction path for introducing the gas from the outside of the cooling chamber 24. 46 and an exhaust passage 50 for exhausting gas to the outside of the cooling chamber 24 are provided. First, the flow of gas introduced from the introduction path 46 provided on the right side in FIG. 4A will be described. The gas introduced using the introduction fan 48 flows into the cooling chamber 24 from the opening 46a through the introduction path 46, and flows toward the position 38a on the outer surface 38 of the hood 36 facing the opening 46a. . Then, the introduced gas is guided in a shape inclined toward the lower left in the drawing at a position 38a facing the opening 46a of the outer surface 38 and flows downward. Further, the introduced gas flows downward even when the temperature is lower than the gas in the cooling chamber 24 heated by the heated workpiece W or the preheating means 34. And the gas which flowed below branches into the airflow which flows toward the width direction edge part 54 of the 3rd conveyance part 20c, and the anticlockwise spiral airflow.

  The gas flowing toward the end 54 in the width direction of the third transport unit 20c collides with the partition unit 58 and changes its direction in the upper right direction in the figure. Further, the gap between the third transport unit 20c and the partition unit 58 is formed. The gas flows in the right direction in the figure and merges with a heated gas described later, and flows upward along the side surface 24b. On the other hand, the spiral airflow also rises in temperature by flowing in the cooling chamber 24 and flows upward. These upward gases join together and flow between the ceiling 24e of the cooling chamber 24 and the upper surface 40 of the hood 36, and further, between the outer peripheral portion 32a of the cooling fan 32 and the inner peripheral portion 40a of the upper surface 40. It flows into the hood 36 through the gap S therebetween. Since the gas flowing into the hood 36 through the gap S has a high temperature, the gas does not descend in the hood 36, passes through the exhaust passage 50 that opens to the hood 36 and extends upward, and enters the cooling chamber 24. It flows to the outside and is exhausted from the cooling chamber 24. The flow of the gas introduced from the introduction path 46 provided on the left side in FIG. 4A is the same as that of the gas introduced from the introduction path 46 provided on the right side in FIG. The flow is axisymmetric about the central axis C.

  Next, the flow of the gas taken into the cooling chamber 24 by the cooling fan 32 in the range shown in FIG. 4A, that is, the flow in the width direction and the vertical direction of the third transport unit 20c will be described. The gas taken in from the cooling fan 32 is blown downward through the opening at the conveyance path side end 42 of the hood 36. At this time, the conveyance path side end of the hood 36 is directed to the width direction end portion 54 of the third conveyance unit 20c and has a width larger than the width in the horizontal direction in the drawing of the workpiece W on the third conveyance unit 20c. The gas blown from the cooling fan 32 is directed and flows toward the workpiece W on the third transport unit 20c by the unit 42. Further, since there is a downward flow of the gas introduced from the introduction path 46 in the vicinity of the width direction end portion 54 of the third transport unit 20c, the gas blown from the cooling fan 32 is shown in FIG. It flows toward the workpiece W on the third transport unit 20c without spreading in the left-right direction in a). And the gas which went to the workpiece | work W passes the clearance gap between the workpiece | work W, taking the heat | fever of the workpiece | work W, reaches | attains the conveyance plate 60 of the 3rd conveyance part 20c, and also the some ventilation hole 56 of the conveyance plate 60 further. To reach the partition 58. Thereafter, the gas that reached the partition 58 collides with the partition 58 and branches in the left-right direction in the figure, and flows in the left-right direction in the figure through the gap between the third transport unit 20c and the partition 58. Thereafter, as described above, the gas is introduced from the introduction path 46 and flows upward. Thereafter, the flow is the same as that of the gas introduced from the introduction path 46 and is exhausted from the exhaust path 50.

