US3633895A

US3633895A - Vacuum water dump quench

Info

Publication number: US3633895A
Application number: US35212A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kurt Genrich; Gerald L Scott
Original assignee: Sola Basic Industries Inc
Current assignee: Sola Basic Industries Inc
Priority date: 1970-05-06
Filing date: 1970-05-06
Publication date: 1972-01-11
Anticipated expiration: 1989-01-11

Abstract

A heating furnace and a quench chamber are horizontally spaced from each other in a chamber which may be evacuated to a subatmospheric pressure. A transfer mechanism moves a load between the quench chamber and heating furnace, and a hydraulically actuated gate valve is vertically movable between the quench chamber and heating furnace to close off the quench chamber. A storage tank positioned above the quench chamber dumps liquid into the quench chamber, and this liquid may be recirculated back to the storage tank.

Description

United States Patent 1 1 3,633,895

[ 72] Inventors Kurt Genrich [5 6] References Cited Park; UNITED STATES PATENTS [21] A 1 N0 gg g 2,752,147 6/1956 Besselman etal. 266/4 R [22] ff g 6 1970 3,441,452 4/1969 Westeren 266/4 A 9 [45] Patented Jan. 11, 1972 Primary Examiner-Gerald A. Dost [73] Assignee Sola Basic Industries, Inc. Atrorney-Smythe and Moore Milwaukee, Wis.

ABSTRACT: A heating furnace and a quench chamber are [54] VACUUM WATER DUMP QUENCH horizontally spaced from each other in a chamber which may be evacuated to a subatmospheric pressure A transfer 9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

mechanism moves a load between the quench chamber and [52] U.S. Cl heating furnace! and a hydraulically actuated gate valve is vep I tically movable between the quench chamber and heating fur- "ace to close offthe quench chamber A storage tank p0si t oned ab e the quenc chamber dumps into the [53; M 4 4 6 R quench chamber, and this liquid may be recirculated back to the storage tank.

FIG.2

a L & Mam

ATTORNEYS PATENTED JAN] 1 I972 SHEET 3 OF 3 2 26 INVIENTOR s. 27 fax r GEN/OCH GERHLU Z. jcarr- ATTORN EY$ VACUUM WATER DUMP QUENCI-I One form of a heat treating operation is a quenching process wherein a hot load is submerged into a bath of quench liquid. It is desirable that the load be transferred out of the heat and submerged into the quench liquid as quickly as possible. It has been proposed to carry out such a quench process under a vacuum in order to prevent any detrimental effect to the work, as might result from air or other atmospheres not compatible with this requirement. In that form of apparatus where the load must be withdrawn from the heat and then dipped into a quench tank, it is desirable to minimize the time between the withdrawal of the load from the heating furnace and clipping of the load into the quench bath. The construction of the entire apparatus is further complicated when it is desired to carry out this entire process under a vacuum.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved vacuum quenching apparatus.

Another of the objects of the present invention is to provide a vacuum apparatus within which a liquid quenching process can be carried out using all types of quench liquids regardless of the level of vapor pressure these possess, such as oils, oilwater emulsions, straight water, etc.

Another of the objects of the present invention is to provide a simple yet effective structure for a vacuum liquid quenching apparatus to facilitate quenching into liquids that cannot be exposed to a high vacuum without boiling and so defeat the desired vacuum.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a vacuum liquid quench apparatus may comprise a chamber evacuable to a subatmospheric pressure, a heating furnace and a quench chamber being horizontally spaced from each other within the evacuable chamber. Valve means are provided for sealing off the quench chamber. Means are further provided for circulating a quench liquid through the quench chamber. Attached to the quench chamber is a storage tank from which a liquid is dumped into the quench chamber through a conduit and then recirculated from the quench chamber back to the storage tank. The evacuable chamber is further provided with means for transferring a load between the heating furnace and the quench chamber. When a hot load is withdrawn from the heating furnace and positioned within the quench chamber, valve means are actuated to close off the quench chamber so that the hot load may be subjected to a bath.

Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent from the accompanying description and drawings, which are merely exemplary.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the vacuum liquid quench apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. I; and

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the quench chamber and of the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing the manner in which the quench chamber can be swung to an open position.

Proceeding next to the drawings wherein like reference symbols indicate the same parts throughout the various views a specific embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

As may be seen in FIG. 1, the apparatus of the present invention is indicated generally at and comprises a chamber 11 which is connected to a vacuum source so that the entire chamber may be evacuated to a subatmospheric pressure. The chamber comprises a quench chamber 12 and a heating chamber 13 in which is mounted a heating furnace 14. The quench chamber 12 and heating furnace 14 are horizontally spaced from each other and are positioned on substantially the same center line. The shell of the chamber 11, if desired, may be water jacketed. The furnace is provided with heating elements 15 which are mounted vertically and connected to a power transformer by vacuum tight and specially cooled terminals. Merely as an example, power may be applied to the heating elements through saturable core reactors and stepdown transformer. If desired. silicon controlled rectifier means may be used in place of saturable reactors.

The heating furnace is provided with an access opening 16 which can be closed by a heat shield 17 mounted on the end of a hydraulically actuated piston rod 18 extending from hydraulic or fluid motor 19.

The heating furnace 14 is provided with an elevator for lifting a load from the transfer mechanism. This elevator comprises four vertical posts 20 interconnected by a yoke 21 on the end of a piston rod 22 extending from a hydraulic or fluid motor 23.

Quenching tank 12 is pivotally mounted at 24 (FIGS. 2, 4) so as to permit it to be swung outwardly to the position indicated by the dash lines at 12' FIG. 4). The quench tank is provided with a flange 25 which sealingly engages a flange 26 on a central section 27 of the chamber. A plurality of toggle clamps 28 are spaced about flange 25 to secure the quench tank in position. Swinging outwardly of the quench tank provides full access for maintenance or proper placing of intricate work. In addition, access is also provided to the gate valve which will be described hereafter.

Central chamber 27 encloses a gate valve indicated generally at 29 (FIG. 1) and comprises a pair of horizontally spaced plates 30 and 31 having inner faces with gussets 32. Hydraulic piston shaft 33 carries at its lower end a lifting plate 34 with a wedge attached to its underside, which engages with the undersides of gussets 32 to lift plates 30 and 31. Rod 33 extends from hydraulic motor 35 mounted on top of enclosure 36 into which the plates 30 and 31 are raised. Plate 31 closes an opening leading to the furnace chamber 13, and gate 30 closes an opening leading to the quench chamber 12.

The quench chamber has a storage tank 37 mounted thereon for storing a quench liquid which may be water or oil. The lower end of tank 37 is connected by means of conduit 38 to the lower portion of the quench chamber 12 as may be seen in FIG. 2. A valve is provided at 39 to control the dumping of quench liquid into the quench chamber.

If desired, storage tank 37 can also be provided with motor driven agitators or circulators 40 (FIG. 2) mounted on output shaft 41 or electric motor 42. In the lower portion of the tank 37, there is provided an electrical immersion heater 43 mounted on the end of a shaft 44. Indicator bulb 45 extends into the interior of the tank for sensing the temperature of the quench bath within the tank.

The quench tank 12 is further provided with drain pipe 46 having drain valve 47 therein. Drain line 46 is connected through valve 48 to a circulating pump 49 whose outlet 50 is connected by pipe 52 back to the storage tank 37.

The entire quench tank assembly is supported upon frame 52 mounted on wide roll 53 for pivoting to the position as shown in FIG. 4.

The transfer mechanism for transferring a load indicated at 55 and 55' in the quench tank 12 and heating furnace 14, respectively, comprises hydraulically actuated rod 56 extending from hydraulic motor 56 (not shown). Rod 56A enters one end of the quench tank 12 and is provided with a pair of horizontally extending arms 57 upon which load 55 can rest. The stroke of the rod 56A is sufficient to move the supporting arms 57 between the position as shown in the quench tank and the position indicated by the dash line at 57 in the furnace 14.

