US2421525A - Heat-treating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

June 3, 1947. SOMES 2,421,525

HEAT TREATING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 24, 1943 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 i K 4mm;

. '1 l 5 26 84 91 26 0 o o 0 .25

79 O 77 I I 79 22 22 v M l,

21 H I 3 24 l I 24 g 152 4 t W P2 INVENTOR 82 Howard, E. Sornes Q ATTORNEY June 3, 1947.

H. E. SOMES 2,421,525

HEAT TREATI NG APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 24, 1943 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 r mvavron Howardi'il Sonzes A TTORNEY June 3, 1947. H. E. soMEs HEAT TREATING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 24, 1943 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR 76 flowardl Somes fia/y; ATTORNEY June 3, 1947. H. E. SOMES HEAT TREATING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 24, 1943 '7' Sheets-Sheet 4 4 5 E 3 m m w a i mm w I11! I] 1 E; 4 m 4 H 3 5 8 i m 4 5 1 E w 4 a" H 9 1 1 1 7 m \M,

8 f 5 Z Q mm w 7 1 1 1 1 a a; I n V. I T 5 9 5 2 3 2 2 m 1 1 1 m 51 3 3 2 4 TOR H0 warcZZ' 80172498 72:6 A TTORNEY June 3, 1947. H. E. SOMES 2,421,525

HEAT TREATING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 24, 1943 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 llmmmnlmimlnl uvvuvrozz Howardli Some:

June 3, 1947. H. E. SOMES 2,421,525

A HEAT TREATING APPARATUS OriginalFiled Feb. 24, 1943 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 4// I W INVENTOR H0 ward 25' ames A TTORNE Y June 3, 94 H. E. SOMES HEAT TREATING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 24, 1943 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 a I a I Howard fiiomes' BY %%1 K ATTORNEY 1L anal Patented June 3, 1947 HEAT-TREATING APPARATUS Howard E. Somes, Detroit, Mich., assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Budd Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Original application February 24, 1943, Serial No. 476,991. Divided and this application May 17, 1944, Serial No. 535,909

8 Claims.

1 This invention, the application for which is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 476,991, filed February 24, 1943, relates to heat ir'citin and more particularly to an improved machine for heat treating metallic articles.

In heat treating certain types-of articles, particularly by electromagnetic induction heating and quenching, it is necessary to operate with close clearance between the article surface and such elements as, for example, the heating head, yet provision must be made for relative movement therebetween to permit easy and quick insertion of a work piece in place and removal therefrom. An object of this invention is to provide an improved machine for heat treating articles constructed and arranged to insure the accurate locating of the operative parts relative to each other and to a work piece during opera-' tion.

With certain articles it is desirable to treat, as by heating and quenching to harden, spaced areas on the article without treating the remaining or intervening. areas. This is the case, for example, withsuch articles as airplane propeller hubs in which a hub having a central bore for mountin upon a propeller shaft is provided with a plurality of symmetrically arranged, radial, propeller-blade receiving sockets around the circumference of the hub. The inner surface of each socket is hardened by heating and quenching to increase its strength and wearing properties, but without hardening the outer wall of any socket or the main body portion of the hub.

A further object'is to provide a, heat treating machine constructed and arranged to treat spaced areas on a work piece such, for example, as the spaced propeller-blade sockets of a propeller hub without affecting the physical properties and characteristics of the remainder of the article.

A still further object is to provide a machine for heat treating a work piece constructed and arranged to permit easy and accurate indexing of a work piece between heating operations to successively present and accurately locate different areas of a workpiece for treatment.

A still further object is to provide a machine for hardening the inner faces of annular parts by electromagnetic induction heating and quenching, in which provision is made for accurately.

positioning the different parts relatively to each other, and positively holding them in predetermined relation during operation.

Heretofore, the satisfactory hardening by heating and quenching of surface areas on articles having faces of sinuous conformation has been a difficult if not impossible operation, and'a further object is to provide a machine for hardening sinuous surfaces on metallic articles with such accuracy and precision as substantially eliminates variations in the product and permits quantity production of large numbers of items in each of which the depth and pattern of the hardened area is accurately controlled.