  On the other hand, the flow of the gas taken into the cooling chamber 24 by the cooling fan 32 in the transport direction and the vertical direction of the third transport unit 20c diffuses toward the workpiece W as shown in FIG. Flowing. That is, the gas that is blown from the cooling fan 32 and passes through the vicinity of the center of the hood 36 in the left-right direction in the drawing flows toward the workpiece W on the third transport unit 20c, and removes the heat of the workpiece W between the workpieces W. It passes through the gap and reaches the transport plate 60 of the third transport unit 20c. Further, the gas that has reached the transport plate 60 passes through the plurality of air holes 56 of the transport plate 60, reaches the partition portion 58, then collides with the partition portion 58, and branches in the left-right direction in the figure. The branched gas passes through the gaps between the air holes 56 and the workpiece W in the opposite direction, and flows upward in the cooling chamber 24. On the other hand, the gas blown from the cooling fan 32 and passing through the vicinity of the end of the hood 36 in the left-right direction in the figure does not flow toward the workpiece W, but is soaked adjacent to the inlet of the cooling chamber 24 or the cooling chamber 24. It flows toward the chamber 72 or flows upward in the cooling chamber 24.

  Then, the gas that has flowed upward after removing heat from the work W and the gas that has been blown from the cooling fan 32 and immediately moved upward are formed along the side surfaces 24 c and 24 d of the cooling chamber 24. Ascend to the ceiling 24e. Further, the raised gas passes through the gap S between the ceiling 24e of the cooling chamber 24 and the upper surface 40 of the hood 36, and between the outer peripheral portion 32a of the cooling fan 32 and the inner peripheral portion 40a of the upper surface 40, It flows into the hood 36. Since the gas flowing into the hood 36 through the gap S has a high temperature, as in the case described with reference to FIG. 4A, the gas does not descend in the hood 36 but opens to the hood 36 and moves upward. It flows to the outside of the cooling chamber 24 through the extended exhaust passage 50 (see FIG. 4A) and is exhausted from the cooling chamber 24.

  Subsequently, the workpiece W cooled in the cooling chamber 24 is conveyed by the third conveying unit 20c through the four soaking chambers 72 of the soaking device 70. Since each of the soaking chambers 72 is kept at a constant temperature, the entire work W is brought to a uniform temperature over time. Thereafter, the work W that has passed through the four soaking chambers 72 is carried out of the work cooling device 10 and the soaking device 70 by the fourth transport unit 20d of the transport path 20.

  Here, FIG. 5 is a graph showing the temperature change of the workpiece W over time when the cooling step and the soaking step are performed to cool the workpiece W to a predetermined temperature. 5A is a graph in which the cooling process is performed by the work cooling method according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5B is a graph in which the cooling process is performed by the conventional work cooling method. is there. Further, in each of FIGS. 5A and 5B, the curve indicated by the solid line is a graph of the workpiece W having a large total mass per predetermined range, and the curve indicated by the broken line is the total per predetermined range. It is a graph of the workpiece | work W with small mass. Further, in FIG. 5, T (° C.) is the temperature of the workpiece W, Ta is the target cooling temperature, t (min) is the time, symbol A is the range where the cooling process is performed, and symbol B is the range where the soaking process is performed. , Respectively.

  From FIG. 5A, when the cooling process A is performed by the work cooling method according to the embodiment of the present invention, the temperature T of the work W immediately after the cooling process A is performed is the total mass per predetermined range. It can be seen that there is not much difference between large and small. On the other hand, when the cooling step A is performed by the conventional workpiece cooling method, the temperature T of the workpiece W immediately after the cooling step A is performed is considerably large and small in total mass per predetermined range. You can see that there is a difference. Furthermore, when the cooling process A is performed by the conventional work cooling method, it can be seen that the work W having a small total mass per predetermined range is rapidly cooled and overcooled.

