Patent GB-434670-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in apparatus for quenching gears and similar articles
IPC: C21D9/32
Filed: 1934-03-06
Abstract: 434,670. Quenching gears &c. TENNANT, W. J., 111, Hatton Garden, London.- (Gleason Works ; 1000, University Avenue, Rochester, New York, U.S.A.) March 6, 1934, No. 7169. [Class 72] In an apparatus for quenching gears and similar articles, the gears &c., are held under pressure on a support and means are provided to connect a reservoir for the quenching liquid with a chamber containing compressed air or other gas so that the air &c. forces the liquid out of the reservoir and around the gears &c. The gear G rests on a plate 28 having a plurality of nested ring members 29 and supported on a member 27 carried by a plate 25 secured to a flange 24 on a base 10. The plate 25 and support 27 are provided with a series of communicating openings 32, 33 and the plate 28 with openings 36 communicating with the openings 33. The plate 28 is also provided with radial slots 37 which communicate with the openings 36, the slots 37 being of a sufficient length to pass under the gear G. The gear is held on the plate 28 by expansible grippers 30, openings 39 therein communicating with central openings 34, 35 in the plates 25, 27 respectively. The base 10 is provided with a reservoir 16 for quenching liquid, which communicates with a chamber 22 by openings 20, the chamber 12 inside the chamber 16 containing compressed air or other gas. The upper die 64 is secured to the lower face of a support 62 secured with a plate 60 to the lower part of a piston 50 which reciprocates in a cylinder 43 supported in the base 10. The piston 50 is operated by the admittance of compressed air from a main pipe line into a 'projection 53 mounted in a recess formed by a plate 52. A tapered expander 70, to operate the grippers 30, is secured to a piston 67 which moves in a cylinder 66 formed in the support 62 and a centring stud 72 which has a pressed fit in the plate 60 extends through aligned openings in the piston 67 and expander 70. The supply of compressed air to the pistons 50, 67 from a pipe line 104 is controlled by a hand-operated valve 100. Compressed air is also fed into the chamber 12 by a pipe 154 connected to a three-way valve 160 to which is also connected a pipe 164 arranged inside the chamber 16 and provided with openings 165. The supply of quenching liquid to the chambers 16, 22 is controlled by a three-way valve 175 which is connected to a main supply pipe and to the chamber 16 by a pipe 178. The valves 160, 175 are adapted to be operated by the pressure built up in a cylinder 43 after the upper die 64 has engaged the gear G. In operation a die 29 the upper surface of which conforms to the shape of the lower face of the gear G is placed in position and a die 64 shaped to conform to the upper face of the gear is secured to the support 62, the grippers 30 being also mounted in position. The valve 100 is now opened admitting compressed air by the pipe 104 into the cylinder 50. The die 64 now descends on to the gear G, the grippers 30 being engaged by the expander 70 and centred by the part 72. As the piston 50 continues to descend the piston 67 will be forced upwardly in its cylinder 66 and the pressure therein will hold the expander 70 in position during the quenching operation. When the die 64 contacts with the gear, the piston 50 will be stopped and the pressure built up in the cylinder 43 operates a valve causing compressed air through various pipes to a three way valve which is opened and thus opening the valves 160, 175. When the valve 160 is opened air from the chamber 12 is forced out through the duct 157 and pipe 154 and various other pipes into the pipe 164 and out through the openings 165 thus forcing the liquid from the chambers 16, 22 through the openings 32, 33 and the slots 37 under the gear G and through the openings 34, 35, 39, between the grippers 30 and thus through the gear teeth. After the gear has been cooled sufficiently, the valve 100 is operated to put the lower side of the piston 50 on supply and the upper side on exhaust. As soon as the upper die 64 leaves the gear G the supply of liquid is cut off, and the air exhausted from the chamber 16, and by means of the operation of suitable valves, the chamber 12 is refilled with compressed air. The pressure in the chamber 12 is varied to suit the character of the article being quenched.