US 5,868,871 A · Method and apparatus for carburizing, quenching and tempering

Abstract

Method and apparatus for carburizing, quenching and tempering workpieces, by which the step of carburizing can be incorporated into a machining and manufacturing process to be performed by an on-line machining and manufacturing system as one stage thereof, and by which high-quality treatment or processing can be achieved without occurrences of variation in quality among heat-treated products. In this apparatus, a preheating chamber (2), six carburizing chambers (5a to 5f), a cooling chamber (6), a reheating chamber (7), a quenching chamber (8) are placed around an intermediate chamber (4) having a transport device (12). Further, a high-frequency induction heating technique is used for heating each of major ones of the treatment or processing chambers. Moreover, a plasma carburizing method is performed in the carburizing chambers. Furthermore, workpieces, which are successively carried into this apparatus through a machining and manufacturing line, are assigned and distributed to the chambers, respectively, and are then treated or processed therein. Thus, the process of carburizing, quenching and tempering can be performed without stagnation.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A method of carburizing, quenching and tempering workpieces, comprising:

a preheating step of preheating a workpiece, which is to be treated, to a carburizing temperature;
a carburizing step of carburizing said workpiece at the carburizing temperature after preheating said workpiece;
a quenching step of quenching said workpiece after carburizing said workpiece;
and
a tempering step for tempering said workpiece after quenching said workpiece,
wherein said workpieces are supplied onto a machining and manufacturing line for machining and manufacturing a product, and wherein each of said steps is performed in accordance with a supplying speed, at which said workpieces are supplied onto said machining and manufacturing line, in such a manner that a flow of said workpieces on said machining and manufacturing line is substantially prevented from being stopped.

3 more elements

An apparatus for carburizing, quenching and tempering workpieces, comprising:

one or more preheating devices each for preheating a workpiece to a carburizing temperature;
one or more carburizing devices each for carburizing the workpiece at the carburizing temperature after preheating the workpieces;
one or more quenching devices each for quenching the workpiece after carburizing the workpiece;
one or more tempering devices each for tempering the workpiece after quenching the workpiece;
and
one or more transport devices each for performing an operation of setting one workpiece or a set of two workpieces or more as a unit of treatment, for carrying the workpieces into each of said devices and for performing an operation of carrying out the workpieces therefrom, said apparatus for carburizing, quenching and tempering workpieces being placed in a machining and manufacturing line for machining and manufacturing products,
wherein each of a set of said preheating devices, a set of said carburizing devices, a set of said quenching devices and a set of said tempering devices, has said corresponding devices of the number, which are necessary for performing a corresponding one of said steps substantially without stopping a flow of the workpieces on a machining and manufacturing line, correspondingly to a time period, which is necessary for performing the corresponding one of said steps, and
wherein a distributing unit for distributing workpieces, which are sequentially supplied in the units of treatment from a preceding step, is provided corresponding to each of said corresponding devices so that the workpieces are sequentially supplied to such devices, respectively.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for carburizing, quenching and tempering

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for carburizing, quenching and tempering

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15