  In addition, the position 38a of the outer surface 38 of the hood 36 facing the opening 46a of the introduction path 46 has a shape inclined downward toward the central axis C of the cooling fan 32 in the example of FIGS. Yes. However, in the work cooling method according to the embodiment of the present invention, the position 38a facing the opening 46a of the outer surface 38 has a curved shape so that the gas introduced from the opening 46a flows downward. May be. In the above description, the case of cooling the so-called shaped material workpiece W before processing such as cutting processing has been described as an example, but the workpiece cooling method according to the embodiment of the present invention is limited to this. The present invention may be applied to cooling a partially processed or processed workpiece W without being processed. In this case, although detailed explanation is omitted, the cooling chamber 24 and the like may be configured as a sealed structure so as to have a non-oxidizing atmosphere, and further, a cooling gas may be used as a gas used for cooling.

  Now, according to the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above, the following operational effects can be obtained. As shown in FIG. 1, in the work cooling method according to the embodiment of the present invention, in the cooling chamber 24 provided in the transfer path 20, the gas taken in from the outside of the cooling chamber 24 by the cooling fan 32 is transferred to the transfer path 20. The air is blown to the workpiece W being conveyed. Thereby, since the gas outside the cooling chamber 24 whose temperature is lower than the gas in the cooling chamber 24 whose temperature has been increased by the heated workpiece W is blown to the workpiece W, only the gas in the cooling chamber 24 is sent. Compared with the case where it blows to the workpiece | work W, a cooling effect can be heightened. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, since the hood 36 is installed around the cooling fan 32 toward the conveyance path 20, the direction of gas from the cooling fan 32 toward the work W on the conveyance path 20 is set. Therefore, the workpiece W can be cooled more effectively. Further, by providing the cooling chamber 24 with the exhaust passage 50 for exhausting the gas in the cooling chamber 24 to the outside of the cooling chamber 24, the gas whose temperature has been increased by the heated workpiece W can be exhausted. Furthermore, since the escape route for the gas in the cooling chamber 24 is secured, the gas can be smoothly taken in from the cooling fan 32 and the introduction path 46 described later, and the circulation of the gas in the cooling chamber 24 is promoted. be able to.

  Further, in the work cooling method according to the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, the introduction path 46 for introducing gas into the cooling chamber 24 from the outside of the cooling chamber 24 is provided in the conveyance path 20 of the cooling chamber 24. Opening is performed toward the outer surface 38 of the hood 36 on both side surfaces 24a and 24b parallel to the transport direction (the back direction of the paper surface). Further, the conveyance path side end 42 of the hood 36 is moved to the width direction end 54 of the conveyance path 20 by inclining or curving at least a position 38 a of the outer surface 38 of the hood 36 facing the opening 46 a of the introduction path 46. It is intended.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 4A, a gas having a temperature lower than that in the cooling chamber 24 is introduced toward the inclined or curved position 38 a of the outer surface 38 of the hood 36. For this reason, the gas introduced from the introduction path 46 is guided to the width direction end 54 of the conveyance path 20 or the vicinity thereof by the temperature difference from the gas in the cooling chamber 24 and the outer surface 38 of the hood 36. A so-called air curtain is formed by the induced gas flow. As a result, the air flow from the cooling fan 32 toward the conveyance path 20 can be guided by the air curtain formed at the width direction end 54 of the conveyance path 20 or in the vicinity thereof so as to be within the width range of the conveyance path 20. it can. For this reason, it becomes possible to prevent the blown air from the cooling fan 32 from diffusing from the end 54 in the width direction of the conveyance path 20. Accordingly, since almost the entire amount of gas blown from the cooling fan 32 can be applied to the entire width direction of the transport path 20 of the work W on the transport path 20, the work W can be cooled efficiently and stably. It becomes. Furthermore, unlike the conventional cooling method, it is not necessary to lengthen the time for passing the workpiece W through the cooling chamber 24. Therefore, the cooling chamber 24 can be made smaller than the conventional cooling method, and space can be saved. it can.

