WO2019151413A1

WO2019151413A1 - Element quenching method, quenching equipment

Info

Publication number: WO2019151413A1
Application number: PCT/JP2019/003424
Authority: WO
Inventors: 徹朝見; 邦之橋本; 辰徳北野
Original assignee: アイシン・エィ・ダブリュ株式会社
Priority date: 2018-01-31
Filing date: 2019-01-31
Publication date: 2019-08-08
Also published as: JP2019131864A

Abstract

This element quenching method is for quenching an element by heating the element and then cooling the same using a cooling liquid in a cooling tank. The element forms the belt of a continuously variable transmission and includes a pair of lateral surfaces formed on both end sections in the horizontal direction. A plurality of the elements are placed on a conveyor so that one of the lateral surfaces is positioned on the cooling tank side, and the elements are heated while being conveyed by the conveyor. One by one, the plurality of heated elements are caused to drop from the terminus of the conveyor so that the elements plunge into the surface of the cooling liquid from the end section on the one lateral surface-side.

Description

Element quenching method and quenching equipment

This disclosure relates to a quenching method and quenching equipment for elements constituting a belt of a continuously variable transmission.

Conventionally, as a quenching jig used for quenching the elements constituting the belt of a continuously variable transmission, it mainly includes molybdenum as a constituent material, and has a comb tooth portion capable of standing many elements continuously. Are known (for example, see Patent Document 1). In this quenching jig, each tooth portion of the comb tooth portion is inclined at an angle of 1.5 ° to 8 ° with respect to the vertical direction, and the element is a recess formed between the adjacent tooth portions. Inserted into. The quenching jig into which a large number of elements are inserted is placed in a heat treatment furnace for a certain period of time, whereby a large number of elements are heated. After the heat treatment is completed, an inert gas is uniformly sprayed from above to the substantially vertical downward direction on the quenching jig in which a large number of elements are inserted. Thereby, many elements are cooled and a hardening process is completed.

JP 2010-280966 A

It is possible to reduce the distortion of the element caused by quenching by quenching the element using the quenching jig as described above. However, molybdenum is expensive, and even if the quenching jig is formed of molybdenum, it is not easy to extend the life of the quenching jig in which heating and cooling are repeated. For this reason, there exists a need for a technique capable of quenching a large number of elements at a low cost without using a jig that is heated and cooled as described above, while suppressing the occurrence of distortion of the elements.

Accordingly, the main object of the invention of the present disclosure is to enable quenching of a large number of elements at a low cost while suppressing the occurrence of distortion of the elements.

The element quenching method of the present disclosure is an element that constitutes a belt of a continuously variable transmission, and the element including a pair of side surfaces formed at both ends in the width direction is heated and cooled by a coolant in a cooling tank. In the element quenching method, a plurality of the elements are placed on a conveyor so that one of the side faces is located on the cooling tank side, heated while being conveyed by the conveyor, and the plurality of heated elements are One of the side faces is dropped from the end of the conveyor to the cooling tank one by one so as to enter the liquid level of the cooling liquid.

When quenching an element by the quenching method of the present disclosure, a plurality of elements are placed on a conveyor such that one side surface is located on the cooling tank side, and heated while being conveyed by the conveyor. Are dropped one by one from the end of the conveyor into the cooling bath. Thereby, it becomes possible to quench many elements at low cost without using a jig to be heated and cooled. Furthermore, the cooling liquid flowing along one surface of the element in the cooling tank by causing the element falling from the end of the conveyor to the cooling tank to enter the liquid level of the cooling liquid from the end on one side surface Since the difference in flow rate with the coolant flowing along the other surface is reduced, the difference in cooling rate between the front and back surfaces of the element can be reduced to suppress the occurrence of distortion of the element accompanying quenching. As a result, according to the quenching method of the present disclosure, it is possible to quench many elements at low cost while suppressing the occurrence of distortion of the elements.

