Patent US3792844A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3792844A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Quenching method and apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-05-31
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Granted: 1974-02-19
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Expires: 1992-05-31
Abstract
Abstract A continuous ''''furnace in-line'''' method of quenching steel articles wherein they are carried through a confined body of quenching fluid, such as water, and restrained during the movement therethrough to prevent warping, distortion and bending. Individual segments or portions of the metal articles are successively subjected to the quenching medium and it is possible, through the use of a quench fixture having a poweredroller bed, with an inlet having flapper-like elements normally closed to confine the quenching fluid, to introduce successive portions of the metal article into the quenching fluid in the completely submerged state. Fluid supply pipes running longitudinally of the axis of the quench fixture, positioned above and below the metal article being carried therethrough, provide means whereby the body of quenching fluid is maintained in an agitated state. Pressure differentials of the quenching medium emanating from the upper and lower conduits also provide means of controlling quench characteristics of the metal articles being treated.
Inventors
- 👤 G Berry
- 👤 B Guillan
- 👤 H Lang
- 👤 K Brieschke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 09:35
CPC Classifications
C; C21; C21D; C21D1/00; C21D1/62; C21D1/667
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
274 words
Quenching apparatus for quenching metal articles, comprising a substantially horizontally disposed container with a body of quench fluid therein, said container having opposite side walls, opposite end walls and a bottom confining said body of quench fluid and defining a treating zone, one of said end walls having an inlet opening therein for introduction of an article therethrough and into the container, the other of said end walls having an outlet opening therein through which said article is removed from said container, means for maintaining a predetermined level of quench fluid in the container, a plurality of longitudinally spaced, laterally extending, upper and lower article engaging rollers in said container below the level of quench fluid therein for engaging an article on the top and bottom thereof, respectively, and supporting and continuously moving the article through the container and quench fluid to thus continuously submerge successive segments of said article in the quench fluid, a plurality of separate, laterally spaced, longitudinally extending, upper and lower quench fluid spray means in said container above and below the article, respectively, for spraying quench fluid against upper and lower surfaces of said article along the length of the article to agitate the quench fluid in the container and thus insure proper quenching of the article, said article thus having a plurality of contiguous, relatively treated and untreated segments at the point of introduction of the article into the container, and valve means on said one end wall of the container at the inlet opening therethrough to substantially preclude loss of quench fluid through the inlet opening and yet enable movement of the article through the inlet opening.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
274 words
Quenching apparatus for quenching metal articles, comprising a substantially horizontally disposed container with a body of quench fluid therein, said container having opposite side walls, opposite end walls and a bottom confining said body of quench fluid and defining a treating zone, one of said end walls having an inlet opening therein for introduction of an article therethrough and into the container, the other of said end walls having an outlet opening therein through which said article is removed from said container, means for maintaining a predetermined level of quench fluid in the container, a plurality of longitudinally spaced, laterally extending, upper and lower article engaging rollers in said container below the level of quench fluid therein for engaging an article on the top and bottom thereof, respectively, and supporting and continuously moving the article through the container and quench fluid to thus continuously submerge successive segments of said article in the quench fluid, a plurality of separate, laterally spaced, longitudinally extending, upper and lower quench fluid spray means in said container above and below the article, respectively, for spraying quench fluid against upper and lower surfaces of said article along the length of the article to agitate the quench fluid in the container and thus insure proper quenching of the article, said article thus having a plurality of contiguous, relatively treated and untreated segments at the point of introduction of the article into the container, and valve means on said one end wall of the container at the inlet opening therethrough to substantially preclude loss of quench fluid through the inlet opening and yet enable movement of the article through the inlet opening.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the other of said end walls comprises a vertically adjustable weir to maintain a predetermined level of quench fluid in said treating zone.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein means is connected with said conduit means to obtain pressure differentials of the quenching fluid emanating from the upper and lower conduits to control quench characteristics of the article being treated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein said conduit means are apertured on the side thereof adjacent the article being treated for spraying quench fluid on the article, said apertures inclined with their outlets toward the direction of travel of said article so that quench fluid is sprayed angularly onto the article in the direction of travel of the article.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said rollers include a plurality of lower, powerdriven rollers at the approximate level of the hearth of a heating furnace, each having a plurality of spacer means for keeping a plurality of separate, longitudinally extending articles to be treated in separated, aligned fashion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said valve means comprises a plurality of flapper-like elements pivotally supported on support members spanning said treating zone and secured to said side walls, said flapper-like elements positioned in said inlet opening.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein fluid pressure of said quenching fluid in said treating zone maintains said inlet valve means in the closed position thereby inhibiting the loss of fluid therefrom, and the introduction of metal articles to be treated opens at least a portion thereof to allow passage of articles thereinto.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein said separate spray means each comprises a conduit means supported above and below the conveying path of said articles and extending longitudinally of said treating zone.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein said conduit means comprises a plurality of laterally spaced pipes, at least the upper plurality of which are located above said rollers and are adjustably supported from said end walls in a vertically adjustable manner with respect to said lower rollers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein the upper rollers are vertically adjustable and are positioned in vertical alignment with points intermediate said lower rollers along the path of said articles in said treating zone.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 10, which additionally includes a reservoir means below said container in surrounding relationship thereto and adapted to hold a large volume of quenching fluid, and means for supplying quenching fluid to said treating zone, comprising suction pumps operatively connected with said reservoir means for pumping quenching fluid therefrom and discharging into said conduit means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-18 | 1977-08-20 | 1978-02-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-18 | 1981-08-20 | 1982-02-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-18 | 1985-08-20 | 1986-02-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |