US2188257A

US2188257A - Machine for heat-treating metal articles

Info

Publication number: US2188257A
Application number: US162428A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bertis H Urschel
Original assignee: Urschel Engineering Co
Current assignee: Urschel Engineering Co
Priority date: 1937-09-04
Filing date: 1937-09-04
Publication date: 1940-01-23
Anticipated expiration: 1957-01-23

Description

Jan. 23, 1940. BQH. uRscHEL MACHINE FOR HEAT-TREAT'ING METAL ARTK'JLES Filed Sept. 4, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 @@CQL/ @of/d2@ Jan. 23, 1940. B. H.UR.,HE1.v 2,188,257

MACHINE FOR HEAT-TREATING METAL ARTICLES Filed Sept. 4, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 gmc/nm Jan. 23, 1940. B, H, URSCHEL 2,188,257

MACHINE FOR HEATLTREATING METAL ARTICLES Filed Sept. 4, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan' 23 1940- B; H. URscHEl. 2,188,257

MACHINE FOR HEAT-TREATING METAL ARTICLES Fild sept. 4. 1937 s sheets-sheet 4 Jan. 23, 1940. a'. H. uRscHEl. 2,138,257

MACHINE FOR HEAT-TREATING METAL ARTICLES Filed Sept. 4, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 me/w HC1 i0 -l Y MACHINE FOR HEAT-TREATING METAL ARTICLES Filed sept. 4, 19:57 e sheets-sheet s lullin/111111111111 i Patented Jan. 23,I 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR HEAT-TREAT-ING METAL ARTICLES Bertis H. Urschel, Bowling Green, Ohio, assigner to Urschel Engineering Company, Bowling Green, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application September 4, 1937, Serial No. 162,428 l l 9 Claims. (Cl. 266-6) My invention has for its object to provide a the wall of the pipe and a straight wall strucmachine for manipulating heated bodies to proture of high resistance to all forms of strains duce desired physical properties or shapes to and stresses. Thus, the invention eliminates the render them more efficient for the purposes necessity of reheating or straightening and temwhich they are to perform or the uses to which perature drawing the pipes to eliminate localized 5 they are to be subjected. Particularly, the inhardening of wall portions of the pipes. vention has for its object to produce a machine The invention also provides means for profor heat-treating pipes formed of steel and algressively increasing the pressure on the objects loys of steel to greatly increase their strength as the temperature decreases during the heat- 10 and resistance to fracture. The invention entreatment to shape or maintain form as the 10 ables the production of pipes for containing rigidity of the pipe well increases. fluids of exceedingly high pressures and used The invention also provides a method and for a great variety of purposes. As is well known, means for producing variations of temper of porpipe casings, such as are commonly used in oil tions of steel elements such as to produce temelds, extend to a great depth and are subjected pered portions for machine cutting. 1 to enormous pressures and stresses, particularly, The invention also provides a method and when the greater depths are reached and also, means for hardening steel bodies along denite particularly, during the downward movement of areas of surface portions, as in the case of pipes the casing as the drilling operations progress. or rods, to harden circular surface portions and 'Ihe invention provides means for producing yieldable tempered intermediate portions of each 20 a uniform rate of chilling of the walls to obtain element and thereby produce high resistanceto exact and uniform chilling temperatures throughstrains, particularly to compression strains, and out the relatively thin wall of pipes which have flexibility of the element as a whole. been heated above the higher critical tempera- The invention also provides a machine structure, depending upon the steel content or charture for manipulating and heat-treating large 25 acter of alloy, and cessation ofA chilling, at substeel elements which may be made at a relatively stantially a definite steel color or temperature, low cost. such as about 1000", Ato produce the required The invention consists in other features and temper or hardness or strength. advantages that will appear from the following The invention also provides a means for quickdescription and upon examination of the draw- 30 ly submerging surface portions of the pipe to a ings forming a part hereof. Structures containuniform depth throughout the length of the pipe ing the invention may partake of different forms and, also, quickly emerging at the required time and may be varied in their details and still eminterval without causing splashing of the coolbody the invention. To illustrate a practical aping liquid whereby uniform change in the templication of the invention, I have selected a heat- 35 perature of the pipe throughout its length may treating and straightening machine as an exam- 4be maintained. The invention also provides a ple of the various structures that contain the inmeans for surface hardening the exterior survention and shall describe the selected structure face of the pipe, which will increase resistance hereinafter, it being understood that certain feato abrasion during the movement of the pipe over tures of my invention may be used to advantage 4o the rock surface as it descends within the bore without a corresponding use of other features of during well drilling. the invention and Without departing from the The invention also provides a machine wherespirit of the invention as presented in the claims. by the pipes may be rapidly straightened, heat- The particular structure selected is shown in the treated, and cooled to rigidity while maintainaccompanying drawings. 45 ing the pipes straight. Fig. 1 of the drawings illustrates a top view of The invention also provides means for cooling the particular machine selected as an example of the entire wall of each pipe at a uniform rate of embodiments of the invention. Fig. 2 is a side temperature change to the proper drawing temview of one end part of the machine. Fig. 3 is an perature, depending upon the steel characterenlarged top view of the other end part of the 50 istics or steel content, and allowing the pipe to machine. Fig. 4 illustrates a pipe end-closing slowly cool to a suitable temperature, such as and clamping member. Fig. 5 illustrates a view 800 or 900 Fahrenheit, while maintaining the of a section taken on the plane of the line 5-5 pipe straight to remove all internal stresses and indicated in Fig. l. Fig. 6 illustrates a View of produce uniform physical properties throughout a part of the end of the machine. Fig. '7 illus- 55 tion shown in Fig. 'I and on the plane of the line 3 8 indicated in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 illustrates an enlarged broken view of one of the pressure valves of the machine and a hydrostatic pressure means for controlling the valve. Fig. 10 illustrates diagrammatically parts of the machine and the fluid pressure and electric circuits used in connection therewith. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of parts of the machine and particularly illustrates the arrangement of the nozzles and the rotated element that is heat-treated by the machine. Fig. 12 is a view of a section of a part of the machine to show the location of one of the nozzles. Fig. 13 illustrates a section of a pipe heat-treated in the machine and indicates the surface hardened portions produced in the heat-treatment. Fig. 14 illustrates a thermostatic liquid control means for controlling the temperature of the heat-treatment liquid.