An element quenching facility according to the present disclosure is an element constituting a belt of a continuously variable transmission, and includes an element quenching facility including a pair of side surfaces formed at both ends in a width direction. A conveyor disposed within, a cooling bath disposed below a terminal end of the conveyor and filled with a coolant, and the element outside the heating chamber such that one of the side faces the cooling bath. A transfer machine that is placed on the end of the conveyor protruding into the conveyor, and guides the elements conveyed by the conveyor so that the posture is maintained, and from the terminal end of the conveyor to the cooling bath And a guide member that guides the falling element so as to enter the liquid surface of the cooling liquid from the end portion on the one side surface side.

According to the quenching equipment of the present disclosure, it is possible to quench many elements at low cost while suppressing the occurrence of distortion of the elements.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows the hardening equipment of the element of this indication. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the hardening equipment of the element of this indication. It is a schematic block diagram of the power transmission belt containing the element quenched by the quenching equipment of this indication. 4A, 4B, and 4C are explanatory views illustrating the state of the coolant flow around the element that has dropped into the cooling tank. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the other element in which hardening by the hardening equipment of this indication is given.

Next, an embodiment for carrying out the invention of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2 are schematic configuration diagrams showing a quenching facility 1 according to the present disclosure, and FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a transmission belt 10 including an element 20 that is quenched by the quenching facility 1. The transmission belt 10 is wound around a primary pulley and a secondary pulley of a continuously variable transmission (not shown) mounted on the vehicle, and in addition to a plurality (for example, several hundreds) of elements 20, a plurality of elastically deformable plurals. (In the present embodiment, for example, 9 pieces) includes one laminated ring 12 and one retainer ring 15 formed by laminating ring materials 11 in the thickness direction (ring radial direction). The plurality of elements 20 are arranged (bound) in an annular shape along the inner peripheral surface of the laminated ring 12.

The plurality of ring members 11 constituting the laminated ring 12 are elastically deformable cut out from a drum made of a metal plate, respectively, and have substantially the same thickness and different perimeters predetermined for each. Has been processed. The retainer ring 15 is elastically deformable, for example, cut out from a drum made of a metal plate, and has a thickness substantially equal to or thinner than that of the ring material 11. The retainer ring 15 has an inner peripheral length that is longer than the outer peripheral length of the outermost ring member 11 of the laminated ring 12. As a result, in a state where the laminated ring 12 and the retainer ring 15 are arranged concentrically (no-load state where no tension acts), as shown in FIG. 3, the outer peripheral surface of the outermost ring member 11 and the retainer ring 15 An annular clearance is formed between the inner circumferential surface and the inner circumferential surface.

Each element 20 is stamped from a metal plate (steel plate) by pressing, and as shown in FIG. 3, a body portion 21 that extends horizontally in the drawing and projects in the same direction from both ends of the body portion 21. And a single ring housing portion (concave portion) 23 defined between the pair of pillar portions 22 so as to open to the free end side of each pillar portion 22. The body portion 21 of the element 20 functions as a flank surface (torque transmission surface) formed so as to be separated from the inner peripheral side of the transmission belt 10 or the like toward the outer peripheral side (outside in the radial direction of the transmission belt 10 or the like). A pair of side surfaces 21f. On the surface of each side surface 21f, irregularities (a plurality of grooves) (not shown) that hold hydraulic oil for lubricating and cooling the contact portions between the elements 20 and the primary pulley and the secondary pulley are formed. In addition, the bottom surface 21b of the trunk | drum 21 may contain a recessed part so that it may show in figure, and may be formed flat.

The pair of pillar portions 22 is formed from the both sides in the width direction of the saddle surface 23a formed on the body portion 21 as the bottom surface of the ring housing portion 23 to the outside in the radial direction of the transmission belt 10 (from the inner peripheral side to the outer peripheral side of the transmission belt 10). It extends in the direction toward it, that is, upward in the figure. Further, a hook portion 22f protruding in the width direction of the saddle surface 23a is formed at the free end portion of each pillar portion 22. The pair of hook portions 22 f are opposed to each other with an interval slightly longer than the width of the laminated ring 12 (ring material 11) and shorter than the width of the retainer ring 15.

