US1742739A - Tempering machine - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 7, 1930. B. H. URSCHEL TEMPERI NG MACHINE Filed Oct. 31, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 3mm" fox 1930. B. H. URSCHEL 1,742,739

TEMPERING MACHINE Filed Oct. 31. 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 B. H. URSCHEL TEMPERING MACHINE Filed Oct. 31. 1928 R Q "W F w Q EYN w 74 x Jan. 7, 1930.

Jan. 7 1930. H R H 1,742,739

TEMPERING MACHINE Filed Oct. 51. 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 lllllllllllllll! grvuewliot Jan. 7, 1930.

B. H. URSCHEL 1,742,739 TEMPERING MACHINE Filed Oct. 31 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 HEIEI gnuc'ntoz Gum nu Patented Jan. 7, 1930 BERTIS'H. URSCHEL, or BOWLING GREEN, orgro TEMPERIN G MACHINE Application. filed October 31,- 1928. Serial No.'316,265.

My invention'has for its object to provide a machine for heat treating objects of different kinds, such as for tempering forgings, wherein parts of the objects, during the heat treatment, are secured in definite positions relative to each other, while 'other parts of the object are permitted limited movements during the contraction of the objects while cooling. The invention particularly has for its object to provide a means for securing parts of forgings in definite positions relative to each other while the forgings are being tempered.

The invention provides a plurality of clamping members for'clamping parts of the object. The clamping members are, preferabl'y, operated by hydraulic pressure in order, to provide a means that may be easily controlled and has suflicient force to withstand any distortion or want of conformation to definite specifications by reason of the strains that are set up in the object during its rapid cooling. Machines containing myinvention are provided. with a trough having anvils I which are so located as to receive the parts of the object which are to be confined or forced to certain points that are in definite relation to each other. The machines are also provided with clamping members that'may be operated to secure the parts of the forging' in advance of the tempering operations. The machines are also provided with a means for rapidly submerging the forging in a suitable 'tempering liquid and quickly removing the forging from the liquid, as by rapid evacuation of the liquid from the trough,whereby all parts of the forgings maybe subjected to the action of the cooling liquid during substantially the same period of time. Thus the 40 invention provides a machine whereby forgings having very definite specifications as to dimensions and relative locations of parts may be rapidly tempered and made to conform to certain specifications, both as to shape and as to temper.

The invention may be contained in machines that vary in their details of construction and, to illustrate a practical application of the invention, I have selected a machine for tempering crank shafts of the type commonly used in connection with internal combustion engines, such as are commonly used in automobile engines, and shall describe it hereinafter. The tempering -machine selected for purposes of illustration is shown in the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 of the drawings is a perspective view of the machine, a part being shown in section in order to illustrate details of the construction. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a sixcylinder engine crank shaft of the type that may be heat treated in the machine illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top view of the machine. Fig. 4 is a view of a. longitudinal section of the machine taken on the plane of the line 44 indicated in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a view of a' section taken on the plane of the line 5 5 indicated in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a view of a section taken on the plane of the line 6-6 indicated in Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a view of a section taken on the plane of the line 7-7 indicated in Fig. 5. F ig. 8 illustrates an enlarged view of a part of the machine in order that the parts of the machine that permit only limited movements of parts of the crank shaft during the cooling of the crank shaft may be shown. Fig. 9 is a rear view of'the machine, the IGSEIVOlIIOf the temperingliquid being shown in section.

The'particular machine shown in the drawings is made in the formof a trough 1 in which crank shafts, such as the crank shaft 2, illustrated in Fig. 2, may be readily placed.

The operative parts of the machine are so formed that they may be readily retracted B5 or located so that the crank shaft 2 may be easily inserted in position in the trough 1 while at the desired temperature. The trough 1 is thus provided with a bridge or false bottom 3 of heavy construction to form'asupporting bed for the crank shaft 2. The bridge 3 is provided with a plurality of movable blocks 4 which have the anvils 5 that are so disposed as to receive the bearing parts 6 of the crank shaft 2. Preferably, the anvils 5 have convex upper surfaces 11' into which the bearing parts 6 are set. The blocks 4 are supported for movements along the bridge or false bottom 3 by means of a plurality of rollers 7 located in recesses 8 formed in the bottom 3 of the trough 1. Thus, as part of V the crank shaft 2 contracts the blocks 4 move along the bridge or false bottom 3.