The supporting structural parts or bed I of the machine shown in the drawings may be formed of concrete. It is provided with a closed reservoir part 2 and a trough part 3 which are connected together by a plurality of passageways 4. The

parts

2 and 3 are partially filled with a liquid, such as water, and a pneumatic pressure producing means, such as blower 5 of a type suiilcient to create a pneumatic pressure of 8 or 10 ounces, is connected to the reservoir part 2 through a suitable opening, such as the opening 1. for lowering the water in the reservoir part 2 by the pressure of the blower 5 and causing it to move through the passageways 4 into the trough part 3 to raise its level in the trough part when the blower operates and to return to the reservoir part and lower the level in the trough part when the blower ceases to operate or'when its pressure is cut oil.

'Ihemachine is vdesigned for heat-treating and straightening pipes that may be of any length, such as from to 40 feet long and 6 to l2 inches in diameter and in order to produce immediate and undisturbed transmission of the`water from the reservoir part 2 into the trough part 3, a plurality of large passageways 4 are used for interconnecting the said parts of the machine. Thus, the level of the water is caused to quickly and uniformly rise in the trough part 3 without any disturbance or splashing of the water when extraatmospheric pressure is produced in the reservoir.

and to quickly return the water to the reservoir when the additional pressure ceases.

The pipes are heated by a suitable furnace to a temperature above the critical temperatures of the steel or alloys of which the pipes are formed in the manner well known in the art of steel tempering. I'hey are directed or conveyed to the machine singly by any suitable means, such as over tracks 9 that direct each pipe 9 onto suitably aligned pairs of rollers I0 that rotatably support the pipe while in the machine.

In order to heat-treat extremely long pipes', the machine is provided with a plurality of units I3 distributed along the trough part 3 of the machine, each unit comprising a, meansjor rotatably supporting each pipe as it is heat-treated and a pressure mechanism for straightening the pipe. The rollers are supported on short shafts I| located in the gear housings I2. The rollers I0 are located exterior the side walls of the housings and the shafts II are supported in suitable bearings 6 located on or formed in the side walls of the housings I2. The shafts |I of the units are driven by gear wheels I4 that are connected to the shafts |I and mesh with the gear wheels I5 secured to the shafts I1. The shaft Il of each unit is rotatably supported in the end walls of the Y are provided with suitable flange parts that enable bolting the units to the bed, such as by stud bolts partially embedded in the concrete of the bed.