In the operation of the apparatus according to the present invention, the quench tank assembly is initially swung to the position as shown in FIG. 4 and a load 55 positioned on the transfer arm 57. The assembly is then closed and secured in place by toggle clamps 28. The gate valve comprising plates 30 and 31 is at this time in its raised position together with heat shield 17. The transfer mechanism moves the load horizontally to the position shown at 55 in the heating chamber. The vertical elevator posts 20 are then raised sufficiently to engage the load 55 whereupon the transfer arms are withdrawn and the load is lowered upon posts 20.

After closing of heat shield 17, the heating process can take place. After the load has been subjected to the requiredheating, elevator posts 20 raise the load to the position shown in FIG. 1, the heat shield 17, the gate valve plates 30 and 31 raised, and the transfer mechanism extends arms 57 into the heating furnace to withdraw the load therefrom to position 55. The heat shield 17 and gate valve are then closed and valve 39 is opened to rapidly submerge the load in the quench liquid. As an example, the apparatus can be set so that only about seconds time elapses from he transfer of the load from the heating furnace to its withdrawal into the quench tank and opening of the quench tank valve.

The quench tank is rapidly filled with quenching liquid. During this time the entire chamber is maintained under a vacuum. During the time the load is rapidly cooling in the liquid, the liquid, itself, is circulated by the pump 50, which pumps the oil through valve 48 back to the tank 37 from where is then cycles by flowing back into the quench changer.

At the expiration of the quenching time, the quench liquid can be drained from the chamber through valve 47 or can be pumped back into the tank 37 for future use.

Toggle clamps 28 can then be released so that the quench assembly is opened to the position 12' in FIG. 4 and the load removed.

Reloading can be done by automatic sequencing, reversing the above movements. The entire apparatus could also serve as a straight annealing furnace without subsequent quenching with the gate valve being used as the charging door and the quench chamber removed.

It will be understood that various details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention except as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a vacuum liquid quench apparatus, a chamber evacuable to a subatmospheric pressure, a heating furnace and a quench chamber horizontally spaced from each other within said evacuable chamber, valve means for sealing off said quench chamber, means for circulating a quench liquid through said quench chamber, and means within said chamber for transferring horizontally a load between said heating furnace and quench chamber.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said circulat ing means comprises a storage tank positioned above said quench chamber, and a conduit from said tank to said quench chamber for feeding quench liquid thereto.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said circulating means comprises a storage tank attached to said quench chamber, and a conduit from said tank to said quench chamber for feeding quench liquid thereto.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 including drain means leading from said quench chamber, and a circulating pump having its inlet connected to said drain means and its outlet to said tank.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including elevator means within said heating furnace to lift a load from said transfer means whereby said transfer means can be withdrawn from the furnace 6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including a heat shield moveable to close said heating furnace.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said valve means comprises a horizontally spaced pair of plates, one plate closing said quench chamber and the other plate closing that portion of the evacuable chamber with the heating furnace therein.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 including means for vertically raising and lowering said plates, and an enclosure extending from said evacuable chamber and housing said plates when raised to the open position.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said transfer means comprises a piston horizontally movable within said evacuable chamber, and a pair of horizontally extending arms on the end of said piston for retaining a load and movable between said quench ch amber and hea ting furnace.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE CERTIFMATE OF CQRRECTMN Patent No. 3,633,895 Dated January lnvent fl Kurt Genrich and Gerald LL Scott It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 51, "52" should be --51--. Column 3, line 5,

"are" omitted after "31". Column 3, line 18, 'is" should be --it--. Column 3, line 18, "chamger" should be --chamber--.

Signed and sealed this 15th day of August 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

ROBERT GOTTSCHALK EDWARD M. FLETCHER, JR.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: [969 0-365-33

Claims

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said circulating means comprises a storage tank positioned above said quench chamber, and a conduit from said tank to said quench chamber for feeding quench liquid thereto.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including elevator means within said heating furnace to lift a load from said transfer means whereby said transfer means can be withdrawn from the furnace

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including a heat shield moveable to close said heating furnace.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said transfer means comprises a piston horizontally movable within said evacuable chamber, and a pair of horizontally extending arms on the end of said piston for retaining a load and movable between said quench chamber and heating furnace.