These and other objects which will be apparent.

to those skilled in the art are accomplished by the present invention, one embodiment of which is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a heat treating machine constructed in accordance with what I now consider a preferred embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a. top plan view thereof I Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on the line 4 4 of Fig.2;

I Fig. 5 is a section through apart of the machine on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1 showing the work holder and work piece in plan;

Fig. 7 is a view showing the base member of the work support in plan, parts being broken away;

Figs. 8 and 9 are transverse sections on an enlarged scale on the lines 8-8 and 9!!, respectively, of Fig. 7 1

Fig. 10 is a rear view of the work supporting pedestal, partly in section, the view being taken on the line Ill-l0 of Fig. 5, and showing a work piece in position;

Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional view of a detail taken on the line ll-| I of Fig. 5;

Fig. 12 is a sebtional view of the upper section of the quench nozzle supporting arbor and associated mechanism, taken on the line- I 2--l2 of and Fig. 13 is a similar view of the quench nozzle and heating head with the centering means therefor, showing the same in operative heating relation with a work piece, and taken on the line |3l3 ofFig. 2.

The particular embodiment of the present invention which has been chosen for'illustration is especially adapted to harden, by electromagnetic induction heating and quenching, the inner surfaces of propeller-blade receiving sockets on an airplane propeller hub to a-predetermined and controllable depth and pattern. However,

it will be apparent that thepresent invention is ing arbor and not limited to a machine for treating any specific article but, on the contrary, isequally adapted to machines for operating on various types of work.

The illustrated machine comprises an induction heating head and work support which are relatively movable to move a work piece on the support into and out of induction heating relation with the head, and means is provided for rotating the work piece during the heating operation. A work enclosing hood is supported for movement relative to the work piece and heating head and is adapted to engage the base of the work support during treatment so as to surround and enclose the work piece. The hood is rotatably supported on a yoke surrounding the head supportthe arbor is provided with a yoke engaging surface for accurately centering the head in the work piece when the hood is in operative position during the heating period. Primary and secondary quenching nozzles are incorporated in the hood construction for directing quenching fluid against the outer face of the work piece, either during or after the heating operation, or both, to prevent the adjacent area from becoming heated to any appreciable degree by conduction. An inner quenching nozzle is also provided for directing quenching fluid against the inner surface of the socket to harden the same after the heating operation. The work support is not only constructed and arranged to accurately and rigidly position a work piece in proper relation to the heating and quenching heads, but is provided also with mechanism permitting indexing of the work piece between heating operations to successively locate separate areas of the work piece in position for treatment.

The illustrated embodiment of the present invention is shown in connection with a frame 2|) having a work h'older mounted upon a. work supporting spider 2| secured at opposite sides to cylinders 22 each of which is connected at each end to upper and lower bearing sleeves 23 and 24, respectively. The sleeves are slidably mounted on a pair of vertical guide rods 25 secured in brackets 25 on the front of the machine frame 20. Each cylinder 22 has an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the associated rod 25. Each guide rod has a piston head 21 located within the associated cylinder 22. Fluid pressure ports 28 and 29 connect fluid passages 3| and 32 extending through the rods 25 with the interior of the cylinders 22 on opposite sides of the piston head 21. Suitable valve mechanism of any desired type, not shown, can be employed for delivering and exhausting fluid pressure to and from the cylinders 22 through the ports 28 and 29 for the purpose of ,raising and lowering the work supporting spider 2|, and the work support mounted thereon, in the manner hereinafter described.

A work holder supporting plate 33 is supported on the spider 2| and has a central, vertically extending, annular flange 34, see Fig. 4, for rotatably supporting through bearings 55 the vertical hollow shaft 35 of a rotary supporting member 21 to which is secured for rotation therewith a suitable work support.

The work support comprises a base formed by a plurality of superimposed plates which are channeled to provide inlet passages for cool quenching fluid and an outlet for heated quenching fluid after it has been used. As illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, and '1 to 9, this base comprises a lower plate 25 secured to the rotary support 51; an intermediate annular plate 3! having a central annular hub 4| and outer, circumferential rim 42, the annular rim being bolted to the lower plate 25 as best shown in Fig. 5. It will be noted thatthe annular rim 42 is of less axial extent than the hub 4|, and that a ring 43 rests on the rim 42 and cooperates with the upper face of the hub 4| to provide a flat support for a top plate 44 on which is mounted a work holder pedestal 45., Suitable gaskets are preferably provided between the various plates of the work holder base. An annular ring or gasket 45, of rubber or the like, see Figs. 4, 8 and 9, is provided around the edge of the upper face of top plate 44, for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

As best shown in Figs. 5 and 8, the upper face of the lower plate 55 is channeled to provide quenching fluid delivery passages 41 beneath the plate 39 leading to a passage 49 in the rim 42 of the plate 25 in turn leading to a port 5| in the side of a tubular member 52 projecting upwardly through the superimposed plates 33 and 44 and for a distance above the top plate 44, see Fig. 8.

