US20070277912A1 - Arrangement for gas quenching of heat-treated parts and method for carrying out same - Google Patents

Arrangement for gas quenching of heat-treated parts and method for carrying out same Download PDF

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Publication number
US20070277912A1
US20070277912A1 US11/805,279 US80527907A US2007277912A1 US 20070277912 A1 US20070277912 A1 US 20070277912A1 US 80527907 A US80527907 A US 80527907A US 2007277912 A1 US2007277912 A1 US 2007277912A1
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United States
Prior art keywords
gas
quenching
cooling
cooling gas
arrangement
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Abandoned
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US11/805,279
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English (en)
Inventor
Josef Ruppel
Gerhard Welzig
Volker Heuer
Klaus Loser
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ALD Vacuum Technologies GmbH
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Individual
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Assigned to ALD VACUUM TECHNOLOGIES GMBH reassignment ALD VACUUM TECHNOLOGIES GMBH ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: RUPPEL, JOSEF, WELZIG, GERHARD, HEUER, VOLKER, LOSER, KLAUS
Publication of US20070277912A1 publication Critical patent/US20070277912A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
    • C21D—MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING
    • C21D1/00—General methods or devices for heat treatment, e.g. annealing, hardening, quenching or tempering
    • C21D1/62—Quenching devices
    • C21D1/673—Quenching devices for die quenching
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
    • C21D—MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING
    • C21D11/00—Process control or regulation for heat treatments

