US3749384A - Process and apparatus for quenching without distorting rotation-symmetrical work pieces heated to hardening temperature - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a process and apparatus for quenching rotation-symmetrical work pieces having a projecting rim portion such as a flange, without distorting them. This is achieved by supporting the work piece by groups of rollers engaging said rim portion and possibly also the adjoining zone of the arched part and creating a relative movement between the work piece and the rollers while splashing a quenching liquid onto the work piece.

Description

[22] Filed:

United States Patent 1 91 Werner PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR QUENClllNG WITHOUT DISTORTING ROTATION-SYMMETRICAL WORK PIECES HEATED TO HARDENING TEMPERATURE [75] inventor: Hans Werner, Linz, Austria [73] Assignee: Vereinigte Osterreichische Eisenunti Stahlwerke Aktiengesellsehaft, Linz, Austria Nov. 18, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 199,937

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 30, 1970 Austria A [0746/70 521. U.s. Cl 266/6 PC, 148/131, 148/153, 266/6 s 511 1111.01 c2111 1/62 58 Field of Search 148/131, 145, 146,

148/153; 266/48, 6 R, 6 PC, 6 S

1111 3,749,384 1451 July 31, 1973 [56] References Cited 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,524,578 ili925 Sandberg [48/146 Primary Examiner-Gerald A. Dost Attorney-Kurt Kelman [57] ABSTRACT.

The invention relates to a process and apparatus for quenching rotation-symmetrical work pieces having a projecting rim portion such as a flange, without distorting them. This is achieved by supporting the work piece by groups of rollers engaging said rim portion and possibly also the adjoining zone of the arched part and creating a relative movement between the work piece and the rollers while splashing a quenching liquid ontothe work piece.

7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PMENIED sum 1 or 3 FIG.

PAIENIEmma 1 ma sum 3 0r 3 PIC-3.3

:3 @l@ |@1@ @E m J PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR QUENCHING WITHOUT DISTORTING ROTATION-SYMMETRICAL WORK PIECES HEATED TO I-IARDENING TEMPERATURE The invention relates to a process for quenching without distorting rotation-symmetrical work pieces heated to hardening temperature, said work pieces comprising a free margin or flange, in particular boiler floors and similar arched sheet press parts or cast parts, by means of a quenching liquid, preferably water; and to an apparatus for carrying out the process.

So far, rotation-symmetrical work pieces, such as boiler floors and the like, which, compared to their diameter, have a relatively small wall thickness, are directly immersed in a basin tilled with a quenching liquid discernable they have been taken out of a hardening furnace. In this mode of quenching the boiler floors are more or less distorted, which fact becomes apparent primarily in a change of the diameter in the area of the projecting rim or flange. This distortion is caused by a non-uniform cooling over the wall thickness and if the work piece is made of alloyed steel by the structure tranformation taking place during the rapid cooling of the steel. The distortion discrenable at the quenched work piece may, however, have originated prior to hardening during other processing methods, e.g. from tensions being relieved during heating in the hardening furnace, which stresses originate during pressing and subsequent cooling of the work piece. It may also happen that a distortion occurs while the work piece is being transported from the hardening furnace to the quenching means. Depending on the degree and kind of the distortion the work pieces have to be subsequently treated and/or have to be cast to the wastes. So far, it has not been possible to quench boiler floors and similar rotation symmetrical thin-walled sheet press parts or cast parts without distortion.

The invention is aimed at creating a process for quenching rotation-symmetrical work pieces without distorting them, using a quenching liquid, preferably water; this aim is achieved in that, while the work piece is quenched by splashing the quenching liquid on it, at least the margin or flange of the work piece is supported or straightened, respectively, by adjustable rollers arranged around the circumference of the work piece, a relative movement being effected between the work piece and the rollers.

The relative movement is preferably effected by rotating the work piece around its axis of symmetry.

Apart from the free margin or flange of the work piece, also the adjoining'annular zone of the arched partof the work piece, e. g. the boiler floor, may be supported.

The rollers may be adjusted or tightened, respectively, by overcoming a constant counter pressure, e.g. against the action of a spring.

An apparatus for carrying out the process according to the invention is characterized by a group of rollers arranged stationarily around an axis, whose horizontal rotation axes converge in a stellate manner to said axis in order to form a support for the work piece, and by a further group of rollers arranged like a'wreath around said axis and being displaceable in relation thereto, i.e. adjustable against the margin or flange of the work piece and by means for splashing the quenching liquid onto the work piece.

