US 6,394,793 B1Granted

Method and apparatus of cooling heat-treated work pieces

AssigneeLadish Co.

InventorGene Bunge

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Abstract

A method and apparatus for cooling heat-treated metallic work pieces, particularly jet engine components that are normally round in shape, have a complex radial cross-section, and are subject to subsequent machining steps, includes a set of concentric air quench delivery tubes for directing a compressed air quench onto specified areas of the work piece for cooling. A first set of tubes is located above the work piece, and a second set of tubes is located below the work piece. The tubes include a multiplicity of bores around their circumference. The air quench tubes are placed in close proximity to the relatively thicker and more massive portion of the work piece, while the thinner and less massive portions are allowed to cool in normal ambient air, thereby cooling the entire part at a substantially uniform rate. Shields placed at specified locations blocks the flow of compressed air and redirect it away from the thin portions of the part.

Claims26

Dependent claims

An apparatus for cooling a heat-treated metallic work piece, said work piece being of a circular shape and thereby having a radial cross-section that is uniform about its entire circumference, said radial cross-section also being of a complex geometry including a first portion that is substantially thicker and more massive than a second portion that is relatively thinner and less massive, said apparatus comprising:

a. a fixture for supporting the work piece;
b. a source compressed cooling gas for quenching the work piece;
c. a set of tubes for delivering and directing the compressed cooling gas onto said work piece for cooling, said set of tubes including a first tube located on one side of the work piece and a second tube located on the other side of the work piece, each cooling gas delivery tube being circular in shape and located in close proximity to said first portion of the work piece that is substantially thicker and more massive, and each tube further comprising a multiplicity of bores aimed at the work piece so that said compressed cooling gas flows onto said first portion that is substantially thicker and more massive and away from said second portion that is relatively thinner and less massive.

A method of cooling a heat-treated metallic work piece, said work piece being of a circular shape and thereby having a radial cross-section that is uniform about its entire circumference, said radial cross-section also being of a complex geometry including a first portion that is substantially thicker and more massive than a second portion that is relatively thinner and less massive, said method comprising:

a. heating the work piece in a furnace to a predetermined temperature and for a predetermined time;
b. removing the work piece from the furnace and placing it onto a fixture for cooling;
c. providing a source compressed cooling for quenching the work piece;
d. placing a set of circular tubes in close proximity to the work piece, said step including locating at least one tube on one side of the work piece and further locating at least a second tube on the other side of the work piece, each tube being placed in close proximity to said first portion of the work piece that is substantially thicker and more massive, and each tube further comprising a multiplicity of bores aimed at said first portion of the work piece
e. initiating a flow of compressed cooling gas from the source through the tubes and through the bores so that the gas is directed onto the first portion of the work piece that is substantially thicker and more massive and away from the second portion that is relatively thinner and less massive.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/760,320Filed 13 Jan 2001
Granted: 28 May 2002
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

C21D 9/34
Heat treatment, e.g. annealing, hardening, quenching or tempering, adapted for particular articles; Furnaces therefor: for tyres; for rims
C21D 1/667
Quenching devices: for spray quenching
C21D 9/0068
Heat treatment, e.g. annealing, hardening, quenching or tempering, adapted for particular articles; Furnaces therefor: for particular articles not…
F27D 15/02
Handling or treating discharged material; Supports or receiving chambers therefor: cooling