US2368087A - Apparatus for flame hardening - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 30, 1945. J. QBISHOP Erm. v

APPARATUS FORFLAME HADENING Filed Feb.Y 8, 1941 5 sheets-sheet 1 1 jan. 30, 1945. .1. o. BISHOP ET AL APPARATUS FOR FLAME HARDENING Filed Feb. 8, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Qm 5&2 u S Jam.I 30, 1945.A J. o. BISHOP Erm.

APPARATUS FOR FLAME HARDENING 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 8, 1941 Jan- 30', 1.945- v o. BISHOP ET AL I 2,368,037

APPARATUS FOR FLAME HARDENING @wop www i L ,3y Miha Jam.` 30, 1945.

J. O. BISHOP ET AL APPARATs Fon FLAME HARDENING Filed Feb.v 8, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 l ,mm

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1 M n my# Patented `lan. 30, 1945 APPARATUS FOR FLAME HARDENING `lames 0. Bishop, Torrance, and Lloyd L. Babcock, Compton, Calif., assignors to The National Supply Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application February 8, 1941, Serial No. 378,028

(Cl. 15S-27.4)

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for surface hardening metal by local application upon the surface to be hardened of heat preferably derived by the directing of a flame against the said surface.

It is an object of this invention to provide an,

apparatus for directing a continuous ribbon llame against a curved or polygonal surface while causing relative transverse movement between the ame and the surface, that is, transverse to the direction'of the ribbon or strip of flame.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for flame hardening internal and external annular or angular surfaces, includflame against the surface and simultaneously directing supplementary air against the surface from both edges of the ribbon llame.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for llame hardening the annular or angular surfaces which includes the provision of means for the production of a continuous ribbon of flame extending for the full extent of the annular or angular surface to be llame-hardened.

Other objects and advantages of this invention it is believed will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: i

Figure 1 is a view diagrammatic in character of an apparatus utilized in carrying out my invention.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view partially in section showing a portion of the apparatus and illustrating its application in the use as an external flame hardening device.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 illustrat-v ing the same in use as an internal flame hardening apparatus. f

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional end View taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmental sectional elevation of the internal torch means embodied in our invention.

Figure 7 is a fragmental illustrated in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a fragmental sectional elevation of a modified form of internal torch means.

Figure 9 is a sectional elevation of the external torch means illustrated in Figure 2.

Figure 10 is a fragmental plan .view of the torch means illustrated in Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a broken sectional eleva ion of the means provided for raising or lowering the torches. f

Figure l2 is a sectional end view taken substantially on the line |2-I2 of Figure 11.

In the preferred embodiment of our invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings and as illustrated for carrying out the method embodying our invention, there is shown internal and external ribbon name-producing means l and 2 `which produce a relatively narrow ribbon name which is directed against the entire surface to be flame-hardened covering an entire band of that surface simultaneously. In order tol effect the desired flame hardening of the surface either internally or externally of the member acted upon, means are provided for effecting relative movement between the ribbon flame producing means and the work as indicated at 3. The relative movement isin the direction to cause the surface to move transversely of the ribbon of flame produced. To accomplish this end, either. the work 3 or the flame-producing means I and 2 may be moved relative to the other of said members.

While we have illustrated our invention as particularly applied to members which .are generally of cylindrical form, it will be apparent that the invention is equally applicable to use in connection with members having angular surfaces or of generally polygonal shape.

As our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the work 3 is supported upon any suitable form of supporting plate 4 from a base structure 5.

Means are provided preferably for rotating the work 3 as it is supported upon the plate 4, and means as generally illustrated at 6 are provided for rotating the work supporting plate 4 to which the work 3 is removably clamped as illustrated at 1.

The ribbon ame producing means are also support-ig preferably from the base 5 4upon a post 8 such manner as to permit their movement toward or away from the base structure 5.

Supported upon the column or post 8 is a sleeve 9 carrying a supporting arm I0 on the plan view of the torch tact thedividing plate outer end of which there is mounted a. cylinder II. Within the cylinder Il is a piston I2 connected with a piston rod I3. The piston rod I3 is secured to a supporting plate I4, which plate I4 is in turn secured to guide rods I5.

The guide rods I5 are secured to a guide plate I6 guided along the outer periphery of the cylinder II by guide rollers I1. The' plate I4 is secured to an elbow iitting IB which provides for the support of concentrically disposed fluidconducting pipes I9, 20, 2| (Figure 6). At the lower end of these concentrically positioned pipes there is supported the circular torch 22.

The torch 22, as' illustrated in Figure 6, is an annular torch having an annular flame orince 23 producing a continuous annular ribbon flame operative in conjunction with the torch raising and lowering means to flame harden the interior surface of a cylindrical or polygonal member as illustrated at 3.

