Method and apparatus for providing a hard metal coating on confined areas of a metal part

Claim 2

Process for providing a hard metal alloy coating on restricted or confined surface portions of a metal part such as a valve seat, said process comprising in the order given the steps of: supporting the part with the portions thereof to be coated disposed substantially horizontally and facing upwardly; machining said surface portions of the metal part to be coated to predetermined condition and to include a groove therein opening upwardly; moving the supported metal part along a definite path through a plurality of treating stations; moving a powdered hard metal alloy coating material which is in solid state along a gravity path onto the portions of the metal part to be coated in a first station; moving the metal part and powdered alloy carried thereby into operative juxtaposition with an induction heating means in a second station; applying electric power to said induction heating means while said metal part and powdered alloy are in said second station, whereby the powdered alloy is heated sufficiently to form a molten mass; moving the metal part and molten alloy coating thereon through the free air to cool and solidify the molten alloy coating; and machining the solidified hard metal alloy coating thereby shaping said coating to predetermined dimensions and condition.

Claim 3

Process for forming a hard metal alloy coating on an end portion of a metal part, comprising in the order given the steps of: mounting the metal part with the end portion to be coated disposed generally horizontally and facing upwardly; conveying the mounted metal part along a definite path; machining the end portion of the mounted metal part to be coated to predetermined condition and to include a groove therein of closed path geometry and opening upwardly; rotating the metal part about a vertical axis; depositing a powdered hard metal coating alloy which is in solid state onto the metal part end portion while it is rotating and in covering relation to The groove formed therein; melting the powdered alloy while it rests on the metal part end portion; cooling the molten alloy until it solidifies into a hard metal coating on said metal part; and machining the solidified hard metal coating on said metal part to predetermined condition and dimensions.

Claim 4

Process for forming a hard metal alloy coating on an end portion of a metal part, comprising in the order given the steps of: mounting the metal part with the end portion to be coated disposed generally horizontally and facing upwardly; conveying the mounted metal part along a definite path; machining the end portion of the mounted metal part to be coated to predetermined condition and to include a groove therein of closed path geometry and opening upwardly; rotating the metal part about a vertical axis; depositing a powdered hard metal coating alloy which is in solid state onto the metal part end portion while it is rotating and in covering relation to The groove formed therein; melting the powdered alloy while it rests on the metal part end portion; cooling the molten alloy until it solidifies into a hard metal coating on said metal part; and machining the solidified hard metal coating on said metal part to predetermined condition and dimensions.

Claim 5

Apparatus for treating restricted or confined surface area portions of a metal workpiece such as a valve seat to provide a hard metal surface thereon, said apparatus comprising: a conveyor for indexingly moving the workpiece along a definite path; machining means located along a path of movement for forming the restricted to confined surface areas of the workpiece into a predetermined configuration including a groove therein opening upwardly; means for depositing in solid state a mass of metal powder harder than that of the workpiece onto the restricted or confined machined areas of the workpiece; means for raising the temperature of the powdered metal mass to at least its melting point; and second machining means located in spaced relation along the definite path from the temperature raising means for shaping the hard metal mass to a predetermined configuration after it has solidified.

Claim 6

Apparatus for treating restricted or confined surface area portions of a metal workpiece such as a valve seat to provide a hard metal surface thereon, said apparatus comprising: a conveyor for indexingly moving the workpiece along a definite path; machining means located along a path of movement for forming the restricted to confined surface areas of the workpiece into a predetermined configuration including a groove therein opening upwardly; means for depositing in solid state a mass of metal powder harder than that of the workpiece onto the restricted or confined machined areas of the workpiece; means for raising the temperature of the powdered metal mass to at least its melting point; and second machining means located in spaced relation along the definite path from the temperature raising means for shaping the hard metal mass to a predetermined configuration after it has solidified.

Claim 7

Apparatus as in claim 3, in which the temperature raising means includes an induction heating unit having an induction coil disposed immediately adjacent the workpiece and metallic mass thereon for inducing heating currents within the mass.

Claim 8

Apparatus as in claim 3, in which the means for depositing the mass of powdered metal includes a hopper for containing a supply of powdered metal alloy located above the path of movement of the workpiece, and selectively actuatable means connected to the hopper whereby, as the workpiece moves thereunder, actuation of said means provides a metered quantity of said alloy onto the select surface areas of the workpiece by gravity flow.

