Apparatus for delivery of melting rings and valves to an inductor heater

An apparatus for delivery of melting rings and valves to an inductor heater, for hard facing of valves for internal combustion engines by melting rings of heat-resistant alloy upon the working surfaces of valves, comprises gravity feed trays, one for feeding the work valves in a vertical position and the other for feeding work rings laid on their side to a tubular body. Between the exit of the tray for feeding the rings and the tubular body there is installed a horizontal tray which is located under the gravity feed tray for feeding the valves and in the same vertical plane with said tray. The distance between the sliding surfaces of the tray along which the valve head moves and the sliding surfaces of the horizontal tray along which the ring lying on its side moves is less than the length of the valve stem, so that the valve stem enters the hole of the ring and delivers it to the tubular body. Near the upper end of the tubular body there is installed a stop interacting with the valve stem for positioning the valve falling into the tubular body with its stem being upwardly directed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to welding apparatuses using induction 
heating wherein work pieces to be welded are previously positioned for the 
purpose. More particularly, the invention relates to apparatuses for 
delivery of melting rings and valves to an inductor heater for hard-facing 
of valves for internal combustion engines by melting rings of 
heat-resistant alloys upon the working surface of the valves. 
Most efficiently the invention can be employed at enterprises engaged in 
serial production of valves for internal combustion engines. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
It is a known fact that to effect hard facing of a valve, an alloy ring is 
fitted onto its head, the valve is put in a vertical position and the 
above head with the ring fitted thereupon is placed into a 
high-temperature heater, for instance a high-frequency inductor. 
At present, valves are hard-faced with the aid of devices wherein the 
fitting of a ring onto the valve head, the positioning of the valve in a 
vertical alignment and the delivering of the valve into the inductor are 
carried out by mechanical means, for instance a manipulator. 
Despite the automation of the hard-facing process, there still remain 
possibilities to increase the efficiency of the above devices by 
shortening the time for assembling the work valve and ring, as well as by 
carrying out the above assembling at a time when the previous valve is 
being hard faced. 
Also known in the art are apparatuses for hard-facing of valves for 
internal combustion engines, wherein work valves and the rings to be 
melted are fed to gravity. Such apparatuses are simple in construction and 
more efficient as compared with similar apparatuses wherein the assembling 
is performed by a number of mechanisms. 
For instance, known in the art is an apparatus for hard-facing of valves 
for internal combustion engines comprising a means for assembling the work 
valve and the ring to be melted (cf. Swedish Pat. No. 7802954-3), 
including, a vertically positioned tubular body adjoined by gravity feed 
trays, one for feeding the work valves and the other for feeding the 
rings; a stop located under the tray for feeding the valves and intended 
for positioning the valve with its stem being upwardly directed; a 
receiver for receiving the rings and delivering them onto the valve stem; 
a pusher located under the tubular body and adapted to deliver the valve 
with the ring fitted upon its head into the inductor, and a mechanism for 
holding the valve therein. 
To effect delivery of the valves inside the tubular body, the tubular body 
has a hole adjoined by the tray for feeding the rings to be melted, the 
receiver for receiving the rings is a kind of curtain inserted into the 
slot made in the tubular body below the hole for feeding the rings 
therein. The curtain is connected with a drive providing for its 
back-and-forward movement. 
The pusher for feeding the rings is mounted on a slide and has a tubular 
body accomodate the valve with the ring fitted thereupon, the pusher slide 
being connected with the back-and-forward movement drive to provide that 
the pusher be placed alternately under the tubular body or the inductor. 
The tray for feeding the rings has a complicated form which provides for 
vertically positioning the rings at the entry side of the tray and for its 
horizontally positioning at the exit side thereof. A separator for 
by-piece feeding the rings from a storage is mounted at the entry side of 
the tray for feeding the rings. 
To feed the rings with a predetermined side turned in the direction of 
movement, i.e., to prevent the ring from turning over, there is provided 
another curtain inserted into the slot made in the tubular body above the 
aforementioned hole. 
Despite the fact that the above apparatus has some advantages typical of 
the apparatuses using a gravity feed of workpieces to be welded, its 
application is limited which is due to the fact that the arrangement of 
the pusher on the slide connected with a drive and the necessity of 
mechanical processing of the tubular body to obtain various entries and 
exits for the valves and rings complicate the apparatus design. 
