US3517676A - Quench apparatus for providing pulsating and sweeping flow of quench fluid - Google Patents

Quench apparatus for providing pulsating and sweeping flow of quench fluid Download PDF

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Publication number
US3517676A
US3517676A US678073A US3517676DA US3517676A US 3517676 A US3517676 A US 3517676A US 678073 A US678073 A US 678073A US 3517676D A US3517676D A US 3517676DA US 3517676 A US3517676 A US 3517676A
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Prior art keywords
quench
fluid
quenching
tube
parts
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US678073A
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English (en)
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Byron Paddock Jr
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Caterpillar Inc
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Caterpillar Tractor Co
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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
    • C21D—MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING
    • C21D1/00—General methods or devices for heat treatment, e.g. annealing, hardening, quenching or tempering
    • C21D1/62—Quenching devices
    • C21D1/63—Quenching devices for bath quenching
    • C21D1/64—Quenching devices for bath quenching with circulating liquids

Definitions

  • Quench fluid is provided to the orifices through accumulators and a butterfly valve to cause flow variations which result in the fluid passing through the orifices as pulsating jets.
  • a pair of valves control flow from the bottom of the quench tube and overflow from the top of the quench tube respectively so that the jets of quench fluid from the orifices may be caused to sweep the parts being quenched in a variable direction.
  • a common quench system typically comprises a quench region in which heated parts are placed for quenching. Quenching fluid fills the quench region while additional fluid is directed toward the parts through orifices to serve at least two purposes. Firstly, the additional fluid replaces fluid which has been raised above the desired temperature range by heat transfer from the parts. Secondly, the fluid from the orifices is under pressure and acts as a jet to interact with fluid in the quench region and cause turbulence for better surface wetting of the parts.
  • Continuous wetting of the parts is of critical importance since it is desirable to maintain the quench fluid in contact with the entire surface of the parts throughout the quenching operation to achieve uniform cooling.
  • Such uniform cooling is particularly desirable, for example, within the martensitic transformation range to insure proper transformation within the parts as their temperature is lowered. If uniform cooling is not maintained, uneven stresses may develop which would cause distortion of the parts or impair their strength.
  • a principle object of the present invention is to provide a valve means which interact with the quench fluid prior to its entering the quench region and vary the flow rate with which the fluid passes through the orifices to provide a pulsating characteristic in the fluid jets. Resulting increased flow interference between the jets and additional fluid about the heat treated parts causes increased turbulence within the quench region and particularly 3,517,676 Patented June 30, 1970 'ice about the surfaces of the parts. The increased turbulence caused by interaction of the pulsating jets with fluid in the quench tube is particularly desirable to accomplish uniform cooling of parts having complex shapes such as splines, collars, notches, etc.
  • a further object of the invention is to employ valve means for controlling fluid flow from at least the base of the chamber so that hot fluid could be removed from the base of the quench chamber to maintain a generally uniform fluid temperature along its vertical length.
  • valve means are also employed to regulate fluid overflow from the top of the tube so that fluid could be alternately removed from the topand base of the chamber.
  • Another object is to provide variable valves for controlling fluid flow to the orifices and controlling flow from the quenching chamber to permit varied combinations or varying sequences of the pulsating and sweeping characteristics described above during quenching operations.
  • FIG. 1 is an isometric view, with parts in section, of quenching apparatus embodying the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a graphical representation of variations of fluid flow to the orifices to create fluid jets with pulsating characteristics
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the apparatus of FIG. 1.
  • the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises a quench tank 11 in which a quench tube 12 is centrally disposed to receive a basket 13 containing heated parts which are to be submitted to the quenching operation.
  • the quench tube has an outer jacket 14 forming a concentric fluidtight manifold 16 about the tube for receiving a suitable quenching medium such as oil.
  • a suitable quenching medium such as oil.
  • Quenching fluid is delivered to the manifold 16 from a pump 18 through a conduit 19 and branch conduits 21 and 22 communicating with opposite sides of the manifold. Quench fluid which is to be exhausted from the quenching tube is returned to the pump by return conduits 23 and 24 which are generally in communication with the interior of the quench tank 11 and pump inlet 25.
  • a variable valve such as a butterfly valve 26 is disposed across the inlet conduits 19 to regulate fluid flow from the pump.
  • the valve is driven in rotation by a motor 27 through a speed reducer drive assembly 28.
  • Rotation of the butterfly valve between its open and closed positions, varies the rate of flow from the pump 18 and accordingly causes pressure variations in the quenching medium contained in the manifold 16.
  • the quenching medium entering the quench tube through the orifices 17 has a pulsating characteristic so that its interaction with quenching fluid already in the tube causes increased turbulence.
  • fluid pressure accumulators. 29 are communicated through a conduit 31 with the inlet conduit 19 between the butterfly valve 26 and the fluid pump 18. With the-butterfly valve rotating between its open and closed positions, the accumulators are charged when the butterfly valve is closed so that when the butterfly valve reaches its open position, the maximum flow rate to the manifold 16 is substantially increased and the maximum velocity of the quench medium through the orifices 17 is increased by as much as 50% over its maximum velocity when dependent upon the capacity of the pump alone.
