US2457654A - Flame hardening apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 28, 1948. E. A. FURKERT 2,457,654

FLAME HARDENElNG APPARATUS Filed July 24, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 fry/672707? [7725 A fir/Fer? Dec. 28, 1948. E. A. FURKERT FLAME HARDENING APPARATUS W W MN Dec. 28, 1948. I UR 2,457,654

FLAME HARDENING APPARATUS Filed July 24, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 M UWQ/W Dec. 28, 1948. E. A. FURKERT FLAME HARDENING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 24, 1943 rs J65 Patented Dec. 28, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to flame hardening apparatus.

In the hardening of cylindrical members, such as gears in particular, it is desirable that the heat be applied uniformly to the surface or surfaces to be hardened especially where a flame heating method is employed wherein the necessary heating is effected in a matter of minutes as compared with methods where the articles are heat treated for periods of several hours duration.

In the apparatus for flame hardening disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 416,613, filed October 27, 1941, now Patent No. 2,407,230, granted September 10, 1946, the gear to be hardened is elevated into a heating station which is located centrally of a battery of rotary gas bumers which deliver the flames to selected portions of the stationary gear. It is desirable that the gear being hardened be truly centered with respect to the rotary burners so that the flame from each burner will provide a uniform heating effect annularly of the gear as the flames rotate. Where a gear is positioned slightly off center with respect to the rotary burners or where eccentric movements of the burners occur with respect to the gear, as from vibrations or other causes, the heating effect of any flame will not be uniform throughout its annular path of infringement upon the gear. Such apparently minor variations in the application of heat may produce non-uniformity in hardness or produce warpage, especially where the total .time required for heating a gear surface to a hardening temperature is of relatively short duration and hence it is desirable that such variations be avoided where a high uniformity in hardness of a gear surface, without distortion of the gear, is sought.

One object of the invention therefore is to provide means for elevating a member to be hardened into a heating position with respect to a battery of rotary burners which assures that the member will be centered axially with respect to all the burners and will be maintained in that relation during the heating operation for insuring uniformity of heating effect in all portions of 'the annular path of impingement of the flame of a burner upon the member.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved gear elevating mechanism for automatically engaging a gear for elevating the same into a position accurately centered with respect to rotary heat applying means and cooperating mechanism for automatically releasing the gear upon deposition thereof in a quench tank.

An additional object of the invention is to pro- 2 vide flame hardening apparatus whereby gears or similar articles can be heat treated in relatively rapid succession by an attendant, including im- -tank to minimize cooling in the interim between heating and quenching.

More specific additional objectsof the invention relate to the provision of automatic pick-up and release mechanism for handling gears or similar articles to be heated for facilitating the hardening operations.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a quench tank movable to a position beneath the burners to receive a heated gear and to a position more remote from the burners for reducing unnecessary heating of the quenching liquid by the burners.

Other objects of the invention relate to various features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be apparent from a consideration of the following specification and accompanying claims wherein:

Figure 1 is a broken side elevation of apparatus illustrative of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a broken end elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 as viewed from the right thereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a gear elevating and depositing mechanism;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged broken elevation of the automatic gear carrier forming a part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a broken elevation of a quench tank reciprocating mechanism.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings, the mechanism therein shown is provided with a suitable supporting frame indicated generally by the numeral ill and comprising upright members or posts II and spaced horizontal members l2 and I3. The frame supports a motor M which by a belt 15 operates a pulley It for operating a rotary structure indicated generally by the numeral H. The structure I! comprises a vertical duct l8 from which extend branch ducts l9v (two being shown) which conduct gaseous fuel (preferably a mixture of domestic heating gas and ass-nee air) to an annular manifold 20. m the memfold the gas flows through flexible ducts 2| each leading to a burner 22 which are supported by adonly are shown in the drawings for the sake of I simplicity, .but it will be understood the required number of the same is employed for supplying sufilcient heat to the stationary gear G for reds-j ing the temperature thereof rapidly to the degree required for proper hardening. The details oi the burner structure, including the adjusting means therefor, are shown in detail in my copending application Serial No. 460,499, filed October 2, 1942, now abandoned.

