Patent Application
20250197957
The present disclosure relates to a quenching tool and a quenching method.
Patent Literature 1 discloses a technology related to quenching of a metal part. In the quenching method disclosed in Patent Literature 1, a quenching object is fed into a quenching agent from a feeder. Patent Literature 1 focuses on a posture of the quenching object when it is fed into the quenching agent from the feeder. When quenching objects are fed from the feeder into the quenching agent, if the quenching objects come into contact with each other and interfere with each other, this will affect a result of the quenching. Therefore, in Patent Literature 1, the quenching objects are transported in a state in which they do not come into contact with each other. As a result, contact between the quenching objects that occurs during feeding is avoided.
[Patent Literature 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-84635
When a heated quenching object is immersed in a liquid coolant, a so-called vapor film is generated on a surface of the quenching object. A vapor film present on a surface of the quenching object hinders heat transfer from the quenching object to a cooling oil. If there is a variation in a state of the vapor film present on the surface of the quenching object, it will lead to a variation in a degree of cooling of the quenching object. As a result, slight deformation of the quenching object may occur.
The present disclosure describes a quenching tool and a quenching method that can suppress an influence of a vapor film on a result of quenching.
One embodiment of the present disclosure is a quenching tool for a quenching object including a disc-shaped portion having a through hole. The quenching tool includes at least one first support member including at least one first support portion configured to be in contact with the quenching object, and at least one second support member including at least one second support portion configured to be in contact with the quenching object. A position of the second support portion is offset in a direction of a first axis with the first support portion as a reference. The position of the second support portion is also offset in a direction of a second axis orthogonal to the first axis with the first support portion as a reference.
The quenching tool has two support portions for supporting the quenching object. The position of the second support portion is offset from the first support portion along two axes orthogonal to each other. The quenching object supported by these support portions is immersed in a cooling oil in an inclined state. As a result, the vapor film generated immediately after the quenching object is immersed in the cooling oil can be quickly separated from the quenching object. Therefore, a variation in a degree of cooling of the quenching object can be reduced. As a result, an influence of the vapor film on a result of the quenching can be suppressed.
In the quenching tool described above, a distance from the first support portion to the second support portion may be larger than a radius of the quenching object. According to this configuration, the quenching object can be supported in a stable state.
The first support member of the above-described quenching tool may be a planar member including the first support portion. The second support member may be a linear member including the second support portion. Also with this configuration, the quenching object can be supported in a stable state.
The number of the first support members of the above-described quenching tool may be one. The first support member may include a plurality of first support portions. The number of the second support members may be plural. The second support member may include one second support portion. The plurality of second support members may be disposed apart from each other in a direction intersecting a direction in which the second support members extend. The plurality of second support members may each be in contact with a main surface of the quenching object. The plurality of second support members may each support one quenching object. According to this configuration, the quenching objects can be individually supported by the second support member.
The number of the first support members of the above-described quenching tool may be one. The first support member may include a plurality of first support portions. The number of the second support members may be at least one. The second support member may be inserted through the through hole of the quenching object. The second support member may include at least one second support portion. The second support member may support at least one quenching object. According to this configuration, at least one quenching object can be supported by one second support member.
The number of the first support members of the above-described quenching tool may be one. The number of the second support members may be at least two. The second support member may extend in a normal direction of a support surface including the first support portion of the first support member. A base end of the second support member may be fixed to the first support member. According to this configuration, the quenching objects can be individually supported by the second support member.
The first support member of the above-described quenching tool may be a linear member including the first support portion. The second support member may be a linear member including the second support portion. Also with this configuration, the quenching object can be supported in a stable state.
The number of the first support members of the above-described quenching tool may be plural. The first support member may include one first support portion. The number of the second support members may be at least one. The second support member may include at least one second support portion. The second support member may be inserted through the through hole of the quenching object. The second support member may support at least one quenching object. The plurality of first support members may be respectively in contact with main surfaces of a plurality of quenching objects. According to this configuration, at least one quenching object can be supported by one second support member.
A quenching method, which is another embodiment of the present disclosure, includes a first step of preparing a quenching object including a disc-shaped portion having a through hole, a second step of disposing the quenching object in a quenching tool, and a third step of immersing the quenching object disposed in the quenching tool in a cooling oil. In the second step, the quenching object is disposed in the quenching tool so that a posture of the quenching object when immersed in the cooling oil is inclined with respect to a horizontal direction which is orthogonal to an axis of the through hole in a vertical direction.
