Apparatus for inductively heating and quench hardening surfaces on a crankshaft

Claim 1

An apparatus for inductively heating and quench hardening bearing surfaces on a crankshaft having a central axis, said apparatus comprising: a conveyor means for conveying a crankshaft along a given longitudinal path, said conveyor means including a crankshaft supporting means for supporting said crankshaft with said central axis extending along said path, and means for stopping said supporting means at a selected location; a carriage pivotally mounted at said selected location about a carriage axis generally parallel to and offset laterally from said longitudinal path, said carriage comprising locating means for locating a crankshaft for rotation about its central axis on a work axis generally parallel to said path and means for rotating said crankshaft in said locating means about said work axis; means for selectively pivoting said carriage about said carriage axis between a first angular position with said work axis of said carriage generally coinciding with said path, a second angular position, and a third angular position below said second position; means on said carriage for selectively gripping a crankshaft in said one nest means by said locating means when said carriage is in said first angular position; means for inductively heating at least one of said bearing surfaces when said carriage moves a crankshaft into said second angular position; and, means for quench hardening at leasT said one surface when said carriage moves a heated crankshaft into said third angular position.

Claim 2

An apparatus for inductively heating and quench hardening bearing surfaces on a crankshaft having a central axis, said apparatus comprising: a conveyor means for conveying a crankshaft along a given longitudinal path, said conveyor means including a crankshaft supporting means for supporting said crankshaft with said central axis extending along said path, and means for stopping said supporting means at a selected location; a carriage pivotally mounted at said selected location about a carriage axis generally parallel to and offset laterally from said longitudinal path, said carriage comprising locating means for locating a crankshaft for rotation about its central axis on a work axis generally parallel to said path and means for rotating said crankshaft in said locating means about said work axis; means for selectively pivoting said carriage about said carriage axis between a first angular position with said work axis of said carriage generally coinciding with said path, a second angular position, and a third angular position below said second position; means on said carriage for selectively gripping a crankshaft in said one nest means by said locating means when said carriage is in said first angular position; means for inductively heating at least one of said bearing surfaces when said carriage moves a crankshaft into said second angular position; and, means for quench hardening at leasT said one surface when said carriage moves a heated crankshaft into said third angular position.

Claim 3

An apparatus for inductively heating and quench hardening bearing surfaces on a crankshaft having a central axis, said apparatus comprising: a conveyor means for conveying a crankshaft along a given longitudinal path, said conveyor means including a crankshaft supporting means for supporting said crankshaft with said central axis extending along said path, and means for stopping said supporting means at a selected location; a carriage pivotally mounted at said selected location about a carriage axis generally parallel to and offset laterally from said longitudinal path, said carriage comprising locating means for locating a crankshaft for rotation about its central axis on a work axis generally parallel to said path and means for rotating said crankshaft in said locating means about said work axis; means for selectively pivoting said carriage about said carriage axis between a first angular position with said work axis of said carriage generally coinciding with said path, a second angular position, and a third angular position below said second position; means on said carriage for selectively gripping a crankshaft in said one nest means by said locating means when said carriage is in said first angular position; means for inductively heating at least one of said bearing surfaces when said carriage moves a crankshaft into said second angular position; and, means for quench hardening at leasT said one surface when said carriage moves a heated crankshaft into said third angular position.

Claim 4

An apparatus for inductively heating and quench hardening bearing surfaces on a crankshaft having a central axis, said apparatus comprising: a conveyor means for conveying a crankshaft along a given longitudinal path, said conveyor means including a crankshaft supporting means for supporting said crankshaft with said central axis extending along said path, and means for stopping said supporting means at a selected location; a carriage pivotally mounted at said selected location about a carriage axis generally parallel to and offset laterally from said longitudinal path, said carriage comprising locating means for locating a crankshaft for rotation about its central axis on a work axis generally parallel to said path and means for rotating said crankshaft in said locating means about said work axis; means for selectively pivoting said carriage about said carriage axis between a first angular position with said work axis of said carriage generally coinciding with said path, a second angular position, and a third angular position below said second position; means on said carriage for selectively gripping a crankshaft in said one nest means by said locating means when said carriage is in said first angular position; means for inductively heating at least one of said bearing surfaces when said carriage moves a crankshaft into said second angular position; and, means for quench hardening at leasT said one surface when said carriage moves a heated crankshaft into said third angular position.

