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US3909575A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Chain link heat treating apparatus and method
Assignee: SG Taylor Chain Co Inc
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Filing: 1974-01-31
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Granted: 1975-09-30
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Expires: 1994-01-31
Abstract
Abstract A system for heat treating chain links including an apparatus and method adapted to heat links one at a time at a desired temperature and for a given duration. The system includes the provision of a pair of electrodes which include clamping means whereby a link can be held by the electrodes during the passage of current through the link. When the desired temperature has been held for a given length of time, the link is released by retraction of the electrodes. A quench tank is preferably located beneath the electrodes whereby a link will drop into the quench tank upon release. Temperature detecting means are preferably employed along with a timing mechanism so that the electrodes will automatically release a link for quenching when the temperature and time factors have been accomplished.
Inventors
- 👤 Earl K Phares
- 👤 Alfred H Lewis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 17:36
CPC Classifications
B; B21; B21L; B21L15/00; C; C21; C21D; C21D1/00; C21D1/34; C21D1/40; H; H05; H05B; H05B3/00; H05B3/0004; H05B3/0019; H05B3/0023
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
261 words
An apparatus for heat treating a single link which is connected in a chain made up of a plurality of chain links, comprising a pair of spaced apart electrodes, said electrodes defining clamp means for clamping a single chain link in position to span the gap between the electtodes with the body of the link being substantially centered relative to the electrodes and being confined thereby, means for supplying electrical power to the electrodes whereby current is passed through said body of the link for heating of the link, separate supports for the electrodes, means for driving at least one of the electrode supports relative to the other between a first position for clamping a chain link and a second position for releasing the chain link, including means for automatically detecting the temperature reached in a link during heat treating, said detecting means being positioned to observe a link held at approximately the center line between said electrodes when said supports are in said first position, said means for driving the supports including position control means whereby said center line is at the same location each time the supports are moved to the first position, means for controlling the magnitude and duration of the supplying of the electrical power to thereby determine the temperature and time of heat treatment, means operatively connected to said detecting means for releasing the link from between the electrodes when the heat treating time has expired, and quenching means for the link, said quenching means being located for receiving the link after release by the electrodes.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
261 words
An apparatus for heat treating a single link which is connected in a chain made up of a plurality of chain links, comprising a pair of spaced apart electrodes, said electrodes defining clamp means for clamping a single chain link in position to span the gap between the electtodes with the body of the link being substantially centered relative to the electrodes and being confined thereby, means for supplying electrical power to the electrodes whereby current is passed through said body of the link for heating of the link, separate supports for the electrodes, means for driving at least one of the electrode supports relative to the other between a first position for clamping a chain link and a second position for releasing the chain link, including means for automatically detecting the temperature reached in a link during heat treating, said detecting means being positioned to observe a link held at approximately the center line between said electrodes when said supports are in said first position, said means for driving the supports including position control means whereby said center line is at the same location each time the supports are moved to the first position, means for controlling the magnitude and duration of the supplying of the electrical power to thereby determine the temperature and time of heat treatment, means operatively connected to said detecting means for releasing the link from between the electrodes when the heat treating time has expired, and quenching means for the link, said quenching means being located for receiving the link after release by the electrodes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said quenching means comprises a quench tank positioned beneath said electrodes, said driving means moving the electrodes horizontally between said first and second positions, said link dropping vertically into the quench tank upon release by the electrodes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein the chain portions on opposite sides of the clamped link are suspeNded over the quench tank.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said clamp means comprises V-shaped clamp members attached to each electrode for engaging the opposite sides of a link, and including flexible conductive straps extending between each electrode and the electrical power supply whereby said electrodes can be moved and positioned for the clamping of chain links of different sizes while maintaining the connection between the electrodes and the power supply.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said clamp members are releasibly connected by fastening means to the electrodes to permit changing of the clamp members for accommodating links of different devices.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for driving comprises a piston connected to each support, and means for simultaneously extending and retracting the pistons during movement between the first and second positions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the means for releasing the link comprises means connected to said temperature detecting means for automatically unclamping a link when the desired temperature is reached and after the link is held at temperature for a desired period of time.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