  In addition, the work cooling method according to the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, before the work W is transported to the cooling chamber 24, the mass measuring means 12 performs a predetermined range of the work W being transported. Measure the total mass of Thereafter, when the workpiece W whose total mass has been measured passes through the cooling chamber 24, the fan control means 24 controls the blowing speed of the cooling fan 32 based on the measured total mass of the workpiece W. Specifically, when the workpiece W having a large measured total mass (that is, the workpiece W having a large total heat per predetermined range) passes through the cooling chamber 24, the blowing speed of the cooling fan 32 is increased. On the other hand, when a workpiece W having a small total mass (that is, a workpiece W having a small total heat per predetermined range) passes through the cooling chamber 24, the blowing speed of the cooling fan 32 is decreased.

  This makes it possible to prevent insufficient cooling when cooling the workpiece W having a large total mass and overcooling when cooling the workpiece W having a small total mass. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 5, compared with the conventional cooling method with the constant ventilation speed | rate of the cooling fan 32, the dispersion | variation in the temperature after cooling between the workpiece | work W from which total mass differs can be made small. The workpiece W can be stably cooled to a predetermined temperature. Furthermore, since the variation in hardness of the workpiece W after cooling is reduced, it is possible to improve machining accuracy such as cutting performed on the workpiece W later, and to suppress damage to a tool used in the cutting processing or the like. be able to.

  Furthermore, in the work cooling method according to the embodiment of the present invention, the total amount of gas taken into the cooling chamber 24 by the introduction passage 46 and the cooling fan 32 in the exhaust passage 50 for exhausting the gas from the cooling chamber 24 to the outside. It is provided in such a size that more gas can be exhausted. Specifically, the exhaust passage 50 having a larger cross-sectional area than the sum of the cross-sectional area of the introduction passage 46 and the effective cross-sectional area of the outside air intake port of the cooling fan 32 may be installed. Thereby, even if the gas taken into the cooling chamber 24 from the cooling fan 32 and the introduction path 46 is thermally expanded by the heat of the heated workpiece W, the gas is smoothly exhausted from the exhaust path 50 having sufficient exhaust capability. be able to. For this reason, the gas flow in the cooling chamber 24 is not hindered due to insufficient exhaust capacity, and a constant cooling capacity can always be maintained.

  In addition, the work cooling method according to the embodiment of the present invention is performed by preheating means 34 such as a burner installed in the cooling chamber 24 before the work W is transferred to the cooling chamber 24 as shown in FIGS. The inside of the cooling chamber 24 is preheated. That is, since the temperature of the cooling chamber 24 before the heated workpiece W is transferred is the same as that of the outside of the cooling chamber 24, when the workpiece W is transferred to the cooling chamber 24 in this state, the workpiece W rapidly There is concern about proper cooling. Further, since there is no temperature difference between the gas in the cooling chamber 24 and the gas taken in from the outside, it is not possible to generate an air flow in the cooling chamber 24 using this temperature difference. For this reason, for example, the inside of the cooling chamber 24 is preheated to the same temperature as when the heated workpiece W passes through the cooling chamber 24. Accordingly, since the inside of the cooling chamber 24 can be kept at a constant temperature immediately after the start of the cooling process using the present cooling method, the workpiece W can be stably cooled.

  In the work cooling method according to the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, the hood 36 is installed so that the upper surface 40 of the hood 36 and the ceiling 24 e of the cooling chamber 24 are separated from each other. Further, a gap S is provided between the outer peripheral portion 32 a of the cooling fan 32 protruding from the ceiling 24 e of the cooling chamber 24 and the inner peripheral portion 40 a of the upper surface 40 of the hood 36. As a result, a flow path for guiding the high-temperature gas that has risen along the side surfaces 24 a and 24 b of the cooling chamber 24 to the inside of the hood 36 is secured. Further, the exhaust passage 50 is provided in the hood 36 so as to communicate with the outside of the cooling chamber 24 upward from a position above the air blowing port of the cooling fan 24. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, the gas guided to the inside of the hood 36 having a temperature higher than that of the gas blown from the blower opening of the cooling fan 32 is blown through the inside of the hood 36. It flows toward the exhaust passage 50 at a position above the mouth. Then, the air is exhausted from the exhaust passage 50 without joining the airflow from the cooling fan 32. Therefore, the low-temperature gas taken in by the cooling fan 32 is blown to the workpiece W on the conveyance path 20, and the high-temperature gas led up into the cooling chamber 24 and guided into the hood 36 is exhausted from the exhaust path 50. It will be exhausted from. Thus, the work W can be efficiently cooled by circulating the gas in the cooling chamber 24.