The tubular member 52 has a discharge port 52 communicating with a discharge outlet passage 54 formed in the ring 42 to permit quenching fluid remaining in the tubular member and associated parts at the end of a quenching operation to drain out. During quenching, the drain port 53 is closed by a valve 55 slidably mounted in the lower end of the tubular member 52 andhaving a head 55 subject to pressure of quenching fluid through a port 51 connecting the passageway 4! in the plate I! with the end of the tubular member 52. It will be apparent that the pressure of the quenching fluid during a quenching operation will be elective through the port 51 on the valve head 55 to raise the latter and close the drain port 53, at the same time bringing the port 55 in the side of the valve member 52 into registry with the port 5| communicating with the quench discharge pass eway 49, thus permitting quenching fluid to flow upwardly through the tubular member 52. when the quench is cut off, release of the pressure allows the valve member 55 to drop to the position illustrated in Hg. 8 in which the supply port 5| is shut and a discharge port 5! opened to permit draining of the quenching fluid from the upper part of the tube 52 and the associated apparatus. It should be noted that the port 55 and the valve member 55 are so located with respect to the upper end of the valve that in moving upwardly the valve closes the outlet port 55 before the supply port 5| is opened.

The radially inner end of each channel 41 communicates through a port 5| with the hollow interior of the vertical hollow shaft 55 to which quenching fluid is supplied from a supply line 52 through supply pmages 55 in a closure member 54 secured to the bottom of the spider 2|, port 55 in e, packing sleeve 55 and channel 51 between the sleeve 55 and the central tubular member 55, the channel 51 communicating, see Fig. 4, with the interior of the hollow shaft 55.

It will be seen from Fig. '1 that the radial channels 41 in the base of plate 35 alternate with tubular members 52.

Unlike the channels 41, however, the inner ends oi the channels 1| open through ports 14 to' the inner central opening 15 in the hub of the plate 38, this opening communicating with the interior of the tube 88 and being connected thereby to a quenching fluid supply line 18.

The workencloslng hood 11 is mounted for rotation/in a supporting spider 18, secured to the upper ends of three circumferentially spaced supporting rods 18 which extend downwardly through the work supporting spider 2| into cylinders 8|, see Fig. v1, by means of which the rods 18 and hood 1.1 can be raised and, lowered through the medium. of fluid pressure delivered to the lower end of the cylinders 8| through a supply the intermediate line .82, a suitable valve, not shown, being employed to control the delivery and exhaust of fluid pressure to and from the cylinders 8|. Any suit-' able form of construction, not shown, can be employed to provide a fluid-tight joint between the hood supporting rod 11 and the inner walls of the cylinderv 8|, such as a conventional pistonv head or the like. The hood supporting spider 18 is also providedwith extensions 83 slidalblyengaging the. guide rods to guide the move-.

ment of the spider and hood into and out of operative position as indicated in Fig. 1. q

The hood is rotatably supported in the spider 18 by a hollow hanger 84 secured to the top of the hood and mounted for rotation in roller bearlugs 85 or the like in the center of the -spider .18. An oil chamber 8 8 surrounds the bearing supporting flange- 81 and a'pump 88 circulatesoil through the bearings. 1

Like the work supporting base above described,

I I2 secured to and 12 in the work supquenching fluid passing extending tubular member porting base so that through the tubular member 13 flows upwardly through tubes I85, ports I84, passage I83, to the primary quench nozzle 88. Quenching fluid is supplied to the secondary quenching nozzle 88 through a circular passage I 88 formed between and lower nozzle rings 84 and 88, communicating through ports I81 with an annular passage I88 formed in the ring I82 and connected by radial passages I88 in the ring I82 to a circumferential row of ports II I communicating with tubular quenching fluid delivery tubes suspended from the plate I82 in a manner similar to the primary quench tubes I85 with whichthesecondary quench tubes 2 alternate circumferentially of the plate I82. The lower end of each secondary quench tube II2 fits over an associated tubular member 52 at the work supporting base when the hood is in engagement with the base.