The torch 22 is constructed of an upper concave disc 24, an intermediate concave disc 25, and a lower concave pin 26. A dividing plate 21 is interposed between the discs 24 and 25 and as the assembly is secured together by means of the cap screws 28 and 29, the torch is divided into a gas chamber 30, the water chamber 3|, and the air chamber 32. i

At the outer extremity of the gas and Water chamber the discs 24 and 25 are provided with annular ribs 33 and 34, the faces of which con- 21. At the inner extremity of the chambers 30 and 3I, discs 24 and 25 are provided with the annular ribs 35 and 36 through which the cap screws 29 are extended to secure the torch to the manifold member 31 mounted at the lower end of the concentrically disposed pipes I9 and 20. The inner of the concentrically disposed pipes 2| is the air conduit and extends through the discs 24 and 25 with its end open in the air chamber 32, and is suitably secured as indicated at 38 to the intermediate disc 25. The outer pipe I9 is secured to the manifold member 31 which provides a passage 39 extending through the annular rib 35 and through lateral ports 40 into the water chamber 3|. The intermediate concentric pipe 20 extends in the manifold member 31 beyond the passage 39 into the gas chamber 4I formed within the manifold member 31 and within the annular disc 24 discharging through the series of gas ports 42 into the gas chamber 30.

Directing ports are formed through the annular ribs 33 and 34 leading from the gas, water and air chambers, respectively, for properly directing the fluids with respectI to the annular orifice 23.

Formed in the lip 43 of the annular' disc 24 is an annular gas chamber 44 to which gas is delivered from the chamber 30 by means of a plurality of downwardly extending directing ports 45. Air is directed from the air chamber 32 by upwardly directing ports 46 formed through the annular rib 34 directing the air for supporting combustion of the name produced at the annular orice 23. The air is discharged preferably below the llame as the air as it is heated tendsto rise through the flame.

In order to provide for the proper ame hardening and cooling of the heated surface during the flame-hardening process, water or other suitable quenching fluid is directed from the water chamber 3| outwardly against the surface of the work 3 at a point slightly. spaced away from the point of contact of the ribbon flame produced from the annular oriilce 23.

The quenching fluid or water is directed from the water chamber 3l by the circumferentially 5 spaced ports 41.

Any suitable lor desirable means may be provided for properly conducting the desired fluids into the concentrically disposed pipes I9, 2|! and 2| and as herein illustrated, this means includes the elbow tting I8 which is suitably secured to the upper ends of the concentric pipes I9 and 20 and through which the inner concentric pipe 2| extends from a suitable header 48 secured to the elbow tting I8 and provided as an extension of l5 the plate I4 and providing the passage 49 for connection to a suitable air conduit 50.

The lateral branch of the elbow tting I8 is connected to the concentrically disposed gas and water conduits 5|' and 52, respectively. The pipes 5| and 52 are connected to the coupling 53 through the medium of which the concentrically disposed conduits are separated for individual connection with the gas and water conduits 54 and 55, respectively. Additional supporting means may be provided for the outer ends of the conduits 50, 5| and 52`, as indicated by the clamp 56 supported by means of the cable 51 from the upper guide disc or plate IE.

Fluid under pressure is supplied to the cylin- 'der II above and below the piston I2 so that the torch 22 may be raised and lowered to move the annular ribbon ame axially of the work 3, or in a. direction transverse of the direction of extent of the annular ribbon flame.

Means are provided for alternately supplying the fluid under pressure to the opposite sides of the piston I2 within the cylinder II, whch means may be of any suitable or desirable construction `and is herein illustrated as including a pair of manually controlled valves 58 mounted in the parallel feed pipes 59 which connect with the line 60 leading to one end of the cylinder II. Also mounted in the parallel feed lines 59 are the electrically operated shut-off valves 6I.

The conduit 32 connected with the cylinder on the opposite side of the piston I2 is connected through the medium of a cross-fitting 63 having a four-way valve 64 mounted therein with a pressure supply conduit 65 and a discharge or vent line 66. Ihe parallel supply pipes 59 are connected with an opposite branch of the cross-fitting, that is, opposite to the point of connection for the supply line 62. In addition to the connection of this branch of the cross-iltting with the parallel supply lines 59, there is provided a bypass conduit 61 connected through the medium of the T 68 so that the valves 53 and 6I may be by-passed for emergency use. Normally this bypassed line is closed by means of a valve 69. An electrical control panel 1n, including an on-andof! switch 1I and speed control switches 12 and 13 is provided for actuating the electrical connections to the valves 6| and to theelectric motor provided for driving the drive connection 6 to the work-supporting platform or plate 4.