The pairs of rollers IIl of each unit are spaced apart and so as to engage the pipe at points located angularly 120 apart and pressure rollers are disposed by suitable mechanism at points intermediate the rollers I0 as measured on the circle of the exterior cylindrical surface of the pipe. The pressure rollers 20 are located on levers 2| supported on brackets 22 that may be secured to or form integral parts of the housings I2. The levers 2| are each provided with a head 23 on which an electric motor 24 is mounted. A shaft 25 is rotatably supported in the head 23 and is connected to the motor 24. A gear wheel 21 is connected to the shaft 25 and meshes with a gear wheel 23 that is secured to a shaft 30. The shaft is also rotatably supported in the head 23. The pressure rollers 20 are located on the ends of the shafts 30 of the units so as to engage the pipe 9 when the heads 23 are lowered by the movements of the levers 2|. The motors I8 and 24 coact to rotate the pipe at a relatively high speed to insure, through the rollers, uniformity of bending in straightening and uniformity of chilling in heat-treating the pipe.

A suitable meansk is provided for independently manipulating the levers and exerting pressures that are transmitted through the rollers 20 to the pipe. In the form of construction shown, one end of each lever is provided with a toggle joint 29 comprising the links 3|, one of which is pivotally connected to a bracket 32 that is secured to the bed of the machine. The links 3| are connected together by a suitable pin 34 which forms the z central joint of the toggle construction. A pneumatic pressure means 33 may be used for manipulating the pressure rollers 20 through the operation of the toggle 29. Inasmuch as the pairs of rollers I0 of the machine are located in axial alignment, the pressure of the rollers 20 on the heated pipe will operate to progressively axially align the parts of the pipe and thus straighten the heated pipe as they engage it by the operation of the pneumatic pressure devices.

Each ofthe pneumatic pressure devices 33 comprises a piston 35 and a cylinder 31. 'I'he piston 35 is connected by means of the piston rod 38 with one of the links 3| to exert a pressure to move the central joint of the toggle toward a pition of alignment with the pivot points of connection with the lever 2| and the bracket 32 and thus progressively force the parts of the pipe in axial alignment and straighten the pipe. The cylinder 3l is pivotally connected by means'of the pin 4I! with the bracket 22 to enable oscillatory movements oi' the cylinder 3l and the piston rod 33 in conformity to the swinging movements of the link 3| to which the piston rod 38 is connected. The cylinders 31 oi.' the units of the machine are connected to a source of supply of fluidunder'pressure that may be manually'controlled by a suitable valve 39. The passageways from the control valve to the cylinders may be suitably restricted to produce simultaneous movements of the levers 2| to move the rollers 20 against the pipe located in the machine with a relatively light initial pressure to preventdenting thel heated wall vof the l ture, such as to about 1000 Fahrenheit, depending upon the steel characteristics of which the pipe is formed, whereupon the operation of the blower is discontinued and the level of the liquid in the trough is lowered. Any warping by reason of the chilling operation of the pipe is overcome by the pressure of the rollers I 0 and 20 and rotation of the pipe. The pipe is held straight, as its rotation continues, until the temper of the pipe is drawn, that is, until the pipe has cooled in air to about 800 or 900"` Fahrenheit. Rotation of the pipe continues until the wall becomes rigid. When the temperature of the pipe is substantially at the critical temper drawing temperature, the central joints of the toggles 29 approach alignment with the pivot points of connection of the outer ends of the links, and consequently, as the pipe cools during its rotation to temper the steel, the toggles 29 are automatically extended by the reduction in the diameter of the pipe while being subjected to the pneumatic pressure in the cylinders 31. The toggles thus produce a progressively increased magnication of the pneumatic pressure of the cylinders in the'transmission of the pressure to the rollers 20 as the walls of the pipe contract and increase in rigidity. The slight extension of the tcggles permitted by the reduction of the diameter of the pipe when the central joint approximates alignment with the other centers of the toggles produces a pressure that is suiiicient to prevent warping during cooling. The increasing pressure overcomes the resistance to straightening of the pipe as its rigidity increases.