The bridge or false bottom 3 of the trough 1 is provided With an upwardly extending wall 15 that is also provided with a pair of anvils 16 having concaveend surfaces 17 for receiving the cylindrical bearing parts 18 of the crank shaft 2 when the crank shaft 2 is placed on the anvils 5. The anvils 16 are formed integral with, or are secured to, the plate 19 which is bolted to the wall 15. Since the bearing parts 18 are located centrally with respect to the bearing parts 6 of the crank shaft 2, the anvils 16 may be made stationary while the anvils 5 permit contracting movements of the parts of the crank shaft 2 between the bearing parts 18 and the bearing parts 6. When the crank shaft 2 has been placed in this position, clamping members 25 and 35 are moved from the rear wall of the trough 1 and so as to be located in position to make contact with the bearing.

part-s 6 and 18 of the crank shaft 2.

The clamping members 25 are secured to a plate 26 that is bolted to a head 27 of a piston 28 that is movable-in a cylindrical shell 29 secured in an enlarged part of the rear wall of the trough 1. The piston 28 is operated hydraulically to produce a considerable stroke in order that the clamping members 25 may be withdrawn a material distance from the anvils 16 to permit ready placement and withdrawal of the crank shafts 2. The piston 28 being operated hydraulically, the clamping members 25 will be forced towards the anvils 16 with considerable pressure so as to securely hold the bearing parts 18 against the anvils 16 during the tempering operation of the crank shaft 2.

The clamping members 35, formed with convex cylindrical end surfaces 36, are secured to, or formed integrally with, plates 37 which are bolted to the heads 38. The pistons 39 are located in cylindrical shells 40 formed on the ends of arms 41 that are slidably supported in housings 42. The housings 42 are bolted to a shelf 34 formed on the upper edge of the rear wall of the trough 1. The arms 41 are connected to pistons 43 by means of vertically disposed piston pins 44 that extend through the rear ends of the arms 41 and through the piston rods 45. The pistons 43 are located in cylinders 46 that are bolted to the rear ends of the housings 42 and the piston rods 45 and the cylinders 46 are so formed as to give considerable stroke to each of the pistons 43 in order to afford considerable lateral displacement of the clamping members 35 relative to the anvils 5. Thus the clamping members 35 and 25 are withdrawn well away from the anvils 5 and 16 in order to afford a good clearance for the ready removal and replacement of the crank shafts 2.

In order to permit limited movement of the clamping members 35, which movement is necessitated by the contraction of the parts intermediate the bearings 6 and the bearings 18, the arms 41 and the shells 42 are formed to have a slight clearance between the sides of the arms 41 and the sides of the shells 42 located nearer to the clamping members 25. As the crank shaft 2 cools and the parts intermediate the bearings 6 and 18 contract, the members 35 will move towards the clamping members 25 which will also carry with them the anvils 5 towards the fixed anvils 16 within the limits of the clearance. In order to permit the endwise movement of the clamping members 35 with respect to the longitudinal axis of the crank shaft without undue restriction, the shells 42 are provided with suitable recesses 50 in which are located a pair of bearing plates 51 and roller bearings 52. The recess 50 is located in the upper wall of the shell 42 and the bearing parts are formed to sustain the thrust produced by the clamping action of the anvils 5 against the bearing parts 6 of the crank shaft 2.

The clearance between the arms 41 and the side walls of the shell 42 as shown in Fig. 8 is such as to permit and limit the movement of the bearing parts 6 of the crank shaft 2 so as to locate their centers in transverse planes extending at right angles to the axis of the bearing parts at desired distances apart. The anvils 5 and 16 operate to maintain the said planes at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the crank shaft 2. Thus the bearing parts 6 and 18 are maintained in the definite positions which are determined by the distances between the centers of the engine cylinders in connection with which each crank shaft is used.

