JPS6360308B2 - - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Industrial Application Field) The present invention involves charging a material to be processed, such as a pre-shaped metal powder, into a high-pressure container equipped with a heater.
By combining the ultra-high pressure increase of the fluid or gaseous medium sealed in the container and the heating by the heater, it is possible to improve the efficiency of the actual production equipment as a hot isostatic pressing device for press forming the material to be processed. related to what was done.

(Prior art) A material to be processed, such as a pre-shaped metal powder, is charged into a high-pressure container equipped with a heater and the inside of which is kept in a vacuum state or an active or inert gas atmosphere.
A hot isostatic pressing device that pressure-forms a processed material into a block shape by increasing the pressure of a fluid or gas medium sealed in a container to an ultra-high pressure is an ultra-high-pressure press forming technology that goes without saying as an example of a so-called HIP device. It is well known as one of the As is well known, the actual production equipment for such a device is mainly a high-pressure container with a sealed structure, a part of which can be opened and closed by a lid, and which is isolated from the outside world by closing the lid. The means for opening and closing the lid and the means for carrying in and out the material to be processed into and out of the container are merely exposed to the outside world outside the container, and require a considerable amount of handling operation.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As heaters used in high-pressure vessels in the prior art, heaters using energized heating wires made of molybdenum-based or graphite-based materials are commonly used in relatively high-temperature ranges. .

However, such heaters oxidize (consume) when exposed to outside air at high temperatures, so when taking out the processed material that has been sealed and pressure-formed in a high-pressure container from the container, it is necessary to take some time after the high temperature and pressure are released. It is necessary to wait until the material to be processed is cooled before taking it out, which of course increases the press cycle time and impedes improvement in productivity.

In addition, conventionally, in the pre-HIP process, the material to be treated is mounted on the equipment at room temperature and pressure, and then
This increases the temperature and pressure, which also lengthens the press cycle and impedes productivity.

Furthermore, molybdenum-based and graphite-based heaters oxidize in the high temperature atmosphere, so there are some that require a non-oxidizing atmosphere, and some that require a special atmosphere because the object to be processed cannot be taken out in the air at high temperatures.

That is, to illustrate the required working time of the prior art with reference to FIG. 7, in FIG. 7, the vertical axis represents pressure and temperature, the horizontal axis represents time, the solid line represents the pressure curve, and the dotted line represents the temperature curve. It shows.

By the way, in the conventional technology, it takes approximately 3 hours to raise the pressure to a predetermined pressure and temperature to a predetermined temperature in a high-pressure container, which is the main equipment, and the holding time for pressure molding under that pressure and temperature is It takes about 1 hour, and when taking it out of the container, it takes about 10 minutes to lower the temperature to the oxidation prevention temperature of heater 4 (about 300℃), as mentioned earlier.
Since the pressure-molded product is removed from the container after this time has passed, productivity is extremely low, and the same container is occupied for a long time, making it impossible to use it repeatedly in a short period of time. be.

The present invention enables the material to be processed to be charged at a high temperature while the heater is energized, regardless of the opening/closing operation of one end of the HIP device. This makes it possible to take it out of the container immediately without having to wait for the temperature to drop, shortening the press cycle time and greatly improving productivity in hot isostatic pressing equipment using this type of high-pressure container. The main purpose is to

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention takes the following technical means to achieve the stated purpose.

That is, the first technical means includes a high-pressure container for hot isostatic pressing that is functionally capable of opening at least one end, a movable lid member for opening and closing the one open end, and the movable lid. A main station is provided, which has a member for moving the material to be processed into and out of the container attached to the member; a working chamber with one end open and for inserting and removing the material to be processed; and a movement for opening and closing the open end of the working chamber. An auxiliary station for inserting and extracting a processed material is provided, which has a lid member and an indoor/outlet member for the processed material attached to the movable lid member; the auxiliary station for inserting and removing the processed material is arranged adjacent to the main station. In addition, a sealed tank is provided that commonly isolates the internal space of the main station and the internal space of the auxiliary station for insertion and removal from the outside world and creates a vacuum state or a necessary gas atmosphere, and surrounds each internal space in communication; Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that a conveyance device is provided in the sealed tank to allow the material to be processed to be moved freely across the respective spaces.

In addition to the above-mentioned first technical means, the second technical means includes a working chamber whose one end is open and which cools the material to be processed, and a movable lid member for opening and closing the open end of the working chamber. and an auxiliary cooling station having an indoor/outlet member for the material to be processed attached to the movable lid member; the main station, the auxiliary insertion/removal station, and the auxiliary cooling station are arranged adjacently; The internal spaces of the main station, the auxiliary station for insertion and removal, and the auxiliary cooling station are commonly isolated from the outside world and brought into a vacuum state or a necessary gas atmosphere, and a sealed tank is provided that surrounds each internal space in communication; The present invention is characterized in that a transport device is provided in the sealed tank to allow the material to be processed to be moved freely across the spaces.

In addition to the above-mentioned first technical means, the third technical means includes a working chamber with one end open and for preheating the material to be processed, and a movable lid member for opening and closing the open end of the working chamber. and an auxiliary preheating station having an indoor/outlet member for the material to be treated attached to the movable lid member; the main station, the auxiliary station for insertion and removal, and the auxiliary preheating station are arranged adjacently; Provide a sealed tank that commonly isolates the internal spaces of the station, the auxiliary station for insertion and removal, and the auxiliary preheating station from the outside world and makes them in a vacuum state or a necessary gas atmosphere, and surrounds each internal space in a continuous manner; The present invention is characterized in that a conveyance device is provided in the sealed tank to allow the material to be processed to be moved freely across the spaces.