In the second step of the quenching method, the quenching object is disposed to be inclined with respect to a horizontal direction orthogonal to the vertical direction. As a result, in the third step, the vapor film generated immediately after the quenching object disposed in the quenching tool is immersed in the cooling oil can be quickly separated from the quenching object. Therefore, a variation in a degree of cooling of the quenching object can be reduced. As a result, an influence of the vapor film on a result of the quenching can be suppressed.
The quenching tool and the quenching method of the present disclosure can suppress an influence of the vapor film on a result of the quenching.
Hereinafter, a quenching tool and a quenching method of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same elements will be denoted by the same reference signs in the description of the drawings, and duplicate description thereof will be omitted.
As illustrated in
The quenching tool 1 holds a plurality of quenching objects 100. The quenching tool 1 holds the quenching objects 100 at an inclination when the quenching object 100 is immersed in a cooling oil 205. The terms “inclining” and “inclined” referred to in the following description refer to an object axis A of the quenching object 100 being not parallel to a horizontal direction (axis X). “Not parallel” does not include perpendicular. The terms “inclining” and “inclined” refer to an angle between the object axis A and the horizontal direction (axis X) being larger than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees.
As illustrated in
The race 101 is a thin plate having a thickness smaller than an outer diameter thereof. When the quenching object 100 is immersed in the cooling oil 205, a surface of the quenching object 100 that is in contact with the cooling oil 205 is rapidly cooled. Heat contained in the quenching object 100 successively moves from the inside of the quenching object 100 to a surface of the quenching object 100. Strictly speaking, there is a difference in cooling behavior between the surface and the inside of the quenching object 100. However, a thickness of the quenching object 100 exemplified in the present embodiment is small. Therefore, the quenching object 100 can be considered to have no substantial difference in the cooling behavior between the surface and the inside. That is, the term “thin plate” referred to in the first embodiment means a plate that can be regarded as having substantially no difference in the cooling behavior between the surface and the inside during cooling.
The race 101 has a race main surface 101a, a race back surface 101b, and a race through hole 101h. The race main surface 101a is a flat surface having substantially no unevenness. The lip 102 is provided on the race back surface 101b. The lip 102 extends from the race back surface 101b in a normal direction of the race back surface 101b. The race 101 and the lip 102 are press-formed from one plate material. Therefore, there is no physical boundary line separating the race 101 and the lip 102.
A central axis of the lip 102 coincides with a central axis of the race 101. The lip 102 is coaxial with the race 101. The lip 102 has a lip base end 102a, a lip distal end 102b, and a lip through hole 102h. The lip base end 102a is connected to the race back surface 101b. The lip distal end 102b is a free end. A height of the lip 102 may be smaller than an outline of the lip 102. The lip through hole 102h, together with the race through hole 101h, forms an object through hole 100h. An inner diameter of the lip through hole 102h is the same as an inner diameter of the race through hole 101h.
Results of quenching can be evaluated by, for example, warping of the race 101 and a roundness of the lip 102. If a quenching state is uneven, warping of the race 101 may occur. The roundness of the lip 102 may also decrease.
As illustrated in
The plurality of quenching objects 100 are placed on the support mesh 11. In the support mesh 11, a portion that is in contact with the quenching object 100 is a first support portion 11a. The plurality of quenching objects 100 are placed on the support mesh 11. Therefore, the support mesh 11 includes a plurality of first support portions 11a. The quenching object 100 is only in contact with the first support portion 11a. The quenching object 100 is not fixed to the first support portion 11a. A portion of the quenching object 100 that is in contact with the first support portion 11a is an outer circumferential edge 101e of the race 101.
The support wire 12 is disposed above the support mesh 11. The support wire 12 is a metal wire rod. As an example, the support wire 12 is a wire. Both ends of the support wire 12 are connected to a frame body (not illustrated). The support wire 12 is parallel to the support mesh 11. When viewed from a direction of the axis X, the support wire 12 extends in a direction orthogonal to a normal 11N of the support mesh 11. In a plan view of the quenching object 100 and the support wire 12, the support wire 12 intersects the object axis A of the quenching object 100. The support wires 12 are spaced apart from each other in a direction (axis X) orthogonal to a direction in which the support wires 12 extend (axis Y). A distance between the support wires 12 adjacent to each other is at least larger than a height of the lip 102.