In order to raise the level of the water to the samepredetermined depth in the trough in each succeeding operation and to maintain the level during the pressure of the pneumatic pressure producing means, a pluralityof valves 4| are disposed at spaced points along the bed I of the machine above the reservoir part 2. The valves 4I are provided with suitable pneumatic pressure actuatable elements, such as the pistons 42, that are slidably supported in the casings of the valves. The valves are connected to the reservoir part 2 of the machine through the openings 44 to operate the pistons 42 by the pressure produced in the reservoir by the blower 5. The valves are provided with ports 45 that are uncovered by the movement of the pistons 42. The movements of the pistons 42 are resisted, preferably, by a means that will produce substantially the same resistance to such movements in all of the valves 4I connected to the reservoir. Thus, the valves 4i are connected together by pipes 4l and to a standard or container 48 of suitable height and containing a liquid 50 that iilis the spaces of the pipes and the parts of the valve casings above the g4l`to-produce a desired head oi the liquid Il in the container 4l .and thus a desired hydrostatic pressure that will produce a uniform counterpressure to opening `movements of the valves 4i and limit the extent of the pneumatic pressure produced by the pneumatic pressure producing means in the reservoir and thus limit the rise of the level of the water in the trough part 3 of the machine. 'I'he liquid 50 may be any suitable liquid, preferably oil is used, and its head may be readily varied by addition or removal of oil to produce desired limiting pressures in the reservoir 2 and thus control the depth of the partial submergence of the pipe by the rise of the water.

The level of the liquid used for cooling the pipe 9 is necessarily raised above the rollers I0 which support the pipe. In case of leakage of the water, where water is used as the cooling liquid, through the bearingsof the shafts I i that rotatably support therollers, the level of the oil in the housings I2 will be raised which may be ascertained by a suitable depth-indicating guage rod and if there is an indication of rise in level pistons l2 and a desired depthV in the container of the oil, water within the housings may be I withdrawn through pipes I6 that extend exterior of the bed i. The pipes I6 may be provided with suitable valves for removing the Water from the housings.

To increase the differential between the temperature of the pipe and the temperature of the liquid'used for cooling the pipe, the temperature of the liquid in the vicinity of the pipe may be lowered by the introduction of a cooling liquid into the trough. When water is used for cooling the pipe, the trough 3 is provided with a plurality of outlets or recesses located along the upper outer edge of the trough, such as the recesses 5I whereby the introduction of additional water will cause the discharge of the heated water located in proximity to the pipe from the trough part 3 ofthe machine.. Thus, the valves 4i connected to the reservoir part 2 may be used to maintain the level of the liquid when raised in the trough partiti close proximity to the edges of the outlets or recesses 5I and prevent loss of liquid within the parts of the bed of the machine. The valves operate to produce the desired rise of the liquid or depth of submergence of the pipes. The overflow of the surplus liquid at the point that produces the desired depth of submergence of the pipe maintains a, constant working quantity of the liquid in the machine.Y

In order to maintain a desired cooling temperature of the water with reference to the heated pipe, the supply of the cooling water is thermostatically controlled. A plurality of thermostatic bulbs 52 are disposed beneath and in proximity to the pipe and,consequently, in the region of the portion of the water in close proximity to the wall o f the pipe when the level of the liquid is raised. The bulbs 52 are spaced along the pipe and are connected together by the pipes 54 having a small bore and to the sheet metal bellows 55. The bulbs 52 of the thermostats, the pipe 54 and the bellows 55 are lled with a liquid having a low boilingpoint that normally gasies at a temperature somewhat below the temperature at which it is desired to maintain the temperature of the portion of the water in proximity to the surface of the pipe when the pipe is partially submerged. The vaporization or gasification of the liquid in the bulbs produces a marked expansion and the pressure created by the expansion is transmitted through the portion of the liquid in the pipes 54 u l predetermined point to close the circuit of an elcctromagnetically operated' valve 88. The valve Il il connected toa source of supply of relatively cool water by means of the pipe 6i and is op- .'crative to vconnect a plurality of pipes 52, that open into the bottom of the trough part 8 of the bed I of the machine, with the pipe 8i. The pipes 62 are distributed along the trough to direct the iiow of the coolingv water at different points beneaththe pipe l that is being heat-treated I in the machine to maintain a uniform cooling temperature along the pipe 8. 'I'he valve 80 may be operated bya suitable solenoid 84 that is connected toa source'of supply of electric current, such as from a commercial circuit. Thus, the

I' solenoid 64 and the switch 58 may be connected to the'main lines 55 of such a circuit and upon closure of the switch 58, the circuit of the solenoid 84 is completed with the source of supply of electric current to operate the valve 60 and connect the trough part 3 of the machine with the source of supply of water through the pipes 6I and 62.

