Induction heating apparatus, carriers, and methods for heat treating parts

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9394577-B2
Application number	US-201514726126-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 29, 2015
Priority date	May 27, 2014
Publication date	Jul 19, 2016
Grant date	Jul 19, 2016

Abstract

An apparatus includes rails for supporting sides of a circumferential peripheral edge of a carrier. A movable ram engages a rearward portion of the carrier. A movable restrainer restrains movement of the ram. A wheel engages a forward portion of the carrier. A controller is operable to control the movable restrainer to restrain movement of the ram with the carrier and at least one metal object disposed adjacent an induction heating device, the wheel to rotate the carrier and the metal object, the induction heating device to induction heat the rotating metal object, and the movable restrainer to disengage the ram so that the wheel pivots away to allow passage of the carrier and the heated metal object into a quench bath. A plurality of metal objects may be arranged in a circular array in the carrier about a diameter generally equal to the diameter of an induction coil.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for induction heating a plurality of metal objects, the method comprising:
providing a holder secured to the plurality of metal objects;
positioning the holder secured to the plurality of metal objects adjacent to an induction heating device;
rotating the holder secured to the plurality of metal objects adjacent to the induction heating device;
induction heating the rotating plurality of metal objects with the induction heating device so that the rotating plurality of metal objects move through an induction field for generally uniform heating of the plurality of metal objects; and
moving the holder secured to the plurality of heated metal objects into a quench bath.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the holder is operable for holding the plurality of metal objects arranged in a circular pattern.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the holder comprises a disc-shaped member having a peripheral edge portion having a peripheral edge.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the holder comprises a plurality of cutouts for receiving the plurality of metal objects.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the holder comprises a generally disc-shaped member comprising a plurality of cutouts for receiving the plurality of metal objects disposed in spaced apart relationship along a peripherally-extending portion of the disc-shaped member.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the plurality of cutouts is arranged in a circular pattern.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the holder comprising a retaining plate.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising a bolt extendable through a hole in the retaining plate.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the providing the holder comprises providing the holder secured to the plurality of metal objects so that the plurality of metal objects is arranged in a circular array.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the induction heating device comprises an induction coil having a diameter, and the plurality of metal objects is arranged in the circular array about a diameter generally equal to the diameter of the induction coil.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of metal objects comprises a plurality of keys for use with bearings.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the holder comprises a peripheral edge portion.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising supporting portions of the peripheral edge portion of the holder for movement of the supported holder secured to the plurality of metal objects adjacent to the induction heating device and into the quench bath.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the supporting comprises supporting portions of the peripheral edge portion of the holder in grooves.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the moving comprises ejecting under a force the holder secured to the plurality of heated metal objects into the quench bath.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the moving comprise ejecting under a force the holder secured to the plurality of heated metal objects into the quench bath at a rate faster than the holder secured to the plurality of heated metal objects falling by itself under the force of gravity.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising restraining under a force the holder secured to the plurality of metal objects adjacent to the induction heating device while rotating the plurality of heated metal objects, and releasing the restrained holder secured to the plurality of heated metal objects so that the force moves the holder secured to the plurality of heated metal objects into the quench bath.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the moving comprises deflecting the holder secured to the plurality of heated metal objects into the quench bath.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the moving comprises moving the holder a secured to the plurality of heated metal objects into the quench tank in about 0.1 second to about 0.2 second after induction heating the plurality of metal objects.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the induction heating comprises induction heating only surface portions of the plurality of metal objects.

21. A method for induction heating a plurality of metal objects, the method comprising:
simultaneously rotating a plurality of metal objects through an induction field to generally uniformly heat the plurality of metal objects; and
simultaneously moving the plurality of heated metal objects into a quench bath.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the simultaneously rotating comprises simultaneously rotating the plurality of metal objects in a circle through the induction field to generally uniformly heat the plurality of metal objects.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the plurality of metal objects is arranged in a circular array.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the simultaneously rotating the plurality of metal objects comprises simultaneously rotating the plurality of metal objects through the induction field resulting from an induction coil having a diameter, and the plurality of metal objects is arranged in the circular array about a diameter generally equal to the diameter of the induction coil.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein the plurality of metal objects comprises a plurality of keys for bearings.

26. The method of claim 21 wherein the simultaneously moving the plurality of heated metal objects comprises ejecting under a force the plurality of heated metal objects into the quench bath.

27. The method of claim 21 wherein the simultaneously moving the plurality of heated metal objects comprises ejecting under a force the plurality of heated metal objects into the quench bath at a rate faster than the plurality of heated metal objects falling by itself under the force of gravity.

28. The method of claim 21 wherein the simultaneously rotating the plurality of metal objects through the induction field comprises restraining under a force the plurality of metal objects in the induction field, and the simultaneously moving the plurality of heated metal objects into the quench bath comprises operably releasing the restrained plurality of heated metal objects so that the force moves the plurality of heated metal objects into the quench bath.

29. The method of claim 21 wherein the simultaneous moving the plurality of heated metal objects into the quench bath comprises deflecting the plurality of heated metal objects into the quench bath.

30. The method of claim 21 wherein the simultaneous moving the plurality of heated metal objects into the quench bath comprises simultaneous moving the plurality of heated metal objects into the quench bath in about 0.1 second to about 0.2 second after induction heating the plurality of metal objects.

31. The method of claim 21 wherein the simultaneously rotating the plurality of metal objects through the induction field comprises simultaneously moving the plurality of metal objects through the induction field to generally uniformly heat a surface portion of the plurality of metal objects.

32. A method for induction heating a plurality of metal objects, the method comprising:
simultaneously moving a plurality of metal objects through an induction field to generally uniformly heat the plurality of metal objects;
simultaneously moving the plurality of heated metal objects into a quench bath; and
wherein the simultaneously m

Assignees

• Temper Axle Products Corp

Inventors

• Rode John E
• Strait Sean E

Classifications

• C21D1/10

  by electric induction · CPC title

• C21D9/0068

  for particular articles not mentioned below · CPC title

• H05B6/14

  Tools, e.g. nozzles, rollers, calenders · CPC title

• H05B6/102

  the metal pieces being rotated while induction heated · CPC title

• C21D1/63

  for bath quenching · CPC title