In addition, the time spent for feeding successively the valves and rings 
to the tubular body, for fitting the ring in the receiver, as well as for 
moving the pusher to under the heater and then back to under the tubular 
body restrict the efficiency of the above apparatus. 
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
An object of the invention is to remedy these drawbacks. 
The main object of the invention consists in providing an apparatus for 
delivery of melting rings and valves to an inductor heater, for hard 
facing of valves for internal combustion engines, wherein the valves and 
rings are fed by gravity and which being reliable in operation and simple 
in construction would provide a higher efficiency by fitting the ring upon 
the stem of the valve while the valve is being moved towards the tubular 
body, and fitting the ring on the valve head inside the tubular body. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
These and other objects of the invention are attained by the disclosed 
invention. 
The above object is accomplished by an apparatus for delivery of melting 
rings and valves to an inductor heater, for hard facing of valves for 
internal combustion engines by melting rings upon the working surface of 
the valves, comprising an inductor under which there is a vertically 
installed tubular body wherein the ring is fitted on the valve head; 
gravity, feed trays, one for delivering the work valve and other for 
feeding the ring to the tubular body; a receiver located at the exit side 
of the tray for receiving the rings and feeding them onto the valve stem; 
a stop mounted near the upper end of the tubular body for positioning the 
valve with its stem being upwardly directed; a pusher located under the 
tubular body for delivering the valve with the ring fitted upon the valve 
head into the inductor; and a mechanism for holding the valve within the 
inductor. According to the invention, the tubular body and the pusher are 
installed directly under the inductor. The receiver for receiving the 
rings is made substantially in the form of a horizontal tray which adjoins 
the tubular body, has a central longitudinal slot and is mounted under the 
gravity free tray for delivering the valves in the same vertical plane 
therewith, the distance between sliding surfaces of the tray for feeding 
the valve and of said horizontal tray being less than the length of the 
valve stem so that the valve stem enters the hole of the ring with its end 
and delivers the ring to the tubular body. 
Such an apparatus is simple in construction, reliable in operation and, at 
the same time, more efficient. This is achieved due to the fact that the 
receiver for receiving the ring is made substantially in the form of a 
horizontal tray from which the rings are delivered by the valves to the 
tubular body wherein they are fitted on the valve heads. This, in turn, 
makes it possible to use to a full extent the gravity feed of the 
workpieces and makes unnecessary any mechanism for fitting the ring upon 
the valve stem. 
It is expedient that on the sliding surfaces of the horizontal tray, at the 
side adjoining the gravity feed tray for feeding the rings, there be 
provided an inclined portion with an angle of slope being from 0.degree. 
to 15.degree. and opposite to the direction of feeding the rings towards 
the tubular body. 
As a result, the entering of the end of the valve stem into the hole of the 
ring to be melted becomes more accurate when the valve moves along the 
gravity feed tray towards the tubular body. 
It is preferable that above the sliding surfaces of the gravity feed tray 
for feeding the valves there is mounted a plate interacting with the end 
faces of the valve heads, thereby preventing the work valves from swinging 
.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
An apparatus for delivery of melting rings 33 and valves 34 to an inductor 
heater, as shown in FIG. 1, comprises a bed 1. Mounted on the bed 1 are: 
an inductor heater 2 of a conventional construction under which there is a 
vertically installed tubular body 3 wherein the ring is fitted on the 
valve head; gravity feed trays 4 and 5/FIG. 2/, for respectively 
delivering to the tubular body 3 the work valves and the rings to be 
melted; a receiver 6 (FIGS. 1 and 2), located at the exit side of the ring 
feeding tray 5, for receiving and feeding the rings onto the valve stems; 
a stop 7 located near the upper end of the tubular body 3 for positioning 
the valve with its stem upwardly directed; a pusher 8 located under the 
tubular body 3 for delivering the valve with the ring fitted upon the 
valve head into the inductor 2; and a holding mechanism 9 for holding the 
valve within the inductor 2. 
The gravity feed tray 4 for feeding the valves is formed by two parallel 
plates 10, the upper edges 11 of which serve as sliding surfaces and 
guides for the valve heads. The sliding surfaces 11 are at an angle to the 
horizontal plane so as to enable movement of the rings under the action of 
their own weight. On the valve feeding tray 4 there is mounted a 
separation device 12 for separating one valve from other valves on the 
tray 4. The device 12 for separating a valve is a separator known in the 
art, comprising a rocker 13 mounted on an axle and linked with a drive 14 
providing for oscillation movement thereof. 
