Patent ID: 6346213
Filing Date: 2002-02-12
Classification: B22F,C22C

Abstract:
Apparatus for producing sintered articles of powder metal comprising:(a) means for blending a mixture of Si carbide, lubricant and pre-alloyed iron based powder; (b) means for compacting said blended mixture to a shaped article; (c) ceramic tray means for carrying said shaped article; (d) means for preheating said shaped article to a temperature between 600Â° C. and 700Â° C.; (e) a furnace for sintering said preheated article at a sintering temperature between 1250Â° C. and 1350Â° C. in a reducing atmosphere; (f) means for transferring said sintered article to a transfer zone at approximately 980Â° C.; (g) a rapid cool chamber for receiving said sintered article from said transfer zone, said rapid cool chamber isolated from the atmosphere; (h) fan means associated with said rapid cool chamber for rapidly cooling said sintered article to approximately 300Â° C.; (i) means for removing said article from said ceramic tray means; (j) means to reheat said article to approximately 850Â° C. so as to slowly cool said article to room temperature.