As shown in FIG. 3, the laminated ring 12 is disposed in the ring accommodating portion 23, and the saddle surface 23 a of the ring accommodating portion 23 is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the innermost ring material 11 i constituting the laminated ring 12. To do. The saddle surface 23a has a left and right symmetrical convex curved surface shape (crowning shape) that gently slopes downward in the figure as it goes outward in the width direction with the central portion in the width direction as a top portion T. Accordingly, it is possible to center the laminated ring 12 by applying a centripetal force toward the top T to the laminated ring 12 by friction with the saddle surface 23a. However, the saddle surface 23 a may include a plurality of convex curved surfaces that curve outward in the radial direction of the laminated ring 12.

Further, the elastically deformed retainer ring 15 is fitted into the ring accommodating portion 23 through a pair of hook portions 22f. The retainer ring 15 is disposed between the outer peripheral surface of the outermost ring material 11 of the laminated ring 12 and the hook portion 22f of each element 20 to surround the laminated ring 12, and each element 20 is separated from the laminated ring 12. Regulate dropping out. Thereby, the plurality of elements 20 are bound (arranged) in an annular shape along the inner peripheral surface of the laminated ring 12.

As shown in FIG. 3, on the front surface (one surface) of the element 20, a pair of rocking edge portions (contact regions) 25, non-contact portions 27, tapered surfaces (inclined surfaces) 21s, and one protrusion (dimple) ) 21p is formed. The pair of locking edge portions 25 are formed on the front surface of the element 20 at intervals in the width direction of the saddle surface 23 a so as to straddle the corresponding pillar portions 22 and the trunk portions 21. Further, the non-contact portion 27 is formed between the pair of rocking edge portions 25 in the width direction. Further, the tapered surface 21s extends from the non-contact portion 27 and the pair of locking edge portions 25 to the opposite side to the protruding direction of each pillar portion 22, that is, the belt inner peripheral side (the lower side in FIG. 3). 21 is formed. The protrusion 21p protrudes from the tapered surface 21s at the center portion in the width direction of the front surface of the body portion 21.

In the present embodiment, the front surface of the element 20 (mainly the front surface of the pillar portion 22) located on the belt outer peripheral side with respect to each rocking edge portion 25 and the non-contact portion 27 and the back surface (the other surface) of the element 20 are: Each is formed flat, and the pillar portion 22 of the element 20 has a certain thickness te. Further, the taper surface 21s located on the belt inner peripheral side (lower side in FIG. 3) with respect to each of the locking edge portions 25 and the non-contact portion 27 is the rear surface as the distance from the pillar portion 22 increases (toward the belt inner peripheral side). Proximity to. Further, a recessed portion 21r is formed on the back surface of the element 20 (body portion 21) so as to be positioned behind the protrusion 21p. When the transmission belt 10 is assembled, the protrusion 21p of the adjacent element 20 is loosely fitted in the recess 21r.

Each rocking edge portion 25 is a short belt-like convex curved surface, and in this embodiment is a cylindrical surface having a predetermined radius of curvature. Each locking edge portion 25 includes a contact line that makes adjacent elements 20 contact each other and serves as a fulcrum of rotation of both elements, and the position of the contact line is locked according to the speed ratio γ of the continuously variable transmission. It fluctuates within the range of the edge portion 25. Further, the non-contact portion 27 is a belt-like recess formed on the front surface of the body portion 21 so as to extend in the width direction along the saddle surface 23 a and divide the pair of locking edge portions 25. The surface (bottom surface) of the non-contact portion 27 is recessed to the back side with respect to the surface of each rocking edge portion 25, whereby the saddle surface 23 a has a thickness te of the pillar portion 22 as shown in FIG. 3. Smaller than.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the quenching equipment 1 for quenching the element 20 as described above includes a heating chamber 2 for heating the plurality of elements 20, and a conveyor 3 for transporting the plurality of elements 20. The cooling tank 4 for cooling the elements 20 heated in the heating chamber 2, the feeder 5 for sequentially sending and aligning the plurality of elements 20 cleaned after the press working, and the plurality of elements 20 in a batch. And a transfer machine 6 to be placed thereon.