A fourth technical means, in addition to the first technical means described above, includes each working chamber that is open at one end and for cooling and preheating the processed material, and the opening and closing of each open end of the working chamber. auxiliary stations for cooling and preheating are provided, each having movable lid members for the purpose of transporting the material, and members for entering and exiting the room for materials to be processed and the like attached to each of the movable lid members; The auxiliary stations for preheating are arranged adjacently, and the internal spaces of the main station, the auxiliary stations for insertion and removal, and the auxiliary stations for cooling and preheating are commonly isolated from the outside world and kept in a vacuum state or with necessary gas. It is characterized by providing an atmosphere and a sealed tank that surrounds each internal space in a communication manner; and further provided with a conveying device that allows the material to be processed to be moved freely across each of the spaces within the sealed tank. That is to say.

(Operation) In the first technical means of the present invention, in the main station 31 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,
The material to be treated 5 can be loaded into the container 2 through the indoor access member 7a provided on the upper surface of the movable lid member 8a, and simultaneously with the sealing of the opening 2a of the high-pressure container 2 by the movable lid member 8a. Heating by a heater 4 provided in the container 2 via a heat insulating layer 3; furthermore, although not shown in the drawings, as is known, increasing the pressure of the fluid or gas medium sealed in the container 2 to an ultra-high pressure; and also increasing the vacuum in the container 2. The material to be treated 5 can be formed by hot isostatic pressing under active or inert gas atmosphere conditions.

On the other hand, in the insertion and removal auxiliary stations 32, 32A, and 32B (FIG. 1 shows a combined insertion and removal type, and FIG. 7
The movable lid member 8b having a
By making the opening 11a of A freely openable and closable,
Using the working chambers 11 and 11A, necessary processing operations can be freely performed on the material 5 to be treated before pressure molding or the material 5 to be treated after pressure molding. For example, by closing the movable lid member 8b to the opening 11a, the opening/closing lids 10, 10a of the working chambers 11, 11A are opened and connected to the atmosphere, and the material 5 to be processed before molding is transferred to the working chambers 11, 11A. The work chamber 1 is opened by loading the work chamber into the chamber, placing it on the indoor access member 7b, and closing the opening/closing lids 10 and 10a.
1 and 11A are independently isolated from the atmosphere to create the same atmosphere as the sealed tanks 12a and 12b, preparations are made for lowering the movable lid member 8b and transporting the material to be processed 5 to the main station 31 side by the transport device. While the work is being carried out, the movable lid members 8b, 8c are raised and opened with the molded material 5 placed on the indoor access members 7b, 7c of the movable lid members 8b, 8c. 11a, and the material to be processed 5 is transferred to the working chambers 11 and 11B.
After the atmosphere inside the sealed tanks 12a and 12b is changed to the atmospheric atmosphere, the lids 10 and 10b can be opened to take the liquid out to the outside world. Therefore, this auxiliary station 3
2, 32A, and 32B can independently carry out various operations such as loading and unloading of the material to be processed, pre-processing and post-processing required before and after forming the material 5, and furthermore, This can be carried out in parallel with the pressure forming operation at the main station 31.

This object of the present invention can be easily achieved by providing a conveying device 14 using a conveying member 14a that is movably provided within the sealed tanks 12a, 12b across the internal spaces 31a, 32a.

Furthermore, by sealing the internal spaces 31a, 32a of the main station 31 and the auxiliary insertion/removal stations 32, 32A, 32B from the outside world and surrounding them in a connected manner, the sealed tanks 12a, 12b are hermetically fitted to the outside. Both spaces 31a, 32a
are isolated from the outside world, but are surrounded by an integral space that communicates with each other, and therefore this sealed tank 12a
Gas cylinder 5 on either side or 12b side
1. By providing the vacuum pump 53 in communication, the internal spaces 31a and 32a can be brought into the same environment as the vacuum state or active or inert gas atmosphere state in the high-pressure container 2.

According to the second technical means of the present invention, the first
In addition to the effect of the technical means, as shown in FIG. 3, the workpiece 5 after HIP processing may be cooled in the working chamber 11C at the cooling station 32C during the HIP processing at the main station 31, for example. becomes possible.

According to the third technical means of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the first technical means, as shown in FIG.
The material to be processed 5 can be preheated within 1D before forming.

Furthermore, according to the fourth technical means of the present invention, as shown in FIG. is cooled in the work chamber 11C of the cooling station 32C, and in both cases the main station 31
This can be done in parallel during the HIP process.

(Example) Each specific example of the apparatus according to the technical means of the present invention will be described.

First Embodiment In the example shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C, one auxiliary station 32 for insertion and extraction is used for a main station 31, and 32 is a station for inserting and removing the material 5 to be processed. Main station 3
1 is a press frame 1 having an internal space 31a
A known high-pressure container 2 containing a heat insulating layer 3 and a heater 4 and having an opening 2a at the lower end is installed on the top of the press frame 1, which is designed to withstand sufficient axial force. cylinder 9a
A lifting device 9 using a fixed piston rod 9b is installed, a movable lid member 8a is attached to the movable cylinder 9a, and a material to be treated 5 is attached to the upper surface of the movable lid member 8a.
An indoor access member 7a is provided.