a A work holder for directly supporting the work piece is mounted upon the work supporting base and is constructed and arranged to permit a having diametrically opposed slots II5 adapted the top of the hood 11 is formed by a plurality f of channeled plates and rings that are so conibined as to provide passages for the delivery of quenching fluid to the outer face of a work piece enclosed within the hood. As illustrated this is formed by a. circular top' -plate 8| bolted to the lower end of the annular hanger 84 and having secured around a. central opening 82 therein an;

upper nozzle ring 83 adapted to overlie the end of a work piece when the hood is in operative position, see Figs. 4 and 5. Th ring-83. cooperates with a second, intermediate, nozzle ring 84 to form a, primary quenching nozzle 85 .for directing a. quenching fluid on the outer edge or shoulder of an annular work piece such as'the propeller blade socket 86- of the propeller hub'81 illustrated. I

The intermediate nozzle ring 84 cooperates with a third, lower, nozzle ring 88 to form a secondary quenching nozzle 88 for delivering quenching fluid to an-intermediate portion 'of the outer face of the work piece. The intermediate ring 84 is mounted on and secured to an annular plate I8 I, in turn bolted to a lower plate I82 having an edge coinciding with and secured to the periphery of the circular top plate 8|.

Quenching fluid is conducted to the primary quenching nozzle'85 through a passage I 83 formed between the top plate 8| and the nozzle ring sup, porting plate H, see Fig, 5, which passageway opens through ports I84 near the outer edge of the lower plate I82 with depending hollow tubes I85 extending downwardly from the plate I82 to which they are secured within the hood 11. When the hood is located in operative engagement with the base of the work support, as illusto cooperate with a removable key II 1 by means of which the bushing can be secured in either of two positions in a supporting collar II8 on the standard .45, to support the spindle at either .of two levels, depending on the dimensions of -hub bore. The clamping disc is secured'to a short shaft I25 rotatably mounted in the upper end of an arm I26 slidably and rotatably supported on a hollow shaft I21 projecting outwardly from a supporting bracket I28. A hand wheel I28 i mounted on the, outer end of the shaft I25. The opposite end of the shaft I25, ad-

jacent to clamping disc I24, is recessedto receive the projecting end of the work supporting trated in Fig. 5, the lower end of each tube I85 moved bodily to the left along supporting shaft fits over the upper end of the associated vertically spindle H4, 2. pin I3I mounted in the recess of the shaft I25 being adapted to engage the bayonet slot I32 in the spindle. 'A detent mechanism I33 is provided for yieldingly holding the shaft I25 in proper work locatin position. The lower end of the arm I28, below the supporting shaft I21 has a pair of feet I34 adapted to engage supporting surfaces I 35 when the bracket arm I28 is in operative-work supporting position, see Fig. 5. To release a work piece the wheel I28 is rotated to unlock the pin and bayonet slot connection permitting the arm to' be I21, see Fig. 5, to withdraw the clamping disc I24 from engagement with the bore of the propeller hub. This removes the feet I34 from engagement with the supporting surfaces I35, after which the arm can be tilted about the shaft I21 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, in which position it is held by a rod I38 or the like engaging a suitable stop I31 on the side of the bracket arm. This'leaves the end of the work supporting spindle II4 free and the work piece readily accessible for removal therefrom.

Mechanism is provided for accurately locating the work piece in proper position on the spindle and for indexing the work piece between successive operations for presenting different blade sockets to'the heating and quenching heads. This mechanism, as illustrated, comprises an indexing plate I38 secured to the work supporting bushing II9. A pin I39 is secured in the plate in position to engage one of the bolt openings I4I formed in the hub. The indexing plate is accurately held in position socket for treatment by an easily releasable locking mechanism such, for example, as a pin I42 slidably mounted in the pedestal to engage an opening I43 in the index plate. The pin can be withdrawn by a lever I44 pivoted to the pedestal and connected at its lower end to a shaft I45 slidably mounted in a slotted bearing I45 and extending forwardly through the bore of the hol- 10w shaft I21, a helical spring I41 normally pressing the shaft to hold the pin I42 in operative position.

It will be apparent that after the hardening operation, the work can be easily and quickly, and at the same time accurately indexed by releasing the locking pin I42 by pulling the shaft I45 to the left as indicated in Fig. 5, where: upon rotating the hand wheel I29 to the right will rotate the work supporting shaft H4 and the hub supported thereon to bring an untreated socket into position for hardening.