A portion of the support wire 12 that comes into contact with the quenching object 100 is a second support portion 12a. The quenching tool 1 has the support wires 12 in a number corresponding to the number of the quenching objects 100. The number of the support wires 12 is the same as the number of the quenching objects 100, or is at least larger than the number of the quenching objects 100.
The quenching object 100 is only in contact with the second support portion 12a. The quenching object 100 is not fixed to the second support portion 12a. A portion of the quenching object 100 that is in contact with the second support portion 12a is the race main surface 101a. More specifically, the portion of the quenching object 100 that is in contact with the second support portion 12a is in the vicinity of an opening of the race through hole 101h. As illustrated in
Using the first support portion 11a as a reference, the second support portion 12a is offset in a direction of the normal 11N (first axis) of the support mesh 11. Using the first support portion 11a as a reference, the second support portion 12a is offset in a direction of an axis 11R (second axis) along a plane of the support mesh 11. The direction along the plane of the support mesh 11 refers to a direction orthogonal to the normal 11N.
When the quenching object 100 is disposed to be in contact with the first support portion 11a and the second support portion 12a, the quenching object 100 is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction (axis X). It can also be said that the quenching object 100 is inclined with respect to the normal 11N. As described above, this inclination may also be defined with the object axis A of the quenching object 100 as a reference. This inclination may also be defined with the race main surface 101a as a reference. Being disposed at an inclination means that the race main surface 101a and the race back surface 101b intersect the normal 11N of the support mesh 11.
A phenomenon that occurs when the quenching object 100 is disposed without being inclined will be considered with reference to
For example, as illustrated in
In a state illustrated in
Next, a case in which the vapor film 300 is generated on a surface of the lip 102 is assumed. The surface of the lip 102 includes a lip outer circumferential surface 102c and a lip inner circumferential surface 102d. The vapor film 300 generated on the lip outer circumferential surface 102c can quickly move along the lip outer circumferential surface 102c toward the oil surface 205S. This is because there is no factor impeding movement of the vapor film 300 from the lip outer circumferential surface 102c toward the oil surface 205S. Therefore, the lip outer circumferential surface 102c is a region having a short contact time with the vapor film 300.
Some of the vapor film 300 generated on the lip inner circumferential surface 102d cannot move quickly from the lip inner circumferential surface 102d toward the oil surface 205S. Specifically, in an upper region of the lip inner circumferential surface 102d, the lip inner circumferential surface 102d is present between the vapor film 300 and the oil surface 205S. This state can also be expressed as, for example, the vapor film 300 being blocked by the lip inner circumferential surface 102d. Therefore, the vapor film 300 cannot move toward the oil surface 205S unless it moves in the horizontal direction (axis X) rather than a vertical direction (along an axis Z). When this movement in the horizontal direction (axis X) is involved, the contact time with the vapor film 300 becomes longer compared to when the movement only in the horizontal direction (axis X) is not involved. The lip inner circumferential surface 102d is a region having a long contact time with the vapor film 300. According to the posture of the quenching object 100 illustrated in
It is understood that, in order to shorten the contact time with the vapor film 300, it is only necessary to avoid a state in which the vapor film 300 is blocked. Therefore, the quenching object 100 is inclined using the quenching tool 1. As illustrated in
Next, a quenching method will be described with reference to
The quenching object 100 is prepared (step S1). Next, the quenching object 100 is disposed in the quenching tool 1 (step S2). The quenching object 100 may be manually disposed or may be disposed mechanically using a robot or the like. Next, the quenching object 100 is heated (step S3). For example, the quenching tool 1, with the quenching object 100 disposed therein, is put into the heating furnace 203. Then, heating is performed according to a predetermined temperature history. Next, the quenching tool 1 is taken out from the heating furnace 203. Then, the heated quenching object 100, along with the quenching tool 1, is immersed in the cooling oil 205 of the cooling tank 204 (step S4). At this time, since the quenching object 100 is inclined, the vapor film 300 quickly separates from the surface of the quenching object 100. Then, after a predetermined time has elapsed, the quenching tool 1 is pulled up from the cooling oil 205 (step S5).
As illustrated in
The quenching tool 1 has two support portions 11a and 12a that support the quenching object 100. A position of the second support portion 12a is offset from the first support portion 11a along two axes (the axis X and the axis Z) orthogonal to each other. The quenching object 100 supported by the support portions 11a and 12a is placed in an inclined state and is immersed in the cooling oil 205. As a result, the vapor film 300 generated immediately after the quenching object 100 is immersed in the cooling oil 205 can be quickly separated from the quenching object 100. Therefore, a variation in a degree of cooling of the quenching object 100 can be reduced. As a result, an influence of the vapor film 300 on a result of the quenching can be suppressed.
In the above-described quenching tool 1, a distance from the first support portion 11a to the second support portion 12a is longer than a radius of the quenching object 100. According to this configuration, the quenching object 100 can be supported in a stable state.
The number of the support meshes 11 serving as a first support member of the quenching tool 1 is one. The support mesh 11 includes the plurality of first support portions 11a. The number of the support wires 12 serving as the second support members is plural. The support wires 12 each include one second support portion 12a. The support wires 12 are disposed apart from each other in a direction (axis X) intersecting a direction in which the support wires 12 extend (axis Y). Each of the plurality of support wires 12 is in contact with the race main surface 101a of the quenching object 100. Each of the plurality of support wires 12 supports one quenching object 100. According to this configuration, the quenching objects 100 can be individually supported by the support wire 12.
When the quenching object 100 is immersed in the cooling oil 205, the quenching object 100 may be inclined as illustrated in
The number of support wires 12A in the quenching tool 1A of the second embodiment is different from the number of the support wires 12 in the quenching tool 1 of the first embodiment.
The number of the support wires 12 in the quenching tool 1 of the first embodiment was the same as the number of the quenching objects 100, or was at least larger than the number of the quenching objects 100. The number of the support wires 12 in the quenching tool 1 of the first embodiment corresponded to the number of the quenching objects 100. This is because one support wire 12 supports one quenching object 100. The number of support wires 12A of the quenching tool 1A of the second embodiment does not correspond to the number of quenching objects 100. This is because the support wire 12A of the second embodiment is configured such that one support wire 12A supports at least one quenching object 100.
The support wire 12A of the quenching tool 1A of the second embodiment is disposed differently from the support wire 12 of the quenching tool 1 of the first embodiment.
In the first embodiment, the support wire 12 was orthogonal to the object axis A in a plan view. In the second embodiment, the support wire 12A extends along the object axis A in a plan view. The support wire 12A extending along the object axis A includes, for example, a case in which it overlaps the object axis A in a plan view. The support wire 12A extending along the object axis A includes a case in which the support wire 12A is inclined with respect to the object axis A but passes through object through holes 100h of the plurality of quenching objects 100.
The support wire 12A is inserted through the object through holes 100h of the quenching objects 100. The quenching objects 100 are suspended from the support wire 12A. Therefore, the support wire 12A is in contact with the bent portion 100s which is a corner portion of the object through hole 100h. In the second embodiment, at least one quenching object 100 is disposed on one support wire 12A. Therefore, the support wire 12A includes at least one second support portion 12a. A height from the support mesh 11A to the support wire 12A is the same as a height from the support mesh 11A to the bent portion 100s. Once an outer diameter of a race 101, an inner diameter of the object through hole 100h, and an inclination of the quenching object 100 are determined, the height from the support mesh 11 to the bent portion 100s is determined. The height from the support mesh 11A to the support wire 12A is also determined.
In short, in the quenching tool 1A of the second embodiment, the number of the support meshes 11A serving as a first support member is one. The support mesh 11A includes a plurality of first support portions 11a. The number of the support wires 12A serving as the second support member is one. The support wire 12A includes a plurality of second support portions 12a. One support wire 12A is inserted through the object through holes 100h of the quenching objects 100. One support wire 12A supports at least one quenching object 100.
Even with the quenching tool 1A of the second embodiment, the same effects as the quenching tool 1 of the first embodiment can be achieved. An influence of vapor films 300 on a result of the quenching can be suppressed. According to the quenching tool 1A of the second embodiment, at least one quenching object 100 can be supported by one second support member 12A.