The gravity feed tray 5 for feeding the rings to be melted has, in 
cross-section, the form of a box corresponding to the form of the ring 
delivered. In addition, the tray 5 has a curved form along its length to 
enable the movement of the rings in a vertical position at the entry side 
of the tray 5 and in a horizontal position at the exit. Adjacent the exit 
of the tray 5 is the receiver 6 for receiving the rings and feeding them 
onto the valve stem. On the tray 5 is mounted a device 15 (FIG. 3) for 
by-piece feeding of the rings to be melted, i.e. for separating one ring 
from the rest of the rings on the ring feeding tray 5. The device 15 is a 
separator known in the art, comprising a rocker 17 mounted on an axle 16 
and linked with a drive 18 providing for oscillation movement thereof. 
The pusher 8 (FIG. 1) for delivering the valve with the ring into the 
inductor 2 is known in the art and includes an air-operated cylinder 19 on 
the rod 20 of which there is mounted a plate 21 with a circular conical 
fillet 22. The plate 21 is inserted into the tubular body 3 and adapted to 
receive the work valve delivered in a headdown position. 
The mechanism 9 for holding the valve inside the inductor 2 is known in the 
art and includes a jaw chuck 9 having a drive providing for its rotation 
(not shown), and mounted above the inductor 2. 
According to the invention, the receiver 6 for receiving the rings and 
feeding them onto the stems of the work valves is made substantially in 
the form of a horizontal tray 6 which has sliding surfaces 23 /FIGS. 1 and 
2/ for the rings to move there. The horizontal tray 6 is mounted between 
the exit of the gravity feed tray 5 for feeding the rings and the tubular 
body 3, and located under the gravity feed tray 4 for feeding the work 
valves in the same vertical plane as its own. The horizontal tray 6 is so 
installed that the distance between its sliding surfaces 23 and the 
sliding surfaces 11 of the tray 4 for feeding the valves is less than the 
length of the stem of the work valve so that the work valve can enter the 
hole of the ring with its end and delivers the ring to the tubular body 3. 
The horizontal tray 6 has a central longitudinal slot 24 which divides the 
surface of the tray into two sliding surfaces 23 for the rings to move 
there. 
As shown in FIG. 2, the horizontal tray 6 adjoins the exit of the gravity 
feed tray 5 for feeding the rings and is essentially perpendicular to the 
direction of the ring movement from the feed tray 5. 
The pusher 8 /FIG. 1/ for delivering the valve with the ring fitted 
thereupon into the inductor 2 is stationary mounted immediately under the 
inductor 2. 
To cool the work valve, the present apparatus is provided with a 
ring-shaped sprayer 25. The sprayer 25 side facing the inductor 2 has a 
number of holes for water jets sprayed in the direction of the inductor 2. 
To discharge the hard faced valves, said apparatus is provided with a slide 
26 which is located under the inductor 2. The slide 26 is a bucket open 
from beneath and mounted on a rod 27 of an air-operated cylinder 28 
installed on the bed 1 and made of a known construction. 
The lower side of the slide 26 is adapted for discharging the valve and for 
pouring off the cooling water into a waste-water tank 29 located on the 
bed 1. 
Below the slide 26 there is mounted a discharging tray 30 having the form 
of a trough with a central longitudinal slot 31. The upper end of the 
discharging tray 30 adjoins the waste-water tank 29, while its lower end 
is outside the apparatus. To position the valve with its head upwardly 
directed and discharge it in the same position from the apparatus, there 
is a stop 32 in the form of a screw mounted on the bed 1. 
To better illustrate the operation of the apparatus for delivery of melting 
rings and valves to an inductor heater, its operation is described in 
automatic operation mode, the means for effecting such automatic operation 
not described, nor shown in the drawings, to avoid the complication of the 
description and to make the invention more understandable. 
In the description of operation of said apparatus that follows said means 
is referred to as a control system. 
The operation of the above apparatus for delivery of melting rings and 
valves to an inductor heater is as follows. 
On command from the control system /FIGS. 2 and 3/ the rocker 17 begins 
oscillating, one of its arms releases the ring held, while the other arm 
closes the tray 5, preventing the rest of the rings from advancing. 