The movable lid member 8a, as a member of the high-pressure container 2, seals the opening 2a and receives the molding reaction force due to the ultra-high pressure, so a locking portion 9c is formed in a part of the movable cylinder 9a, and the press frame Clamp 15 of reaction force receiving clamp device 15 installed in 1
a is adapted to be clamped by the locking portion 9c during pressure molding. Note that the press frame is not limited to that used in this embodiment, and other types can be used.

The insertion and removal auxiliary station 32 has a cylindrical working chamber 11 located above the high-pressure container 2, with an opening/closing lid 10 attached to the upper end so that it can be opened and closed, and an opening 11a at the lower end. Below the device 9 are a cylinder 13a and a piston rod 1.
3b, a movable lid member 8b for opening and closing the opening 11a is provided on the piston rod 13b, and a movable lid member 8b is provided on the piston rod 13b.
An indoor entry/exit member 7b for the material to be processed 5 is provided on the upper surface, and an internal space 32a communicating with the internal space 31a of the main station 31 is provided between the working chamber 11 and the lifting/lowering device 13.

Each internal space 31a, 3 of the main station 31 and the auxiliary station for insertion and removal 32
Sealed tanks 12a and 12b that commonly enclose gas tank 2a and isolate it from the outside world are integrally covered and fixed, and active or inactive gas in the gas cylinder 51 is supplied from one body of the sealed tanks 12a and 12b. Gas is supplied through a conduit 54 via a pressure reducing valve 52, thereby making it possible to create the required gas atmosphere throughout the tank. The entire interior area and the work chamber 11 can be individually created in a vacuum state.

Inside the sealed tanks 12a and 12b, there are
As shown in FIG. 1B, a pair of conveying members 14a, 14a constituting the conveying device 14 are inserted into a shaft frame so as to be freely forward and backward and rotatable over the entire length of the tank, and are placed in symmetrical positions of the conveying members 14a, 14a. The supporting member 6 of the workpiece 5 is detachably held by the attached clamp holders 14b, 14b.

One end of each of the pair of conveying members 14a, 14a protrudes outward from one side body of the sealed tanks 12a, 12b and is held by a bracket 33, which is connected to the piston rod 34a of the moving cylinder 34.
A gear 3 is provided at one end of the conveying members 14a, 14a.
5 and 35 are respectively attached to the bracket 3.
Rack gear 3 of a rack rod 37 held by a piston rod 36a of a drive cylinder 36 attached to 3
7a, 37a are meshed with the gears 35, 35, the conveying members 14a, 14a are rotated forward and backward through the lifting and lowering of the rack rod 37 and the rotation of the gears 35, 35, whereby the clamp holders 14b, 14b are rotated. It can be freely engaged with and detached from the support member 6.

According to this first embodiment, the sealed tank 12a,
12b is placed in the same vacuum state as the high-pressure container 2 or in an active or inert gas atmosphere, the movable lid member 8b on the side of the auxiliary station for insertion and removal 32 is raised, the opening 11a of the working chamber 11 is closed, and the working chamber 11 is closed. The movable lid member 8b is isolated from the internal space 32a.
was placed in the working chamber, the opening/closing lid 10 was opened, and the material to be treated 5 and the support member 6 were placed on the access member 7a, and the opening/closing lid 10 was closed to make the inside of the working chamber 11 the same atmosphere as the internal space 32a. Later, the movable lid member 8
b, indoor access member 7b, support member 6, treated material 5
are lowered together.

Next, the conveying members 14a, 14a are moved to advance the clamp holders 14b, 14b to positions corresponding to the peripheral sides of the supporting member 6, and the clamp holders 14b, 14b are rotated through the rotation of the conveying members 14a, 14a, and the first After engaging and gripping the peripheral side of the support member 6 as shown in FIG.
The conveyance members 14a, 14a are stopped at the position where the support member 6 overlaps with the indoor access member 7a of the movable lid member 8a, and the clamp holders 14b, 14b are rotated to engage the conveyance members 14a, 14a and the support member 6. After releasing, the movable lid member 8a is raised to seal the opening 2a of the high-pressure container 2, and the material to be treated 5 is removed through the indoor access member 7a and the support member 6
is introduced into the container 2 and hot isostatic pressing of the material 5 to be treated is obtained in a known manner.

Immediately after pressure forming is completed, the movable lid member 8a
is lowered, the material to be treated 5 is taken out from the container 2, and the first
In the state shown in FIG.
4b from the support member 6, the movable lid member 8b is raised, and the support member 6 and the material to be processed 5 are sent into the work chamber 11 via the interior entry/exit member 7b, and the opening 11a of the movable lid member 8b is closed. Then, after setting the working chamber 11 to an atmospheric atmosphere, the opening/closing lid 10 is opened, the workpiece 5 is taken out, and a new workpiece 5 is placed on the support member 6, thereby repeating the press cycle. In other words, the press cycle can proceed fully automatically, and the material to be processed can be inserted into and taken out of the high-pressure container even when the heater is in a high-temperature state with electricity on.
Since it is isolated from the outside air by the sealed tanks 12a and 12b and is kept in a non-oxidizing state, it can be carried out regardless of the oxidation prevention temperature of the heater, greatly improving productivity and achieving uniform and stable operation. It will be done.

