Liquid quenching apparatus and method
AssigneeSeco/Warwick S.A.
InventorsRichard P. Roberts, Michael A. Schmidt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The liquid quenching system includes a method and apparatus for heat treating small parts discharged from a furnace. The apparatus includes a bearing and bearing support that provide cantilevered support to a rotary quenching drum. A rotatable joint that rotatably connects the rotary quenching drum to a transfer chute does not provide the majority of support for the rotary quenching drum. Accordingly, the rotatable joint can comprise no bearing at all or can be an inexpensive, easy to manufacture bearing or other juncture device. A protection member is connected to the output end of the transfer chute and protects the rotatable joint from damage from contact with metal parts that are being quenched.
Claims23
A quenching apparatus for quenching heated parts, comprising:
- a rotary quenching drum having an input end and an output end, the input end including a floor member;
- a quench chute connected to the rotary quenching drum for transporting heated parts to the rotary quenching drum;
- a rotatable joint inside the rotary quenching drum connecting the quench chute to the rotary quenching drum such that the rotary quenching drum is rotatable relative to the quench chute;
- and
- a protection member separate from the quench chute positioned over the rotatable joint to protect the rotatable joint from contact with the heated parts.
A quenching apparatus for quenching heated parts, comprising:
- a rotary quenching drum having an input end and an output end;
- a quench chute for delivering heated parts to the rotary quenching drum;
- a rotatable joint inside the rotary quenching drum for rotatably connecting the rotary quenching drum to the quench chute;
- and
- a protection means separate from the quench chute positioned over the rotatable joint for protecting the rotatable joint from contact with the heated parts.
A quenching apparatus for quenching heated parts, comprising:
- a rotary quenching drum having an input end and an output end;
- a quench chute for transporting the heated parts to the rotary quenching drum;
- a rotatable joint inside the rotary quenching drum connecting the quench chute to the input end of the rotary quenching drum such that the rotary quenching drum is rotatable relative to the quench chute;
- and
- bearing means located at the output end of the rotary quenching drum for supporting a majority of weight of the rotary quenching drum.
A method for quenching heated parts using a quenching apparatus that includes a rotary quenching drum having an inlet end and an outlet end and a rotatable joint inside the rotary quenching drum connected to a quench chute, the method comprising:
- drawing heated parts from a furnace to the rotary quenching drum using a quenchant fluid to provide the motive force;
- providing the rotary quenching drum with a protection member separate from the quench chute at the rotatable joint to protect the rotatable joint from contact with the heated parts;
- and
- removing the heated parts from the quenchant fluid and from an outlet end of the rotary quenching drum.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.