US 11,512,381 B2 · Method and facility for carbonitriding one or more steel parts under low pressure and at a high temperature

Abstract

The invention relates to a carbonitriding facility (IC) which includes: a heating chamber (CC), for heating at least one steel part (PA) to a first temperature, in the presence of a neutral gas and under a selected pressure; a first enriching chamber (CE1) for enriching the heated part with nitrogen, by nitriding same in α-phase at a second temperature no higher than the first temperature; a second enriching chamber (CE2) for enriching the nitrogen-enriched part with carbon, by carburising same at a third temperature higher than the second temperature; a quench chamber (CT) for quenching the nitrogen- and carbon-enriched part under pressure; a transfer airlock (ST) communicating with the chambers and suitable for temporarily receiving the part in a controlled atmosphere; and transfer means (MT) for transfer-ring the part from one chamber to another chamber via the transfer airlock (ST).

Claims10

Dependent claims

A method for carbonitriding at least one steel part, wherein the method comprises:

a first step in which said at least one steel part is heated to a first selected temperature in an inert environment and under a selected pressure;
a second step in which the at least one steel part that was heated in the first step is nitrogen enriched in a first enrichment chamber by phase nitriding at a second selected temperature less than said first temperature;
a third step in which the at least one steel part that was nitrogen enriched in the second step is carbon enriched in a second enrichment chamber by carburizing under a third selected temperature higher than said second temperature;
and
a fourth step in which said at least one steel part which has been nitrogen and carbon enriched is quenched under pressure.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and facility for carbonitriding one or more steel parts under low pressure and at a high temperature

Life of this patent

Method and facility for carbonitriding one or more steel parts under low pressure and at a high temperature

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10