Abstract:
This invention is an apparatus for cooling a metal object that has been heated above the curing point, such that as the metal object cools, it retains its original shape.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Ser. No. 14/173,059 November, 2013 Hill 
     61/818,436 May, 2013 Hill 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC 
     Not Applicable 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is an apparatus for cooling a metal object that has been heated above the curing point such that as the metal object cools the metal object retains its original shape. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     When a metal object is heated above its curing temperature, the metal object deforms as it cools, losing its original shape and utility unless the metal object is contained within a mold or framework. Because of the problem of deformation, a metal object cannot be fabricated in a particular shape and later modified using heating techniques without the metal object becoming deformed. The press quench machine is designed to supply a framework for the metal object&#39;s shape such that when the preformed metal object is inserted into the framework, pressure is applied to the metal object. The metal object can then be submerged in a quenchant bath for a sufficient duration to allow the metal object to cool below the curing temperature. Because the framework places confining pressure on the metal object during the cooling process, the metal object does not deform and when the metal object is removed from the framework it will still possess the same shape it possessed prior to heating. 
     In U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/173,059 Hill teaches a metal coating method for the purpose of fusing an abrasion resistant and wear resistant coating onto a piece of metal. 
     In U.S. Patent Application 61/818,436 Hill teaches a wear coating and method of application to a flat agricultural disk. 
     In U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/0,073,349, Ko reveals a collection of hoses extending from the quenchant bath to the recirculation tank which includes the cooling unit, and then the hoses return to the quenchant bath on the opposite side of as those hoses that go to the recirculation tank. Ko further reveals a plurality of channels through the upper base plate and lower base plate through which coolant can flow by gravity. However, the present disclosure reveals a collection of hoses that extend from the recirculation tank to a plurality of nozzles that are attached to the pressure assembly, thus causing the coolant to be sprayed directly on the object to be cooled, thus making the present disclosure distinguishable from Ko. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A press quench machine designed with a pressure assembly with a plurality of stops and plurality of upper vertical die plates and a plurality lower vertical die plates. Said stops, upper vertical die plates and lower vertical die plates designed to form the structure of a metal object such that when the metal object is heated and then inserted into the pressure assembly, pressure is placed on the metal object to ensure that as the metal object cools it retains its original shape. The press quench machine further consists of a quenchant bath to facilitate the cooling of the heated metal object. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  is a display of the press quench machine, which comprises a pressure assembly, a quenchant bath and a recirculation tank; 
         FIG. 2  is a display of the pressure assembly, including the upper base plate, lower base plate, a plurality of upper vertical die plates extending downward from the upper base mount, a plurality of lower vertical die plates extending upward from the lower base plate, a plurality of stops, and a plurality of nozzles that spray quenchant onto the metal object; 
         FIG. 3A  displays the out of phase nature of the vertical die plate when the metal object is not flat; 
         FIG. 3B  is a display of the vertical die plates and stops associated with the shape of the metal object; and 
         FIG. 4  is a display of the recirculation tank, including heat exchanger. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The press quench machine  1  comprises a pressure assembly  2 , a quenchant bath  3  and a recirculation tank  4 . 
     The pressure assembly  2  is that portion of the press quench machine that holds and applies pressure to a metal object  5  and comprises a plurality of stops  6 , an upper base mount  7  with a plurality of upper vertical die plates  8  extending downward from the upper base mount  7 , a lower base mount  9  with a plurality of lower vertical die plates  10  extending upward from the lower base mount  9 . The plurality of stops  6  located around the upper base mount  7  and lower base mount  9  as indicated in  FIG. 1 , ensure that when the metal object  5  is inserted into the pressure assembly  2 , between the upper base mount  7  and the lower base mount  9 , the metal object  5  is properly oriented relative to the plurality of upper vertical die plates  8  and the plurality of lower vertical die plates  10 . The plurality of upper vertical die plates  8  extend downward from the upper base mount and the plurality of lower vertical die plates  10  extend upward from the lower base mount and the plurality of upper vertical die plates  8  and the plurality of lower vertical die plates  10  are designed so that the ends opposite the respective upper base mount and lower base mount form a framework that along with the plurality of stops  6 , create a framework that conforms to the original shape of the metal object  5  so that when the upper vertical dies plates  8  and lower vertical die plates  10  are pressed against the metal object  5  the combined upper vertical die plates  8 , lower vertical die plates  10  and plurality of stops  6  apply pressure to the metal object  5  so that as the metal object  5  is cooled, the metal object  5  retains its original shape. The height of the upper base mount  7  relative to the lower base mount  9  is adjustable so that when a metal object  5  is inserted between the upper base mount  7  and the lower base mount  9 , the upper base mount  7  can be lowered onto the metal object  5  to exert pressure on the metal object  5 . There is also a plurality of nozzles  14  attached to the pressure assembly  2 . 
     The height of the pressure assembly  2  is adjustable such that the pressure assembly  2  can be lowered into the quenchant bath  3 . The quenchant bath  3  is of sufficient size so that the quenchant bath  3  can be filled with sufficient quenchant to cool the metal object  5  held by the pressure assembly  2 , allow the pressure assembly  2  to be completely submerged during cooling, and does not allow the quenchant to overflow the quenchant bath  3 . 
     The recirculation tank  4  holds additional quenchant, comprises a heat exchanger  11 , is connected to the quenchant bath  3  by a plurality bath hoses  12  and the recirculation tank  4  is connected to the pressure assembly  2  by separate plurality of cooling hoses  13 . There is also a means of transferring the hot quenchant from the quenchant bath  3  to the recirculation tank  4  through the bath hoses  12  and a means of transferring cooled quenchant from the recirculation tank  4  to the nozzles of the pressure assembly  2  through the cooling hoses  13 . The bath hoses  12  from the quenchant bath  3  to the recirculation tank  4  transfers heated quenchant from the quenchant bath  3  to the recirculation tank  4 . The heat exchanger  11  within the recirculation tank then extracts excess heat from the heated quenchant. The cooled quenchant can then be transferred from the recirculation tank  4  through the cooling hoses  13  to the pressure assembly  2 . At the pressure assembly  2 , the cooling hoses are connected to a plurality of nozzles  14  that spray the cooled quenchant on the metal object  5  as the metal object  5  is being submerged and while the metal object  5  is being submerged and directing the spray evenly across the metal object while submerged such that the spray ensures the metal object  5  evenly cools. 
     In one preferred embodiment, the metal object is a flat circular disk so that the pressure assembly is set up so that the plurality of stops, upper vertical die plates and lower vertical die plates are set to accept, apply pressure to and ensure the retention of the original shape of said flat circular disk. 
     In a second preferred embodiment, the metal object is an undulating circular disk so that the pressure assembly is set up so that the plurality of stops, upper vertical die plates and lower vertical die plates are set to accept, apply pressure to and ensure the retention of the original shape of said undulating circular disk.