The rotary structure it is supported by suitable bearings 28 and 26 mounted on the frame i6. A slip or swivel joint member 21 of known form. and comprising a lower rotary portion 27a and an upper non-rotatable portion 21b enables the structure ii to rotate with reference to an upper non-rotary extension thereof comprising a duct 28 into which the gaseous fuel is conducted by a pipe 28 from a fuel source not shown. Within the ducts i8 and 28 is a rotary axial sleeve 86 having at the upper end 3i a gas-tight packed Joint and at the lower end is secured 'as by welding to a nut 92 which is threadedly received within the lower end of the member 33 which carries the gas distributing arms 09. Gaseous fuel entering the duct 28 through pipe. 29 flows downwardly through the annular gas passage as to the branchducts i9, to the manifold and thence to the burners as described.

Through the sleeve 30 extends a recipri-icable rod which at its upper end is attached to 8. Diston 36 operable within a vertically disposed cylinder 37 mounted on the upper end of the duct 28. 'Blue lower end of the rod 85 is provided with a gear engaging member 38 provided with membars which operate automatically for engaging a:

gear to be elevated when the member 38 is passed downwardly through the axial opening of a gear.

The automatic gear engaging members. in the form of the invention illustrated; comprise unbalanced fingers 39 (see Figs. 4 and 5) which are positioned in a diametrical slot 60 in the member 38 and pivotally mounted at 6| at the lower ends.

The members have a tendency to fall or tilt at their upper ends outwardly of the slot and so present surfaces 52 in a horizontal position for engagement with a gear or a gear supporting memher when the lower end of the member 38 has been passed through the axial opening of a gear.

For convenience in initially locating a gear to be heat treated in axial alignment with the recipj rocating pick-up member 38, a hand operable gear locating member is provided which as shown is 'in the form of a lever 43 pivotally mounted at I to the frame It! and having a pair of arms 45 the outer ends of which slide on and are supported by i an ,arcuate track 58. The member 53 can be 3 swung counterclockwise from the position shown 5 in Fig. 3 through an arc of approximately 90 or 3 to the dotted line position indicated in said fi ure wherein a gear to be hardened can conveniently be placed thereon by an attendant without reaching under the burners 22. Such a-gear is placed 4 in the space defined by three adjustable stops 41 which are so positioned that when the lever with the gear thereon is swung to thefull line position of Fig. 3, the axial opening in the gear will be in vertical alignment with the pick-up member til. A suitable stop, such as shown at 48, arrests the clock-wise movement of the lever in the position wherein the axial opening of the gear is in proper alignment for receiving the gear pick-up member SI upon descent of the rod 35.

For the purpose of operating the rod 35 fluid under pressure. such as air or a liquid, is admitted to the cylinder 31 from a pipe 49 under control 01' a valve 50 of suitable construction and provided with a manually operable handle 5| as shown in Fig. 3. A pipe 52 is shown extending to the valve from a pressure tank 58 which constitutes a source of supply of operating fluid. By operating the valve handle in one direction the piston 36 is moved downwardly while reverse movement of the valve admits pressure fluid through a pipe 54 which leads from the valve to the lower portion of the cylinder 31 for forcing. the piston upwardly. The construction of the valve is such asto bleed the fluid from pipe 52 or 54 through outlet cock 55 when the other pipe is receiving pressure fluid fromthe tank. When the valve handle BI is in a central or vertical position, the pressure fluid is not admitted to either pressure line. The construction of the valve is wellknown and is not illustrated in "detail in the sired to. elevate a gear into the heating position centrally of the annularly arranged burners, such a gear is first placed on the gear centering lever 43 when the latter is in the dotted line position and the lever then swung to the full line position shown in Fig. 3. Thegear in position G of Fig. 3 corresponds to-the position G of Fig. 2. By operating the valve handle 5| in the proper direction the piston is moved downwardly to cause the pick-up member 88 to pass through the central gear opening, the fingers or dogs 39 thereupon swinging inwardly into the slot 38 by contact with the wall of the gear passage. When the dogs have passed through the gear they fall outwardly. to the position shown in Fig. 4, whereupon reversal of position of the valve handle 5| efiects upward movement of the piston 36, red 35 and member 88, for raising the gear G of Fig. 2 into the heating position G indicated in said figure.

As illustrated in Figs. 4, the gear G, instead of resting directly upon the gear locating lever 43 is supported by a member 56 which is provided with an annular flange 56a and a tubular extension 56b which has an exterior diameter for reception within the axial passage of the gear and an internal diameter for receiving the pick-up member 38. Such supporting member 56 thus is picked up by the member 38 and is moved with the gear into heating position. The use of members 56 avoids the possibility of a gear becoming tilted or improperly engaged as might occur should one of the dogs 39 register with a keyway in a gear. By use of washers of proper size dropped down of tubular portions 56a of the member 66, the latter can be employed with gears the central openingsof which are of greater diprovided with an adjustable stud 51 extending into the cylinder for arresting upward movement of the piston whereby the stationary position of the gear within the heating zone can be altered as may be found desirable. During the heating of the gear to the hardening temperature in the embodiment of the invention disclosed in the drawings, the gear remains stationary while the burners rotate with the rotatable structure ll thus directing flames upon the gear to raise the latter or selected portions thereof. such as the toothed periphery to the required temperature.

For procuring uniform hardening of the teeth of the gear or the surface of other articles, and

for avoiding distortion due to warping, it is necessary that the parts or portions to be hardened be subjected uniformlyto the heating effects of the flames. Thus, if a gear is positioned even slightly off-center with respect to the paths of the rotating burners or if the gear should move-slightly radially from a true central position relative to the burners, there is likely to be some lack of uniformity in the temperature of the surface or surfaces, such as of the teeth of the gear, and hence variations in flnal hardness as well as distortion after quenching. By reason of the fact that the gear is supported in heating position by the shaft 35 which is co-axially arranged with respect to the rotary burners, relative lateral movement of the burners with reference to the gear or of the latter with respect to the former is avoided and hence the flame of each burner will produce a unifom heating effect in an annular band or path upon the gear. The burners are adjustable as stated and when adjusted, after test, to provide the proper application of heat, require no further adjustment generally in heating other similar gears which are to be similarly hardened. By avoidin variations in the application of heat to the gear' by each burner as it rotates about the gear by reason of the maintained concentricity 6 ward movement of the tank in the desired position.

The means shown for effecting the horizontal reciprocation of the tank 58 comprises a piston rod 8| (see Fig. 6)-the forward end of which is attached to the forward portion of the tank by a bracket 82. A piston 53 at the rear end of the rod 6| operates in a horizontal cylinder 64, positioned generally between the tracks 60 and beneath the tank.

A valve 55, similar to valve 50, is provided for controllong the flow of pressure fluid into the ends of the cylinder 64 for effecting the operation of the piston in the selected direction. As shown in Fig. 3, a pressure fluid pipe 66 extends from the valve 65 t9 the forward end of the cylinder 64 while a similar pipe 61 extends to the rear end of the cylinder. By operating the handle 68 of the valve the. flow of pressure fluid to either side of the piston can be controlled for operating the latter and hence operating the tank 58 from one to the other of the full line or the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3.

In the dotted line position the tank is axially centered with respect to the gear pick-up member 38 and hence when the latter is lowered the gear can be deposited directly within the quench tank.

For the purpose of effecting release of the dogs 38 from the gear, or the gear support 56, when the gear is lowered into the tank, the latter is provided with a gear receiving member 68 shown mounted on the bottom of the tank in the center thereof. The member 69 (see Fig. 5) has a base 69a secured to the bottom of the tank, an upright tubular portion 691: having a central passage 690 of a diameter to receive the pick-up member 38, and a horizontal annular flange 69d upon which the gear support 56 is adapted to rest. When the of the paths of the burners with respect to the in tank is in the gear ec i in position s own by gear, a high uniformity of hardness can be obtained in treating a batch of like gears. The rotation of the burners with reference to the article to be hardened rather than of the article with reference to the burners is of particular advantage with respect to settin up the burners for heating an initial gear of a batch of gears in that proper adjustment of the individual burners can be made when necessary as the burners rotate without the attendant having to move about the machine as would benecessary were the burner stationary. Adjustments of burners, when necessary can be made quickly during operation, as will be seen, and high uniformity of heating, with uniformity in hardness effected and distortion and warpage substantially or wholly avoided.