Claim 7

An apparatus for inductively heating and quench hardening bearing surfaces on a crankshaft having a central axis, said apparatus comprising: a shuttle extending along a given longitudinal path and having longitudinally spaced crankshaft receiving nest means for supporting a crankshaft with said central axis extending along said path; means for selectively moving said shuttle between at least first and second locations, said first location being with a first nest means at a first position, a second nest means at a second position and a third nest means at a third position, the second location being with said first nest means at said second position, said second nest means at said third position and said third nest means at a fourth position; a first carriage adjacent said second position and a second carriage adjacent said third position; each of said carriages being pivotally mounted about a carriage axis generally parallel to and offset laterally from said longitudinal path, said carriages each comprising means for supporting a crankshaft for rotation about its central axis on a work axis generally parallel to said path and means for rotating said crankshaft in said supporting means about said work axis; means for selectively pivoting each of said carriages about said carriage axis between a first angular position with said work axis of said carriage generally coinciding with said path, a second angular position, and a third angular position below said second position; means oN said carriage for selectively gripping a crankshaft in one of said nest means in said support means when said carriage is in said first angular position; means adjacent each of said second and third positions for inductively heating at least one of said bearing surfaces when said carriage moves a crankshaft into said second angular position; means adjacent each of said second and third positions for quench hardening at least said one surface when said carriage moves a heated crankshaft into said third angular position, means for loading a crankshaft onto said first nest means at said first position; and, means for unloading a crankshaft from said third nest means at said fourth position.

Claim 8

An apparatus for inductively heating and quench hardening bearing surfaces on a crankshaft having a central axis, said apparatus comprising: a shuttle extending along a given longitudinal path and having longitudinally spaced crankshaft receiving nest means for supporting a crankshaft with said central axis extending along said path; means for selectively moving said shuttle between at least first and second locations, said first location being with a first nest means at a first position, a second nest means at a second position and a third nest means at a third position, the second location being with said first nest means at said second position, said second nest means at said third position and said third nest means at a fourth position; a first carriage adjacent said second position and a second carriage adjacent said third position; each of said carriages being pivotally mounted about a carriage axis generally parallel to and offset laterally from said longitudinal path, said carriages each comprising means for supporting a crankshaft for rotation about its central axis on a work axis generally parallel to said path and means for rotating said crankshaft in said supporting means about said work axis; means for selectively pivoting each of said carriages about said carriage axis between a first angular position with said work axis of said carriage generally coinciding with said path, a second angular position, and a third angular position below said second position; means oN said carriage for selectively gripping a crankshaft in one of said nest means in said support means when said carriage is in said first angular position; means adjacent each of said second and third positions for inductively heating at least one of said bearing surfaces when said carriage moves a crankshaft into said second angular position; means adjacent each of said second and third positions for quench hardening at least said one surface when said carriage moves a heated crankshaft into said third angular position, means for loading a crankshaft onto said first nest means at said first position; and, means for unloading a crankshaft from said third nest means at said fourth position.

Claim 9

An apparatus for inductively heating and quench hardening bearing surfaces on a crankshaft having a central axis, said apparatus comprising: a conveying means for conveying said crankshafts along a given longitudinal path and having first and second longitudinally spaced crankshaft receiving nest means for supporting a crankshaft with said central axis extending along a loading axis generally parallel to said path; a carriage means selectively pivoted on a carriage axis generally parallel to said path and between a load/unload position, an induction heating position and a quench hardening position; said carriage including means for supporting a crankshaft for rotation about its central axis on a work axis of said carriage; means for causing said work axis to generally coincide with said loading axis when said carriage is pivoted into said load/unload position; means for releasably holding a crankshaft on said carriage with its central axis coinciding with said work axis; means for positioning said first nest means adjacent said carriage with a crankshaft therein for loading onto said carriage; and, means positioning said second nest means adjacent said carriage for unloading a crankshaft from said carriage by releasing said holding means.

Claim 10

An apparatus for inductively heating and quench hardening bearing surfaces on a crankshaft having a central axis, said apparatus comprising: a conveying means for conveying said crankshafts along a given longitudinal path and having first and second longitudinally spaced crankshaft receiving nest means for supporting a crankshaft with said central axis extending along a loading axis generally parallel to said path; a carriage means selectively pivoted on a carriage axis generally parallel to said path and between a load/unload position, an induction heating position and a quench hardening position; said carriage including means for supporting a crankshaft for rotation about its central axis on a work axis of said carriage; means for causing said work axis to generally coincide with said loading axis when said carriage is pivoted into said load/unload position; means for releasably holding a crankshaft on said carriage with its central axis coinciding with said work axis; means for positioning said first nest means adjacent said carriage with a crankshaft therein for loading onto said carriage; and, means positioning said second nest means adjacent said carriage for unloading a crankshaft from said carriage by releasing said holding means.