US2494361A - Liquid treating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Jan. '10, 1950 H. E. SCARBROUGH ET AL 2,494,361

LIQUID TREATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 28, 1945 ghv um. 5 w 0 tw nc wsn m I m r. PO aN H y b Th e'nr Attorh ey.

Patented Jan. 10, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT] OFFICE QUI TREA G APPARATUS Harry E; Scarbrough; Chicago, Ill., and Norman B. Jones, Ballston Lake, N. Y., assignors to GenggllkElectric Company, a-corporation of New Application August 28, 195;,j"Serial No. 613,094 1 fjg'cjaims (cider-133) 7 Our invention relates to liquid treating appaiquenching'liquid in the tankupward through the ratus, more particularly totank apparatusfor quenching metallic articles, such as-inzthehardening of steel articles, and has for itsobject simple and inexpensive means for minimizing. the splashing of the quench'liquid whenthe articles are dropped into it. V

Y In carrying out our invention we provide means located below the surface of the quench liquid for circulating the quench liquid so as to form a. high velocity deflecting curtain under the surface of the liquid whereby turbulence is created in the liquid and splashing is minimized.

This splashing of the quenching liquid is especially disadvantageous when the heated articles are dropped from a heating furnace through an aperture in the lower wall of the furnace and a chute directly intdthe quench tank. Infsuch installations the liquid has a tendency to splash upward for a very considerable distance and into the heating chamber where it vaporizes and produces carbon deposits which are very objectionable and may be the cause of failure of the h'eating apparatus. I

For a more complete understanding of our'invention reference should be had to the accom panying drawing, Fig. 1 of which is a fragmentary sectional view of the heat-treating apparatusembodying our invention, Fig. 2- is an enlarged fragmentary bottom view taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1, while Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 3--3 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawing, we have shown our invention in one form in connection with a heating furnace having heat-refractory walls I form ing a closed heating chamber in which is mounted suitable heating means, such as electric heating resistors (not shown). The articles to be heated are carried on a conveyor 2 extending lengthwise of the furnace and conveying the articles from the left toward the right, as indicated by the arrows. At the righthand end of the conveyor the articles drop through an opening 3 in the bottom wall of the furnace and in a predetermined vertical path through a vertical pipe or chute 4, into a liquid tank 5. As shown the bottom wall of the furnace is suitably connected around the opening 3 to the upper end of the chute. In the tank is a suitable quenching liquid, such as oil, maintained at a suitable level indicated by the dotted line 6, To form a seal against the ingress of air through the chute 4 into the furnace, the chute is extended a short distance below the surface of the liquid.

For the purpose of preventing splashing of the chute into the furnace chamber when the articles are dropped into-the'quench tank, we provide a high velocity curtain of the quenching liquid or oil across the lower submerged end of the chute; This curtain of'liquid is setup by means of: a pump 1 driven by a suitable electric'motor (not shown) "for withdrawing a quantity of the liquid from the tank through an intake-pipe 8 and forcing it back into the-tank through a pipe 9. The pipe 9 is providedwith .two parallel closed end branches ill'and I-l mounted below the surface of the liquid on opposite sides of the lower end of the chute 4, these branches being provided each with a series of holes (Fig.- 2) in its inner side, i; e., the side opposite the other branch, whereby the liquid from the pump is forced in jets 12 from these holes across the lower end of the, chute 4. As shown in Fig. 2, the branches are provided respectively with holes Illa and I la. Preferably, the jets of "liquid are directed downward at an angle of substantially 30 degrees withthe horizontal.

The opposed jets of liquid create a high velocity movement of the liquid in the tank horizontally and downwards across the lower end of the chute whereby a high velocity oil curtain is formed under the surface of the liquid acros the lower end of the chute, together with turbulence of the liquid in'the lower end of the chute, which minimizes splashing upwards in the chute. The liquid in the lower end of the chute is given a somewhat downward circulating movement as well as a horizontal movement with rippling of the surface of the liquid. This motion of the liquid minimizes splashing in itself and, in the event of any limited amount of splashing, the splashed liquid continues its horizontal movement and strikes the wall of the chute before reaching the furnace chamber. Preferably as shown, the chute is water cooled to prevent the vaporization of any splashed liquid, a water jacket l3 being shown around the chute.