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an arrangement for gas quenching heat-treated structural components with a quenching chamber for the batch-wise acceptance of the structural components, with a cooling gas circulation comprising a ventilator and connected to the quenching chamber and a cooling device for cooling the cooling gas heated on the structural components as well as a measuring device for determining the temperature of the cooling gas at least at one site in the cooling gas circulation as well as a regulating device for regulating the cooling device.
  • heat-treated structural components can be quenched such that their austenitic structure undergoes transformation to bainite.
  • Preconditions for this transformation is rapid cooling of the structural components from the austenisation temperature, which is typically between 850 to 950 EC, to a holding temperature, which, depending on the material, is between 150 and 400 EC. After the structural component has cooled down, it is held at the holding temperature. Rapid quenching and holding at a specific holding temperature are important for the process since too slow a cooling leads to the formation of pearlite and if the temperature falls below the holding temperature, martensite is formed. Both structure forms are undesirable and lower the quality of the structural component. Bainitic tempering is currently predominantly carried out in a salt bath.
  • the structural components are transferred while exposed from the austenization furnace to a liquid salt bath at holding temperature and are immersed therein.
  • the structural components When the structural components have cooled to holding temperature in the salt bath, they are transferred to an air circulation furnace in which the transformation to a bainitic structure occurs.
  • disadvantage is here the expenditure for the subsequent cleaning of the structural components.
  • cleaning compatible with reliable production results is not possible, which may lead to corrosive attack and, entailed therein, to failure of the structural component.
  • Transfer of the structural components through the air represents a further disadvantage, since herein the structural component surfaces oxidize.
  • Further disadvantages result from the fact that the quenching salts employed are environmentally harmful and the treatment can only be automated with difficulty i.e it cannot be integrated into a production line.
  • the invention therefore addresses the problem of providing measures with which the process control is devised to be simplified and be more reliable, and, in particular, supercooling of the structural components, even if only occurring in sections, is to be avoided.
  • the invention provides as a solution of the problem that a thermal buffer is disposed in the cooling gas circulation.
  • thermal buffer is to be understood a structure with high thermal capacity with the capability of absorbing large heat quantities without its temperature being significantly increased.
  • the heat capacity is here to be measured from the heat capacities of the installation itself and from the quantity of the cooling gas to be circulated.
  • Such a buffer can absorb a large quantity of heat in particular in the quenching phase, such that the regulation of the further devices for the cooling of the cooling gas only has low regulation intensity, whereby in particular overdriving is avoided.
  • the cooling gas absorbs thermal energy again from the buffer, however, without its temperature drastically increasing herein, since, due to its high thermal capacity, the buffer had previously only experienced a slight temperature increase and its temperature is therewith virtually at the predetermined holding temperature. Therefore additional regulating interventions are only minimally necessary even in the temperature holding phase such that overdriving is here also avoided.
  • One form of the cooling device for cooling the cooling gas heated on the structural components is comprised of a gas outlet from the cooling gas circulation downstream of the quenching chamber and of a valve-controlled cooling gas intake connected to a gas tank, upstream of the quenching chamber.
  • the gas is either at ambient temperature or at the holding temperature. Under the control of the pressure, precisely that quantity of cooling gas is discharged from the gas outlet which corresponds to the quantity of the gas supplied into the cooling gas circulation via the cooling gas intake.
  • the thermal buffer seen in the direction of flow, is preferably ahead of the cooling gas intake, such that first a temperature regulation “through the buffer” takes place and only subsequently through the supply of cooled liquid cooling gas a succeeding fine regulation occurs, which therefore can be carried out free of overdriving.
  • the supplied cooling gas is an intensively cooled gas
  • the cooling can also be comprised of a parallel line to the cooling gas circulation disposed parallel to the thermal buffer, in which line a heat exchanger is disposed.
  • the buffer is preferably a metallic structure with a large surface and with high thermal mass relative to the circulated gas stream.
  • the buffer can be, for example, a tubing bundle. Such a tubing bundle is simple in production and only needs to be disposed in the cooling gas circulation in order to develop the desired buffer effect.
  • a heating means is disposed in the cooling gas circulation located preferably ahead of the thermal buffer. With the heating means the arrangement is to be brought to the projected holding temperature before the batch to be quenched is loaded into the quenching chamber. Since the heating means is located immediately ahead of the buffer, the buffer is also preheated to the holding temperature before the batch is loaded. Due to the effect of the buffer, a base temperature for the automatic regulation is set as a result.
  • the cooling of the cooling gas during the quenching process can take place through the supply of gas at ambient temperature or it can take place with a intensively cooled gas, which is especially effective.
  • the thermal conditions in a salt bath are ideally emulated, however, without having to accept the significant disadvantages of salt baths described above.
  • the structural components no longer need to be cleaned after the heat treatment, such that components with narrow bores can also be treated, which in installations according to prior art could not be tempered bainitically.
  • the advantage is gained that during the entire quenching process the structural components are quenched with hot gas such that complex and complicated structural component geometries can also be treated with process reliability.
  • FIGURE indicates schematically an arrangement in order to clarify the invention.
  • the arrangement is comprised of a quenching chamber 1 , into which is loaded a batch of structural components 2 to be cooled and which, not further shown here, can be hermetically closed.