During the heat treating operation the work holder and support, together with the surrounding hood and quench nozzles are rotated by a motor I48, see Fig. 4, and driving gear I49 mounted on the central hollow shaft 38, the motor casing being secured to the bottom of the spider MI. The gear I49 is also geared to an oil pump II which circulates lubricant from reservoir I52 through a feed tube I53 and passage I54 to the bearing 35. The passage I54 extends around the supporting plate I33 and an opening I55 is located above the gearing conmeeting the motor I48 and the gear I49 for the lubrication thereof.

A splash pan I58 is secured to the upper edge of the plate 33 for a purpose to be hereinafter described and a quenching fluid drain outlet I51 is provided in the bottom plate 33 for draining off quenching fluid. Drain openings I58 and I59 in the intermediate plate 39 and lower plate 38, respectively, and opening ISO in top plate 44 permit the quench fluid to flow into the outlet I51. The heating head IGI is shown as having a multiturn, single, hollow conductor, inducing coil I82 surrounding the usual laminations I83 mounted on a coil support I64 between cooperating shoulders I85 formed on the support and on a lamination holding ring I86 held in place by an annulus I61 and nut I88 threaded to the coil support' I64. During heating the hollow coil is supplied with coolant through a supply pipe I89 connected to a supply passage I1I formed in the coil support leading to an annular passage I12 cohto properly locate a .ing yoke I14 nected to the lower turn of the inducing coil. The opposite end of the coil extends upwardly through the annulus I81 into a channel formed in a split clamping yo e I14 to which is also connected the coolant discharge line I18.

The upper end of the coil support I84 is threaded to a collar I18 engaging a shoulder I11 formed on a sleeve I18 threaded at its upper end to the lower end of an inner arbor munber I18. It will be noted that the inner arbor member I18, sleeve I18, and coil support I84 are electrics-lb connected together and to the lower .turn of the induction heating coil I82. The upper end of the coil supporting member I84 is secured in the split clamping yoke I14 which is insulated from the coil supporting member by a ring "I of electrical insulating material. The clamping yoke is mounted at the lower end of a supporting hanger I82 suspended froma nut I83 threaded to the lower end of an outer annular, current conducting arbor member I84 concentric with and surrounding the inner arbor member I19 and lust!- lated therefrom by a sleeve I85 of electrical insulating material. It will also be noted that the outer arbor member I84, hanger I82 and clampare electrically connected together and to the extension I13 of the induction heating coil.

The arbor members are supported from a transformer supporting frame I88 and are electrically connected in the usual way to transformer coils located within the transformer housing I81, the associated electrical apparatus being housed within the frame 28 of the machine. It will be seen that the nut I83 and hanger I82 are insulated from the sleeve I19 by a collar I88 of electrical insulating material.

Surrounding the lower ends of the arbor members, and supported upon the nut I83. is a cylindrical member I89, the lower annular end of which engages a shoulder I9I on the outer arbor member I84, so that the cylindrical member is clamped between such shoulder and the nut I83. During the heating operation, when the heating head is positioned within the work piece socket, the outer surface of the cylindrical member I89 is slidably engaged by the circular wall of a. central opening I92 in a centering collar I93, see Fig. 5, mounted within an annular plate I94 supported on the yoke 18 which supports the hood supporting hanger 84. An oil seal is provided for preventing oil flowing from the reservoir 88 to the interior of the hanger 84 by an annular oil seal plate I95 between which and the top plate I94 is an oil seal I98.

By engagement of the cylindrical member I89 with the surface I92 which is occasioned when the work piece, heating head and work enclosing hood are in operative heating position, as shown in Fig. 5, the heating head is rigidly held in exact position relative to the socket being treated and rotation of the parts occurs on an axial line which is rigidly located between the lower rotary work piece support 31 and shaft 38 which are accurately centered by the supporting spider and as sociated guide rods 25, and the upper center of rotation formed by the rotary hanger 84 which is accurately positioned by the hanger 18 and guide rods 25.

Means are provided for quenching the inner, heated surface of the socket. As shown, a quench tube I91 is positioned within the inner annular arbor member I19 and is provided with non-1e openings I98 shown as arranged in circumferential rows at the lower end of the tube,.see Pig.

through any suitable, conventional, valve mechanism In operation, at the beginning, the work support is at its lowermost position as shown in Figs.

