MULTI-CHAMBER-TYPE HEATER HAVING A DOOR MOVEMENT PART

A multi-chamber type heating unit to heat a blank includes: a lower housing unit; an intermediate housing unit installed in an upper portion of the lower housing unit; and an upper housing unit installed in an upper portion of the intermediate housing unit. A plurality of intermediate housings are stacked to form the intermediate housing unit, and a heating unit to heat a blank is installed in each of the intermediate housings. Moreover, the intermediate housings are formed in the shape in which upper and lower portions thereof are opened, and an opening is formed in the front for a door to be inserted thereinto, and door sealing units provided on the intermediate housing portion and provided to seal the door when the door is closed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a multi-chamber-type heater having a door movement part, and more particularly, a multi-chamber-type heater having a door movement part for allowing blanks made of a metallic material to be stacked in multi stages and heated.

BACKGROUND ART

Hot stamping is a method for increasing the strength of a metallic material by the quenching effect of heating a cold-rolled steel sheet, as an example of metallic material, at high temperatures by a heater, press-forming the heated metallic material, and then rapidly cooling the same in a mold.

This method can increase the strength of a metallic material while enhancing the formability to thus be used in the manufacture of automobile parts, for example, an impact beam, a center pillar, and the like.

A heater used in such a hot-stamping process includes an inline system for various processes such as the supply, cutting, heating, molding, and cooling of a steel sheet made of a metallic material, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,564,604.

Thus, a hot-stamping line for manufacturing automobile parts occupy much installation space.

Further, since the heater needs to heat steel sheet blanks having been cut at high temperatures for several minutes, the heating process of the heater turns to a bottleneck process by which dead time occurs in the hot-stamping line.

RELATED ART DOCUMENT

Patent Document

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Technical Problem

The present invention provides a multi-chamber-type heater having a door movement part capable of efficiently performing a heating process for a blank while occupying less installation space.

Technical Solution

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, A multi-chamber-type heater having a door movement part includes: a housing part; and a door movement part for moving a door installed at the housing part, wherein the housing part comprises: a lower housing part; an intermediate housing part installed on the lower housing part; an upper housing part installed on the intermediate housing part, wherein the intermediate housing part is formed by stacking a plurality of intermediate housings each having a heating part for heating a blank, which is installed therein, each of the intermediate housings has a shape having the opened top and bottom and comprises an opening, through which a door is inserted, defined at a front side thereof, and the door movement part moves the door in a height direction and a longitudinal direction.

The door movement part comprises: a column extending in the height direction; an arm movement part comprising a height directional movement part installed on the column to move the door in the height direction with respect to the column and a longitudinal directional movement part coupled to the height directional movement part to move the door in the longitudinal direction; and an arm part installed on the arm movement part and coupled to and separated from the door.

The height directional movement part comprises a first driving motor and a slider driven by the first driving motor to slide in the height direction along a rail disposed on the column.

The longitudinal directional movement part comprises a second driving motor and a rail driven by the second driving motor to slide in the longitudinal direction with respect to the slider.

The arm portion may include: an arm provided on the arm moving portion; a second actuator fixed to the arm and operated in the lateral direction, and a fastening portion fixed to an end portion of the second actuator and having locking grooves with an open shape corresponding to the locking portions formed on the door.

The respective locking grooves of the fastening portion of the door moving unit may be formed to be open toward the outside of the housing unit.

The door movement part is separated from the housing part at both sides of the housing part.

The door sealing units may each include: a first actuator having one end rotatably fixed to the intermediate housing portion; and a link portion provided on the other end of the first actuator, and the link portion may have one end rotatably provided at a position adjacent to that of the door support portion of the intermediate housing portion and the other end rotatably provided on an end portion of the first actuator such that the link portion applies pressure to the door to seal the door by the operation of the first actuator.

The plurality of intermediate housings may be formed to be separable and mountable with each other in a height direction thereof.

The perimeter of the intermediate housing may have flanges such that the intermediate housings stacked in height direction are formed to be attachable and detachable from each other.

The door support portion for supporting the door may be formed on the perimeter of the opening portion formed in the front of the intermediate housing, the door support portion may be formed in a hollow shape, and the door support portion may have an inlet port and an outlet port through which a coolant is flowed and discharged.

The door may include: a sealing portion inserted into the door support portion; a front plate provided on the front of the sealing portion and formed to have a width greater than that of the sealing portion in a lateral direction thereof; and locking portions formed on the front plate.

The heating units may each include a heat transfer portion for emitting heat and a heat source portion provided on the heat transfer portion and may be laterally disposed on supports provided on the intermediate housing in the lateral direction.