After a gear has been heated to the proper temperature, it is lowered promptly into a quenching medium which may be a body of oil or water or into a spray of either. For cooperation with the vertically reciprocable gear pick-up mechanism described above, a horizontally reciprocable quench tank 58 is provided which, in the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing, is provided with rollers 59 which travel on horizontal channel shaped track members 68 supported by the frame of the machine. The tank 58 is arranged to be moved forwardly or to the left from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 to the dotted line position whereby when a gear in the elevated position of Fig. 2 has been heated to the proper temperature, it may be lowered immediately into the quench tank by the above described operation of the valve handle 5|. The tracks 88 are provided with stops 60a for arresting the fordotted lines in Fig. 3, the dog release member 69 will be in axial registration with the member 38 and upon the lowering of the heated gear into the tank 58, the lower end of the member 38, including the dogs 39 will enter the aligned passage 690. The dogs will be pressed inwardly of the slot 40 by the wall of the passage 680 as the rod 35 completes its downward stroke. The inward movement of the dogs elevates the gear and member 56 slightly, but as the dogs enter the slot 40, the gear and member 56 are deposited upon the flange 69d. Reversal of the position of the valve handle 5i will elevate the rod and member 38, as described above, leaving the gear G and support 56 at rest upon the horizontal flange 56a. The upper ends of the dogs are shaped to avoid re-engagement with member 56 as they are moved upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 3.

Quenching fluid is admitted to the quench tank 58 as required, depending on the character of quenching best calculated to produce the degree of hardness desired. For example, the tank may head 10 which is shown positioned substantially 4 in the horizontal plane of the gear G in Fig. 2 and is provided with a plurality of radially directed spray ports for spraying fluid upon the hot gear. Fluid is supplied to the spray ring 10 by a flexible hose H (see Fig. 2) which is connected to one outlet of a two-way valve I2 whereby fluid flowing from a motor operated pump II through pipe 14 can be directed into the ring or into a tank 15 from which fluid flows through pipe 78 to the inlet of the pump. Where a gear being heated is to be spray quenched, the spray may be in operation asthe tank 58 is moved forwardly in the gear receiving position beneath the burners, an outlet duct 11 near the bottom of the tank and controlled by a valve 18, conducting the fluid from the spray tank through discharge pipe it into the main reservoir or tank '35. The discharge pipe 19 is attached to the spray tank fifi and reciprocates therewith, the main fluid tank '55 being sufliciently long to receive the fluid from the pipe 79 when the latter is in either extreme position of reciprocation.

When a hot gear is lowered into the tank .58 by the operation of the rod and deposited upon the member 69, it may be subjected immediately to the sprayed fluid. The gear may be cooled to flnal temperature by the spray if desired, but a common practice is to employ spray quenching initially only and hence where the gear after initial spray quenching is to be immersed in the fluid, the valve 78 is closed at the proper time whereby the fluid from thespray ring 70 accumulated within the tank 58 and submerges the gear. The fluid may rise in the tank 58 until it overflows through an overflow pipe 80 which communicates with the discharge pipe 59 and through which the overflowing fluid is returned to the main tank 15. When the gear has been sufiiciently cooled, the operation of the pump may be interrupted or preferably especially where a batch of gears is being treated, the valve 72 is operated to direct the fluid from the hose ll through a discharge pipe BI which directs it into the main tank. The drain cock 78, when opened permits the fluid in the quench tank 58 to drain into the main tank '85. The fluid in the latter may be cooled, if desired, by circulation through a cooling unit, not shown.

It will be understood that by means of the reciprocating quench tank 58 and the fluid control means shown, a hot gear upon being deposited in the quench tank is subjected immediately to the action of the fluid either by a spray thereof or by submergence in an accumulated body of fluid in the tank and that upon elevation of the gear pick-up member 38 from the tank, the latter can be moved rearwardly to the full line position of Fig. 1 whereby another gear, previously positioned on the locating lever 63,can be swung by operation of the latter into aligned position for elevation by the pick-up member into heating relation. While the latter gear is being heated, the gear in the quench tank when sufflciently cooled can be removed, the fluid therein discharged, if desired, and the tank made ready for the quench of the next gear.

This arrangement not only provides for immediate quenching of the gears or articles when a proper temperature has been reached, but either spray or immersion quenching may be employed and with expeditious handling of the gears especially where a numberof the like articles are to be hardened.

By providing a second reservoir similar to tank 15 for a second type quenching fluid, and providing proper connections between such second tank, pump I3 or a second such pump and the quench tank 58, a selection of quench fluid can be made available. Thus one tank 15 may contain water and the other oil, so that either fluid may be employed in the quch tank 58 as mayv be desired.

, ers located coaxially of the axis of rotation of the burners,- and a reciprocable member extending from said duct provided with article supporting means for supporting an article coaxially with respect to said burners.