That is, if the required work time according to the first embodiment is explained in terms of process with reference to FIGS. 6a and 6b, FIG. 6a shows that the heater is turned off after processing,
Fig. 6b shows the heater left on, and Fig. 6a shows that even though it takes about 3 hours for the initial temperature rise and pressure rise in the high-pressure container 2, and about 1 hour for holding the pressure molding, the heater remains on. When the machine is OFF, taking out the pressure-molded product from the container is shortened to about 1 hour because it can be taken out immediately by just lowering the pressure, and the time required for inserting and removing the material to be processed can be reduced by using one auxiliary station. It takes 2 hours to use. Although it depends on the physical properties of the product to be processed, if rapid temperature rise is acceptable, use the sixth method.
When the heater is kept on as shown in Figure b, the temperature and pressure increase time is shortened to about 1 hour.

Second Embodiment In the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, two auxiliary stations 32A and 32B are arranged adjacently to the main station 31 and in parallel with the main station 31 in between. The auxiliary station 32A is used as a station for inserting the material 5 to be processed, and the auxiliary station 32B is used as a station for taking out the material 5 to be processed. This station may incorporate a cooling or preheating member, which will be described later, to serve as a dual-purpose station.

The same reference numerals as in the first embodiment indicate the same members, and the differences are that in the insertion auxiliary station 32A, a gas supply path 54a and a vacuum pump 53 are provided in the working chamber 11A equipped with the opening/closing lid 10a.
A gas cylinder 51 and vacuum pumps 53a and 53c are provided together with pipes 54 and 55, respectively, on the work chamber 11B equipped with the opening/closing lid 10b and the sealed tank 12b side of the extraction auxiliary station 32B. The auxiliary insertion station 32A is provided with an indoor access member 7b, a movable lid member 8b, and a lifting device 13A.
Further, the extraction auxiliary station 32B is provided with an in/out member 7c, a movable lid member 8c, and a lifting device 13B.

Further, the sealed tanks 12a, 12b, needless to say, commonly cover the internal spaces 31a, 32a, 32a of each station 31, 32A, 32B, and in the transfer device 14, as shown in FIG. Parallel conveying members 14a, 1
4a, each station 31, 32A, 32B
Corresponding to the fact that the clamp holders 14b and 14b are arranged at regular center distances with equal pitches, two sets of clamp holders 14b, 14b are provided at the same pitch intervals.

In this second embodiment, hot isostatic pressure is applied to the material 5 to be treated, and the material 5 to be treated is inserted and removed as follows. That is, the state shown in FIG. 2A is the state in which the pressure forming of the material to be processed 5b is completed at the central main station 31, and the movable lid member 8a is
When the material to be processed 5b is taken out from the high-pressure container 2 together with the inlet/outlet member 7a and the support member 6 by descending, during the pressure forming operation at the main station 31, at the auxiliary insertion station 32A side, The movable lid member 8b is raised to close the opening 11a of the working chamber 11A, the opening/closing lid 10a is opened, a new material to be processed 5 is inserted and set on the loading/unloading member 7a together with the supporting member 6a, and the opening/closing lid is closed. After making the working chamber the same atmosphere as the internal space, the workpiece 5 is lowered by lowering the movable lid member 8b.
a for both the support member 6a and the indoor access member 7b,
As shown in the figure, the insertion operation of drawing the device into the internal space 32a can be performed, and the state shown in FIG. 2A appears. Therefore, from the state shown in this figure, the conveying members 14a,
Two sets of clamp holders 14b, 1 in 14a
4b is engaged with each of the supporting members 6a, 6b in the stations 32A, 31, respectively, and the conveying members 14a, 14a are moved to the right in the figure, and the pressure-formed material 5b is transferred to the auxiliary station for removal. In/out member 7c of movable lid member 8c in 32B
The new material to be processed 5a is placed directly opposite the top via the support member 6b, and the new material 5a is placed on the movable lid member 8a of the main station 31.
The transport members 14a, 14a are stopped, and the two sets of clamp holders 14b, 14b are removed from the respective supporting members 6b, 6a, and the main station 31 and the ejecting auxiliary The movable lid members 8a and 8c are respectively raised by the elevating devices 9 and 13B of the station, and at the main station 31, a new material to be processed 5a is charged into the high pressure container 2 and subjected to hot isostatic pressing. , In addition, in the auxiliary station for taking out 32B, the molded material to be processed 5b
After charging the workpiece into the work chamber 11B and making the work chamber the same atmosphere as the sealed tank, the opening/closing lid 10b is opened and the workpiece 5b is taken out.

During these two operations, the insertion auxiliary station 32
At A, a new workpiece 5 is inserted into the work chamber 11A. In this way, the state A in FIG. 2 is repeatedly reproduced, and the workpiece 5 is continuously
Insertion → pressure molding → extraction is obtained, insertion,
Since the take-out positions are independent, productivity is further improved compared to the first embodiment, and the material to be processed can be loaded and taken out at the same time. Since the heater can be kept energized continuously, the overall press cycle time can be significantly shortened and assembly work can be easily performed.

Third Embodiment In the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, three auxiliary stations 32A, 32B, and 32C are arranged adjacent to the main station 31. In addition to the extraction auxiliary stations 32A and 32B, a cooling auxiliary station 32C is added to perform cooling treatment as a post-treatment on the material 5 after pressure molding. is 32A, 3
The order is 1, 32C, and 32B. The same reference numerals as in the second embodiment indicate the same members, including a main station 31 and an auxiliary station 32 for insertion and removal.
A and 32B are the same as those in the second embodiment, so to describe the structure of the cooling auxiliary station 32C, the working chamber 11C in this station is simply held for cooling the material 5 to be processed after pressure molding. work room 11C.
The top is closed, and a movable lid member 8d that opens and closes the lower end opening 11a of the work chamber 11C by means of an elevating device 13C, and an indoor access member 7d provided on the upper surface of the movable lid member 8d. In order to forcibly cool the material 5 to be processed in the chamber 11C, a cooling medium supply/discharge pipe 56 is connected to the working chamber 11C so that the cooling medium can be freely supplied.