The heat transfer portion may include a flat plate portion and blank support portions formed on an upper portion of the flat plate portion, and the blank support portions may be formed as a plurality of protrusion portions formed on the flat plate portion to be distanced from each other in the lateral direction.

The heat source portion may include: a metal hot wire disposed on a bottom surface of the flat plate portion; and hot wire support portions fixed to the flat plate portion to fix the metal hot wire.

The heating units may be disposed in a plurality of columns in a longitudinal direction thereof, and gaps between the plurality of protrusion portions forming the blank support portions may be provided to correspond to each other in the longitudinal direction of the housing unit.

The heat source portions of the heating units arranged in the longitudinal direction may be respectively and individually controlled in temperature by a control unit.

The heat source portion may not be provided in a portion, most adjacent to the door, of the heating units arranged in the longitudinal direction.

A temperature measurement part may be provided between the plurality of protrusion portions of the blank support portions in the longitudinal direction of the housing unit, and the temperature measurement part may be disposed below the blanks at positions at which the blanks are stacked.

Advantageous Effects

The present invention has an advantage that heating processes time for a plurality of blanks can be reduced while occupying less installation space.

Since an intermediate housing unit is formed by stacking a plurality of intermediate housings, the present invention is beneficial to installation and maintenance and repair work.

Further, the overall heat transfer efficiency may be improved by heating blanks by heating units provided immediately below the blanks and by an electric heater having a large surface area.

The internal temperature of a heating unit may be maintained to be suitable for heating the blanks by respectively and individually controlling the temperatures of the plurality of heating units arranged in the longitudinal direction.

Meanwhile, only a simple device configuration allows for sealing and unsealing of a door and moving of the door.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.FIG. 1is a perspective view of a multi-chamber type heating unit in accordance with the present invention.

A multi-chamber type heating unit10, according to the present invention, includes a housing unit100, heating units200provided inside the housing unit100, door sealing units300on the housing unit100, and door moving units400formed on the perimeter of the housing unit100.

FIG. 2is an exploded perspective view of a housing unit in the multi-chamber type heating unit in accordance with the present invention.

The housing unit100has a lower housing portion110, an intermediate housing portion120provided on an upper portion of the lower housing portion110, and an upper housing portion130provided on an upper portion of the intermediate housing portion120.

The lower housing portion110has an approximately open upper portion and has a quadrangular box shape in the present embodiment.

The lower housing portion110includes a lower frame portion111made of a metallic material and a lower insulation wall portion112formed on the inner perimeter of the lower frame portion111and on a bottom surface and side surfaces of the lower frame portion111.

An upper portion of the lower housing portion110has a door support portion150having a bar shape, the door support portion150has a hollow formed therein, and one end of the door support portion150has an inlet port150afor allowing a coolant to be flowed therethrough and an outlet port150bfor allowing the coolant to be discharged therethrough.

It is preferable that the intermediate housing portion120is formed by stacking a plurality of intermediate housings120-1.

The reason is that when outer portions of the intermediate housing portion120are formed into one and only the interior thereof is formed as the plurality of intermediate housings, the intermediate housing portion120is not easy to produce and beneficial to repair work when a problem occurs in a specific intermediate housing thereof.

Each of the intermediate housings120-1has open upper and lower portions and has a quadrangular box shape on the perimeter thereof in the present embodiment.

The intermediate housing120-1includes an intermediate frame portion121made of a metallic material and an intermediate insulation wall portion122formed on the inner perimeter of the intermediate frame portion121.

The front of the intermediate frame portion121has an opening portion121a, and the perimeter of the opening portion121ahas another door support portion150of which the front is open to support a door140.

The door support portion150is made of the metallic material and the interior thereof is empty. The door support portion150is formed to be cooled by the coolant flowed through the inlet port150aprovided in one end of the door support portion150and discharged through the outlet port150bprovided in the other end of the door support portion150.

Meanwhile, the upper and lower perimeters of the intermediate frame portion121each have a flange f such that the plurality of intermediate housings120-1are easily connected to each other.

Support grooves122afor supporting the heating units200are formed on upper ends of the intermediate insulation wall portion122provided on both sides of the intermediate frame portion121.

The door140includes a sealing portion141inserted into the opening portion121a, a front plate142provided on the front of the sealing portion141and having a width greater than that of the sealing portion141in a lateral direction thereof, and locking portions143formed on the front plate142.

The upper housing portion130is formed in a shape similar to that of the lower housing portion110.

The upper housing portion130is formed in a quadrangular box shape having an approximately open lower portion.