In order to locate the clamping members 35 in position so that when the pistons 39 descend, the clamping members 35 will engage the bearing parts 6, when the crank shaft 2 is at a high temperature, the clamping members are swung apart by suitable springs 55 that are located in recesses 56 formed on the insides of the shells 42 and in the lateral walls located nearer to each other. The springs 55 are secured to the lateral walls of the shells 42 and when the clamping members 35 are released from the bearing parts 6, after the crank shaft 2 has become cooled, the springs 55 operate to swing the arms 41 on the pivot pins 44 against the outer lateral walls of the shells 42. Thus, the clamping members 35 located in position so as to engage the bearing parts 6 of the succeeding in the trough 1.

In order that the ends of the crank shaft 2 may be centered with respect to the longitudinal major axis of the crank shaft 2, a pair of centering heads 60, having fingers 61, are located in cylindrical shells 63, that are positioned in enlargements of the end walls of the trough 1, so that the fingers 61 will engage the ends of the crank shaft 2. In the particular form of the crank shaft shown in F i 2, one end of the crank shaft 2 is provifed with a disc 64 and the heads 60, located in one end wall of the trough 1, are so disposed as to engage the periphery of the disc 64. The heads 60 are operated by means of pistons 65 that are located in cylinders 66 that are threaded onto the enlargements 67 formed on the end walls of the trough 1. Springs 68 are located intermediate the pistons 65 and the heads 60 and on rods 69 that are connected to the pistons 65 and extend through the heads 60. The length of the rods 69 is such that the inner ends of the rods 69 will be located within the heads 60 and so as not to interfere with the engagement of the ends of the crank shaft 2 when the heads 60 are moved inward withrespect to the trough 1 by the operation of the pistons 65 to compress the springs 68 against the head 60 and move the heads inward to engage the ends of the crank shaft. On further movement inward of the pistons 65, the rods 69 will be moved against the ends of the crank shaft 2 which are now engaged by the fingers 61. The ends of the rods 69 are made conical and, the crank shaft 2 being hot when first placed in position, will form centeringpoints for subsequent machining or manipulation of the crank shafts 2. When it is desired to remove the crank shafts 2 after they have been treated or tempered, the pistons 65 and the rods 69 are retracted, to remove the conical ends of the rods 69 and the fingers 60 from the ends of the crank shaft 2. The rods 69 are provided with short sleeves 70 that are secured to the rods 69 and as the rods 69 are retracted from the crank shaft 2, the sleeves 70 engage .plates 71 located on the outer ends of the head 60 and remove the head 60 and the fingers 61 from engaging relation with the crank shaft 2. The short sleeves 70 also operate to guide the rods 69 within the heads 60 for accurately centering the center points in the ends of the axle 2.

The centering of the ends of the crank shaft 2 is, preferably, accomplished by means of pneumatic pressure exerted on the pistons 65. The ends of the heads 60, other than those having the fingers 61, are provided with reduced portions 29 so as to provide air spaces, as at 30. Rings 31 are located in grooves formed in the cylinders 63 and near the inner ends of the cylinders 63. The heads 60 slidably fit in the rings 31 and the plates 71 slidably fit in the cylinders 63. When it is desired to return the heads to their original position, that is, in a non-engaging position with the crank shaft 2, air may be introduced into the spaces 30, through pipes 32 and openings 33. As the rings 31 are secured in the walls of the cylinders 63 the pressure will be exerted on the surfaces of the plates 71 around the heads 60 and force the heads 60 toward the pistons 65. The plates 71 will engage the springs 68 which will shift the rods 69 and the pistons'65 outwardly. The cylinders 66 and the air spaces 30 surround ing the head 60, are connected to high pressure pipes 75 and 32, respectively, which lead to a source of supply of air under pressure and the communication of the source of supply may be controlled by a suitable valve, such as the four-way valve 76.

When, therefore, each crank shaft 2 has been placed in position and while it is still hot, the valve 76 is opened to the pipes 75 which causes quick movements of the pistons 65 and, consequently, immediate alignment of the ends of the crank shaft 2, as well as of the formation of centers in the ends of the crank shaft 2 by the conical ends of the rods 69. The pistons 39 and 28, operating the clamping members 35 and 25, however, are, preferably, operated hydraulically, both to clamp the bearing parts of the crank shaft 2 and to withdraw the clamps to such positions that the crank shafts may be readily placed in and removed from the trough 1. Thus the piston 28 is operated hydraulically by water that is supplied through the pipe 77 and water exhausted from the cylinder 29 through the pipe 78. To move the piston 28 in the opposite direction, the reverse movement of the water is created within the pipes 77 and 78. In order to operate the pistons 39, a similar direct and reverse flow is created in the pipes 79 and 80. Inasmuch as the pistons 39 are located in cylinders 40, that are shifted by means of the pistons 43, the portions of the pipes that are directly connected to the cylinders 40, are made flexible to allow for the 1011- gitudinal movements of the arms 41 in the shells 42 by the operations of the pistons 43. The pistons 43 are also operated hydraulically by similar direct and reverse movements of water in the pipes 81 and 82, which operate alternately as pressure pipes and exhaust pipes. The pipes 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, and 82, are operated in pairs and controlled by four-way valves 85 which alternately establish connections with the source of supply of water under pressure or with the water outlet pipe. Thus a free movement of the pistons is permitted when they are subject to the pressure of the source of supply, either to produce the direct movement of the pistons or to produce the reverse movements, that is, either to cause the pistons to locate the clamping members in position to engage the bearings and to cause the clamping members to clamp the bearings of the axle against the anvils, or

ltlt) to locate the clamping members in a position so as to readily permit removal of the crank shaft from the trough.

In order that the crank shafts may be quickly submerged and withdrawn from the tempering liquid, a means is provided for permitting the influx of a large volume of liquid into the trough 1 in a very short time. In order to prevent overflow of the trough 1, a definite amount or quantity of the liquid is substantially measured in advance of flooding the trough 1 in a separate container, which is controlled by a valve that affords a large outlet for the liquid from the container into the trough 1. Thus a tempering liquid, such as water, is directed into the container 90 through the pipe 91 which may be controlled by means of the valve 92 and until the liquid passes out through the overflow pipe 94 which operates to measure the quantity of liquid that is retained in the container 90. The container 90 has an outlet through the pipe 95 that is connected to the bottom of the container 90 and to one of the end walls of the trough 1 at a point below the bridge or false bottom 3. The outlet of the container 90, through the pipe 95, is controlled by means of the valve 96 which may be manipulated by means of a suitable lever 95' that is connected to the valve 96 by means of the rod The bridge 3 or false bottom of the trough 1 prevents the immediate washing of the heated crank shaft 2 during the influx of the liquid which would otherwise cause local chilling of the crank shaft 2. The bridge or false bottom 3 operates as a bafile to cause substantially uniform submergence of the crank shaft 2 throughout its length. \Vhen the crank shaft 2 has been subjected to the chilling effect of the liquid for a definite period of time, the liquid is rapidly withdrawn through a large outlet 97 which is controlled by the manually operated valve 98. The outlet 97 is also located in the end wall of the trough 1 and below the bridge or false bottom 3. The outlet 97 when opened, establishes communication between the bottom of the trough 1 and the interior of a box 99 that is bolted to the end of the trough 1. A pipe 100 of large diameter communicates with the interior of the box 99 to permit free flow of the liquid from the box 99 and, consequently, from the trough 1 when the valve 98 is open. The valve 98 is spring pressed by means of the spring 101 and is operated by a lever 102 which is connected to the rod 103 that is in turn connected to the valve 98. The box 99 is proi'ded with bosses '104 in which a bearing sleeve 105 is located and through which the rod 103 slidably moves when operated by the lever 102 to open the valve 98 and when operated by the spring 101 to close the' valve 98.