A further group of rollers arranged like a wreath around the axis and adjustable in relation thereto for supporting the annular zone of the arched part of the work piece adjacent to the free margin or flange may be provided.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the stationary rollers are mounted to be rotatable in an inner and in an outer supporting ring and connected at their converging ends to a bevel wheel and all bevel wheels are in engagement with a spur wheel arranged centrally in the apparatus and having a vertical rotation axis, one of the rollers being drivable by a motor.

The rollers adjustable in relation to the axis are suitably mounted in carriages guided on roller tracks, each carriage being provided with at least one roller having a vertical rotation axis and with at least one roller having a slanting rotation axis, said roller with slanting rotation axis being resiliently mounted in a support which is displaceable on the carriage frame.

For a uniform displacement of the carriages in radial direction of the axis suitably an adjustment means is provided in the middle of the inner supporting ring, said means comprising a hydraulic cylinder and a piston extensible in downward direction with a plateshaped body fixed thereto, connecting rods articulated to the carriage frame of the individual carriages being linked to said plate-shaped body.

Between the inner supporting ring and the outer supporting ring and on the displaceable carriages suitably splashing water containers and splashing tubes with nozzles are arranged which are connected to an annular conduit for the supply of the quenching liquid, the splashing tubes'arranged on each carriage being preferably slewable around a horizontal axis.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood details thereof shall now be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings showing an embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention.

FIG. 1 is a ground planof the apparatus in simplified representation. v

FIG. 2 is a radial sectional view of one half of the apparatus along line [1-11 in FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view along line III-III of FIG. 2. i a g In FIG. 1 numeral 1 denotes twelve stationarily mounted driven rollers whose horizontal rotation axes are arranged in stellate fashion. The rollers l are mounted in supporting rings 2, 3 assembled from segments. The vertical axis of symmetry 4 of the apparatus passes through the star point in which the rotation axes of the rollers l intersect. One of the rollers 1 is, driven by a motor 5. The rollers 1 are connected at their converging ends to a bevel wheel 6 each. The bevel wheels 6 are in engagement with a spur wheel 7 which is arranged centrally within the supporting ring 3 and is rotatable around the vertical axis 4; thus it will suffice when only one of the rollers l is driven to move all other rollers. The supporting rings 2, 3 are connected by roller tracks 8; on each-pair of roller tracks a carriage 9 is displaceable in horizontal direction along one roller 1. In the illustrated embodiment the number of roller track pairs corresponds to the number of horizontal rollers 1; However, in order to keep the drawing clear, only a single carriage 9 is shown in FIG. 1. On each carriage 9 two rollers 10 are arranged which are rotatable around a vertical axis and not driven; their outlines are shown in FIG. 1 and the vertical rotation axes lie on a circular path having its center in the axis 4 (see also FIG. 2). Numeral ll denotes a further roller which is resiliently mounted on each carriage 9 to be rotatable around an axis slanting to the horizontal line and which is not driven. Each carriage 9 is provided with two splashing tubes 12 which are slewable around a horizontal axis 30; the tubes are joined to a water container 13 (FIG. 2). By means of a hose 14 the water container 13 is connected with the annular conduit 15 for the supply of quenching liquid (of water). Numeral l6 denotes the connections for the hoses 14 leading to the individual carriages 9. In the vertical axis of symmetry 4 a displacement means 17 which is adapted to be hydraulically operated is arranged for a uniform displacement of the carriages 9; the structure of this displacement means and how it functions will be explained in greater detail with reference to FIG. 2. Numeral 18, FIG. 1, denotes horizontally arranged, stationary splashing tubes which are mounted between the rollers 1 and joined to the annular conduit 15. Numeral 19 denotes the upwardly directed nozzles for the outflow of the quenching liquid (water).