Claim 9

Process of providing the end portions of a generally cylindrical metal part with a hard metal alloy coating thereon, said process comprising in the order given the steps of: supporting the metal part with the end portions to be coated maintained in a substantially horizontal upwardly facing orientation; machining the end portions to predetermined condition and to include a groove therein opening upwardly; indexing the metal part along a generally circular path through a plurality of treating stations while maintaining the same general orientation of the metal part throughout; rotating said cylindrical metal part about its axis in a first station; metering a quantity of powdered hard metal alloy in solid state along a gravity path onto the end portions of the metal part while it is rotating, thereby substantially covering said end portions with said powder; induction heating the powdered alloy to raise the temperature thereof sufficiently to melt the alloy in a second station; air cooling the molten alloy until it solidifies as a hard metal coating on the metal part; and machining the solidified hard metal alloy coating to predetermined dimensions.

Claim 10

Process of providing the end portions of a generally cylindrical metal part with a hard metal alloy coating thereon, said process comprising in the order given the steps of: supporting the metal part with the end portions to be coated maintained in a substantially horizontal upwardly facing orientation; machining the end portions to predetermined condition and to include a groove therein opening upwardly; indexing the metal part along a generally circular path through a plurality of treating stations while maintaining the same general orientation of the metal part throughout; rotating said cylindrical metal part about its axis in a first station; metering a quantity of powdered hard metal alloy in solid state along a gravity path onto the end portions of the metal part while it is rotating, thereby substantially covering said end portions with said powder; induction heating the powdered alloy to raise the temperature thereof sufficiently to melt the alloy in a second station; air cooling the molten alloy until it solidifies as a hard metal coating on the metal part; and machining the solidified hard metal alloy coating to predetermined dimensions.

Claim 11

Apparatus for forming a hard metal alloy coating on a selected confined surface portion of a metal workpiece, said apparatus comprising: a table conveyor adapted for rotative motion; means selectively actuatable for rotatively indexing the conveyor in a first direction; support means on the upper surface of said conveyor for removably receiving the workpiece thereon and presenting the surface portion of the workpiece to be coated in a generally upwardly facing direction; machining means for forming the surface portion of the workpiece to a predetermined condition to include a groove therein opening upwardly; a source of supply of powdered hard metal alloy mounted adjacent the conveyor and including conduiting means with an exit opening immediately above the path along which the conveyor moves the workpiece; means for rotating the support and workPiece carried thereby while being conveyed adjacent the source of powdered metal alloy; means selectively actuatable for moving the powdered alloy from the source of supply through said conduiting means and out the exit opening thereof to deposit upon the portions of the workpiece to be coated; an induction heating coil disposed above the path of movement of said workpiece at such location that the workpiece and powdered alloy carried thereon will move immediately adjacent said coil; means interconnecting said coil with a source of alternating voltage and selectively actuatable to induce heating currents within the powdered alloy as it moves therepast, whereby the alloy is brought to a molten condition which upon solidification provides the desired hard metal alloy coating; and means for machining the solidified hard metal alloy coating.

Claim 12

Apparatus for forming a hard metal alloy coating on a selected confined surface portion of a metal workpiece, said apparatus comprising: a table conveyor adapted for rotative motion; means selectively actuatable for rotatively indexing the conveyor in a first direction; support means on the upper surface of said conveyor for removably receiving the workpiece thereon and presenting the surface portion of the workpiece to be coated in a generally upwardly facing direction; machining means for forming the surface portion of the workpiece to a predetermined condition to include a groove therein opening upwardly; a source of supply of powdered hard metal alloy mounted adjacent the conveyor and including conduiting means with an exit opening immediately above the path along which the conveyor moves the workpiece; means for rotating the support and workPiece carried thereby while being conveyed adjacent the source of powdered metal alloy; means selectively actuatable for moving the powdered alloy from the source of supply through said conduiting means and out the exit opening thereof to deposit upon the portions of the workpiece to be coated; an induction heating coil disposed above the path of movement of said workpiece at such location that the workpiece and powdered alloy carried thereon will move immediately adjacent said coil; means interconnecting said coil with a source of alternating voltage and selectively actuatable to induce heating currents within the powdered alloy as it moves therepast, whereby the alloy is brought to a molten condition which upon solidification provides the desired hard metal alloy coating; and means for machining the solidified hard metal alloy coating.