207 words
An apparatus for heat treating chain links and the like comprising a pair of spaced apart electrodes, said electrodes including means for clamping a single chain link in position to span the gap between the electrodes, means for supplying electrical power to the electrodes, means for driving the electrodes between a first position for clamping a chain link and a second position for releasing the chain link, said driving means including a piston connected to each electrode, and means for simultaneously extending and retracting the pistons during the movement between the first and second positions, at least four linking arms, each having one end connected to a respective electrode, a reciprocating element, the other ends of said linking arms being connected to said reciprocating element, the combination of the reciprocating element and the linking arms tying the movement of the electrodes together, means for controlling the magnitude and duration of the supplying of the electrical power to thereby determine the temperature and time of heat treatment, means for operating said driving means for releasing the link from between the electrodes when the heat treating time has expired, and quenching means for the link, said quenching means being located for receiving the link after release by the electrodes.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
207 words
An apparatus for heat treating chain links and the like comprising a pair of spaced apart electrodes, said electrodes including means for clamping a single chain link in position to span the gap between the electrodes, means for supplying electrical power to the electrodes, means for driving the electrodes between a first position for clamping a chain link and a second position for releasing the chain link, said driving means including a piston connected to each electrode, and means for simultaneously extending and retracting the pistons during the movement between the first and second positions, at least four linking arms, each having one end connected to a respective electrode, a reciprocating element, the other ends of said linking arms being connected to said reciprocating element, the combination of the reciprocating element and the linking arms tying the movement of the electrodes together, means for controlling the magnitude and duration of the supplying of the electrical power to thereby determine the temperature and time of heat treatment, means for operating said driving means for releasing the link from between the electrodes when the heat treating time has expired, and quenching means for the link, said quenching means being located for receiving the link after release by the electrodes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 8 including a guide member extending vertically beneath and above said electrodes, said reciprocating member defining a bore receiving said guide member whereby the reciprocating element is moved up and down as the electrodes are moved to and from said second position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 9 including movable supports for said electrodes, stationary guide means positioned adjacent said movable support, and means carried by said movable supports received by said stationary guide means for controlling the position of said electrodes during movement thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
58 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 10 including a housing for said electrical supply, said stationary guide means being mounted on the front of said housing, and an opening defined by the housing receiving said electrode supports, and including flexible conductive strips attached at one end to said supports and at the other end to said power supply.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
209 words
A method for heat treating a chain link comprising the steps of providing a pair of spaced apart electrodes, inserting a single chain link between the electrodes, driving the electrodes toward the chain link to clamp the chain link therebetween, running a current through the chain link to heat the chain link to a predetermined temperature and for a predetermined time, providing means for automatically detecting the temperature reached in a chain link clamped between the electrodes, detecting the temperature by operating said last mentioned means, providing means for controlling the time at temperature, determining the elapse of a desired time by means of said control means, automatically retracting the electrodes when the desired time at temperature has been reached, and quenching the chain link by locating a quench tank beneath the electrodes whereby the chain link drops into the quench tank when the electrodes are retracted, reinserting said link between said electrodes and clamping the link between the electrodes, reapplying a current to reheat the chain link to a lower predetermined temperature for a predetermined time, said first mentioned temperature comprising a hardening temperature for the link material and said lower temperature comprising a drawing temperature for the material, and then again releasing said link from said electrodes.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
209 words