Preferably, the outlets of the pipe 62 are directed toward a baille means that produces distribution along the pipe 9 that is being heat- I treated, the baille being so disposed as to direct the cooling water through the water of the trough and toward the pipe 9. Preferably, a channel iron 61 is located inthe bottom of the trough part I beneath the heated pipe and the outlets or Q nozzles of the pipes 82 are so disposed as to direct the stream of the cooling water downward toward the channel iron 61 which reverses the flow from each of the nozzles and causes it to be deilected upward and also freely lengthwise of* the channel a to produce uniform distribution of the liquid stream which is introduced under pressure upward toward the heated pipe and the bulbs. When the temperature of the bulbs is suiliciently reduced, the valve 68 is closed and the ow of the n cooling water ceases. Thus, the cooling water is distributed along substantially the central vertical plane through the axis of the heated pipe, and, by the control of the thermostat, a desired chilling temperature differential is maintained.

u In order to prevent flow of the cooling water into the reservoir in advance of the rise of the level in the trough produced by the pneumatic pressure created in the reservoir, each thermostatic bulb 52 is provided with a suitable heat inn sulating shield 68, (Fig. 5), located intermediate the heated pipe and the bulb to prevent the intense heat from the pipe when first positioned in the machine from causing the actuation of the valve 68 and flow of the cooling liquid in advance a5 of the rise of the liquid in the trough produced by the operation of the blower 5. Y

When the heated pipe is first introduced into the machine in advance of raising the level in the liquid, its ends are closed by means of clamp- 70

ing members

18 and 1| that cover the ends of the pipe 9 and prevent the entrance of the liquid of the trough into the pipe when the level of the liquid is raised by the pressure produced in the reservoir 2. The clamping member 1l is rotat- 75 ably supported in one end wall of the trough part of the machine and in substantially axial alignment with -the pipe 8 when it has receiver its initial straightening immediately mbsequent to the introduction of the pipe into the trough. 'I'he clamping member 1I is connected to and I rotatably supported on a piston rod 12 by a suitable coupling. The piston rod 12 is actuated by a piston located in a cylinder 14. The cylinder 14 is located in the other end wall of the trough part and may be pneumatically operated to pren 10 Y the clamping member 16 against one end ot the pipe during the rotation of the pipe, and shift the pipe lengthwise to engage the clamping memd ber 1|. Both ends of the pipe are covered by the clamping members and prevent entrance of u the water into the interior of the pipe which would, otherwise, prevent uniformity of the temperature control. Thus, the exterior surface only of the pipe contacts with the water which operates to surface-harden the-pipe. 'lhis is of u particular advantage in connection with pipes that are used for well casings since damage by abrasion during well drilling as the casing descends4 during the boring operations is prevented. In order to prevent collapse of the pipe while ex- 25 tremely hot and during the initial chilling, the clamping member 1I has a stem or tubular part 15 that extends through the end wall of the trough part 3 in which the clamping member 1I is rotatably supported which enables air to enter a0 l the pipe through the tubular part 15 of the clamping member and maintains atmospheric pressure within the pipe during the heat-treatment.

When the heat-treatment is completed, the pipe may be discharged by a suitable mechanism 85 for raising the pipe 9 from the rollers il and moving it on to the ends of the tracks 8. In the particular construction shown, a plurality of oscillatable arms 11 are pivotally supported upon suitable brackets 18 secured to the cross bars Il 40 having end parts that may be embedded in the concrete of which the bed i is formed. 'I'he arms 11 are operated by means of a shaft 8| to which are connected a plurality of arms 82. 'I'he arms 82 are connected to the arms 11 by means of lnks 45 84. The shaft 8i is actuated by means 'of pistons located in cylinders 85 that are located at opposite ends of and exterior to the trough part 3 of the machine. The cylinders 85 operate the piston rods 81 which are connected to the shaft Il 50 by means of arms 88. The cylinders 85 are connected to brackets 98 supported on the ends of the bed I to enable the cylinders to oscillate in accordanceto the oscillation of the arms 88 upon operation of the shaft 8i. The cylinders 85 may 55 be connected with a source of supply of air under pressure by suitable valves that may be manually actuated to operate the shaft 8i when it is desired to eject the pipe 9 from the machine and dispose it on the tracks 8. Preferably, the tracks w 8 are inclined from the points in the tracks to which the pipe is moved by the arms 11 to enable it to roll from the trough.

