Hardening cell

Abstract

A cell for quenching a charge under an atmosphere of gas comprises a centrifugal or helicon-centrifugal impeller comprising a gas intake opening and gas discharge openings. The impeller is rotated by a motor to cause a flow of the gas between the charge and a heat exchanger. The quenching cell comprises first and second mobile half-volutes. In a first position, the first half-volute guides the gas discharged by a first part of the discharge openings and the second half-volute closes off a first portion of the intake opening. In a second position, the second half-volute guides the gas discharged by a second part, different from the first part, of the discharge openings and the first half-volute shuts off a second portion of the intake opening.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.