A method for heat treating a chain link comprising the steps of providing a pair of spaced apart electrodes, inserting a single chain link between the electrodes, driving the electrodes toward the chain link to clamp the chain link therebetween, running a current through the chain link to heat the chain link to a predetermined temperature and for a predetermined time, providing means for automatically detecting the temperature reached in a chain link clamped between the electrodes, detecting the temperature by operating said last mentioned means, providing means for controlling the time at temperature, determining the elapse of a desired time by means of said control means, automatically retracting the electrodes when the desired time at temperature has been reached, and quenching the chain link by locating a quench tank beneath the electrodes whereby the chain link drops into the quench tank when the electrodes are retracted, reinserting said link between said electrodes and clamping the link between the electrodes, reapplying a current to reheat the chain link to a lower predetermined temperature for a predetermined time, said first mentioned temperature comprising a hardening temperature for the link material and said lower temperature comprising a drawing temperature for the material, and then again releasing said link from said electrodes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein a length of chain is located beneath the electrodes with one link thereof being clamped between the electrodes, at least portions of the chain length being dropped into the quench tank along with the chain length being heat treated.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein said link is heated by a pulsating current passed through the link.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein a plurality of individual links are heat treated and are thereafter joined together to form a new sling chain.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for heat treating a chain link comprising the steps of providing a pair of spaced apart electrodes, inserting a single chain link between the electrodes, driving the electrodes toward the chain link to clamp the chain link therebetween, running a current through the chain link to heat the chain link to a predetermined temperature and for a predetermined time, providing means for automatically detecting the temperature reached in a chain link clamped between the electrodes, providing means for controlling the time at temperature, automatically retracting the electrodes when the desired time at temperature has been reached, and quenching the chain link by locating a quench tank beneath the electrodes whereby the chain link drops into the quench tank when the electrodes are retracted.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for heat treating a chain link comprising the steps of providing a pair of spaced apart electrodes, inserting a single chain link between the electrodes, driving the electrodes toward the chain link to clamp the chain link therebetween, running a current through the chain link to heat the chain link to a predetermined temperature and for a predetermined time, providing means for automatically detecting the temperature reached in a chain link clamped between the electrodes, providing means for controlling the time at temperature, automatically retracting the electrodes when the desired time at temperature has been reached, and quenching the chain link by locating a quench tank beneath the electrodes whereby the chain link drops into the quench tank when the electrodes are retracted.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
236 words
A method for heat treating a single link which is connected in a chain made up of a plurality of chain links, comprising the steps of providing a pair of spaced apart electrodes, said electrodes defining clamp means for holding a single chain link in the gap between the electrodes, the clamp means for the link including electrodes driveable between a first position for clamping the link and a second position for releasing the link, inserting a chain link between the electrodes, simultaneously driving the electrodes toward the chain link to clamp the chain link therebetween, the body of the link being thereby substantially centered relative to the electrodes and being confined thereby, controlling the movement of the electrodes whereby the center of each link treated is always on a line between and equidistant from each electrode when in said first position, running a current through the link to heat the link to a predetermined temperature and for a predetermined time, providing means for automatically detecting the temperature reached in the link during heat treating, positioning said detecting means to observe the link at said substantially centered position, controlled the time at temperature, retracting said electrodes when the desired time at temperature has been reached, locating a quench tank beneath the electrodes, and quenching the link by allowing it to drop into the quench tank when the electrodes are retracted and moved to said second position.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
236 words
A method for heat treating a single link which is connected in a chain made up of a plurality of chain links, comprising the steps of providing a pair of spaced apart electrodes, said electrodes defining clamp means for holding a single chain link in the gap between the electrodes, the clamp means for the link including electrodes driveable between a first position for clamping the link and a second position for releasing the link, inserting a chain link between the electrodes, simultaneously driving the electrodes toward the chain link to clamp the chain link therebetween, the body of the link being thereby substantially centered relative to the electrodes and being confined thereby, controlling the movement of the electrodes whereby the center of each link treated is always on a line between and equidistant from each electrode when in said first position, running a current through the link to heat the link to a predetermined temperature and for a predetermined time, providing means for automatically detecting the temperature reached in the link during heat treating, positioning said detecting means to observe the link at said substantially centered position, controlled the time at temperature, retracting said electrodes when the desired time at temperature has been reached, locating a quench tank beneath the electrodes, and quenching the link by allowing it to drop into the quench tank when the electrodes are retracted and moved to said second position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-29 | 1979-03-31 | 1979-09-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-29 | 1983-03-31 | 1983-09-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-29 | 1987-03-31 | 1987-09-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |