SPRAY QUENCH SYSTEMS FOR HEAT TREATED METAL PRODUCTS

Abstract

A spray quench system is provided with one or more spray quench rings that eject a controlled volume of spray onto a workpiece passing through the quench rings. The quench rings can be adjusted in position independently of each other relative to the workpiece being sprayed. Reflected spray guards may be provided to prevent spray interference between adjacent quench rings. The outlets of the quench rings may be adjustable in volume. A controller can be provided to optimize the distribution of quench cooling flows from the quench rings. Sets of quench rings with different diameters in each set may be provided in modular form.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing brief summary, as well as the following detailed description of the invention, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings exemplary forms of the invention that are presently preferred; however, the invention is not limited to the specific arrangements and instrumentalities disclosed in the following appended drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one example of a quench ring used in the spray quench system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one example of a plurality of quench rings used in the spray quench system of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of one example of two quench rings of the spray quench system of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of one example of three quench rings of the spray quench system of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of one example of two quench rings of the spray quench system of the present invention with one quench ring having an extended spray guard.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one example of a plurality of quench rings in the spray quench system of the present invention wherein the plurality of quench rings are attached to a support structure.

Claims

1. A quench ring for ejecting quenchant onto a workpiece passing through the quench ring, the quench ring comprising: an outer ring element having at least one exterior opening for connection to a supply of quenchant; andan inner ring element at least partially inserted into the outer ring element to form a quench ring plenum for receiving the supply of quenchant from the at least one exterior opening, the inner ring element having an outlet passage for ejecting quenchant from the plenum, the plenum and outlet passage having an adjustable volume controlled by an adjustable separating distance between the inner and outer ring elements.

2. The quench ring of claim 1 wherein one or more fasteners joining the inner and outer ring elements control the adjustable separating distance between the inner and outer ring elements.

3. The quench ring of claim 1 wherein the outlet passage comprises an annular opening with generally conically walls.

4. The quench ring of claim 1 wherein the outlet passage comprises one or more angularly segmented conical flow sections.

5. The quench ring of claim 1 further comprising a support structure having means for changing the location of the central axis of the quench ring.

6. A quench ring assembly for ejecting quenchant onto a workpiece passing through the quench ring assembly comprising: two or more quench rings, each of the two or more quench rings comprising: an outer ring element having at least one exterior opening for connection to a supply of quenchant; andan inner ring element at least partially inserted into the outer ring element to form a quench ring plenum for receiving the supply of quenchant from the at least one exterior opening, the inner ring element having an outlet passage for ejecting quenchant from the plenum, the plenum and outlet passage having an adjustable volume controlled by an adjustable separating distance between the inner and outer ring elements; anda support structure for mounting the two or more quench rings.

7. The quench ring assembly of claim 6 wherein the support structure further comprises means for changing the distance between two or more of the two or more quench rings.

8. The quench ring assembly of claim 6 wherein the support structure further comprises means for changing the location of the central axis of at least one of the two or more quench rings.

9. The quench ring assembly of claim 6 wherein the quench ring assembly comprises a module.

10. The quench ring assembly of claim 6 further comprising a spray guard associated with the exterior of either the inner or outer ring of at least one of the two or more quench rings, the spray guard positioned to prevent interference of a reflected spray from the workpiece with the quenchant ejected from the at least of the two or more quench rings, the reflected spray supplied from the outlet passage of an adjacent one of the two or more quench rings.

11. The quench ring assembly of claim 10 wherein the spray guard is adjustably located from the exterior surface of either the inner or outer ring of the at least one of the two or more quench rings.

12. A method of quenching a workpiece comprising the steps of: passing the workpiece through a quench ring comprising an outer ring element and inner ring element, the inner and outer ring elements axially adjustable in distance from each other to define a plenum and a variable volume outlet passage formed between the inner and outer ring elements;supplying a quenchant to an opening in the outer ring element, the opening in communication with the plenum; andejecting the quenchant from the output passage onto the surface of the workpiece.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of adjusting the distance between the inner and outer ring elements to change the volume of the outlet passage.

14. A method of quenching a workpiece comprising the steps of: passing the workpiece through a quench ring assembly comprising two or more quench rings, each of the two or more quench rings having an outer ring element and inner ring element, the inner and outer ring elements axially adjustable in distance from each other to define a plenum and a variable volume outlet passage formed between the inner and outer ring elements;supplying a quenchant to an opening in the outer ring element of each of the two or more quench rings, the opening in communication with the plenum of its associated quench ring; andejecting the quenchant from the output passage of each of the two or more quench rings onto the surface of the workpiece.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of adjusting the distance between the inner and outer ring elements of at least one of the two or more quench rings to change the volume of the outlet passage of the at least one quench ring.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of dynamically adjusting the distance between at least two adjacent quench rings of the at least two or more quench rings responsive to the mass cooling requirement of the workpiece passing through the quench ring assembly.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of dynamically adjusting the location of the central axis of at least one quench ring of the at least two or more quench rings responsive to the location of the central axis of the workpiece passing through the at least one quench ring.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of dynamically adjusting the location of a spray guard positioned external to either the inner or outer ring element of one quench of the at least two quench rings to deflect reflected spray from the workpiece resulting from quenchant ejected from the outlet passage of an adjacent one of the two or more quench rings responsive to the mass cooling requirement of the workpiece passing through the quench ring assembly.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of dynamically adjusting the volume of the outlet passage of at least one of the at least two quench rings responsive to the mass cooling requirement of the workpiece passing through the quench ring assembly.

20. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of modularly replacing the quench ring assembly.