The number of support rods 12B used to support one quenching object 100 is four. The support rod 12B has a sufficient rigidity to support the quenching object 100. A first end part of the support rod 12B is fixed to the support mesh 11B. A second end part of the support rod 12B is a free end. Therefore, the support rod 12B protrudes upward from the support mesh 11B. The support rod 12B is parallel to a normal 11N of the support mesh 11B. A pair of support rods 12Ba and 12Bb are in contact with edges on a race back surface 101b side. Another pair of support rods 12Bc and 12Bd are in contact with edges on the race main surface 101a side. Therefore, another pair of support rods 12Bc and 12Bd each include one second support portion 12a. A distance from the support rod 12Ba to the support rod 12Bc is determined by an inclination of the quenching object 100. A distance along an axis X from the support rod 12Ba to the support rod 12Bb is larger than an outer diameter of a lip 102 and is smaller than an outer diameter of a race 101. The support rods 12Ba and 12Bb are disposed to sandwich the lip 102 therebetween. A distance from the support rod 12B to the support rod 12B may be the same as the distance from the support rod 12Ba to the support rod 12Bb, or may be smaller than the distance from the support rod 12Ba to the support rod 12Bb.
In short, in the quenching tool 1B of the third embodiment, the number of the support meshes 11B serving as the first support member is one. The number of the support rods 12B serving as the second support member is four per one quenching object 100. The four support rods 12B extend in a direction of the normal 11N. The first end parts of the four support rods 12B are fixed to the support mesh 11B.
Even with the quenching tool 1B of the third embodiment, the same effects as the quenching tool 1 of the first embodiment can be achieved. An influence of vapor films 300 on a result of the quenching can be suppressed. According to the quenching tool 1B of the third embodiment, the quenching objects 100 can be individually supported by the plurality of support rods 12B.
Similarly to the support wire 12 of the first embodiment, the lower support wire 11C is orthogonal to an object axis A of an object through hole 100h. One lower support wire 11C supports one quenching object 100. As a result, the lower support wire 11C includes one first support portion 11a. Since the lower support wire 11C is in contact with a race main surface 101a, the first support portion 11a is linear. The number of lower support wires 11C corresponds to the number of quenching objects 100. Therefore, the number of the lower support wires 11C is the same as the number of the quenching objects 100, or is at least larger than the number of the quenching objects 100.
The lower support wire 11C is in contact with the race main surface 101a. The lower support wire 11C sets an inclination of the quenching object 100. For example, it is assumed that a position at which the upper support wire 12C and the bent portion 100s of the quenching object 100 are in contact does not shift. When the lower support wire 11C is moved in a direction (axis X) from a race 101 toward a lip 102 in a direction in which the upper support wire 12C extends, the quenching object 100 is inclined so that a race back surface 101b faces upward.
In short, the lower support wire 11C, which is the first support member in the quenching tool 1C of the fourth embodiment, is a linear member including the first support portion 11a. The upper support wire 12C, which is the second support member, is a linear member that includes the second support portion.
Even with the quenching tool 1C of the fourth embodiment, the same effects as the quenching tool 1 of the first embodiment can be achieved. An influence of vapor films 300 on s result of the quenching can be suppressed. According to the quenching tool 1C, the quenching object 100 can be supported in a stable state.
The number of the lower support wires 11C, which are the first support members in the quenching tool 1C of the fourth embodiment, is plural. The lower support wire 11C includes one first support portion 11a. The number of upper support wires 12C, which are the second support members, is plural. The upper support wire 12C includes one second support portion 12a. The one upper support wire 12C is inserted through the object through hole 100h of the quenching object 100. The one upper support wire 12C supports at least one quenching object 100. The plurality of lower support wires 11C are respectively in contact with the race main surfaces 101a of the plurality of quenching objects 100. According to this configuration, at least one quenching object 100 can be supported by one lower support wire 11C.
The quenching tool and the quenching method of the present disclosure are not limited to the above-described embodiments.
For example, the quenching tool and the quenching method may be applied to quenching objects 100A, 100B, and 100C illustrated in
The quenching object 100A illustrated in
The quenching object 100B illustrated in
The quenching object 100C illustrated in
The number of the support wires 12 serving as the second support member in the quenching tool 1A of the second embodiment was one. For example, the number of the support wires 12 included in the quenching tool 1 of the second embodiment may be two.
In the quenching tool 1A of the second embodiment, the second support member was formed of a metal wire rod such as a wire. The second support member may be a round rod or the like having a desired rigidity.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-043935 | Mar 2022 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2023/008122 | 3/3/2023 | WO |