  • a large capacity pump could provide the same differential rangeof flow rate and jet velocity without the use of accumulators; however, the accumulators increase the efliciency of the quench system by permitting the use of a smaller capacity pump which reduces both the size of the installation and the capital investment required.
  • the fluid return conduit 23 is communicated at 32, see FIG. 3, with the interior of the quench tube, generally at the bottom thereof, while the other fluid return conduit 24 is communicated at 33 with the quench tank 11 outside of the quench tube 12 and its manifold 14. Fluid flow through the return conduit 23 is regulated by a valve 34 which has a servo control unit 36. A similar valve 37 and control unit 38 are disposed across the other fluid return conduit 24. When the valve 34 is open, quenching fluid is exhausted downwardly from the quench tube through .the return conduit 23. The valve 37 controls the rate at which overflow fluid parent that in either of the above modes of operation,
  • valve 39 is disposed across conduit 23 to shut down quench flow for cleanup or repairs for example.
  • the butterfly valve 26 As for the butterfly valve 26, it may be operated in rotating fashion between its open and closed position at varying frequencies or it may be operated continuously in either its open or closed position. Greatest turbulence is created within the quench tube from relatively rapid rotation of the butterfly valve as may be seen from the fluid velocity trace illustrated in FIG. 2. Tests have indicated that with a 15 HP quench pump and approximately 300 A; inch diameter orifices on the quench tube wall with a 120 r.p.m. pump drive, it is possible to vary quench fluid flow to the manifold 16 from less than 200 g.p.m.
  • the high and low velocity limits occur respectively during rotation of the butterfly valve when it is at its open position and its closed position. If the butterfly valve is continuously open, turbulence created in the quench tube will be less, since the pulsating character and peak velocities of the fluid jets are not present.
  • the butterfly valve may also be operated continuously in its closed position which results in an overall reduction of the flow rate of quenching fluid into the manifold and quench tube with a great reduction of turbulence within the quench tube.
  • the direction of exhaust flow from the tube would cause the fluid jets entering the tube through the orifices 17 to sweep either upwardly or downwardly along the surfaces of the parts disposed therein for quenching.
  • Another mode of operation consists of alternating both of the valves 34 and 37 between their open and closed positions so that the valve 34 is open when the valve 37 is closed and Vice versa. In this manner, the exhaust flow of the fluid from the tube and the sweeping direction of the fluid jets would be alternated between an upward and a downward direction.
  • FIG. 3 provides a setting for describing still another operational variation of the present quench system.
  • the orifices 17 are illustrated as being generally uniformly spaced upon the surface of the quenching tube so that fluid jets are uniformly directed throughout the interior of the quenching tube.
  • the quenching tube is readily replaceable within the quenching tank so that the arrangement of the orifices is also readily interchangeable.
  • the orifices maybe concentrated upon a portion of the quench tube to direct a concentration of jet streams into an area of the quench tube containing the greatest mass of parts to be quenched. If the greatest mass of quench parts were centrally disposed along the lengths of the tube with a lesser mass at either end there of, for example, the orifices could be concentrated about a midpoint of the tube to provide the most severe quench or greatest turbulence thereat. With both of the valves 34 and 37 open, fluid would be exhausted from both ends of the tube providing a temperature gradient within the quench tube having the lowest temperature at the midpoint and uniformly varying to a higher'temperature at either end.
  • quench apparatus of a type where heat treated parts are to be placed in a quenching chamber and jet means are to receive quenching fluid from a pump and direct it, in the form of pressurized fluid jets, toward the parts, the fluid jets interacting with other quenching fluid about the parts
  • the improvement comprising a variable valve interposed between the pump and the jets to vary the velocity with which the jets of quenching fluid are directed from the jet means so that interaction of the fluid jets with the other quenching fluid about the parts causes substantially increased turbulence therein, and further comprising means for of its cyclical operation is selectively controllable.
  • the quench apparatus of claim 2 further comprising at least one fluid accumulator disposed between the pump and said variable valve.
  • quench apparatus of claim 2 where the quench chamber is open at its top to receive the parts to be 15 quenched, a generally fluid-tight manifold in communication with the pump is partially formed by sidewalls in the quench chamber, an overflow chamber surrounds the quench chamber and manifold and the jet means communicate the manifold and quenching chamber, wherein 20 said means for selectively removing quenching fluid com prises a first return conduit and valve communicating the interior of the quenching chamber generally at the bottom thereof with the pump and a second return conduit and valve communicating the overflow chamber with the 25 pump.
  • I 5 The quench apparatus of claim 4 wherein servo controls are associated with said first and second valves to selectively regulate the first and second return valves, singly or in any combination, between open and closed positions.
  • said jet means comprises a multiplicity of orifices formed by said quenching chamber sidewalls and disposed in preselected spacing thereupon.
  • variable valve is a butterfly valve having drive means for selectively regulating the butterfly valve between its open and closed positions.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Crystallography & Structural Chemistry (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Heat Treatment Of Articles (AREA)
US678073A 1967-10-25 1967-10-25 Quench apparatus for providing pulsating and sweeping flow of quench fluid Expired - Lifetime US3517676A (en)

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US (1) US3517676A (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html)
FR (1) FR1590002A (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3757806A (en) * 1972-01-19 1973-09-11 Us Army Pulsating hydrojet lavage device
JPS58135462U (ja) * 1982-03-10 1983-09-12 株式会社小松製作所 高圧水スプレ焼入れ装置
US4840353A (en) * 1986-09-11 1989-06-20 Servimetal Apparatus for studying quenching fluids and quenchability of materials
US20120318305A1 (en) * 2011-06-14 2012-12-20 EAGLE TECH S.r.l. Device and Method for Controllably Cooling Metal Billets to be Hot Extruded

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL7612608A (nl) * 1975-11-18 1977-05-23 Hoechst Ag Werkwijze voor het bereiden van alkaanfosfon- zuuresters.
CA1097197A (en) * 1977-02-08 1981-03-10 Philippe A. Paulus Method of and apparatus for controlled cooling of metallurgical products
DE3037639C2 (de) * 1980-10-04 1986-03-20 Joachim Dr.-Ing. 7250 Leonberg Wünning Vorrichtung und Verfahren zum Abschrecken von Werkstücken aus Stahl in einem Flüssigkeits-, insbesondere Ölbad

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1899495A (en) * 1930-03-11 1933-02-28 Celaya Genaro Dish washing machine
US2264301A (en) * 1934-03-29 1941-12-02 Ohio Crankshaft Co Heating and quenching apparatus
US2625945A (en) * 1946-10-22 1953-01-20 Gen Electric Quenching device
US2867226A (en) * 1956-05-31 1959-01-06 Kaiser Aluminium Chem Corp Method and apparatus for treating apparatus for rapid quenching of metals
US2947312A (en) * 1958-02-26 1960-08-02 Heinicke Instr Company Washing and sterilizing machine for glassware
US3007478A (en) * 1958-04-15 1961-11-07 Acoustica Associates Inc Ultrasonic cleaner
FR1292518A (fr) * 1960-08-04 1962-05-04 Siemens Elektrogeraete Gmbh Dispositif propre au nettoyage de divers objets

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1899495A (en) * 1930-03-11 1933-02-28 Celaya Genaro Dish washing machine
US2264301A (en) * 1934-03-29 1941-12-02 Ohio Crankshaft Co Heating and quenching apparatus
US2625945A (en) * 1946-10-22 1953-01-20 Gen Electric Quenching device
US2867226A (en) * 1956-05-31 1959-01-06 Kaiser Aluminium Chem Corp Method and apparatus for treating apparatus for rapid quenching of metals
US2947312A (en) * 1958-02-26 1960-08-02 Heinicke Instr Company Washing and sterilizing machine for glassware
US3007478A (en) * 1958-04-15 1961-11-07 Acoustica Associates Inc Ultrasonic cleaner
FR1292518A (fr) * 1960-08-04 1962-05-04 Siemens Elektrogeraete Gmbh Dispositif propre au nettoyage de divers objets

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3757806A (en) * 1972-01-19 1973-09-11 Us Army Pulsating hydrojet lavage device
JPS58135462U (ja) * 1982-03-10 1983-09-12 株式会社小松製作所 高圧水スプレ焼入れ装置
US4840353A (en) * 1986-09-11 1989-06-20 Servimetal Apparatus for studying quenching fluids and quenchability of materials
US20120318305A1 (en) * 2011-06-14 2012-12-20 EAGLE TECH S.r.l. Device and Method for Controllably Cooling Metal Billets to be Hot Extruded

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FR1590002A (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html) 1970-04-06

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