Spray quench systems for heat treated metal products
AssigneeThermatool Corp.
InventorsMichael A. Nallen, Paul F. Scott
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spray quench system is provided with one or more spray quench rings that eject a controlled volume of spray onto a workpiece passing through the quench rings. The quench rings can be adjusted in position independently of each other relative to the workpiece being sprayed. Reflected spray guards may be provided to prevent spray interference between adjacent quench rings. The outlets of the quench rings may be adjustable in volume. A controller can be provided to optimize the distribution of quench cooling flows from the quench rings. Sets of quench rings with different diameters in each set may be provided in modular form.
Claims20
A quench ring for ejecting quenchant onto a workpiece passing through the quench ring, the quench ring comprising:
- an outer ring element having at least one exterior opening for connection to a supply of quenchant;
- and
- an inner ring element at least partially inserted into the outer ring element to form a quench ring plenum for receiving the supply of quenchant from the at least one exterior opening, the inner ring element having an outlet passage for ejecting quenchant from the plenum, the plenum and outlet passage having an adjustable volume controlled by an adjustable separating distance between the inner and outer ring elements.
A quench ring assembly for ejecting quenchant onto a workpiece passing through the quench ring assembly comprising:
- two or more quench rings, each of the two or more quench rings comprising:
- an outer ring element having at least one exterior opening for connection to a supply of quenchant;
- and
- an inner ring element at least partially inserted into the outer ring element to form a quench ring plenum for receiving the supply of quenchant from the at least one exterior opening, the inner ring element having an outlet passage for ejecting quenchant from the plenum, the plenum and outlet passage having an adjustable volume controlled by an adjustable separating distance between the inner and outer ring elements;
- and
- a support structure for mounting the two or more quench rings.
A method of quenching a workpiece comprising the steps of:
- passing the workpiece through a quench ring comprising an outer ring element and inner ring element, the inner and outer ring elements axially adjustable in distance from each other to define a plenum and a variable volume outlet passage formed between the inner and outer ring elements;
- supplying a quenchant to an opening in the outer ring element, the opening in communication with the plenum;
- and
- ejecting the quenchant from the output passage onto the surface of the workpiece.
A method of quenching a workpiece comprising the steps of:
- passing the workpiece through a quench ring assembly comprising two or more quench rings, each of the two or more quench rings having an outer ring element and inner ring element, the inner and outer ring elements axially adjustable in distance from each other to define a plenum and a variable volume outlet passage formed between the inner and outer ring elements;
- supplying a quenchant to an opening in the outer ring element of each of the two or more quench rings, the opening in communication with the plenum of its associated quench ring;
- and
- ejecting the quenchant from the output passage of each of the two or more quench rings onto the surface of the workpiece.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.