The heating chamber 2 includes a housing 2h and a plurality of heaters (not shown) disposed inside the housing 2h. The interior of the housing 2h is filled with an inert gas such as nitrogen gas and heated to, for example, about 900 ° C. by a plurality of heaters. In addition, a chute portion 2c that is an opening for sending the element 20 heated in the housing 2h to the cooling tank 4 is formed in the lower portion of the housing 2h. The housing 2h is installed such that the chute 2c enters the inside of the cooling tank 4.

The conveyor 3 includes a pair of rotating drums 3d, at least one of which is rotationally driven by a driving device (not shown), and an endless mesh belt 3b wound around the pair of rotating drums 3d. In the conveyor 3, approximately half of the end portion 3 e side in the transport direction is located inside the heating chamber 2 (housing 2 h), and approximately half of the start end side in the transport direction protrudes from the heating chamber 2 (housing 2 h) to the outside. Installed. Moreover, the terminal end 3e of the conveyor 3 is located above the chute 2c and the cooling tank 4 in the heating chamber 2, as shown in FIGS. Further, the mesh belt 3 b is made of a metal having high thermal conductivity and is heated by a plurality of heaters disposed in the heating chamber 2.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a plurality of guide members 30 are arranged on the conveyor 3 at intervals in the width direction of the mesh belt 3b. Each guide member 30 is formed so as to extend along the mesh belt 3 b of the conveyor 3 by a metal plate and to extend from the terminal end portion 3 e of the conveyor 3 toward the cooling tank 4. Thereby, a plurality of transport lanes 3L arranged in the width direction of the mesh belt 3b are formed on the conveyor 3 by the plurality of guide members 30 (see FIG. 2). As shown in FIG. 1, the upper edge portion of each guide member 30 is the upper end portion (the upper surface of the hook portion 22f) of the element 20 in a state where the bottom surface 21b of the trunk portion 21 is in contact with the conveying surface (upper surface) of the mesh belt 3b. ) Above. The distance between the guide members 30 adjacent to each other is slightly larger than the thickness (te) of the element 20, and the element 20 is in a state where the bottom surface 21b of the trunk portion 21 is in contact with the conveying surface (upper surface) of the mesh belt 3b. It is determined that the front surface or the back surface of the element 20 abuts against the guide member 30 when it falls down. Further, an end guide 35 that covers each transfer lane 3L from above, below, and from the side is fixed to the upper edge of each guide member 30 in the range from the vicinity of the end 3e of the conveyor 3 to the end on the cooling tank 4 side. Has been.

The cooling tank 4 stores the cooling liquid CL such as water or cooling oil, and the heating chamber 2 and the end portion 3e of the conveyor 3 so that the tip of the chute 2c of the housing 2h is immersed in the cooling liquid CL. It is arranged below. In addition, a heater for heating the coolant CL to about 100 to 150 ° C. is disposed in the cooling tank 4. In the present embodiment, in order to make the temperature of the cooling liquid CL uniform, the cooling liquid CL is circulated and supplied to the cooling tank 4 by a circulation pump (not shown). Furthermore, in the cooling tank 4, a collection device 4c for collecting the element 20 cooled by the cooling liquid CL is detachably disposed.

The feeder 5 includes an alignment stage 5s arranged adjacent to the starting end of the conveyor 3, and an alignment jig 5j (see FIG. 2) arranged on the alignment stage 5s. The alignment jig 5j includes a comb-shaped alignment portion having a plurality of concave portions, and the feeder 5 aligns and repairs the plurality of elements 20 sent from the previous process equipment (cleaning equipment) one by one by vibration. It arranges in the recessed part of the tool 5j. In the present embodiment, the alignment jig 5j is disposed on the alignment stage 5s so as to align the plurality of elements 20 with a certain interval in the width direction of the mesh belt 3b. The elements 20 inserted into the recesses of the alignment jig 5j are positioned so that one side surface 21f (flank surface) in the width direction is positioned on the conveyor 3 side and each pillar portion 22 is positioned upward. . Since the periphery of the alignment stage 5s on which the alignment jig 5j is disposed is an environment at a significantly lower temperature (approximately room temperature) than in the heating chamber 2, the alignment jig 5j is described in Patent Document 1. Compared to a jig containing molybdenum as a constituent material, it can be formed at a much lower cost.