The upper housing portion130includes an upper frame portion131made of a metallic material and an upper insulation wall portion132formed on the inner perimeter of the upper frame portion131and on a top surface and side surfaces of the upper frame portion131.

The upper housing portion130also has another door support portion150formed on the perimeter of an opening portion131athereof, the door support portion150has a hollow formed therein, and one end of the door support portion150has an inlet port150afor allowing the coolant to be flowed therethrough and an outlet port150bfor allowing the coolant to be discharged therethrough.

FIG. 3is a view illustrating a heating unit in the multi-chamber type heating unit in accordance with the present invention.FIG. 4illustrates a state in which the heating unit is provided in the housing unit in the multi-chamber type heating unit in accordance with the present invention.

The heating units200each include an heat transfer portion210for emitting heat and a heat source portion220provided on the heat transfer portion210.

The heat transfer portion210includes a flat plate portion211and blank support portions212extending upward from the flat plate portion211.

The blank support portions212are formed as a plurality of protrusion portions formed on the flat plate portion to be distanced from each other in the lateral direction.

Gaps between the blank support portions212are formed to be smaller than the lateral size of each of blanks b, but greater than the outer diameter of each of working pins p for inserting the blank b into a chamber and removing the same therefrom.

Supports123are provided on the support grooves122aformed on the intermediate insulation wall portion122in the lateral direction, and the supports123have the heat transfer portions210provided thereon.

The heat transfer portion210is provided as one or a plurality of heat transfer portions210arranged in the lateral direction of the intermediate frame portion121.

Further, the heat transfer portions210may be provided in a plurality of columns in a longitudinal direction thereof. At this time, the gaps between the protrusion portions212correspond to each other in the longitudinal direction of the housing unit100.

The heat source portion220includes a metal hot wire221connected to a control unit500and hot wire support portions222for fixing the metal hot wire221to the flat plate portion211.

In the present invention, the metal hot wire221is disposed immediately below a bottom surface of the flat plate portion211of the heat transfer portion210in the lateral direction, and the metal hot wire221is formed to be included in the area of the flat plate portion211as much as possible by being formed in a folded shape without being arranged in a straight line.

In the present embodiment, the heat transfer portion210is formed as a plurality of heat transfer portions in the lateral direction, and the heat source portion220is provided to connect in the lateral direction of the heat transfer portion210.

Meanwhile, in the present embodiment, the heat transfer portions210are provided in the plurality of columns in the longitudinal direction, and the heat source portion220may not be provided on a portion, most adjacent to the door140, of the heat transfer portions210in the longitudinal direction.

The reason is that opening and closing of the door140causes a heating temperature to be insufficient in the portion, adjacent to the door140, of the heat transfer portions210.

Power such as a current applied to the heat transfer portions210may also be individually controlled by the control unit500in each column in the longitudinal direction.

The reason is that when the same level of power is applied to the heat transfer portions210in the longitudinal direction, opening and closing of the door140causes a temperature required for processing of the blank b to be insufficient even in another heat transfer portion210next to a foremost heat transfer portion210in the column in the longitudinal direction other than the foremost heat transfer portion210.

FIG. 5is a side section view of the multi-chamber type heating unit in accordance with the present invention.

Meanwhile, a temperature measurement part230is provided immediately below positions at which the blanks b are stacked through each of the gaps between the blank support portions212from a rear surface of the intermediate housing120-1in the longitudinal direction.

The temperature measurement part230includes a protective tube231extending in the longitudinal direction and a thermometer232provided inside the protective tube231and extending in the longitudinal direction to be provided at the positions at which the blanks b are stacked.

The protective tube231of the temperature measurement part230protects the thermometer232from the inner high temperature of the multi-chamber type heating unit10.

A sheath type temperature sensor, for example, a thermocouple type thermometer, is used as the thermometer232.

The thermometer232is provided as many as the number of blanks b. In the present embodiment, two blanks b are stacked in the longitudinal direction, and the thermometer232thus includes two thermometers232aand232bhaving different lengths in the longitudinal direction.

FIG. 6is a view illustrating a door sealing unit in the multi-chamber type heating unit in accordance with the present invention.

Both sides of the intermediate housing120-1have a pair of door sealing units300for fixing the door140.

The door sealing units300each include a first actuator310connected to the control unit500and a link portion320fixed to an end portion of the first actuator310.

The first actuator310includes a cylinder311having one end rotatably fixed by a hinge h to an end portion of the intermediate frame portion121of the intermediate housing120-1and a rod312formed on the other end of the cylinder311.

