US 4,360,189 AGranted

Quench press

OwnerJames P. Duncan, James L. Lawsoninventors

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Abstract

A universal quench press is used for the precision quenching of gears, bearing rings, saw blades, slitting knives, cylindrical parts, flat parts, dished parts, and other articles. A set of quenching dies reduce or eliminate the distortions in size, roundness, taper, and flatness encountered in manufacturing processes prior to the press quenching process and/or operation. The press has a plurality of posts or tie-rods configured to distribute the forces of the applied loads uniformly. Provisions are made for a plurality of generally concentric rams with all of the rams powered by hydraulic or pnuematic cylinders or other force exerting device or devices to provide a uniform and evenly distributed force. An automatic quench media splash guard seals the quenching chamber during operation and requires absolutely no set-up or operating adjustments or changes. Two or more automatic doors provide complete access to the die area during set-up and/or allow two or more points for loading and/or unloading of workpieces and/or tooling. For ultimate accuracy, the lower die plate is stationary and provides a means of guiding the center ram, thus assuring concentricity. Graduated shims are added or removed from the center ram stop to decrease or increase the final part bore diameter as required.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An improved quench press comprising:

(a) a frame, said frame including a base, a top plate spacially separate from said base and a plurality of elongated support elements secured therebetween;
(b) a first ram plate received between said top plate and said base and being associated with said support elements for aligned reciprocal movement therealong, said ram plate defining a passageway therethrough that is concentric to a vertical axis through said frame, said ram plate further having an annular collar secured to an underside of same, said collar being adapted for securement to a die of a predetermined design along an outer free end of same;
(c) a plurality of power exerting means associated with said ram plate to move said plate along said support elements and to apply pressure against a workpiece contacted by said die, said power exerting means for said plate being spaced about a circle concentric to said vertical axis;
(d) a central power exerting means located along said vertical axis and having a central ram operatively associated therewith for reciprocal movement with respect thereto, said central ram being operatively associated with said passageway for aligned reciprocal movement and having a generally conical shaped lower free end;
(e) a stationary workpiece support plate secured to said frame, said support plate being adapted for receipt of a lower die plate for said workpiece and being adapted for passageway of quench fluid therethrough;
(f) positive central ram stop means associated with said workpiece support plate along said vertical axis and operating independent of a workpiece being quenched;
(g) means operable to enclose an area around said workpiece support plate to define a quench chamber therewithin;
and
(h) means to supply quench liquid to said quench chamber for cooling a workpiece held between said rams and said workpiece support plate.

6 more elements

An improved quench press for receiving a heated workpiece, holding said workpiece in a proper disposition, and providing a quench liquid in contact with said workpiece for the proper cooling of same while said workpiece is being held in said proper disposition, comprising:

(a) means for supporting a lower side of said workpiece to be quenched;
(b) power means for engaging the upper surface of said workpiece and clamping same against said lower side support means, said lower side support means and said power means being adapted for passage of said quench liquid therearound and in contact with said workpiece being held therebetween;
and
(c) separate quench chamber wall means associated with one of said lower side support means and said power means, said quench chamber wall means being independently movable to and from a first position and a second position where said quench chamber wall means cooperates with said lower side support means and said power means to define a quench liquid chamber within which said workpiece may be quenched, and
(d) independent means to move said quench chamber wall means between said first and second positions.

2 more elements

An improved quench press for receiving and clamping a workpiece to be quenched while quenching fluid is brought into contact with same comprising:

(a) means for supporting a lower side of a workpiece to be quenched;
(b) power means for engaging said workpiece and clamping same against said lower side support means, said lower side support means and said power means being adapted for passage of said quench fluid around and in contact with a workpiece held therebetween;
and
(c) adjustable positive stop means located on said underside support means along a vertical axis through said press with respect to which the operative elements of said power means are concentric, said power stop means being engageable with at least a portion of said power means to limit movement of same, whereby critical dimensions of said workpiece may be maintained;
and
(d) means to circulate a quench fluid into contact with a workpiece to be quenched.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.