Heat treatment method, heat-treating furnace, and heat treatment system
AssigneeToyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsKeisuke Isomura, Shinya Mizuno, Noriyuki Ueno, Takehito Kobayashi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A work is subjected to a heat treatment in a heat-treating furnace. First, the work is carried into the heat-treating furnace. The work in the heat-treating furnace is immersed in a heat source solvent. In the heat-treating furnace, a superheated steam atmosphere is formed. The work is exposed in the heat-treating furnace under the superheated steam atmosphere. Then, the work is carried out of the heat-treating furnace.
Claims14
A heat treatment method for subjecting a work to a heat treatment in a heat-treating furnace, comprising:
- carrying the work into the heat-treating furnace;
- immersing the work in the heat-treating furnace in a heat source solvent that is heated before the immersing;
- forming a superheated steam atmosphere in the heat-treating furnace;
- exposing the work in the heat-treating furnace under the superheated steam atmosphere;
- and
- carrying the work out of the heat-treating furnace.
A heat-treating furnace for subjecting a work to a heat treatment, the heat-treating furnace being connected to a solvent supply device that is configured to supply a heat source solvent into the heat-treating furnace,
- the heat-treating furnace comprising:
- a housing that is configured to accommodate the work and is equipped with a space, the space being configured to seal gas;
- a heating unit that is configured to heat the heat source solvent to fill the space with a superheated steam;
- an exhaust port that is connected to the housing and is configured to discharge gas present in the space from the housing;
- and
- a solvent control unit that is configured to immerse the work in the heat source solvent heated by the heating unit and to expose, when the space is filled with the superheated steam, the work from the heat source solvent.
A heat treatment system comprising:
- a heat-treating furnace that includes a housing, a solvent storage tank and a steam generation heater, wherein the housing is configured to accommodate a work, the solvent storage tank is configured to store a heat source solvent containing water, and the steam generation heater is configured to heat the heat source solvent stored in the solvent storage tank to generate steam in the housing;
- an out-of-furnace tank that is provided outside the heat-treating furnace and is connected to the solvent storage tank by a flow channel;
- and
- a solvent supply device that is configured to move the heat source solvent between the out-of-furnace tank and the solvent storage tank via the flow channel to immerse the work in the heat source solvent or expose the work from the heat source solvent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.