Patent GB-605510-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in apparatus for quenching gears and similar articles
IPC: C21D1/673
Filed: 1945-12-27
Abstract: 605,510. Fluid-pressure presses. GLEASON WORKS. Dec. 27, 1945, No. 34971. Convention date, Feb. 8. [Class 122 (iii)] [Also in Groups II and XXXVII] In a quenching apparatus for use in hardening gears &c. in which the gear &c. is held under pressure between dies while quenching fluid is forced over it, the work support is mounted for movement from " loading " to " operative " position and back, the clamping member is movable towards or away from the work only when the latter is in " operative " position and the whole quenching process including movement of work and of clamping member is automatically electrically controlled. The clamping member is attached to a piston 34 whose movements are controlled by the compressed-air system shown in Fig. 11, as set for automatic operation. The hot gear &c. G (Figs. 2, 3) rests on a movable base 82 and may be clamped by a die 45 adapted to fit the upper face of gear G and carried by piston 34 inside which is a second piston 60 also controlled by compressed air and carrying a pilot stud 64 and expander 65. Cover 52, half of which is a cam-member adapted to control the end rate of movement of piston 34, serves to enclose the quenching fluid. Fig. 12 (not shown) shows the electric control circuits arranged for automatic operation. The motor 96 having swung the work into operative position and stopped, solenoids 146, 170, 171 are energized, thus closing the normally open valve 143 and opening the normally closed valves 174, 175 to allow compressed air to flow from a supply pipe 120 through an adjustable valve 180, valves 174, 175 and manually-controlled throttle valve 189 to the upper surface of piston 34, causing its rapid descent. Air also passes via adjustable valves 160, 156, 150 and pipe 72 to the piston 60. When the cam-member 52 contacts a roller 218, switch 207 in casing 205 is released, de-energizing solenoid 170, thus closing the valve 174 ; compressed air now reaches piston 34 via the adjustable needle valve 186, adjusted to give 34 a slow motion. As the die 45 fully engages the work roller 218 rides up on the cam surface 56, the lever 209 shifts a switch 206 in case 205, energizing the relay 440 (not shown), thus re-energizing the coil 170 to re-open the valve 174 and put full pressure on a move-on piston 34. Throughout, air pressure is supplied to the underside of the piston-head 36 and controlled by valve 125 and relief valve 147. With the piston 34 in its uppermost position shown in Fig. 11, this air is supplied via pipe 120, valve 125, ducts 126 and 69. On energizing the valves 145, 174, 175 to commence the downward movement of 34 as described above, pressure in the ducts 149, 147 builds up to raise the piston 121 of shuttle valve 122, which puts the duct 69 in communication via groove 167 with the relief valve 197 adjusted to give a reduced pressure in the line. At the end of the quenching period, predetermined by timing mechanism, solenoids 146, 170, 171 are de-energized, thus reversing the air pressure on the piston-head 36, which rises. In setting up the machine, it is desirable to jog the piston 34 up or down through manual operation, e.g. in adjusting the height of the bracket 216 for co-operation with the cam 52. Change-over from automatic to manual control is by a selector knob 280 which controls the switch 291 (Fig. 7, not shown), allowing the piston 34 to be controlled by energizing or de-energizing solenoids 146, 171 via push-buttons 320, 323, and moves the 3-way valve 148 (Figs. 7 and 8) to put the ducts 147, 287 into communication, so holding the shuttle valve 121 in the inoperative position, whereby pressure in the space between piston 34 and cylinder 24 cannot be reduced below that on piston-head 36. Specification 434,670, [Group II], is referred to.