Thus, in the operation of the machine, the pipes to be heat-treated are sequentially placed 05 on the rollers I0 and lair is introduced into the cylinders 31 to produce gradual depression of the heads 23 as the rollers i0 and 28 are rotated by the motors i8 and 24, to gradually axially align the parts of the heated pipe 9 and to dispose the 70 ends of the pipe in alignment with the clamping members 18 and 1i'. Air under pressure is then introduced into the cylinder 14 which closes one end of the pipe by the clamping member 18 and operates to move the pipe axially against the 75 clamping member ,'Il which covers the other en'd of the pipe'. The-clam member 1l is mounted on the end of a hollow shaft 15. which connects the interior. of the pipe with the atmosphere exterior to the trough. The electric motor of the blower 5 is then connectedto a source of supply of electrlccurrent by means of the switch 9|. Preferably, the switch 9|. is connected to a timer 92, of a type well known in the art, for producing iiow of the current to the blower 5 for a desired predetermined period. The switch 9| is subsequently opened or may be, if desired, also opened by the timer, Thus, the timer 92 may be adjusted to limit the period of the chilling operation. At the expiration of the predetermined time as determined by the operation of the timer, the blower is disconnected and the production of the pneumatic pressure in the reservoir part ceases and the level of the liquid in the trough part is lowered bythe difference in the head of the liquid in the trough and the reservoir, both being subject to atmosphericv pressure. When theblower ceases to operate, air, at atmospheric pressure, will readily pass through the blower to the reservoir.

Thus, the pipes may be heated to a given temperature and chilled during the deiinite period of partial insertion and rotation of the pipe in a liquid having adeiinite and constant cooling temperature as thermostatically determined. The

temperature of the cooling liquid is thermostatically maintained substantially constant by means of the bulbs 52 that are interconnected through the pipes 54 with the sheet metal bellows 55 that contains a suitable low boiling point liquid to produce a marked rise -in pressure in the bellows 55 to cause the operation of the switch 58. The switch 58 is connected to the source of supply of electric current to complete a circuit through the solenoid 64 and cause the operation of the valve 60. The valve 60 operates to direct the flow of a cooling liquid from a source'of supply of the liquid to the pipes 62 that direct the ilow of thev liquid against the channel iron 61 which reverses the direction of the flow and spreads the liquid along the trough and directs it upward toward the heated pipe and the thermostatic bulbs located in the vicinity of the pipe. By the intro'- duction and the upward movement of the cooling liquid into the trough, the heated liquid in the vicinity of the pipe is caused to flow to the outlets or recesses of the edge portion of one of the side walls of the trough, Thus, the excess of the liquid occurring by the introduction of the cooling liquid into the trough flows through the recesses 5I. The overiiow thus produced may be directed to a suitable trough and discharged from the machine.

During the drawing of the temper of the steel and to prevent warping during the cooling of the pipe, the contraction of the wall of the pipe operates 'automatically to magnify the pressure exerted by the pistons on the toggles 29 to resist the distortion that might otherwise occur during the contraction of the pipe as rigidity of the pipe wall increases.

The pipe is ejected by the operation of the arms Il which are actuated by the shaft'l that is operated by means of the cylinder that is connected to theshaft through the arm 88. The pipe is raised from the rollers lll and disposed on the tracks 8 and thus may be rolled from the machine.

If desired, spray nozzles may be located at desired points along the trough for chilling the I rotating heated element. Mist-producing nozzles maybe used and the nozzles may be formed to distribute the cooling liquid over desired-lengths i of the element, or they maybe located at different points around the element to produce a distribution oi sprayed liquid or cooling mist over substantially the whole surface of the element; or the nozzles may be located at certain points for producing localized increased hardness of the element, or the liquid' now from the nozzles may be varied either as to quantity discharged or as to steam flow or mist formation to produce desired cooling eifects onl the heated rotating element to control the temper produced in the element. Also, if desired, the sprays may be used in conjunction with the cooling liquid in the trough and the` liquid from the nozzles and that in the trough manipulated to produce the desired chilling rate or variation in the chilling rate at different points along the element. Thus, where pipes are heat-treated, the ends may be formed softer than thebody walls of the pipesto enable machining the ends fto provide means for interconnecting the pipes.