The transfer device 6 collectively chucks the plurality of elements 20 aligned by the alignment jig 5j, and the bottom surface 21b (see FIG. 3) of the body portion 21 is a chucking surface of the mesh belt 3b. It is placed on the end of the conveyor 3 protruding out of the heating chamber 2 so as to come into contact with the (upper surface). When the transfer machine 6 is operated once, one element 20 is transferred to each transfer lane 3L of the conveyor 3 one by one.

Next, the quenching procedure for the element 20 in the quenching equipment 1 will be described.

As described above, when the plurality of elements 20 are aligned on the alignment jig 5j by the feeder 5, the elements 20 are transferred one by one to each transfer lane 3L of the conveyor 3 by the transfer device 6. When transferred to the corresponding conveyance lane 3L, the bottom surface 21b (see FIG. 3) of the body portion 21 of each element 20 abuts on the conveyance surface (upper surface) of the mesh belt 3b, and one side surface 21f ( The flank surface is located on the cooling tank 4 side. Thus, the plurality of elements 20 placed on the mesh belt 3 b of the conveyor 3 are conveyed into the heating chamber 2 by the conveyor 3. In addition, the transfer device 6 transfers the plurality of elements 20 collectively onto the mesh belt 3b of the conveyor 3 every time the plurality of elements 20 are aligned on the alignment jig 5j by the feeder 5.

The plurality of elements 20 conveyed into the heating chamber 2 by the conveyor 3 are heated so that the metal structure becomes an austenitic structure inside the housing 2h. While being conveyed in the heating chamber 2, each element 20 is guided by the guide members 30 on both sides so as to maintain the posture when being transferred onto the mesh belt 3b. Thereby, each element 20 can be heated without unevenness. Further, each element 20 that is conveyed by the conveyor 3 while being heated and reaches the end portion 3e is guided by the inner surface of the corresponding guide member 30 or the end guide 35, and the end on one side 21f side is directed downward. It falls to the cooling tank 4. Thereby, each element 20 can be rapidly cooled to transform the metal structure into a martensite structure.

Here, for example, when the element 20 is made to enter the liquid level of the cooling liquid CL in the cooling tank 4 from the back side, the flow of the cooling liquid CL as shown in FIG. 4A is performed on the back side of the element 20 in the cooling liquid CL. On the other hand, the flow of the coolant CL stagnates on the front side (upper surface in the drawing) of the element 20. For this reason, since the flow rate difference between the coolant CL flowing along the back surface of the element 20 and the coolant CL flowing along the front surface in the cooling tank 4 increases, the cooling speed of the element 20 on the back surface side and the front surface side are increased. And the cooling rate of the element 20 is different, and the distortion of the element 20 due to quenching becomes large. The same applies to the case where the element 20 is allowed to enter the liquid level of the coolant CL in the cooling tank 4 from the front (projection 21p) side.

Further, for example, when the element 20 is made to enter the liquid level of the coolant CL in the cooling tank 4 from the bottom surface 21b side of the body portion 21, as shown in FIG. 4B, the flat back side of the element 20 in the coolant CL And the flow velocity difference with the coolant CL becomes large between the front side including the protrusion 21p and the tapered surface 21s. In this case as well, there is a difference between the cooling rate of the element 20 on the back side and the cooling rate of the element 20 on the front side, and the distortion of the element 20 accompanying quenching increases. The same applies to the case where the element 20 is caused to enter the liquid surface of the coolant CL in the cooling tank 4 from the upper end side, that is, the upper end surface side of the pillar portion 22.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the element 20 that falls from the terminal end 3e of the conveyor 3 to the cooling tank 4 enters the liquid surface of the coolant CL from the end on the side surface 21f (flank surface). 4C, the flow rate difference between the cooling liquid CL flowing along the front surface including the protrusion 21p of the element 20 and the cooling liquid CL flowing along the back surface in the cooling tank 4 becomes small. Thereby, the difference in the cooling rate between the front surface and the back surface of the element 20 can be reduced, and the occurrence of distortion of the element 20 due to quenching can be satisfactorily suppressed.