' 1 and 2, and the work enclosing hood I1 is in raised position shown in dotted lines 'in Fig. 1,

thus making the work holder, easily accessible for the positioning of a work piece in place. With the work clamping mechanism on' the arm I26 shifted to inoperative position, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, a work piece Such as the illustrated propeller hub having three, spaced, blade Quenching'fluid which may be gaseous or liquid,

but which in the illustrated machine is preferably air, is admitted to the supply chamber 204 through a port 205 connected to a supply line 206', see Fig. 1. When the quenching nozzle and tubeare in elevated, inoperative, non-quenching position, shown in Figs. 12 and 13, it will be apparent that the open upper end of the quench tube is cut oil from the supply chamber 204 by projecting into the chambered flange 205,'but that upon lowering the tube to the operative quenching position shown in Fig. 4, the upper end 01' thetube 'will be. withdrawn from the chambered flange into communicationwiththe supply chamber 204 so that quenching fluid will flow freely through the quenching nozzle. The dimensions are such that a predetermined extent of downward movement suflicient to locate the nozzleln a predetermined position is required before quenching fluid can flow. A piston 201' is secured to the nozzle tubeand mounted within the cylinder 202. -A' fluid pressure line 208 is connected through a port 209and passage 2 with a restricted annular passage 2I2 opening at one end into the cylinder at one side of the piston which has, an'annular end-2I3 of reduced diameter adapted toenter an annular opening 2 of less cross sectional area than that of the main cylinder. The pressure supply, port 209 is also connected through a check passage 2I6 to the main part of the cylinder 202.

A second pressure'lin 2" is connected to a port 2I3 in the lower cylinder head I, the port 2I8 communicating through apassage 2I9 with a restricted annular opening 22I at the lower end of the cylinder adapted to receive a lower extension 222 on the piston head201. The port 2I8 also communicates through a check sage 224 with the main cylinder.

It will be readily understood that the upper and lower extensions 2 I 3 and 222, respectively; on the piston head 201 cooperate with the restricted cylinder extensions 2I4 and MI, respectively, for cushioning the movement of the quench head at each end of its stroke, needle valves 225 being em- ,..ployed to control the degree of cushioning. Ob-

v'iOllSlY, introduction of fluid through the port 208, when thepiston 201 is in the upper position illustrated in Fig. 12, applies pressure to the upper ends of the extension 2 I 3. This starts the piston downwardly. after which the full pressure is delivered thereto through the check valve 2 I 5 and passage 2I6-. The lower end of the stroke is cushioned by the annular extension 2I3 of the piston entering the reduced "area 22I thus restricting the area forthe exhaust or fluid through the passage 2I8 and cushioning the lower end of the stroke. The reverse operation'is similarly carried out by applying pressure. to the lower side of the piston through the port 218. It will, of course, be readily understood that the control of fluid pressure in the operating lines 203 and 2| 1 is obtained valve 223 and Des-- valve 215 and the gasket 46, see Figs. 8

receiving sockets 96,

adjusted positions, theparticular position depending upon the size ofthe work piece, the eccentric being secured in key II1, Figs. 5 and 10. The sleeve II! and adaptor I23 on which thework piece is directly supported are shaped and ance with the particular work to be treated. In positioning the work on the support, one of the perforations I in the propeller mounting flange is located over the pin I 39 mounted on the indexing plate I38, plate are rigidly connected together for simultaneous indexing movement. The indexingplate and hub are normally held against any movement on the spindle by the locking pin I 42. When properly positioned on the support, the workpiece is locked in place by returning the arm I26 to vertical position and sliding it toward. th spindle II4, to the right in Fig. 5. Obviously, different positions of the work supporting spindle to accommodatev difierent sizes of work pieces willrequire diiferentlengths of arm I26. Bringing the arm I26 into'a vertical position moves the supporting and centering disc I24'into engagement with the .open bore of the'work piece,,and the pin I3I is locked in the bayonet slot I 32 by rotating the hand wheel I29 'to the right, the parts being resiliently held in this position by the detent mechanism I33. In moving the arm I26 inwardly into work supporting position, the feet I34 are moved on to the supporting surfaces I 35 which accurately locate the arm I 26, the outer end of the work piece being thusrigidly and accurately p0- sitioned o that the socket 96 to be treated is also rigidly heldin accurate position for such treatment. Accuracy in' locating the work piece for treatmentis requiredbecause of the close tolerances necessary between the work piece and the heating and quenching'head's for the highest degree of perfectionin the finished product. With the work piece securely mounted on the support, the hood 11 is lowered from the elevated position shown in dotted lines in'Fig. 1 to the lower position shown in solidlines in Figs. 1 and '2 in which it rests "upon'the base of the work support. When in this position the primary quench tubes I05, see Fig. 5, thelower ends of which are secured within an annular ring 23I, fit over the tubular quench supply members 13 in the work supporting base for receiving quenching fluid therefrom and transmitting it to the primary quench nozzle 95. In the same way the secondary quench tubes II 2 fit over and receive quenchin fluid from the tubular members 52, transmitting such fluid to the secondary quench nozzle 99. The annular'ring 23I snugly engages and 9, to form a liquid tight joint between the hood and the top plate 44 ,of the work supporting'base. Quenching fluid proper position by the proportioned in accordso that-the hub and indexing by applying which is impinged upon the work piece by the nozzles 55 and 99 flows over the work piece on to the work supporting base and drains outwardly therefrom through drain openings 232, see Fig. 9, formed in the ring BI and top plate 44 and which communicate with drain outlets 233 formed in the upper face of the ring 43.