Assuming that fluid is delivered under pressure through the pipe 65 and the handle of the valve i4 has been moved to the position to admit pressure to the T fitting $8, actuation or one of the 70 switches 12 or 13'resu1ts in one or the electrically operated valves 8| opening to allow nuid to pass through the corresponding control valve 5l to the line 60. Fluid pressure in the line il is aci-'- mitted into the lower end of the cylinder I I, forcing the piston I2 upward, raising the torch 22.

At the same time fluid in the cylinder above the piston I2 is expelled through the line 62 and passes through the valve 63 to the discharge or vent line 66. When it is desired to change the direction of movement of the torch, i. e., lower it relative to the work 3, it is only necessary to change the position of the handle of the valve 64. This action serves toconnect the supply line 65 with the conduit 62, reversing the direction of flow and causing the piston I2 to move downwardly, at which time fluid in the lower part of the cylinder II is expelled through the flow line 60 back through one of the parallel lines 59 to the valve 63 and vent or discharge line 66. The purpose of providing the parallel mains 59 is to enable the use of two electrically controlled switches 6| for the slow or fast feed of the iiuid pressure to one side of the piston I2; thus one of the regulating valves 58 is set for a relatively small opening and the other may be set for a relatively large opening, so that when one of the electric shut-off valves 6| is open, the rate of iiow of fluid under pressure is determined by the setting of the regulating valve 58 in that main.

It will thus be apparent that the control system for the hydraulic system II just described enables the piston I2 to be moved at either one or two preselected rates and in either direction. It

may be moved downwardly at a low rate and then retrieved upwardly at a faster rate if desired, and the only contro-ls that need be manipulated by the operator to obtain the desired sequence of motion are the electric switches 12 and I3 and the handle for the valve 60.

On the control board the switch 1I controls the supply of current to the electric motor driving the transmission connection 6 for rotating the work support f3.

The operation of the torch 22 in conjunction with the apparatus as described for moving the said torch and the work 3 is: The motor operate ing the transmission drive 6 is set in operation to revolve the work support 4 and hence the work 3. During this operation, the torch 22 is lowered to a point below the lower end of the work 3. Gas, air and water are then admitted to the torch and the gas is ignited at the peripheral flame orifice 23. This forms a complete circular ribbon sheet of flame. 'I'he handle of the valve 64 is shifted to the position which causes upward movement of the torch 22 and the switch 12 is actuated to produce a slow even hydraulic a uniform surface hardness is produced on the inner surface of the work 3 without changing the physical properties of the base metal which underlies this surface. o

The modied form of torch is illustrated in Figure 8 and is similar to the torch 22, so that simlar'numerals have been utilized vto designate the structural components of this torch with the addition of an exponent a thereto. 'I'he structural differences of this torch and its certain differentiating features are that the torch 22a comprises a pair of upper and lower concave discs 24a and 25 and a pair of intermediate plates |00a and |0|EL held in position by means of the cap screws 28a and 29E. Interposed between the plates |00a and I0 |8L is a dividing plate 21a.

The cap screws 29R are threaded into thetdistributor 31a into which the air, gas and water conduits I9?, 20B and 2|a are respectively threadedly connected.

Cooling water from the pipe I9a enters the distributor 31P- and passes through the ports I2a into the cooling water chamber 3|a and down through the vertical annular passage |02a and downwardly directed discharge orifices 41a.

Combustible gas enters the distributor 3la from the pipe 20a and passes through the ports 40a into the annular gas chamber 30a. The dividing plate 21a is cut away as indicated at |03a in the gas chamber 30E so that gas in this chamber extends both above and below the dividing plate 21a. The gas flows from the chamber 30a through the ports |04B into an auxiliary gas chamber |05a formed within the plate |00a below the dividing plate 21a. The gas or combustible gas mixture flows from the chamber |05l into the annular gas recess 44a from which it escapes through the completely annular ame orifice 23a.

' Air under pressure reaches the distributor 31a through the central pipe Zia, which pipe extends into the distributor 31a to connect with the port |06a leading to the air chamber 32a. The air leaves the air chamber 32a in such manner that its passage is divided to deliver the air both above and below the annular ribbon flame produced at the annular flame orifice 23a.

The bore holes for the cap screws 282l formed through the plates |00a and |0|a are enlarged to provide the passage |01a from which ports |08a lead into an auxiliary air chamber |0911. From chamber |09n air passes through the ports I0a to the upper air orifices I Ia. Air also leaves from the bore holes |01*1 through the chamber 99a formed in the plate |00@L and through the ports ||221 and hence out through the air orifices ||3a formed below the llame orifice 23a.

It will be observed that the ports |a and I3n are complete annular orifices to which the air is admitted from the ports I |0a and |I2a and that because ofthis construction, the air is delivered in two flat sheets both above and below the annular gas orice 238.