The link portion320is fixed to a bracket312aprovided on an end portion of the rod312.

The link portion320includes a first link321having one end portion rotatably fixed by the hinge h to a position adjacent to that of the door support portion150and the other end portion fixed to the bracket312aand a second link322having one end portion fixed to the other end portion of the first link321and the other end portion fixed to a pressure plate322a.

The first link321and the second link322are formed to have an angle therebetween and fixed to the bracket312aat the intersection of the angle.

FIG. 7is a view illustrating a door moving unit in the multi-chamber type heating unit in accordance with the present invention.

Meanwhile, both sides of the housing unit100have a pair of door moving units400.

The door moving units400each include a column410provided to extend in a height direction thereof, an arm moving portion420provided on the column410and connected to the control unit500, and an arm portion430provided on the arm moving portion420.

It is preferable that the column410is provided distinct from the housing unit100. The reason is that in the present invention, the intermediate housing120-1can be formed to be able to individually separate and repair, and at this time, when the column410is provided adjacent to the housing unit100, individual removal and installation of the intermediate housing120-1is inconvenient or difficult.

The arm moving portion420provided on the column410includes a height direction moving portion421for moving the arm portion430in the height direction and a longitudinal direction moving portion422for moving the arm portion430in the longitudinal direction.

The height direction moving portion421and the longitudinal direction moving portion422are formed as a known linear moving device of a linear motion (LM) guide or ball screw type.

For example, the height direction moving portion421includes a first drive motor421aconnected to the control unit500and a slider421bdriven by the first drive motor421ato move along a rail410aformed on the column410in the height direction by the known linear moving device (not illustrated) of a ball screw type or the like.

Further, the longitudinal direction moving portion422includes a second drive motor422aand a rail422bdriven by the second drive motor422ato relatively move with respect to the slider421bin the longitudinal direction by the known linear moving device (not illustrated) of a ball screw type or the like.

FIG. 8is a view illustrating an arm portion in the multi-chamber type heating unit in accordance with the present invention.

Meanwhile, the arm portion430includes an arm431fixed to the rail422bof the longitudinal direction moving portion422, a second actuator432fixed to the arm431, operated by the control unit500in the lateral direction, and having rods432a, and a fastening portion433fixed to end portions of the rods432aof the second actuator432.

The fastening portion433is formed in a bracket shape and has locking grooves433ahaving a groove shape and opened to correspond to the locking portions143.

In the present invention, the door moving units400are formed as a pair on both sides of the housing unit100. Thus, the fastening portion433is formed on each of both sides thereof. At this time, the direction of the locking grooves433aof the fastening portion433is oriented such that the locking grooves433aare open toward the outside of the housing unit100in an opposite direction.

Next, the operation of the multi-chamber type heating unit configured as described above will be described with reference to the drawings.FIGS. 9A to 9Eare views illustrating an operating state of the multi-chamber type heating unit in accordance with the present invention.

First, an operation of removing the door140from the intermediate housing120-1is performed to open the intermediate housing120-1to which the blanks b are to be inserted.

As illustrated inFIG. 9A, when the operation of the first actuator310is cancelled by the control unit500, rotation of the link portion320allows the second link322, which has applied pressure to the door140, to be rotated such that a pressurized state of the door140is released and the link portion320is moved to a position at which the same does not interfere with a longitudinal movement of the door140.

Next, as illustrated inFIG. 9B, when the second actuator432is operated by the control unit500, the locking grooves433aof the fastening portion433fixed to an end portion of the second actuator432are inserted into the locking portions143formed on the front of the door140.

At this time, the respective locking grooves433aof the fastening portion433are formed to be open toward both sides of the housing unit100, and two second actuators432respectively perform pushing to outer end portions of the housing unit100such that the door140is strongly fastened to the arm portion430. Thus, the door140is stably moved even when the door140is moved in the longitudinal direction or the height direction.

Further, the door140may be strongly supported only by simply forming the locking grooves of the fastening portion433of the arm portion430in an open shape. Thus, a device for moving the door may be simply configured.

Then, as illustrated inFIG. 9C, the second drive motor422aof the longitudinal direction moving portion422is operated such that the rail422bis relatively moved forward with respect to the slider421bin the longitudinal direction, thereby moving the arm portion430, to which the door140is fastened, forward in the longitudinal direction.

Next, as illustrated inFIG. 9D, the first drive motor421aof the height direction moving portion421is operated such that the slider421bis slid along the rail410aformed on the column410in the height direction, thereby moving the arm portion430, to which the door140is fastened, upward or downward in the height direction.