Under the action of its weight the released ring 33 rolls along the tray 5 
and then, on leaving said tray, is laid on its side and delivered in such 
position to the horizontal tray 6 /FIGS. 1 and 2/. 
On giving the command for one valve 34 to be fed, the rocker 13 begins 
oscillating, one of its arms releases the valve held, while the other arm 
closes the space between the plates 10 thereby preventing the rest of the 
valves from advancing. 
Sliding under the action of its weight, along the sliding surfaces 11 of 
the plates 10 in a vertical position, the valve 34 moves towards the 
tubular body 3. As the end of the valve 34 stem reaches the horizontal 
tray 6, the stem enters the hole of the ring 33 to be melted and the valve 
34 with the ring continues moving toward the tubular body 3. 
As the valve comes nearer to the tubular body 3, the head of the valve 34 
leaves the sliding surfaces of the tray 4 for feeding the valves and the 
ring 33 slides up the stem of the valve 34 until it is adjacent the head 
of the valve 34, and now moves with the valve along the horizontal tray 6. 
On reaching the stop 7 of the tubular body 3, the valve 34 with the ring 33 
hits the stop 7 with its stem, assumes the head-down position and, on 
falling inside the tubular body 3, rests with its head upon the surface of 
the plate 21 of the pusher 8. While the valve 34 is being placed upon the 
plate 21, the ring 34 to be melted is guided by the conical fillet 22 of 
the plate 21 to assume the melting position on the valve 34 head. 
On the command for feeding valve 34 with the ring fitted thereupon into the 
inductor 2, the air-operated cylinder 19 operates in a conventional 
manner, its rod 20 moves upwards and delivers the valve 34 positioned 
vertically on the plate 21, with the ring 33 fitted thereupon, to the 
inductor 2 and the clamping chuck 9. As the end of the valve 34 stem 
reaches the hole /not shown/ of the clamping chuck 9, and the valve 34 
head reaches the hole of the inductor 2, the end of the valve 34 stem 
presses a conventional end switch /not shown/ located within the clamping 
chuck 9. 
Then, according to the control system, commands are given: for moving 
downwards the rod 20 with the plate 21, for the airoperated cylinder 28 to 
be operated to bring the slide 26 under the inductor 2 and, finally, for 
the water to be fed to the sprayer 25. At the same time, the following 
pair of work parts, i.e. the valve and the ring, are suspended in the 
inductor 2 and held securely by the clamping chuck 9. 
The cooling water from the sprayer 25 is directed at the valve 34 head for 
cooling the valve. The waste water flows down the slide 26 into the 
waste-water tank 29. 
On completing the hard facing of the valve working surface, commands are 
given to stop feeding the water into the sprayer 25, unclasp the chuck 9, 
and start the air-operated cylinder 28 to remove the slide 26 from under 
the inductor 2. The released valve falls from the unclasped chuck 9 and, 
on passing through the inductor 2, arrives at the slide 26 which is being 
removed from under the inductor 2 and, thereby, is delivered to a 
discharge tray 30. 
Having fallen on the discharge tray 30, the hard faced valve is moved 
therein and, on hitting a stop 32, is positioned with its head being 
upwardly directed, and leaves the apparatus in the same position. 
According to another embodiment of the invention /FIG. 1/, the sliding 
surfaces 23 of the horizontal tray 6, on the side the tray 6 adjoins the 
exit of the tray 5 for feeding the rings, have an inclined portion 35 with 
an angle of slope being from 0.degree. to 15.degree. and opposite to the 
direction of feeding the rings towards the tubular body. 
As a result, the entering of the end of the valve 34 stem into the hole of 
the ring 33 becomes more accurate. The increase of the angle between the 
sliding surfaces 11 of the tray along which the valve 34 is moved and the 
surface of the area 35 of the horizontal tray 6 results in enlarging the 
projection of the ring hole in which the end of the valve stem enters. 
According to yet another embodiment of the invention, above the sliding 
surfaces 11 of the gravity feed tray 4 for feeding the valves there is 
mounted a plate 36 which is parallel to said surfaces 11 and intended for 
interacting with the face plane of the valve head and for preventing the 
work valve from swinging at the moment it engages the ring. 
The above specific embodiments of the invention allow various alterations 
and additions obvious to experts in the art. Therefore, the invention is 
not limited by the aforedescribed embodiments or individual elements and 
allows the introduction of changes or additions which do not depart from 
the spirit and scope thereof, defined by the claims herein appended.