And the jig | tool heated and cooled by dropping the several element 20 heated while conveying with the conveyor 3 one by one from the terminal part 3e of the said conveyor 3 to the cooling tank 4 (patent document 1). It is possible to quench many elements 20 at low cost without using a reference). The element 20 that has fallen into the coolant CL of the cooling tank 4 falls into the recovery device 4c. The collector 4c is taken out from the cooling tank 4 when the quenching of the predetermined number of elements 20 is completed, and the plurality of elements 20 taken out from the cooling tank 4 are cooled in a normal temperature environment. Thereafter, processes such as cooling, cleaning, tempering, barrel polishing, and cleaning are performed, and the manufacture of the element 20 is completed.

As described above, according to the quenching equipment 1, it is possible to quench many elements 20 at low cost while suppressing the occurrence of distortion of the elements 20. In addition, a plurality of guide members 30 and end guides 35 extend along the mesh belt 3 b and extend from the end portion 3 e of the conveyor 3 toward the cooling tank 4 on the conveyor 3 of the quenching equipment 1. The plurality of elements 20 are conveyed by the conveyor 3 while being guided by the corresponding guide members 30 and terminal guides 35 so as to maintain their postures, and fall into the cooling tank 4. As a result, the element 20 falling from the terminal end portion 3e of the conveyor 3 to the cooling tank 4 is more surely plunged into the liquid surface of the coolant CL from the end on the side surface 21f (flank surface) side, and accompanying the quenching. Generation of distortion of the element 20 can be suppressed extremely well. As shown in FIG. 1, the element 20 may be inserted obliquely with respect to the liquid level of the cooling liquid CL, or may be dropped in the vertical direction with respect to the liquid level of the cooling liquid CL.

Furthermore, in the quenching facility 1, each element 20 is placed on the conveyor 3 so that the bottom surface 21b of the body portion 21 is in contact with the conveying surface of the mesh belt 3b. Thereby, since many elements 20 can be mounted on the conveyor 3, it becomes possible to improve productivity more and to suppress the increase in the installation area of the quenching equipment 1. FIG. However, as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2, each element 20 may be placed on the conveyor 3 such that the flat back surface of the body portion 21 abuts against the conveyance surface of the mesh belt 3 b.

Further, the quenching equipment 1 targets the element 20 including the pair of pillar portions 22 extending from the barrel portion 21 so as to be positioned on both sides in the width direction of the saddle surface 23a formed on the barrel portion 21. However, the quenching equipment 1 can also be applied to quenching of the element 20B as shown in FIG.

An element 20B shown in FIG. 5 extends to the outer peripheral side of the transmission belt from a barrel portion 21B having a pair of side surfaces 21f that extend horizontally in the drawing and function as flank surfaces, and a central portion in the width direction of the barrel portion 21B. And a head portion 28 having a pair of ear portions 28a extending from the neck portion 26 to both sides in the width direction of the body portion 21B so as to be separated from the body portion 21B. As shown in the figure, the width of the body portion 21B is the same as or larger than the width of the head portion 28, and the body portion 21B, the neck portion 26, and the ear portions 28a of the head portion 28 each include a saddle surface 23a. Two ring accommodating portions (concave portions) 23B are defined. Further, a locking edge portion 25B and a tapered surface 21s are formed on the front surface (one surface) of the body portion 21B, and one piece is provided at the center portion in the width direction of the front surface (one surface) of the head portion 28. Projections (dimples) 28p are formed. Further, the back surface (the other surface) of the head portion 28 is formed flat, and a recess 28r is formed on the back surface so as to be positioned on the back side of the protrusion 28p. When quenching the element 20B by the quenching equipment 1, the element 20 may be placed on the conveyor 3 so that the bottom surface 21b of the body 21B abuts on the conveying surface of the mesh belt 3b. Each of the elements 20 may be placed on the conveyor 3 so that the flat back surface is in contact with the conveying surface of the mesh belt 3b.