Furthermore, since the number of stations increases by one, the pair of transport members 14a, 14a in the transport device 14
As shown in FIG. 3B, the clamp holders 14b, 14, which can be freely engaged and detached from the support member 6, are placed at equal pitch intervals at the center of each station and at the same pitch intervals.
There are also three sets of group b, and the sealed tanks 12a, 12
b is each station 32A, 31, 32C, 32
Each internal space 32a, 31a, 32a, 32a of B
All of the spaces are commonly isolated from the outside world, and at the same time, they are provided so as to surround each space in a continuous manner.

The press cycle according to this third embodiment
The press cycle in the embodiment is a cycle of insertion→pressure molding→takeout, whereas the only difference is that the cycle is insertion→pressure molding→cooling→takeout, so this difference will be mainly explained.

The state shown in FIG. 3A is that of the main station 31.
Pressure forming of the material to be treated 5b is completed,
The movable lid member 8a descends to transfer the material 5b to the container 2.
When the material is taken out from the auxiliary station 32A, the insertion work of a new material 5a to be press-molded is completed in the auxiliary insertion station 32A, and in the auxiliary cooling station 32C, the material 5a is inserted into the work chamber 11C. The molded workpiece 5c that has been forcedly cooled is taken out from the work chamber 11c by the lowering of the movable lid member 8d and is at the position shown in the figure.

Therefore, from this state, the conveying members 14a, 14a
Three sets of clamp holders 14b, 14b in
The supporting members 6a, 6b, 6c of the materials to be processed 5a, 5b, 5c in each station 32A, 31, 32C are moved through the movement of the conveying members 14a, 14a.
The clamp holders 14b, 14b are engaged with and gripped by the respective supporting members 6a, 6b, 6c through the rotation of the conveying members 14a, 14a, and the conveying members 14
By moving a and 14a one pitch to the right in the figure, the cooled workpiece 5c is placed on the movable lid member 8c of the auxiliary extraction station 32B, and the pressure-formed workpiece 5b is placed on the cooling auxiliary station 32B. The new material 5a is placed on the movable lid member 8d of the station 32C, and the new material 5a is placed on the movable lid member 8a of the main station 31.
moved up.

Next, by raising the movable lid members 8a, 8d, and 8c of the main station 31, the cooling auxiliary station 32C, and the take-out auxiliary station 32B, the new workpiece 5a can be press-molded and taken out at the main station 31. At the auxiliary station 32B, the material to be processed 5c that has been pressure-formed and has undergone cooling processing is taken out.

On the other hand, in the cooling auxiliary station 32C, the movable lid member 8d rises and the work chamber 11a
The working chamber 11c is isolated from the internal space 32a and becomes independent, and the molded material 5b enters the working chamber 11 via the indoor access member 7d and the supporting member 6c.
held within c.

Therefore, the working chamber 1 is
By continuously introducing and discharging cooling air or other cooling medium into the material 1c, the material to be treated 5b
can be reliably and easily cooled down to the required temperature. As for the cooling method, there are a circulation method, a leaving method, etc., and either method may be used. (Detailed structure is not shown) During this time, a new workpiece 5 is inserted at the insertion auxiliary station 32A, so that the state shown in FIG. 3A is reproduced again.

According to this third embodiment, not only hot isostatic pressing of the material 5 to be processed, but also cooling work of the material to be processed, which is required after the process depending on the material properties of the material to be processed, is incorporated into the press cycle. , and it is now possible to complete this process, eliminating the need for separate cooling equipment outside the high-pressure vessel 2, and making it possible to proceed with this series of cycles with high efficiency, further improving productivity and reducing the cooling process. Sealed tanks 12a, 12
It is possible to maintain stable and uniform quality due to the movement within b and cooling within the working chamber 11c.
All equipment including cooling is compactly constructed.

Fourth Embodiment In the fourth embodiment shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, three auxiliary stations 32A, 32B, and 32D are arranged adjacent to the main station 31 for insertion and removal. Auxiliary station 32A, 32B
In addition, a preheating auxiliary station 32D is added for preheating the material 5 to be treated before pressure forming as a pre-treatment. Therefore, the station arrangement is in the order of 32A, 32D, 31, and 32B. The same reference numerals as in the third embodiment indicate the same members, and the main station 31 and the auxiliary stations 32A and 32B for insertion and removal are the same as in the third embodiment, so the auxiliary preheating station 32
Regarding the structure of D, since the working chamber 11D in the station 32D is for preheating the material 5 to be processed before pressure molding, the top of the working chamber 11D is closed and there is a heat insulating layer 3a inside. A preheating heater 4a is built in through the main station 31, and is similar to the heat insulating layer 3 and heater 4 in the high pressure vessel 2 of the main station 31.
A movable lid member 8e for freely opening and closing the lower end opening 11a of the work chamber 11D and an in/out member 7e provided on the upper surface of the movable lid member 8e are provided by 3D, and the rest is the same as the third embodiment. be.

