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US 4,051,590 AGranted
Method for hot forging finished articles from powder metal preforms
AssigneeCincinnati Incorporated
InventorsRichard F. Halter, Richard L. DeWeese
Life of this patent
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AssigneeCincinnati Incorporated
InventorsRichard F. Halter, Richard L. DeWeese
Estimating the term…
A production, automated method of hot forging finished articles from powder metal preforms, and an apparatus for carrying out the method, wherein the preforms are passed through an induction heating device, whereby they are heated to at least forging temperature. Thereafter, the heated preforms are passed to a pair of dies whereby they are forged into finished articles, after which they are cooled. The entire process may, if required, be conducted in a non-oxidizing atmosphere. The apparatus includes an induction heating means, a forging means, a cooling station, feeding or conveying means to introduce the preforms into the induction heating means, and conveying means to move the preforms from the heating means to the forging means and from the forging means to the cooling station. The entire operation is automatic, including the feeding of the preforms through the apparatus, the control of temperature, and the lubrication and preheating of the dies. Means may be provided to conduct the entire operation in a non-oxidizing atmosphere. Furthermore, the method and apparatus may include the step of and means for sintering the preform so that a production, fully automated system is provided from the compacting press to the finished product.
A fully automated, continuous process of producing finished parts from compacted powder metal preforms at a high production rate which comprises the steps of introducing the preforms into a vertically oriented tube-like feeding station, depositing the preforms from said feeding station to a conveying means one-by-one by gravity, conveying said preforms to a vertically oriented induction heating station, advancing said preforms through said heating station and heating them to at least a forging temperature, transferring a heated preform from the upper end of said heating station to a forging station and simultaneously removing a finished part from said forging station, and forging each of said preforms at said forging station.
A fully automated, continuous process of producing finished parts from compacted powder metal preforms at a high production rate which comprises the steps of forming powder metal preforms in a press, conveying said preforms to a heating chamber to clean said preforms, providing a non-oxidizing atmosphere in said heating chamber and through-heating said preforms to a temperature of up to a maximum of about 900.degree. F., transferring said preforms to a cooling zone and cooling said preforms to about 300.degree. F., transferring said preforms to a coating station, coating said preforms with a graphite lubricant, transferring said preforms to an induction heating station, at said induction heating station heating said preforms rapidly to a temperature of from about 2050.degree. F. to about 2250.degree. F., providing a soaking zone, transferring said preforms to said soaking zone, soaking said preforms at a temperature of from about 2000.degree. F. to about 2250.degree. F., providing a cooling zone, transferring said preforms to said cooling zone, providing a forging station, transferring said preforms from said cooling zone to said forging station, cooling said preforms in said cooling zone to a temperature such that they will be at the desired forging temperature when they reach said forging station, forging said preforms and maintaining said preforms in a non-oxidizing, slightly reducing atmosphere through said heating, soak and cooling steps.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.