The inlet pipe 8 is connected to withdraw liquid from a cooler intermediate zone of the tank. An inclined conveyor I4 is provided by means of which the cooled articles are lifted out of the quench tank.

For the purpose of prolonging the cooling period and to prevent nicking and deformation of the hot articles, we provide a plurality of resilient walls or plates for bouncing the articles in a zigzag path downward through the tank as described and claimed in a copending application, Serial No. 612,388, filed by Norman B. Jones and August R. Ryan on August 24, 1945, assigned to the same assignee as this application.

As shown, three plates 95, I6, and I1 are provided arranged at right angles with each other. The plate 15 is mounted just below the chute in a substantially 45 degree angle with the vertical. A hot article dropped through the. chute I, as indicated by the arrows;-strikes-the plate l5 from. which it bounces toward the right and downward any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of our invention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. Liquid treating apparatus comprising a tank for containing a quantity of liquid, a chute extending: downward into; said tank; through which articles: aredropped into sa-id tank, a conduit in said tank adjacent the lower end of said chute and onto the plate 16 and then back to the left onto rm below the surface of the liquid in said tank, and

the plate ll. From the lowermost plate 11. the article bounces toward the right into engagement with a pivoted hanging hinged. plate 128: from' which the article is deflected; downward onto a:

second hinged plate I9 having a-horizontal pivot 20. The free end of the plate 19 rides on the lower end of the inclined conveyorlksolthatthearticlel rolls from the plate I9 onto the conveyor. Preferably the bounce plates and the hingedpivot.

plates 18 and 19 are provided each with a layer of resilientmaterial.v preferably made of a: synthetic; oil resisting: rubber. As-shown, the plate 1:5. is: providedwith a. layer 21;; of. rubber on: which the articles fall and similar rubberfllayersuare providedon' the-plates I-.6 ,,,.l 1-,; l-8- and t9; Each plate, for example, lmay bemade of 54;" steel material covered with, a. 1: thick layer or rubher; Preferably, the 'rubber layer issuitably' vulcanized to the: steel-,althoughthe two-may be se cured together by bolts or-rivets. Preferably;- the pump'i-liS provided with a sec; ondoutlet pipe- 2-2 which extends into the; lower end of the tank belowthaplate- I! for the purpose of creating an; upward circulation of the heated oil. This-pipe 22%terminatesina horizontal closed endlportionasecuredtothelower-side of thebounce plate 51 and: proyidedawith a series. of apertures- 23- registeringwith similar apertures 25a: in. the bounce plate.) The liquid is; forced by: thezpump through theseaperturese Asecond. delivery chute 25: is provided'rextending vertical-1y downwardinto: the: upper end of. the tanhthroughwhich additional articles maybe dropped or lowered into the; tank. if; desired.

While we have showna; particular embodiment. of our invention, it will, besunderstood, of. course, that we donot, wish. tobe limited. thereto since: many modifications: may be: made andwe there.- fore contemplate bythe'appended claimsto cover pump means connected to said conduit for supplying liquid to said conduit under a predeterminedz pressure, saidiconduit being provided with aperture? means for directing a curtain of liquid across tlie-lowerend of said chute thereby to preduits, said conduits being providedwith-apertures in their adjacent walls'for directing: opposed jets of liquid 'i-na.downward direction across thelower end ofsaid chute thereby to-prevent splashing of the'liqu-idupwardinto" said chute by articles fall'- ing into sai'd ta-nk.

' HARRY E; SCARBROUGH.

. NORMAN B. JONES.

REFERENCES err-En The following: references: are of record in. the file of this. patent:

UNITED" STATES PATENTS Number Name 7 Date L,860,065- willardetial. May 24-, 1-932 2,063,784 Bechtel et al Dent, 1936 25 141,382 Fern- Dec. 257, 1938 2,246,615 Gronemeyer .-...J.-une 24 .19%]r 2,241,770 Cox; July- 1', L941 2,322,177 Purnell' J-unez29, 1943' Annesley' Aug. 1, 19%

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