In the form of construction shown, the nozzles 94 are located above the pipe and the nozzles 95 are located along the side of the pipe. They are mounted on brackets 96 supported on the bed i. The nozzles are connected to a. source of supply of a cooling liquid, such as water, by the pipes 91. The flow of the liquid from each of the nozzles 95 may be controlled by the valves 98. ii' desired, the valves 98 may be set to produce the desired quantity iiow from each nozzle 95 and a valve 99 maybe used for opening and closing the connection with the source of supply of water to produce substantially simultaneous flow of the liquid from all of the nozzles, and produce desired variation of the chilling rate of portions of glane pipe according to the adjustment of the valves If desired, spray nozzles maybe formed to chill limited spaced areas of the heated steel element and produce by the heat-treatment spaced, hardened portions. Thus,l where steel elements are heat-treated, surface hardened portions separated by softer tempered portions will be formed. Where pipes or rods are heat-treated, ring hardened portions may be formed which will withstand large radially diected strains and the..

softer tempered portions will enable subsequent limited bending of the rod or pipe.

The spray nozzles 94 are formed to produce narrow streams either in mist form or as a continuous liquid flow and are located to direct a cooling liquid over spaced surface portions of the rotating heated pipe, when it has been straightened by rotation of the pipe and the pressure of the pressure rollers, to produce narrow bands or rings of surface chilled areas of the pipe which results after completion of the heat-treatment in exceedingly hard ring portions separated by softer or tempered steel portions.V The nozzles may be arranged and mounted in any suitable way to produce the desired ring hardened areas of the pipe. They may be distributed circularly with respect to the heated pipe and spaced lengthwise along the trough as may be desired. They are preferably located 10 or 16 inches apart, measured in the direction of the length of the pipe, where large pipes are heat-treated, and the liquid flow delivered from the nozzles may be varied in width. The nozzles 94 are connected through the pipe Illl with a source of supply water. The flow of the water to the nozzles 94 be used in the heat-treatment oi.' the elements and with or without submergence entirely, or in part,

inthewateroi'thetrough. Whenthetwosets of nonies 'are used to heat-treat the element. the

water from thenoszles lirst chills separated portions oi' the heated rotated element, and then water from the nozzles Il is sprayed over the entire length of the elent and the element may be removed from the machine or .may be further.

chilled by submergence in the trough as hereinbei'ore described. 'l'heliquid from the nozzles v Il may alsobe iii-st directed onto the rotating heated element to "ring chill the element and the liquid is raised to contact the element to temper the portions of the element intermediate the ring-hardened portions. Y

In Fig. 13 is indicated the "ring-hardening produced by localised chilling by'contact ofthe water that flows through the nozzles 94 onto the rotating heated pipe and which are separated by softer tempered portions which greatly sustains the strains to which the pipe may be subjected and yet the pipe 9, as a whole, may be bent curvedly. The surface hardened portions are lndicated at Il l which are separated by the softer, yet tempered, intermediate portions |05.

In the operation oi' the machine and use of nozzles, the heated pipe is rst straightened by th rollers as described above and while hot and d/lng its rotation, and then, if desired, water is directed to produce. localized hardening, or the valve I9 is opened to direct the water through the nozzles .Sl over the entire surface of the heated pipe. The valves are soon closed andpreferably while the water in the trough is rising toward the pipe to produce submergence of a part of the pipe as the flow oi' the water from the nozzles ceases. Variation in the A.manipulation of the chilling liquid may be followed to produce desired chilling effects on the heated steel. 'I'he level of the liquid is lowered after chilling to the required temperature such as 'below the lower critical temperature, and when the rotating pipe has suiliciently cooled, the pipe is discharged from the machine as described above.

I claim:

1. In a machine for heat-treating elements,

the machine having a trough part and a reservoir part for containing a liquid and a passageway connecting the said parts below the level of the liquid, a pneumatic pressure producing means for pressing liquid from the reservoir part into the trough part through the passageway to raise the level of the liquid in the trough part, means for regulating the pressure produced by the pressure producing means to regulate the level of the liquid in the trough part, and means for supporting an element in the trough part of the machine and submerged in part by the rise in the level in the trough part.

2. In a machine for heat-treating elements, the machine having a closed reservoir part and a trough part and passageways for connecting bottom portions of the said parts and containing a liquid, a pneumatic pressure producing means for forcing the liquid from the reservoir part into the trough part for varying the level of the liquid in the said parts, a pressure control means for limiting thegpressure to a desired constant pneumatic pressure in the reservoir part by the pneumatic pressure producing means for raising afi'saasv the level ofthe liquid in the trough part to a predetermined point, and meansfor supporting an element above the normal level ot the liquid in `qthe trough part of the machine and submerged in-part by the rise in the level ofthe liquid inthe trough part.