According to this fourth embodiment, the press cycle in the third embodiment is inserted →
The only difference is that the cycle is insertion -> preheating -> pressure forming -> removal, whereas the cycle was pressure forming -> cooling -> removal, so this difference will be mainly explained. The state shown in FIG. 4A is when the pressure forming of the material to be processed 5c is completed at the main station 31, the movable lid member 8a is lowered, and the material to be processed 5c is
is taken out from the container 2, the insertion work of a new material 5a to be press-molded is completed at the auxiliary insertion station 32A, and the auxiliary preheating station 32D (which has an energizing device) is completed.
(not shown), the work room 11D
The material to be processed 5 to be pressure-formed after preheating is completed at
b due to the lowering of the movable lid member 8e, the working chamber 11
It is taken out from D and is in the position shown.

Therefore, from this state, the conveying members 14a, 14a
Three sets of clamp holders 14b, 14b in
The supporting members 6a, 6b, 6c of the materials to be processed 5a, 5b, 5c in each station 32A, 32D, 31 are moved through the movement of the conveying members 14a, 14a.
The clamp holders 14b, 14b are engaged with and gripped by the respective supporting members 6a, 6b, 6c through the rotation of the conveying members 14a, 14a, and the conveying members 14
By moving a and 14a one pitch to the right in the figure, the pressure-formed workpiece 5c is placed on the movable lid member 8c of the auxiliary removal station 32B, and the workpiece that has been preheated is 5b is sent onto the movable lid member 8a of the main station 31, and the next processed material 5a to be press-molded is sent onto the movable lid member 8e of the preheating auxiliary station 32D.

Next, by raising the movable lid members 8e, 8a, 8c of the preheating auxiliary station 32D, the main station 31, and the removal auxiliary station 32B, the preheated workpiece 5b is press-molded in the main station 31. Further, in the auxiliary take-out station 32B, the press-formed material 5c to be processed is taken out via the work chamber 11B.

In the preheating auxiliary station 32D, the movable lid member 8e is raised to seal the opening 11a of the working chamber 11D, and the working chamber 11D is closed to the internal space 32.
The required preheating of the material to be processed 5a is performed via the preheating heater 4a, which is isolated and isolated from the side a. In this case as well, since the atmosphere is protected as a preheater, even those that promote oxidation at high temperatures can be used.

During this time, a new workpiece 5 is inserted at the insertion auxiliary station 32A. Therefore, after completion of pressure forming at the main station 31, completion of preheating at the auxiliary preheating station 32D, and completion of the insertion operation at the auxiliary insertion station 32A, each movable lid member 8a, 8b, 8
By lowering c, the state A in FIG. 4 is reproduced.

According to this fourth embodiment, not only the hot isostatic pressing of the material 5 to be processed, but also the preheating work of the material to be processed, which is required in advance, can be incorporated into the press cycle and completed. becomes possible,
Separate preheating equipment outside the high-pressure vessel is not required, and this series of cycles can proceed with high efficiency, further improving productivity.Moreover, the preheating is performed under the same environment as the environment inside the high-pressure vessel. Since the movement is also carried out in a sealed tank, efficient, uniform and stable preheating can be obtained, the heating time in the high pressure vessel 2 can be shortened, and the entire apparatus including the preheating can be made compact.

Fifth Embodiment In the fifth embodiment shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B,
Four auxiliary stations 32A, 32B, 32C, and 32D are arranged adjacent to the main station 31, and the cooling auxiliary station 32C in the third embodiment and the preheating auxiliary station 32D in the fourth embodiment are subjected to a press cycle. Therefore, the arrangement of each station is: insertion auxiliary station 32A, preheating auxiliary station 32D, main station 31,
The cooling auxiliary station 32C is followed by the extraction auxiliary station 32B. The same reference numerals as in each of the above embodiments indicate the same members, and each station 31, 3
Since the structures of 2A, 32B, 32C, and 32D are completely the same, their explanation will be omitted. Sealed tank 12
Needless to say, a and 12b are used to commonly isolate all the stations from the outside world, and each internal space is covered in a communicating manner, and there are clamps that can be freely engaged and detached from the support member 6 of the material to be processed 5 in the conveying members 14a and 14a. There are four sets of holders 14b and 14b as shown in FIG. 5B.

According to this fifth embodiment, the press cycle is an insertion→preheating→press molding→cooling→extraction cycle. Already in the third and fourth embodiments, for preheating,
Since the operation contents of each cooling station are clear, only the essential parts of the series of cycles will be explained in FIG. 5A.

In FIG. 5A, the material to be processed 5c has been pressure-molded in the main station 31, taken out from the container 2, and lowered to the position shown in the figure, and the auxiliary station 32C for the cooling section has the material to be processed 5c.
The cooling process of the workpiece 5d that was press-formed before c is completed, and the preheating process of the workpiece 5b to be press-formed next is completed at the preheating auxiliary station 32D, and the insertion auxiliary station 32A At this point, the work of inserting the next processed material 5a to be molded is completed.