The downward movement of the hood is occasioned by exhausting fluid pressure from the cylinders 8I permitting the rods 19 to move downwardly under the weight of the hood and supporting yoke. With the hood in operative position, the work support is raised from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to that illustrated in Fig. 5 in which the socket 96 to be treated is raised into position around the heat head 2|, the latter being accurately centered with respect to the work piece by engagement of the cylindrical centering member I89 with the inner centering surface I92. This also accurately aligns the centers of rotation of the work piece, the work support, and the hood, with the center of the heat head. The work holder, hood, and work piece are rotated by the motor I40 and electric current of high frequency and high power is delivered to the coil of the heating head to inductively heat the inner, sinuous surface of the associated socket 96 by induced electromagnetlc currents in the manner known to the art, the area penetrated by such currents being confined to a predetermined depth and pattern. The outer wall of the socket 96 is maintained relatively cool, at a temperature substantially below any hardening temperature. For.this purpose the quench controlling valves, not shown, are so manipulated that quenching fluid is delivered through the primary quenching nozzle against the upper shoulder and outer surface of the socket 96 during and after the heating period which may last in connection with the work piece illustrated for approximately 17 seconds. I have successfully treated work pieces of this type the primary quench approximately 15 seconds after the start of the heating operation. At the end of the heating period, the work supporting fixture and associated hood 11 are lowered to the position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 by admitting operating fluid to the cylinder 22 through the inlet valve 28, above the piston head 21 and exhausting fluid from beneath the head through the port 29. Substantially simultaneously with this movement, operating fluid is delivered to the quench nozzle operating cylinder 202 through the inlet port 209 to lower the piston head 201 and move the associated inner quench nozzle I91 downwardly so as to project below the heating head IGI into the heated sockets 96, as best shown in Fig. 4. As above described, it is necessary to move the quench tube and nozzle downwardly a distance suflicient to withdraw the upper end of the tube from the chambered flange 205 so as to insure the nozzle being lowered entirely away from the locating coil before fluid can flow through the nozzle. when in this position secondary quenching fluid is delivered through the secondary quench nozzle 99, and additional quenching fluid, which is preferably a gaseous medium such as air is directed against the heated sinuous surface by the nozzle I91 to quench such surface and harden it as well as a certain predetermined area, generally indicated in Fig. 4, which lies somewhat below the bottoms of the low portions of the sinuous surface. Preferably the quenching fluid delivered through the nozzles 95 and 99 is a liquid which flows 12 7 down over the exterior of the work piece and is drained out through the base of the work support as above described.

Upon completion of the operation, fluid pressure is delivered to the lower end of the cylinder 202 to retract the inner quench nozzle to inoperative position within the heating head and to the cylinders 8| to raise the hood I1 to its upper position whereupon to bring another socket 08 into position for treatment. In this operation the shaft I45 is pulled outwardly against the tension of the spring I41 to withdraw the locking pin I42 from engagement with the index plate I30. The hand wheel I20 can then be rotated to the right to bring a fresh untreated portion of the work piece, such as a socket 96 into proper position for treatment. Release of the shaft I45 permits the spring I41 to shift the locking pin I42 into engagement with another opening I43 in the indexing plate.