In FIG. 2, K denotes a boiler floor which according to the steel quality has been taken at a temperature of 800 to l,lC from a bogie type kiln or chamber furnace (not shown in the drawing) and supported on the rollers l. The floor center M coincides with the vertical axis 4; on this axis lie the point of intersection of the axes of the rollers l and the center of the circular path on which the rotation axes of the rollers are arranged. The rollers 10 are brought in abutment on the flange R of the boiler floor by actuating the adjustment means 17. The adjustment means 17 comprises a hydraulic cylinder 20 which is fixed by means of a plate 21 and ribs 22 to the supporting ring 3, and a piston 23 which is displaceable within the cylinder; the supporting ring 3 is, in turn, mounted on a foundation, not shown in the drawing. At the lower end of the piston 23 a'plate-shaped body 24 is fixed. To this body 12 connection rods 25 are linked, each of which, in turn, is articulately connected via a holding means 26 with a carriage frame 27 of the carriages 9. Each carriage frame 27 is displaceable by means of wheels 28 on the roller tracks 8 in direction of the double arrow shown in FIG. 2. When the displacement means 17 is actuated, all carriages 9 are uniformly displaced along the roller tracks 8. Numeral 29 denotes an opening in the carriage frame 27 which is penetrated by a roller 1 (FIG. 3). The upper part of the carriage frame 27 contains a support 31 on which the roller 11 is mounted to be resilient or limitedly yielding; the means for resilient mounting are not shown. The support 31 is adjustable by means of a threaded spindle 32 in vertical direction so that the roller 11 may be tightened to or elastically pressed against any shape of boiler floors, i.e. to the annular zone adjacent to the flange R. Numeral 33 denotes a splashing water container connected to the supporting body 3, which container is connected to the annular conduit by a conduit not shown. The boiler floor K is uniformly quenched on its inner side by the water issuing from the nozzles 19 of the splashing water container 33 and of the stationary splashing tubes 18 and simultaneously at its outer side by the water issuing from the nozzles 19 of the slewable splashing tubes 12.

The manner in which the apparatus functions may be derived from the drawing: When the boiler floor K lies on the rollers l, and the rollers 10, 11 are in engagement with the flange R and the annular zone of the boiler floor adjacent thereto, respectively, the motor 5 is started for driving all rollers I so that the boiler floor K rotates around the vertical axis 4. At the same time quenching of the boiler floor K is started by the supply of water which issues from the nozzles 19 of the stationary splashing tubes 18, of the water container 33, and of the adjustable splashing tubes 12. The position of the rollers 10 may be read from an indicator not shown, which is mechanically and electrically connected to the adjustment means 17 or to the carriages 9, respectively, and on a dial or an indicator tape directly indicates the outer diameter of the flange R to which the rollers 10 are adjusted. By means of this indicator it is possible to correct the diameter of the boiler floor K during quenching by displacing the rollers 10; the rollers 10 may, if desired, also be used for effecting a certain shaping work to which end they may also be driven. The rollers 11 are provided so as to prevent the flange R from evading in upward direction because of the lateral pressure exerted by the rollers 10; the rollers 11 may be adjusted in height by the threaded spindle being actuated. Owing to their resilientmounting enabling them to yield to a degree, the pressure exerted by them cannot lead to an undesired deformation of the boiler floors.

The apparatus may also comprise further rollers or roller groups adjustable to one or several annular zones of the boiler floors K; for example, it is possible to provide supporting rollers for supporting boiler floors having a particularly small wall thickness which are adjust- .able to the inner side of the floors; such rollers may likewise be mounted on the carriages 9. Further, a central supporting roller may be provided which acts from within in the area of the boiler floor center M; such roller may be displaceable by means of a hydraulic lifting cylinder in direction of the axis 4, so that the arch (arch depth) of the boiler floor K'is changeable to some limited extent, the lifting cylinder may be mounted above the displacement means 17 and penetrate the splashing water container 33. Finally, it is possible to reverse the whole described building principle; in that case, the boiler floor K would be stationary and the rollers 10, 11 would rotate around it i.e. around the axis 4; the most important feature is the relative move ment between the boiler floor and the rollers.

The apparatus may be reset without undue expenditure so as to be used for rotation-symmetrical work pieces of different shapes (arch curves) and different outer diameters. Obviously, the rollers l l and the slewable splashing means 12 may simultaneously be adjusted or moved, respectively, by .telecontrolled shifting elements, so that a fully mechanised, automated operation is possible. Further a time relay may be provided (not shown in the drawing) which may be timed to the desired quenching period, so that the water supply is automatically started and ended.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for distortion-free quenching rotationsymmetrical work pieces having a projecting rim portion and heated to hardening temperature, comprising a group. of rollers arranged stationarily around an axis and having horizontal rotation axes converging in stellate manner to said axis so as to form a support for the work piece, at least one further group of rollers arranged like a wreath around said axis and being displaceable in relation to said axis and adjustable against said rim portion, and means for splashing quenching liquid onto said work piece.

2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein an additional group of rollers is provided arrranged like a wreath around said axis and adjustable'in relation to said axis for supporting an annular zone of an arched part of said work piece adjacent to said rim portion.

3. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the stationarily arranged rollers are each mounted to be rotatable in an inner and in an outer supporting ring and connected at their converging ends to a bevel wheel, and all bevel wheels are in engagement with a spur wheel arranged centrally in the apparatus and having a vertical rotation axis, one of said rollers being drivable by a motor.

4. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said rollers adjustable in relation to said axis are mounted in carriages guided on roller tracks, each carriage being provided with at least one roller with a vertical rotation axis and with at least one roller with a slanting rotation axis, said roller with slanting rotation axis being resiliently mounted in a support which is displaceable on a frame of said carriage.

5. The apparatus set forthin claim 1, wherein said stationarily' arranged rollers are mounted in inner and outer supporting rings and said rollers adjustable in relation to said axis are mounted on carriages guided on roller tracks extending between said rings, an adjustment means being provided in the middle of the inner supporting ring for a uniform displacement of said carriages in radial direction of said axis, said adjustment means comprising a hydraulic cylinder and a piston extensible in downward direction, with a plate-shaped body fixed thereto, connecting rods articulated to a frame of each of said carriages being linked to said plate-shaped body.

6. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said staionarily arranged rollers are mounted in inner and outer supportingrings and said rollers adjustable in relation to said axis are mounted on carriages guided on roller tracks extending between said rings, splashing water containers and splashing tubes with nozzles being arranged between said inner supporting ring and said outer supporting ring and on said displaceable carriages and connected to an annular conduit for the supply of the quenching liquid.

7. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said rollers adjustable in relation to said axis are mounted on radially movable carriages provided with splashing tubes slewable around a horizontal axis for a controlled angle of impingement of said splashing liquid on said work piece.

t i t i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,749,384- Dated July 31. 1973 Inventor (s) Hans Werner It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Col. 1, line 16, change "discernable" to ---after-;

line 24, change "discrenable" to discernable--.

Signed and sealed this 23rd day of April 197A.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD I LFLETCHEmJ'R. C. MARSHALL DANN I Attesting Officer 7 Commissioner of Patents USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 u.s. sovznnmzur rnm'rme o rlcz: ma o-aes-au, I

,- nm. Ian-1050 (10-69)

Claims (7)

1. Apparatus for distortion-free quenching rotation-symmetrical work pieces having a projecting rim portion and heated to hardening temperature, comprising a group of rollers arranged stationarily around an axis and having horizontal rotation axes converging in stellate manner to said axis so as to form a support for the work piece, at least one further group of rollers arranged like a wreath around said axis and being displaceable in relation to said axis and adjustable against said rim portion, and means for splashing quenching liquid onto said work piece.

2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein an additional group of rollers is provided arrranged like a wreath around said axis and adjustable in relation to said axis for supporting an annular zone of an arched part of said work piece adjacent to said rim portion.

3. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the stationarily arranged rollers are each mounted to be rotatable in an inner and in an outer supporting ring and connected at their converging ends to a bevel wheel, and all bevel wheels are in engagement with a spur wheel arranged centrally in the apparatus and having a vertical rotation axis, one of said rollers being drivable by a motor.

4. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said rollers adjustable in relation to said axis are mounted in carriages guided on roller tracks, each carriage being provided with at least one roller with a vertical rotation axis and with at least one roller with a slanting rotation axis, sAid roller with slanting rotation axis being resiliently mounted in a support which is displaceable on a frame of said carriage.

5. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said stationarily arranged rollers are mounted in inner and outer supporting rings and said rollers adjustable in relation to said axis are mounted on carriages guided on roller tracks extending between said rings, an adjustment means being provided in the middle of the inner supporting ring for a uniform displacement of said carriages in radial direction of said axis, said adjustment means comprising a hydraulic cylinder and a piston extensible in downward direction, with a plate-shaped body fixed thereto, connecting rods articulated to a frame of each of said carriages being linked to said plate-shaped body.

6. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said staionarily arranged rollers are mounted in inner and outer supporting rings and said rollers adjustable in relation to said axis are mounted on carriages guided on roller tracks extending between said rings, splashing water containers and splashing tubes with nozzles being arranged between said inner supporting ring and said outer supporting ring and on said displaceable carriages and connected to an annular conduit for the supply of the quenching liquid.

7. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said rollers adjustable in relation to said axis are mounted on radially movable carriages provided with splashing tubes slewable around a horizontal axis for a controlled angle of impingement of said splashing liquid on said work piece.

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