3..In a machine forheat-treating pipes,.the machine having a trough part. for -containing a liquid, means for rotatably supporting and ro- 'tating a pipe in the trough part, means for contacting the pipe and the liquid, a pair oi rotatable pipe clamps for clamping and closing the ends of .the pipe, means for actuating one of the clamping members to clamp a pipe end-wise.

4. vIn a machine for heat-treating pipes. the machine having a trough part for containing a liquid, a plurality of supporting rollers for supporting the pipe and a plurality of pressure rollers for pressing the pipe against the supporting rollers, means for rotating the rollers and the pipe, a pair of rotatable pipe clamps i'or clamping and covering the ends oi' the pipe to prevent entrance of liquid into the ating one of the clamping members to clamp the having an opening for connecting the interior ofthe pipe to the exterior atmosphere.

pipe. means for actu-.

pipe end-wise, one of the clamping members.Y

5. In a machine for heat-treatingelements, the `I machine having a reservoir part and a trough part for containing a liquid and a passageway connecting bottom portions of the said parts, a pneumatic pressure meansfior raising the pneumatic pressure in the reservoir part and raising the level of the liquid in the trough part, means for supporting an element above the normal level of the liquid in the trough part and submerged in part by the rise of the liquid in the trough part, a plurality of valves connected to the reservoir part for reducing the pneumatic pressure in the reservoir part upon opening of the valves, means operated bypneumatic pressure in the reservoir for opening the valves and means interconnecting the valves for maintaining a substantially constant yielding resistance to their opening movement.

6. In a machine for heat-treating elements. the machine having a closed liquid reservoir part and a trough part and passageways for connecting bottom portions of the said parts, a pneumatic pressure producing means for raising the pneumatic pressure in the reservoir part and raising the level of the liquid in the trough part, means for supporting an element above .the normal level of the liquid in the trough part and submerged in part by the rise of the liquid in the trough part, a plurality of valves for controlling the pneumatic pressure in the reservoir part, each of the valves connected to the reservoir part, each of the valves having a movable valve element responsive to the pressure in the reservoir part and an outlet opened by the valve element for an escape of gas from the reservoir part, a container for a liquid, means for hydraulically connecting the valves to the container for maintaining a constant yielding pressure according to the head of the liquid in the container for controlling the pressure in the reservoir part.

'7. In a machine for heat-treating pipes, the machine having a closed reservoir part and a trough part for containing liquid, and a plurality of passageways interconnecting the bottom portions of the reservoir part and the trough part, a plurality of supporting rollers for supporting a pipe, a plurality of pressure rollers for pressing the pipe against the supporting rollers, means in the trough part, a plurality of thermostats4 located in the liquid when the level of the liquid is raised and in proximity to the pipe, a source of supply of a cooling liquid, means conjointly controlled by the thermostats for directing the flow of the cooling liquid into the liquid in the trough part and means for distributing the cooling liquid toward the submerged portions of the pipe, the trough having outlets for removing the heated liquid as the cooling liquid is introduced into the trough, for maintaining a substantially predetermined cooling temperature at the submerged portion of the pipe.

8. In a machine for heat-treating pipes, the machine having a trough part for containing a liquid, means for rotatably supporting a pipe in the trough part, means for rotating the pipe and means for contacting the pipe and the liquid, a pair of rotatable pipe clamps for clamping and covering the ends o1' the pipe for preventing entrance of the liquid within the pipe. means for actuating one of the clamping members t clamp the pipe endwise, and means for rotatably supporting the pipe clamps extending through the walls of the trough, one of the pipe clampsupporting means having a passageway connecting the interior of the pipe with the atmosphere.

9. In a machine for heat-treating pipes, the machine having a trough part for containing a liquid, a plurality of sets of supporting rollers for supporting the pipe and a plurality of pressure rollers, the plurality of pressure rollers substantially located in the plane of the supporting rollers disposed at right angles to the axes of the rollers for pressing the pipe against the supporting rollers, a motor means located exterior to the trough and including a shaft extending through the Wall of the trough for operating each set of supporting rollers for rotating the rollers and the pipe, a pair of rotatable pipe clamps for clamping and covering the ends of the pipe to prevent entrance of water into the pipe, means extending through the walls of the trough for rotatably supporting the pipe clamps, and means located exterior to the trough for operating one of the said clamp-supporting means for actuating one oi the clamping members to clamp the pipe against one of the other of said clamps, one of the clamping members having an opening for connecting the interior of the pipe to the exterior of the trough through the said clampsupporting means.

BERTIS E. URSCHEL.