2. Flame hardening apparatus comprising a rotary structure, burners carried thereby for directing flames inwardly of the paths of movement thereof upon an article positioned coaxially with respect to the axis of rotation of said burners, a duct for supplying fuel to said burners and located coaxially with respect to said paths, and a non-rotary reciprocable member extending coaxially from said duct and provided with means for engaging an article therebeneath and elevating the same into a heating position coaxial with respect to said burners.

3. Flame hardening apparatus comprising a rotary structure providd with a plurality of rotary burners directed inwardly of the paths of rotation thereof, means for supplying fuel to the burners comprising a rotary duct positioned coaxially with respect to the burners, a reciprocable article carrier member extending coaxially from said duct and'provided with article engaging means for engaging a subjacent article and elevating the same into a heating position coaxial with respect to the burners and within the heating range thereof, and means for effecting the reciprocation of said carrier member for moving an article to be heated to and from said heating position.

4. Flame hardening apparatus comprising a rotary structure provided with a plurality of burners arranged to direct flames inwardlly of the paths of rotation thereof upon a coaxially positioned gear to be heated, a reciprocal gear carrier operable coaxially within and through said structure, means above said structure for operating the carrier, means at the lower end of the carrier arranged for entrance into the axial passage of a subjacent axially aligned gear and comprising means for engaging. the gear whereby upon elevation of the carrier by said operating means the gear is elevated into a position within the heating zone of the burners, a reciprocable quench tank operable to and from a position beneath said gear carrier and means within the tank for eflecting the operation of said gear engaging means for releasing a. gear lowered into the tankby said carrier.

5. Flame hardening apparatus comprising a V rotary heating means for directing flames inwardly upon a coaxially positioned member to be hardened, a reciprocable member movable coaxially of said rotary means and provided with article engaging means for engaging a subjacent article located in alignment with said member for engaging and elevating the article into a position coaxial with respect to the rotary movement of the flames of said heating means, means for operating said reciprocable member, a. quench tank movable into a position beneath said heat- 9 ing means, and an article receiver in the tank for effecting the release from said engaging means of an article lowered upon the same by said reciprocable member.

6. In an apparatus for hardening articles by heating and quenching, means for applying heat to an article, carrier means for moving the article vertically to and from the heatapplying means, means for reciprocating the carrier means, a quench tank horizontally operable to and from a position in vertical alignment with the carrier, means for controlling the operation of the carrier and said tank for effecting the delivery by the former of a heated article into the latter when said members are in alignment, and means positioned within the tank cooperable with the carrier upon descent thereof into the tank for effecting release from the carrier of the article when the latter is in a given position within thetank.

7. Article hardening apparatus comprising a source of heat, a vertically reciprocable article carrier provided with article engaging means for engaging and elevating an article into and lowering the same from a heating zone of said source, a reciprocable quench tank, means for operating the same to and from article receiving posiof the article into receiving position within the tank.

, 8. Hardening apparatus for gears provided with central passages comprising a source of heat, a vertically reciprocable member provided with a gear pick-up member movable through the pas- 1 40 retracted by contact with the wall of the gear passage upon entrance of said member into said passage and to move to the extended positions upon movement of said fingers through the passage for engaging and supporting the gear upon reverse movement of said member, means for reciprocating said pick-up member for engaging a gear and moving the same into heating relation with respect to said heat source, a quench tank and means in the tank comprising a gear support adapted for alignment with said pick-up member and provided with a recess into which the pick-up member is movable for effecting retraction of said fingers for releasing the gear for de positing the same within the tank.

ERNST A. FURKERT.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 735,616 Stitt Aug. 4, 1903 819,359 Markland May 1, 1906 965,182 Hardy July 26, 1910 1,276,106 Pease et a]. Aug. 20, 1918 1,540,566 Petree June 2, 1925 1,759,603 Bissell May 20, 1930 1,794,773 Husberg et al Mar. 3, 1931 1,936,719 Knert Nov. 28, 1933 1,946,876 Northrup Feb. 13, 1934 1,959,650 Verith May 22, 1934 2,240,493 Denneen May 6, 1941 2,282,670 Mitchell May 12, 1942 2,308,788 Somes Jan. 19, 1943 2,310,384 Arnoldy Feb. 9, 1943 2,333,344 Smith et a1 Nov. 2, 1943 2,338,496 Denneen et a1 Jan. 4, 1944 2,341,766 Fox Feb. 15, 1944 2,364,565 Stubb Dec. 5, 1944 Furkert Sept. 10, 1946

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