Heat treatment fixture
OwnerReginald F. Duran, Jack Brassinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved heat treatment fixture is disclosed formed in a tubular frame network structure composed of mating plural cylindrical tubings segments and cast couplings which are interconnected by pins to permit moderate movement within the frame network structure during the heat treatment process, and thereby. relieve thermal stresses developed within a fixture. The tubing frame network structure renders the fixture lightweight and is adapted to permit multiple fixtures to be rapidly linked together in an end to end orientation to vary the size and capacity of the fixture. The fixture is further constructed to allow rapid repair by the end user to prolong the useful life of the fixture and includes a part tray which is replaceable directly within the field.
Claims11
An improved heat treatment fixture for use in a heat treatment process, comprising:
- a plurality of elongate members;
- a plurality of couplings, each said coupling being cast as a single piece having a plurality of passages therein, each said passage being formed to receive an end of at least one of said plurality of elongate members to assemble said plurality of elongate members into a frame structure;
- means carried by said frame structure for supporting parts desired to be heat treated thereon;
- and
- means for interconnecting said plurality of elongate members to said plurality of couplings to permit moderate movement of said plurality of elongate members relative to said plurality of couplings in response to thermal expansion encountered during the heat treatment process.
A fixture for supporting articles in a heat treatment process, comprising:
- a plurality of elongate members;
- a plurality of wheel couplings, each said wheel coupling being cast as a single piece and formed to have three mutually perpendicular passages therein, each said passage being configured for receiving one end of one of said elongate members for assembling said plurality of elongate members into a support frame structure, each of said wheel corner couplings, including a pair of integrally cast legs for mounting a wheel and axle thereto;
- a tray frame for mounting on said frame structure;
- a layer of wire mesh mounted to said tray frame;
- a first support coupling connected between a pair of said elongate members on a first side of said support frame, said first support coupling being cast as a single piece and including a plurality of passages therein;
- a first tray hold down member having an elongate portion for insertion into one of the passages within said first support coupling;
- means for removably mounting said elongate portion of said first hold down member in the passage in said first support coupling to secure a first side of said tray frame to said support frame;
- a second support coupling connected between a second pair of said elongate members in a second side of said support frame, said second support coupling being casted as a single piece and including a plurality of passages therein;
- a second tray hold down member having an elongate portion for insertion into one of the passages in said second support coupling;
- and
- means for removably mounting the elongate portion of said second hold down member in the passage in said second support coupling to secure a second side of said tray frame to said support frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.