  • the quenching chamber 1 is disposed in a cooling gas circulation 3 with the cooling gas being conducted into the quenching chamber 1 through an inflow 4 and is conducted out of it again via an outflow 5 , after having been directed over the structural components 2 .
  • a ventilator 6 driven by an electric motor, which circulates the gas in the cooling gas circulation.
  • a line to a collecting tank 8 branches off at an outlet 7 .
  • an overpressure valve 9 which is set, for example, to 6 bar, such that with a supply of gas, described in the following, into the cooling gas circulation 3 , which would result in an increase of pressure, at outlet 7 a corresponding quantity of gas is again taken out of the cooling gas circulation 3 , such that there is always the same quantity of gas in the circulation.
  • a heat exchanger 9 a which cools the heated cooling gas down again on its way into the collecting tank 8 .
  • the outlet 7 is followed by a heating means 10 in the cooling gas circulation 3 , which is succeeded by a thermal buffer 11 , wherein the buffer may have the form of a tubing bundle.
  • a thermal buffer 11 wherein the buffer may have the form of a tubing bundle.
  • the intakes 12 are connected to a first supply tank 13 for cooling gas, which is preheated to holding temperature.
  • a further connection is set up to a second supply tank 14 , in which the cooling gas is kept at ambient temperature.
  • This second supply tank 14 is fed from the collecting tank 8 via a compressor 15 .
  • a further connection of intakes 12 is set up to a third supply tank 16 with a highly supercooled liquified gas, for example with liquid nitrogen. All of the connections are valve controlled (intake valves 17 , 18 , 19 ).
  • the thermal buffer can also be disposed directly ahead of the ventilator 6 and following the intakes 12 .
  • the position is of interest especially if via the intake 12 an intensively cooled gas is let from the third supply tank 16 into the cooling gas circulation as additional cooling gas.
  • the temperature equalization in the buffer prevents in this case a possible supercooling of the structural components.
  • a temperature sensor 20 is located within the quenching chamber 1 in the inflow 4 to the structural components 2 .
  • the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 20 is acquired By means of a regulation device 21 and taken into account for the regulation of the cooling gas temperature through the actuation of the intake valves 17 , 18 , 19 and of the heating means 10 .
  • a parallel line 22 may be provided extending parallel to the section of the cooling gas circulation with the thermal buffer 11 , which is also valve controlled (valve 23 ), and includes a heat exchanger 24 .
  • the procedure for quenching structural components 2 of a batch is as follows: If this has not yet taken place, by starting the heating means 10 and by circulating of, for example, air in the cooling gas circulation by means of the ventilator 6 , the quenching chamber 1 and the cooling gas circulation 3 , which are both thermally insulated through a suitably disposed insulating layer 26 , are heated to the desired holding temperature of, for example 250 EC. Also preheated to holding temperature is the gas supply in the first supply tank 13 . The gas in the second supply tank 14 is at ambient temperature.
  • This preheating is optionally repeated with succeeding quenching processes and the installation brought to holding temperature. For repeated preheating it is possibly sufficient to utilize the thermal energy introduced into the chamber with the ventilator 6 via the circulated gas volume.
  • the quenching chamber is subsequently evacuated and with the aid of a transport arrangement a batch is removed from a preceding vacuum furnace and transferred into the preheated quenching chamber.
  • the preceding furnace is a protective gas furnace
  • the quenching chamber is additionally filled with a protective gas, in order to maintain the protective gas atmosphere for the structural components.
  • the quenching chamber can also already be preheated with protective gas.
  • the ventilator 6 is started.
  • the preheated cooling gas is subsequently introduced into the quenching chamber 1 from the first supply tank 13 via the first intake valve 17 until the desired working pressure has been reached.
  • the working pressure can be between 1 to 20 bar.
  • the temperature of the cooling gas is herein measured in inflow 4 to the quenching chamber 1 .
  • the cooling gas is heated above the holding temperature.
  • the second intake valve 18 the ambient-temperature cooling gas is introduced into the cooling gas circulation from the second supply tank 14 .
  • a corresponding quantity of gas is simultaneously drained via the pressure valve 9 into the collecting tank 8 .
  • the second intake valve 18 is actuated by means of a controller 21 as a function of the measured gas temperature.
  • the heating means 10 can also be including in the regulation as a further regulating element.
  • an intensively cooled liquid cooling gas for example nitrogen
  • an intensively cooled liquid cooling gas for example nitrogen
  • nitrogen can also be sprayed into the quenching chamber 1 from the third supply tank 16 .
  • the gas consumption is thereby considerably lowered and the method becomes more economical.
  • a further variant of the means for conducting off heat incorporates the parallel line 22 . Via the regulatable valve 23 in the parallel line 22 a substream of the circulating cooling gas can be conducted across the heat exchanger 24 and can therewith be cooled.
  • the thermal buffer 11 With the aid of the thermal buffer 11 this regulation is improved and made less sensitive.
  • the thermal buffer 11 At the start of the process the thermal buffer 11 is also heated to holding temperature. If, during the quenching, the hot gas flows through this buffer 11 , a large portion of the heat quantity is initially given off to this buffer. Due to its high thermal mass, the temperature of the buffer 11 increases herein only minimally.
  • the buffer 11 At the end of the quenching process the buffer 11 is cooled down again through the gas stream which, in the meantime, has reached holding temperature. In this way, the expenditures for the regulation technique decrease since the temperature peaks can be efficiently buffered in the thermal mass.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Crystallography & Structural Chemistry (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Furnace Details (AREA)
  • Heat Treatments In General, Especially Conveying And Cooling (AREA)
US11/805,279 2006-05-31 2007-05-22 Arrangement for gas quenching of heat-treated parts and method for carrying out same Abandoned US20070277912A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE102006025737.5A DE102006025737B4 (de) 2006-05-31 2006-05-31 Vorrichtung zur Gasabschreckung von wärmebehandelten Bauteilen und Verfahren zur Durchführung einer Gasabschreckung
DE102006025737.5 2006-05-31