  The workpiece cooling device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention is equivalent to the workpiece cooling method according to the embodiment of the present invention by being used in the workpiece cooling method according to the embodiment of the present invention described above. The effect of this is achieved.

10: Work cooling device, 12: Mass measuring means, 20: Transfer path, 24: Cooling chamber, 24a to d: Side, 28: Fan control means, 32: Cooling fan, 34: Preheating means, 36: Hood, 38: Outer surface, 38a: Position facing the opening of the introduction path, 42: End part on the conveyance path side, 46: Introduction path, 46a: Opening part, 50: Exhaust path, 54: End part in the width direction of the conveyance path, W: Workpiece

Claims (3)

In a cooling method in which a cooling chamber is provided in a conveyance path for continuously conveying a heated workpiece, the workpiece is passed through the cooling chamber, and the workpiece is cooled to a predetermined temperature.
In the cooling chamber,
A cooling fan that blows gas taken from the outside of the cooling chamber toward the transfer path;
A hood installed around the cooling fan toward the conveyance path;
Introducing paths for introducing gas from the outside of the cooling chamber, having openings on both side surfaces parallel to the conveying direction of the conveying path of the cooling chamber and facing the outer surface of the hood facing the both side surfaces; ,
An exhaust path for exhausting gas to the outside of the cooling chamber;
Inclining or curving at least a position of the outer surface of the hood facing the opening of the introduction path, the transport path side end of the hood is directed to the width direction end of the transport path, the outer surface of the hood, and The gas introduced from the introduction path is guided to the width direction end of the conveyance path or the vicinity thereof by utilizing the temperature difference between the gas introduced from the introduction path and the gas in the cooling chamber, and the gas The work cooling method is characterized in that the air flow from the cooling fan to the transport path is guided by the air flow so as to be within a range of the width of the transport path. Measuring the total mass per predetermined range of the work being transported by the transport path before transporting to the cooling chamber,
The work cooling method according to claim 1, wherein when the work whose total mass has been measured passes through the cooling chamber, the air blowing speed of the cooling fan is controlled based on the measured total mass of the work. A cooling device that includes a conveyance path that continuously conveys a heated workpiece, and a cooling chamber that is installed in the conveyance path, and that cools the workpiece to a predetermined temperature by passing the workpiece through the cooling chamber,
Mass measuring means for measuring the total mass per predetermined range of the work being installed on the transport path upstream of the cooling chamber in the transport direction, and a fan control means,
The cooling chamber is
A cooling fan that blows gas taken from outside the cooling chamber toward the conveyance path;
A hood installed around the cooling fan toward the conveyance path;
Introducing paths for introducing gas from the outside of the cooling chamber, having openings on both side surfaces parallel to the conveying direction of the conveying path of the cooling chamber and facing the outer surface of the hood facing the both side surfaces; ,
An exhaust path for exhausting gas to the outside of the cooling chamber;
Preheating means,
The position of the outer surface of the hood facing at least the opening of the introduction path is inclined or curved, and the conveyance path side end of the hood is directed to the width direction end of the conveyance path,
The work cooling device, wherein the fan control means controls the air blowing speed of the cooling fan based on a total work mass measured by the mass measuring means.

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