It will be apparent; from the foregoing that this type of construction insures very complete supplemental air supply for insuring very complete and eflicient combustion of the gas emitted from the flame orifice 23B. It has been found that this insures a completely circular flame, the

temperature of which is extremely high.

As in the case of the previously set forth description of operation, when the torch 22a is progressed upwardly,- the cooling water froml the ports 41EL quenches the previously heated surface, thereby producing a hardened surface.

As will be apparentfrom Figure 1, the flame hardening means utilized in carrying out our invention may be of either the internal or external llame directed type so that if desired both the inner and outer surfaces of the work 3 may be simultaneously hardened or either of such surfaces may be hardened or they may be hardened sequentially.

The internal ame producing means 2 includes the torch 14 which in this case is provided with a central circular opening 15 for the reception of the work 3. The 'torch 14 comprises a. pair of annular ring members 16 and 11 separated by a dividing plate 18 and held assembled by means of cap screws 19. There is thus formed within the torch annular gas and water chambers 80 and 8|, respectively.

A plurality of ports 82 extend from the gas chamber 80 into an annular recess 83 formed` between the rings 16 and 11.

A completely circular flame orifice 84', of the slit type, leads from the annular recess 83.

As in the case of the external torch, the gas when ignited at this orifice 84 forms an annular ribbon sheet of ame which completely encircles the work 3.

Ports 85, of which there are a multiplicity around the interior of the ring 11, are directed downwardly from the water chamber 8| for directing water against the previously heated surface of the work 3. A pair of cooperating iittings 8B and 81 are clamped together by means of the bolts 88 and 89 and serve as the means for introducing the gas and water into their respective chambers from the supply conduits 90 and 9|, respectively.

A clamp 92 engages the conduits 90 and 9| and this clamp is supported from a rod 93 which depends from the pipe 52. (See Figure 1.)

As this torch 14 is not operated within a confined space, it has been found that atmospheric air is generally suicient to produce proper combustion and it is therefore not essential to provide a supplementary air means in the torch 14. It will be apparent, however, that if it is found necessary or desirable to introduce seco ndary air in the internal type of torch as thus defined, that the same may be introduced in substantially the same manner as described in connection with the torch 22.

In some cases it has been found that it is desirable to applyheat to the outside of the work 3 and to quench it from the inside. Obviously as the structure is illustrated, this may be accomplished utilizing the interior directing torch means 14 as the heating means and introducng the quenching fluid at the interior of the work 3 from the torch 22. rior heating and exterior quenching may also be accomplished through the reverse use of these torches.

The types of torches above described have been designed for flame hardening cylindrical surfaces.

As an example of a torch for flame harden` ing polygonal-shaped surfaces, Figures 3 and 5 show ahexagonal torch 94 adapted to enter a hexagonal bore. The construction of this torch 9| may be identical with either torch heretofore described with the exception that its exterior configuration is hexagonal rather than circular. The operation of this torch is similar to the other Obviously intef tible gas slit.

torches with the exception that the work is not rotated during the flame hardening process.

In each case the aix', water and gas supply conduits may be connected to any suitable sources of air, water or gas, for example, they may be connected to a control stand of the type illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings of the copendlng application of James O. Bishop, et al., Serial No. 350,196, now Patent No. 2,321,645, June 15,1943, by which device the proper pressures, rates of ow and combustible mixtures may be provided and maintained.

Having fully described our invention, it is to be understood that we do not wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but our invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a. torch device of the class described, the combination of upper and lower plate-like discs, an annular spacer means between said discs and forming with the discs and annular seal, the outer diameter of the spacer means being smaller than the diameter of the discs, whereby there is formed an annular recess defined by the periphery of the spacer means and by the portions of the discs extending therebeyond, which recess forms a combustion chamber, the spacer means being formed to provide a combustible gas` passage terminating in an annular slit through which combustible gas is delivered at the periphery of the spacer means in said recess, said spacer means providing Iwith the disc members ports within. the annular discs for the delivery of a combustion supporting gas in annular sheets above and below the combustible gas slit and within the annular recess, whereby the combustible flame produced by the torch burns within the annular recess.

2. In an annular torch device, the combination of upper and'lower plates, a spacer means positioned between the plates and forming with the plates a seal, the spacer means defining an annular slit for the discharge of combustion gases; the spacer means being of a diameter less than the plates so that. its periphery defines the inner wall of an annular recess defined by the projecting edges of the disc, means for delivering combustion gas to the spacer means to be discharged through the annular slit thereof at the base of the annular recess, and means between the discs for conducting combustion supporting gas to the upper and lower surfaces of the annular recess, annular combustion support ing gas discharge passages defined between the discs and the spacer means at the upper and lower surfaces of said recess and through which said passages combustion supporting gases may pass in sheets upon opposite sides of the combus- JAMES O. BISHOP. LLOYD L. BABCOCK.

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