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US20070277912A1 true US20070277912A1 (en) 2007-12-06

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US (1) US20070277912A1 (de)
DE (1) DE102006025737B4 (de)
FR (1) FR2905382B1 (de)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20090143725A1 (en) * 2007-08-31 2009-06-04 Abbott Diabetes Care, Inc. Method of Optimizing Efficacy of Therapeutic Agent
CN113373286A (zh) * 2021-05-28 2021-09-10 吴江市新申铝业科技发展有限公司 一种铝合金型材挤压生产液氮冷却淬火设备及铝合金型材冷却淬火工艺
CN116287654A (zh) * 2023-04-24 2023-06-23 山西富兴通重型环锻件有限公司 一种风电法兰环冷却设备

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN103409611A (zh) * 2013-07-18 2013-11-27 吴江市黎里建兴铸件厂 一种冷却器
DE102021130969A1 (de) 2021-11-25 2023-05-25 Ald Vacuum Technologies Gmbh Verfahren und System zum Bainitisieren metallischer Werkstücke

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1339190A (en) * 1919-03-26 1920-05-04 Fuller George Freeman Method and apparatus for controlling furnace-temperature
US4195820A (en) * 1978-04-10 1980-04-01 Pyreflex Corporation Precise thermal processing apparatus
US5121903A (en) * 1991-03-11 1992-06-16 Vacuum Furnace Systems Corporation Quenching arrangement for a furnace
US5485730A (en) * 1994-08-10 1996-01-23 General Electric Company Remote cooling system for a superconducting magnet
US20010000931A1 (en) * 1999-11-04 2001-05-10 Zurfluh Thomas O. Heat treat fixture apparatus and method of heat treat hardening thin metal work pieces
US20060090478A1 (en) * 2004-11-02 2006-05-04 Zia Jalal H Cryocooler operation with getter matrix

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE681750C (de) * 1935-12-08 1939-09-30 Siemens Schuckertwerke Akt Ges Verfahren zur regelbaren Abkuehlung von Gluehoefen
DE19902032C1 (de) * 1999-01-20 2000-06-21 Bosch Gmbh Robert Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Temperaturregelung beim trockenen Bainitisieren
DE10304945A1 (de) * 2003-02-06 2004-08-19 Loi Thermprocess Gmbh Verfahren zum Wärmebehandeln von Metallteilen unter Schutzgas

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1339190A (en) * 1919-03-26 1920-05-04 Fuller George Freeman Method and apparatus for controlling furnace-temperature
US4195820A (en) * 1978-04-10 1980-04-01 Pyreflex Corporation Precise thermal processing apparatus
US5121903A (en) * 1991-03-11 1992-06-16 Vacuum Furnace Systems Corporation Quenching arrangement for a furnace
US5485730A (en) * 1994-08-10 1996-01-23 General Electric Company Remote cooling system for a superconducting magnet
US20010000931A1 (en) * 1999-11-04 2001-05-10 Zurfluh Thomas O. Heat treat fixture apparatus and method of heat treat hardening thin metal work pieces
US20060090478A1 (en) * 2004-11-02 2006-05-04 Zia Jalal H Cryocooler operation with getter matrix

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20090143725A1 (en) * 2007-08-31 2009-06-04 Abbott Diabetes Care, Inc. Method of Optimizing Efficacy of Therapeutic Agent
CN113373286A (zh) * 2021-05-28 2021-09-10 吴江市新申铝业科技发展有限公司 一种铝合金型材挤压生产液氮冷却淬火设备及铝合金型材冷却淬火工艺
CN116287654A (zh) * 2023-04-24 2023-06-23 山西富兴通重型环锻件有限公司 一种风电法兰环冷却设备

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FR2905382B1 (fr) 2011-03-04
DE102006025737A1 (de) 2007-12-06
FR2905382A1 (fr) 2008-03-07
DE102006025737B4 (de) 2016-09-22

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Owner name: ALD VACUUM TECHNOLOGIES GMBH, GERMANY

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:RUPPEL, JOSEF;WELZIG, GERHARD;HEUER, VOLKER;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:019594/0079;SIGNING DATES FROM 20070619 TO 20070620

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