As described above, the element quenching method of the present disclosure is the elements (20, 20B) constituting the belt (10) of the continuously variable transmission, and a pair of side surfaces ( 21f) is a method of quenching an element in which the element (20, 20B) is heated and cooled by the coolant (CL) in the cooling bath (4), and a plurality of the elements (20, 20B) are A plurality of the heated elements (20, 20B) are heated on the conveyor (3) so that the side surface (21f) is positioned on the cooling tank (4) side and transported by the conveyor (3). ) From the end of the one side surface (21f) to the liquid level of the cooling liquid (CL) from the terminal end (3e) of the conveyor (3) to the cooling tank (4). Drop one by one It is.

When quenching an element by the quenching method of the present disclosure, a plurality of elements are placed on the conveyor so that the end of one flank surface is positioned on the cooling tank side and conveyed by the conveyor. A plurality of elements heated at a time are dropped one by one from the end of the conveyor to the cooling bath. Thereby, it becomes possible to quench many elements at low cost without using a jig to be heated and cooled. Furthermore, the coolant that flows along the surface of the element in the cooling tank and the back surface are made to enter the cooling liquid from the end on the one side of the flank to the element that falls from the end of the conveyor to the cooling tank. Therefore, the difference in the cooling rate between the front and back surfaces of the element can be reduced and the distortion of the element accompanying quenching can be suppressed. As a result, according to the quenching method of the present disclosure, it is possible to quench many elements at low cost while suppressing the occurrence of distortion of the elements.

Further, the guide member (30) is disposed so as to extend along the conveyor (3) and extend from the terminal end (3e) of the conveyor (3) toward the cooling bath (4). The plurality of elements (20, 20B) conveyed by the conveyor (3) are guided by the guide member (30) so that the posture is maintained, and the guide member (30, 35) You may guide an element (20, 20B) so that it may penetrate into the said liquid level of the said cooling fluid (CL) from the edge part of said one said side surface (21f) side. As a result, the element falling from the terminal end of the conveyor to the cooling tank is more surely plunged into the liquid level of the coolant from the end on the one flank surface side, and the occurrence of distortion of the element due to quenching is extremely good. It becomes possible to suppress.

Furthermore, the element (20, 20B) may have a body part (21, 21B) including the pair of side surfaces (21f), and the bottom surface (21b) of the body part (21, 21B) You may mount the said element (20, 20B) on this conveyor (3) so that it may contact | abut to the conveyance surface of a conveyor (3). Thereby, since many elements can be mounted on the conveyor, it is possible to further improve productivity and suppress an increase in the installation area of the quenching equipment.

The element (20, 20B) may have a body part (21, 21B) including the pair of side surfaces (21f), and the surface of the body part (21, 21B) is the conveyor (3 The element (20, 20B) may be placed on the conveyor (3) so as to be in contact with the conveyance surface of the conveyor (3).

Furthermore, from the body (21) to the outer peripheral side of the belt (10) so as to be positioned on both sides in the width direction of the saddle surface (23a) formed on the element (20) and the body (21). A pair of extended pillar portions (22) may be included, and a tapered surface (21s) may be formed on one surface of the body portion (21), and the other surface of the body portion (21) may be formed. The surface may be formed flat.

Further, the element (20B) is separated from the neck portion (26) extending from the center portion in the width direction of the body portion (21B) to the outer peripheral side of the belt and the body portion (21B). A head portion (28) extending from the neck portion (26) to both sides in the width direction, and a body portion (21B) so as to be positioned on both sides in the width direction of the neck portion (26). A pair of saddle surfaces (23a), and a tapered surface (21s) and a protrusion (21b) may be formed on one surface of the body portion (21B), and the body portion (21B). The other surface of may be formed flat.