Although I have described indetail one specific embodiment of a machine which is illustrative of the present invention, it will be apparent that the invention is not limited to such details, but that it can be variously modified and adapted within the scope of the present claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a heat treating machine, a support for holding a workpiece in predetermined position for heat treatment, means for directing quenching fluid againstthe workpiece as held by said support, a hood for enclosing the workpiece and support during heat treatment of the workpiece, said hood and support being relatively movable into and out of work enclosing position, and means for effecting said movement.

2. In a heat treating machine, a support for holding a tubular workpiece in predetermined position for heat treatment of one circumferential surface thereof, a base for said support, said support being rotatably mounted on said base, means for rotating said support and the workpiece held thereby, a second support spaced from said base, a workpiece enclosing hood rotatably carried by said second support, said hood having an end portion and nozzle means for directing cooling fluid against the other circumferential surface of the workpiece during heat treatment of said one circumferential surface, said second support and said hood being relatively movable into and out of workpiece enclosing position, said hood in said work enclosing position engaging said base and being rotatable by said base by reason of said engagement, means for effecting said relative movement, and means for conducting cooling fluid to said nozzle means during rotation of said hood and base.

3. In a heat treating machine having a heating head for heating the bore of a workpiece having an annular wall, a support for holding the workpiece, a hood having an annular end portion, said hood and support being relatively movable into and out of workpiece enclosing position, means for efiecting said relative movement, said annular end portion in the workpiece enclosing position of said hood being arranged to clrcumscribe a portion of said annular wall of the workpiece, said end portion havin nozzle means therein for directing cooling fluid circumferentially against the outer surface of said wall, and means for conducting cooling fluid to said nozzle means.

4. In a machine for heat treating a workpiece, a workpiece enclosing hood, a base member including a support for holding the workpiece, said hood and base member being relatively movable a work piece can be indexed fluid passageways therein, and separate fluid conduits effective upon relative movement of said hood and base member into workpiece enclosing position to connect said base member fluid passageways with said hood fluid passages.

5. In a machine for heat treating a tubular metallic workpiece, a heating head, a work support for the workpiece, means for relatively moving said Work support and heating head to move the workpiece and said head axially relative to each other into and out of operative heating relation with respect to one circumferential surface of the workpiece, means-for rotating the workpiece during heating and quenching thereof, nozzle means rotatable with the workpiece for delivring COOIil'lg fluid against the other circumferential surface during heating of said one surface, and a non-rotary quenching nozzle for discharging a quenching fluid against said one surface after heating thereof. 7

6. In a machine for heat treating a tubular metallic workpiece, a heating head for heating one circumferential surface of the workpiece, a pair of axially spaced annular nozzles arranged for concentric disposition adjacent the other circumferential surface of the workpiece, one for discharging cooling fluid against said other surface adjacent one end thereof and the other for discharging cooling fluid against said other surface intermediatethe ends thereof, and means for supplying cooling fluid to said nozzles independently of each other and to at least one of said nozzles during heating of said one circumferential surface.

7. In a machine for heat treating the bore of a metallic workpiece having an annular wall, a support for holding the workpiece to be heat treated, a heating head coaxially aligned with said wall, said head and the workpiece as held by said support being relatively axially movable to position said head within said bore, a member having an opening therethrough, said opening being of a diameter greater than that of said well, said member and workpiece as held by said 14 support being axially aligned and relatively axially movable to position the workpiece within said opening, said member having a circumferential nozzle means therein for projecting cooling fluid against the outer surface of said annular wall during heating of said bore, and means in said member for conducting cooling fluid to said nozzle means.

8. In a machine for heat treating the bore of a metallic workpiece having an annular wall, a support for holding the workpiece to be heat treated, a heating head coaxially aligned with said wall, said head and the workpiece as held by said support being relatively axially movable to position said head within said bore, a member having an opening therethrough, said opening being of a diameter greater than that of said wall, said member and workpiece as held by said support being axially aligned and relatively axially movable to position the workpiece within said opening, said member having a circumferential nozzle means therein for projecting cooling fluid against the outer surface of said annular wall during heating of said bore, and sealing means engageable with the end of said wall to prevent the flow of cooling fluid between said end and said member, and means associated with said member for conducting cooling fluid to said nozzle means.

HOWARD E. SOMES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

Images