Thus, by my invention, have provided a means for rapidly tempering objects, such as crank shafts or axles, while at the same time maintaining parts, such as the bearing parts of a crank shaft, in exact axial alignment with respect to the centers of the cylinders of the engines or the centers of supporting parts of axles at specified points and in specified relation.

I claim:

1. In a machine for tempering an object, a plurality of clamping members for clamping parts of the object to maintain the said parts in definite relation with respect to other parts of the objects, means for securing one of the clamping members substantially stationary, and means for supporting one of the clamping members for movements limited as to direction as the object is cooled.

2. In a machine for tempering an object, a plurality of clamping members for clamping parts of the object to maintain the said parts in definite relation with respect to their location about a central axis, means for securing one of the clamping members substantially stationary, and means for supporting one set of clamping members for limited movements in the direction of the central axis of the object as the object is cooled.

3. In a machine for tempering an object, a plurality of sets of clamping members for clamping parts of the object to maintain the said parts in definite relation with respect to their location about a central axis, means for securing one set of clamping members substantially stationary, and means for supporting the other sets of clamping members for movements in the direction of the (entral axis as the object is cooled, the first named set of clamping members located near a central part of the object and the second named sets of clamping members located to secure parts of the object on opposite sides of the first named set.

4. In a machine for tempering an object, a plurality of sets of clamping members for clamping parts of the object for maintaining the said parts in de-'inite relation with respect to their location about a central axis, means for securing one set of clamping members substantially stationary, and means for supporting the other sets of clamping members for limiting movements towards the first named clamping members and in the direction of the central axis of the object as the object is cooled, the first named set of clampin members located near a central part of the ob ect and the second named sets of clamping members located to secure parts of the object on opposite sides of the first named set.

5. In a machine for tempering objects, a trough, a plurality ofv anvils for supporting the object, one of the anvils slidably supported relative to the trough, a plurality of clamping members for securing the object to the anvils, and means for limiting the movements of the part of the object clamped to the movable anvil produced While the object is cooled.

6. In a machine for tempering objects, a trough, a plurality of anvils for supporting the object, a plurality of clamping members for clamping the object to the anvils, means for shifting the clamping members laterally relative to the anvils, and means for moving the clamping members to clamp parts of the object to the anvils, one of the anvils slidably supported relative to the trough, and means for limiting the movements of the part of the object clamped to the movable anvil While the object is cooling.

7. In a machine for tempering objects, a trough, a plurality of anvils for supporting the object, a plurality of clamping members for clamping the object to the anvils, means for shifting the clamping members laterally relative to the anvils, and means for moving the clamping members to clamp parts of the object to the anvils, means for securing one of the anvils and one of the clamping members, and means for movably supporting one of the anvils and one of the clamping members.

8. In a machine for tempering objects, a trough, a plurality of anvils for supporting the object, a plurality of clamping members for clamping the object to the anvils, means for shifting the clamping members laterally relative to the anvils, and means for moving the clamping members to clamp parts of the object to the anvils, means for securing one of the anvils and one of the clamping members, and means for movably supporting one of the anvils and one of the clamping members, and means for limiting the movements of the last named anvils and clamping members.

9. In a machine for tempering objects, a trough, a plurality of anvils for supporting the object,apluralityofclampingmembers for clamping the object to the anvils, means for shifting the clamping members laterally relative to the anvils, means for movingthe clamping members to clamp parts of the object to the anvils, means for securing one of the anvils and one of the clamping members, and means for movably supporting the other of the anvils and clamping members, the last named anvils and clamping members being located on opposite sides of the first named clamping member and anvil.

10. In a machine for tempering objects, a trough, a plurality of anvils for supporting the object, a plurality of clamping members for clamping the object to the anvils, means for shifting the clamping members laterally relative to the anvils, means for moving the clamping members to clamp parts of the object to the anvils, means for securing one of the anvils and one of the clamping members, means for movably supporting the other of the anvils and clamping members, the last In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

BERTIS H. URSCHEL.

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