The element quenching equipment of the present disclosure is an element (20, 20B) constituting a belt (10) of a continuously variable transmission, and includes an element (a pair of side surfaces (21f) formed at both ends in the width direction ( 20, 20B) in the quenching facility (1), below the heating chamber (2), the conveyor (3) arranged in the heating chamber (2), and the end portion (3e) of the conveyor (3). The cooling chamber (4) disposed and filled with the cooling liquid (CL), and the heating chamber such that one of the side surfaces (21f) is positioned on the cooling bath (4) side of the element (20, 20B). (2) The posture of the transfer machine (6) placed on the end of the conveyor (3) protruding outward and the elements (20, 20B) conveyed by the conveyor (3) are maintained. To guide Both of the elements (20, 20B) falling from the terminal end (3e) of the conveyor (3) to the cooling tank (4) are moved from the end on the one side (21f) side to the coolant ( CL) and a guide member (30, 35) for guiding so as to enter the liquid surface.

It should be noted that the invention of the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that various changes can be made within the scope of the extension of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the above-described embodiment is merely a specific form of the invention described in the Summary of Invention column, and does not limit the elements of the invention described in the Summary of Invention column.

The invention of the present disclosure can be used in the manufacturing industry of continuously variable transmissions.

Claims

In the element quenching method of heating the element including a pair of side surfaces formed at both ends in the width direction and cooling with the coolant in the cooling tank, the element constituting the belt of the continuously variable transmission,
A plurality of the elements are placed on a conveyor so that one of the side surfaces is located on the cooling tank side and heated while being conveyed by the conveyor, and the plurality of heated elements are placed on the one side surface side. A quenching method for an element that drops one by one from an end portion of the conveyor to the cooling tank so as to enter the liquid level of the cooling liquid from an end portion.
The element quenching method according to claim 1,
A guide member extending along the conveyor and extending from the end of the conveyor toward the cooling bath;
The plurality of elements conveyed by the conveyor are guided by the guide member so that the posture thereof is maintained, and the element is moved by the guide member from the one end on the side surface side. The quenching method of the element that guides to rush into.
The element quenching method according to claim 2,
The element has a body including the pair of side surfaces,
A quenching method for an element, wherein the element is placed on the conveyor such that a bottom surface of the body portion is in contact with a conveying surface of the conveyor.
The element quenching method according to claim 2,
The element has a body including the pair of side surfaces,
A method for quenching an element, wherein the element is placed on the conveyor such that a surface of the body portion is in contact with a conveying surface of the conveyor.
The element quenching method according to claim 3 or 4,
The element includes a pair of pillar portions extending from the body portion to the outer peripheral side of the belt so as to be located on both sides of the saddle surface formed in the body portion in the width direction,
A method of quenching an element in which a tapered surface and a protrusion are formed on one surface of the body portion, and the other surface of the body portion is formed flat.
The element quenching method according to claim 3 or 4,
The element extends from the center portion in the width direction of the body portion to the outer peripheral side of the belt, and extends from the neck portion to both sides in the width direction so as to be separated from the body portion. A head portion, and a pair of saddle surfaces formed on the body portion so as to be located on both sides of the neck portion in the width direction,
A method of quenching an element in which a tapered surface is formed on one surface of the body portion, and the other surface of the body portion is formed flat.
In an element quenching equipment comprising a pair of side surfaces formed at both ends in the width direction, which constitutes a belt of a continuously variable transmission,
A heating chamber;
A conveyor disposed within the heating chamber;
A cooling bath disposed below the end of the conveyor and filled with a coolant;
A transfer machine for mounting the element on the end of the conveyor protruding out of the heating chamber such that one of the side surfaces is located on the cooling tank side;
The element transported by the conveyor is guided so as to maintain the posture, and the element that falls from the terminal end of the conveyor to the cooling tank is moved from the one side end to the coolant. A guide member for guiding so as to enter the liquid level of
Element quenching equipment with