Therefore, in this state, the four sets of clamp holders 14b, 14b in the conveying members 14a, 14a are connected to the supporting members 6 of the respective workpieces 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d.
a, 6b, 6c, and 6d, respectively, and move the conveyor members 14a, 14a toward the right in the drawing.
By moving the cooled workpiece 5d to the auxiliary station for taking out 32B, the pressure-formed workpiece 5c to the auxiliary cooling station 32C,
The workpiece 5b that has been preheated for the next pressure molding is transported to the main station 31, and the newly inserted workpiece 5a for the next pressure molding is transported to the preheating auxiliary station 32D. Next, the cooled workpiece 5d is taken out at the station 32B, the pressure-molded workpiece 5c is cooled at the cooling auxiliary station 32C, the preheated workpiece 5b is press-formed at the main station 31, and preheating assistance is performed. In order to preheat the newly inserted workpiece 5a at the station 32D and insert the new workpiece 5 at the insertion auxiliary station 32A, a series of presses including insertion → preheating → pressure molding → cooling → removal is performed. The cycle repeats fully automatically.

According to this fifth embodiment, the hot isostatic pressing operation for the material to be processed 5 can be performed without the insertion and preheating required before the pressure forming, and the cooling and removal required after the pressure forming. The entire series of operations, including the above, can be carried out fully automatically, with the pressure-formed material 5 immediately after being pressure-formed in the high-pressure container 2 being discharged from the container, and with extremely high efficiency and eliminating dead time and loss time. In addition, since the material to be processed 5 is moved within the sealed tanks 12a and 12b during the entire process, processing can be performed in a uniform and stable environment, and improvements in productivity and quality can be expected. In addition, a compact construction of the device is easily possible.

The required working time for the second to fifth embodiments is shown in FIGS. 6a, 6b, and 6. In these embodiments, since dedicated auxiliary stations are used, The time required to insert and remove the material is reduced to about 0.5 hours, and from the second time onward, the temperature and pressure in the high-pressure container 2 are raised using a heater.
When the heater is turned off, the time is shortened to about 2 hours depending on the residual temperature, and when the heater is kept on, it is shortened to about 1 hour. Furthermore, in FIG. 6, since the material to be treated is preheated, the pressurization time is only about 0.5 hours. Above all, taking out the pressure-formed processed material from the high-pressure container does not require the conventional waiting time, allowing the press cycle to proceed with high efficiency and allowing the high-pressure container to be used repeatedly in a short period of time. It is clear that productivity will be greatly improved.

In each of the embodiments described above, the high pressure vessel 2 and the opening 2 of the working chamber 11 in each station
Both a and 11a are the lower ends, but the same effect can be obtained by turning them upside down and making the openings 2a and 11a the upper ends. These may be horizontal, and although they are arranged in series in the embodiment, they may be arranged in a circular loop.

Furthermore, in the third to fifth embodiments, the auxiliary station for inserting and taking out the material to be processed is used only for insertion and for taking out, but as described in the first embodiment, an auxiliary station for both insertion and removal is used. It may also be a station.

Furthermore, the pre-treatments and post-treatments to be applied to the material 5 before pressure forming or after pressure forming are not limited to preheating and cooling, but also preheating and cooling can be performed by installing multiple identical auxiliary stations in series. , it is also possible to perform the processing work in stages.

(Effects of the Invention) As described in detail above, according to the first technical means of the present invention, the material to be treated can be inserted into and taken out of the high-pressure container even if the material to be treated is in a high-temperature state with the heater energized. Since the HIP cycle is isolated from the outside air, the HIP cycle can be performed regardless of the heater oxidation prevention temperature, allowing the HIP cycle to proceed fully automatically and continuously. Stable operation becomes possible.

This is achieved by insulating the internal spaces of the main station and the auxiliary stations for insertion and removal from the outside world with a common sealed tank, and by creating the same environmental atmosphere as the inside of the high-pressure vessel. This allows the material to be processed to be transported and processed inside the container, thereby eliminating any fear of deterioration or damage to the material to be processed, and is effective in maintaining stable and reliable quality. Furthermore, the working chamber of the auxiliary station for insertion and extraction can freely communicate with the inside of the tank and is isolated by a movable lid, so necessary pre-processing and post-processing can be carried out independently in an environment suitable for that purpose. is also easy.

According to the second technical means of the present invention, in addition to the above-mentioned first technical means, an auxiliary cooling station is provided and the working chamber of this station can be opened and closed. There is an advantage that cooling, which is a post-treatment of the treated material, can be carried out independently in an environment suitable for this purpose.

Furthermore, according to the third technical means of the present invention, in addition to the above-mentioned first technical means, an auxiliary preheating station is provided and the working chamber of this station can be opened and closed. The preheating of the material to be treated can be pretreated during HIP in an environment suitable for this purpose.

Furthermore, according to the fourth technical means of the present invention, in addition to the first technical means described above, each auxiliary station for preheating and cooling is provided, and the working chamber of each station can be opened and closed. , During pressurization (during HIP) at the main station, preheating of the material to be processed is performed in the preheating workroom, and HIP is performed in the cooling workroom.
Subsequent cooling of the materials to be treated can be carried out independently in environments suitable for each.