By the operations described above, the operation of removing the door140is completed before insertion of the blanks b.

Next, as illustrated inFIG. 9E, the blanks b are stacked on upper portions of insertion pins p of a blank insertion device e provided on the outside to insert the blanks b into the multi-chamber type heating unit10.

The insertion pins p, on which the blanks b are stacked, are inserted into the door support portion150of the housing unit100at a height corresponding to that of upper portions of the blank support portions212in the longitudinal direction.

Then, when the insertion pins p are moved downward, the insertion pins p are inserted into the gaps between the protrusion portions of the blank support portions212, and the blanks b are seated on upper surfaces of the blank support portions212.

The stacking of the blanks b is completed by retracting the insertion pins p backward in the longitudinal direction and removing the same from the housing unit100.

Next, an operation of fastening the door to the intermediate housing on which the blanks b are stacked is performed.

First, while the door140is fastened to the intermediate housing120-1into which the blanks b are inserted, the height direction moving portion421of the arm moving portion420having been positioned thereabove or therebelow is operated by the control unit500such that the height direction moving portion421is positioned on the door support portion150of the intermediate housing120-1.

Then, the door140is inserted into the door support portion150by the longitudinal direction moving portion422.

At this time, the front plate142of the door140has a width greater than that of the sealing portion141, which is to be inserted into the door support portion150, in the lateral direction, and the door140thus functions as a stopper for preventing the door140from being inserted thereinto any more.

Next, the control unit500operates the first actuator310of the door sealing unit300so as to rotate the link portion320such that the pressure plate322aformed on the second link322applies pressure to the front plate142of the door140, thereby sealing the door140.

Such an operation of sealing the door140is performed in order reverse to that of the operation of unsealing the door140inFIGS. 9A to 9D, as described above.

Meanwhile, when the operation of arranging the blanks b inside the housing unit100is completed, a process of heating the blanks b is performed.

The control unit500allows electricity to be applied to the heat source portion220such that resistance heat is generated in the metal hot wire221and transferred to the heat transfer portion210.

In the present invention, the metal hot wire221is provided on the bottom surface of the flat plate portion211in a folded state such that the metal hot wire221having a length greater than that of the flat plate portion is disposed as compared to that when the metal hot wire221is formed in a linear shape in the lateral direction, thereby further increasing calorific value per unit area.

Moreover, in the present invention, heat is generated immediately below the flat plate portion211of the heat transfer portion210such that the heat is directly transferred to the flat plate portion211without loss, thereby increasing heat transfer efficiency.

Thus, the efficiency of heat transfer to the blanks b is significantly increased as compared to that when a heat source portion is provided on the perimeter of a conventional heating unit rather than in the center thereof.

Further, the blank support portions212of the heat transfer portion210are formed in the shape of a protrusion portion to thus have a large surface area, thereby being beneficial to transfer of heat to the blanks b.

As described above, in the present invention, an operation of heating the blanks b is alternately performed in the respective intermediate housings120-1stacked in multistages. Thus, an installation space is reduced and heat treatment processing time is reduced as compared to those when a conventional continuous furnace type heating unit extending in a longitudinal direction thereof is used.

Meanwhile, while the blanks b are heated, the coolant continues to be circulated through the inlet port150aand the outlet port150bof the door support portion150so as to cool the door support portion150.

The reason is that when the door support portion150made of a metallic material or the like is not cooled, the door140is not easily inserted and removed due to thermal deformation thereon.

Further, in the present invention, the temperature measurement part230is provided immediately below the blanks b, and a temperature affecting the blanks b may thus be accurately measured.

In the present invention, the control unit500may control the temperatures of the respective heat transfer portions210arranged in the longitudinal direction to prevent a difference in temperature between the heat transfer portions210arranged in the longitudinal direction due to temperature nonuniformity inside multi-chambers caused by opening and closing of the door140or to a factor such as an external environment or the like in which the multi-chamber type heating unit10is provided, thereby ensuring reliability of a heat treatment on a product.

Meanwhile, the temperature measured by the temperature measurement part230is transmitted to the control unit500, and when a preset temperature is not maintained or variations thereof occur, necessary maintenance work is performed.

When the maintenance work is performed, only a defective intermediate housing120-1may be separated from the plurality of stacked intermediate housings120-1and repaired, as described above.

Further, the column410is formed to be separated from the housing unit100. Thus, when the intermediate housing120-1is separated or reassembled for repair or the like, the column410is prevented from interfering with the same.

The above embodiments are illustrative of the technical spirit of the present invention, and similar technical spirits are included in the scope of the claims without departing from the scope of the present invention.