Finally, as a common advantage of the present invention, continuous HIP
However, the device can be made extremely compact,
This is of great practical benefit as it makes it possible to industrially mass-produce hot isostatically pressed products using high-pressure vessels.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1A is a vertical sectional front view of the first embodiment of the present invention apparatus, FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional plan view of the main conveyance part, FIG. Fig. 2B is a longitudinal sectional front view, and Fig. 3B is a transverse plan view of the main transport part.
Figure A is a vertical sectional front view of the third embodiment, Figure 3 B is a cross-sectional plan view of the main transport part, Figure 4 A is a vertical front view of the fourth embodiment, and Figure 4 B is the main transport part. cross-sectional plan,
FIG. 5A is a vertical sectional front view of the fifth embodiment, FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional plan view of the main conveyance part, FIGS. 6a and b are operation explanatory diagrams of the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. a,
b is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the second and third embodiments of the present invention, FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the fourth and fifth embodiments of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the conventional example. 1...Press frame, 2...High pressure container, 3...
... heat insulation layer, 4 ... heater, 5 ... material to be treated, 7,
7a, 7b, 7c, 7d... Indoor access member, 8,
8a, 8b, 8c, 8d...Movable lid member, 9, 1
3... Lifting device, 10... Opening/closing lid, 11, 11
A, 11B, 11C, 11D...Each work room, 12
a, 12b... Sealed tank, 14... Transfer device,
14a...Transportation member, 31...Main station,
32A, 32B, 32C, 32D... each auxiliary station, 31a, 32a... each internal space, 2
a, 11a...opening.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A high-pressure container for hot isostatic pressing that is functionally capable of opening at least one end, a movable lid member for opening and closing the one open end, and an accessory to the movable lid member. a main station having a member for taking the material to be processed into and out of the container; a working chamber having one end open and for inserting and removing the material to be processed;
An auxiliary station for inserting and taking out the material to be processed is provided, the main station having a movable lid member for opening and closing one open end of the working chamber, and an inlet/outlet member for the material to be processed attached to the movable lid member; The auxiliary stations for insertion and removal are arranged adjacently, the internal space of the main station and the internal space of the auxiliary stations for insertion and removal are commonly isolated from the outside world and are brought into a vacuum state or a necessary gas atmosphere, and each Hot isostatic pressurization characterized by providing a sealed tank that surrounds an internal space in a continuous manner; and further provided with a conveying device that allows the material to be processed to move freely across each of the spaces within the sealed tank. Device. 2. A high-pressure container for hot isostatic pressing that is functionally operable to open at least one end, a movable lid member for opening and closing the one open end, and a container for a material to be treated attached to the movable lid member. a main station having an inlet/outlet member; a working chamber which is open at one end and in which the material to be treated is inserted and taken out;
An auxiliary station for inserting and taking out the material to be processed is provided, which has a movable lid member for opening and closing one open end of the working chamber, and a member for allowing the material to be taken into and out of the room attached to the movable lid member; and a cooling auxiliary station having a working chamber for cooling the material to be processed, a movable lid member for opening and closing one open end of the working chamber, and an indoor/outlet member for the material to be processed attached to the movable lid member. Provision: The main station, the auxiliary station for insertion and removal, and the auxiliary cooling station are arranged adjacently, and the internal spaces of the main station, the auxiliary station for insertion and removal, and the auxiliary cooling station are commonly isolated from the outside world. In addition, a vacuum state or a necessary gas atmosphere is provided, and a sealed tank is provided that surrounds each internal space in a continuous manner; Furthermore, within the sealed tank, a transport device is provided that allows the material to be processed to be freely moved across each of the spaces. A hot isostatic pressurizing device characterized by being provided. 3. A high-pressure container for hot isostatic pressing that is functionally operable to open at least one end, a movable lid member for opening and closing the one open end, and a container for a material to be treated attached to the movable lid member. a main station having an inlet/outlet member; a working chamber which is open at one end and in which the material to be treated is inserted and taken out;
An auxiliary station for inserting and taking out the material to be processed is provided, which has a movable lid member for opening and closing one open end of the working chamber, and a member for allowing the material to be taken into and out of the room attached to the movable lid member; and a preheating auxiliary station having a work chamber for preheating the material to be processed, a movable lid member for opening and closing one open end of the work chamber, and a member for entering and exiting the material to be processed into the room attached to the movable lid member. ; the main station;
An auxiliary station for insertion and removal and an auxiliary station for preheating are arranged adjacently,
The internal spaces of the main station, the auxiliary station for insertion and removal, and the auxiliary preheating station are commonly isolated from the outside world and brought into a vacuum state or a necessary gas atmosphere, and a sealed tank is provided that surrounds each internal space in a continuous manner; The hot isostatic pressurizing apparatus further comprises a conveyance device that allows the material to be treated to be moved freely across the spaces in the sealed tank. 4. A high-pressure container for hot isostatic pressing that is functionally operable to open at least one end, a movable lid member for opening and closing the one open end, and a container for a material to be treated attached to the movable lid member. a main station having an inlet/outlet member; a working chamber which is open at one end and in which the material to be treated is inserted and taken out;
An auxiliary station for inserting and taking out the material to be processed is provided, which has a movable lid member for opening and closing one open end of the working chamber, and an inlet/outlet member for the material to be processed attached to the movable lid member; each end is open. each working chamber for cooling and preheating the material to be processed; each movable lid member for opening and closing each open end of the working chamber; and the interior entry/exit member for the material to be processed, etc. attached to each movable lid member. auxiliary stations for cooling and preheating; the main station, the auxiliary station for insertion and removal, and the auxiliary stations for cooling and preheating are arranged adjacently, and the main station, the auxiliary station for insertion and removal; and a sealed tank that commonly isolates each internal space of each auxiliary station for cooling and preheating from the outside world and makes it in a vacuum state or a necessary gas atmosphere, and surrounds each internal space in a continuous manner; A hot isostatic pressurizing apparatus, characterized in that a conveying device is provided in which the material to be treated can be freely moved throughout each of the spaces.