EP0477117B1 - Modular flexible thermic treatment device - Google Patents

Abstract

Device comprising modules of oven type and modules of quenching or washing trough type, which are mutually compatible, characterised in that it consists chiefly, on the one hand, of a supporting structure (1) provided with at least one conveying portico (2), on the other hand, of at least one device (3, 4) for loading and unloading the different modules (6, 7) and, finally, of one or more control modules (8, 9) controlling the operation of the different elements (2 to 7) of which the said device consists and each comprising, if appropriate, a programmable automaton (10), it being possible for each module (6) of oven type to be routed, by means of a conveying portico (2), from a parking position during the treatment cycle of its load (1) towards any one of the modules (7) of the quenching or washing trough type, without any interruption in the said treatment cycle of the said load (11), this being while the placing of the next load (11) to be treated by the said module (6) of oven type is being prepared, it being additionally possible for one or more of the said modules (6, 7) to be simultaneously being loaded or having their load (11) restored. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to the field of heat treatment and relates to a flexible modular device for heat treatments.

There are currently mainly two types of heat treatment devices allowing several different heat treatments to be carried out.

We know, first of all, a device consisting of several ovens and several quenching tanks arranged in series, adjacent and alternately, each oven being placed between two quenching tanks. It follows that each quenching tank can only be served by the two adjacent ovens and that, likewise, each oven can only be unloaded in the two adjacent quenching tanks. In addition, the increase in the capacity or the diversification of said heat treatment device by the addition of additional ovens consequently entails, necessarily, the addition of additional quenching tanks, and therefore a substantial modification of the structure as well as a significant increase in the dimensions and cost of said devices.

There is also a heat treatment device composed of several ovens and several quenching tanks, the load to be treated can be moved in a plane and thus be transferred from a given oven to a given quenching tank.

However, it follows, therefore, on the one hand, that the part is always oxidized during the transfer and, on the other hand, that it is impossible to load an oven when a load is in transfer course.

Document EP-A-0 023 546 discloses a method and a device for modifying the microstructure and / or for developing the surface of metals.

The device described in this document notably comprises a support structure and a crane and a transport carriage for the load to be treated.

However, this device only comprises a single stationary oven, associated with several treatment tanks movable on wheels, provided with loading and unloading devices.

In addition, these tanks each include an autonomous motorization device and a device for recovering the own charge.

Furthermore, document AT-A-167 102 describes a device for annealing, quenching and frying bars, sections and conduits of iron and non-noble metals.

This device consists of a vertical oven movable in a horizontal plane by means of a rolling mechanism and cooperating with a supply container and quenching and cooling containers, produced in the form of pits.

For the treatment of the load in the oven, the latter must be installed above a particular pit comprising the means necessary for the annealing of the load. The heat treatment of these cannot, therefore, be continued during the transfer of the load to the quenching or cooling pits.

The problem posed by the present invention is therefore to design a flexible heat treatment device, easily expandable, composed of oven type modules and modules of quenching or washing tank type and presenting a compact constitution, said device having to allow, moreover, on the one hand, to carry out a maximum number of different heat treatments, without interruption, with a given number of modules, and, on the other hand, to maximize the times d '' use of ovens while minimizing times for changing the treatment cycle and transferring and placing loads.

This problem is precisely solved thanks to the flexible modular device for thermal treatments comprising modules of the oven type and modules of the quenching or washing tank type, mutually compatible, and mainly consisting, on the one hand, of a support structure provided at least one transport gantry, on the other hand, by one or more control modules controlling the operation of the various elements constituting said modular device and each comprising, where appropriate, a programmable controller, and finally, by at least one device for loading and unloading of the various modules composed, on the one hand, of movable shutter elements implementing and maintaining the load in the oven-type modules, on the other hand, of mobile supports arranged in the quenching or washing tank type modules allowing the transfer of loads from the oven type modules to the quenching tank type modules e or washing, as well as the draining of said loads after soaking or washing, and finally, of at least one manipulator carriage carrying out the loading of the movable obturation elements and the unloading of the movable support elements, each oven type module capable of being conveyed by means of a gantry crane from a parking position, during the load treatment cycle, to any of the modules of the quenching or washing tank type, without any interruption of said treatment cycle of said charge, while the establishment of the next load to be treated by said oven-type module is being prepared, one or more of the said other modules being able, moreover, to be simultaneously loading or restoring their load.

• la figure 1 est une vue en élévation latérale du dispositif conforme à l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue schématique en plan du dispositif représenté à la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une demi vue en coupe d'un module de type four chargé, représenté à la figure 2, durant le cycle de traitement, et,
• la figure 4 est une demi vue en coupe d'un module de type four et d'un module de type bac de tremps ou de lavage, représentés à la figure 2, durant la phase de déchargement du module de type four.

The invention will be better understood from the description below, which relates to a preferred embodiment, given by way of nonlimiting example, and explained with reference to the appended schematic drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the device according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of the device shown in Figure 1;
• FIG. 3 is a half section view of a loaded oven type module, represented in FIG. 2, during the treatment cycle, and,
• FIG. 4 is a half section view of an oven type module and of a time or washing tank type module, shown in FIG. 2, during the unloading phase of the oven type module.

In accordance with the invention, and as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 of the appended drawings, the flexible modular device for thermal treatments comprises modules 6 of oven type and modules 7 of type of quenching or washing tank, compatible with each other. , and is mainly constituted, on the one hand, by a support structure 1 provided with at least one transport gantry 2, on the other hand, by one or more control modules 8, 9 controlling the operation of the different elements 2 to 7 constituting said modular device and each comprising, where appropriate, a programmable controller 10, and finally, by at least one device 3, 4, 5 for loading and unloading of the different modules 6, 7 comprises, on the one hand, d movable shutter elements 4 carrying out the positioning and maintenance of the load 11 in the modules 6 of the oven type, on the other hand, of mobile support elements 5 arranged in the modules 7 of the quenching or washing tank type allowing the transfer of the loads 11 from the modules 6 of the oven type to the modules 7 of the quenching or washing tank type, as well as the draining of said loads 11 after soaking or washing, and finally, at least one manipulator carriage 3 carrying out the loading of the movable shutter elements 4 and the unloading of the support elements mobile 5, each module 6 of the oven type being able to be conveyed by means of a transport gantry 2 from a parking position, during the load treatment cycle 11, to any of the modules 7 of the bin type quenching or washing, without any interruption of said treatment cycle for said charge 11, while the next charge 11 to be treated by said module 6 of the oven type is being prepared, one or more others of said modules 6, 7 can ant, moreover, being simultaneously loading or restoring their charge 11.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, the modules 7 of the quenching or washing tank type are arranged side by side and aligned in the support structure 1, the modules 6 being oven type arranged in a similar manner parallel to said modules 7 of the quenching or washing tank type, but in a different horizontal plane.

As also shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 of the appended drawings, the modules 6 of the oven type have a vertical structure and are provided with an opening 12 on their underside, the modules 7 of the quenching or washing tank type having an opening 13 corresponding on their upper face.

In accordance with a characteristic of the invention, shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings, the oven-type modules 6 comprise, in particular, on the one hand, an inner lining 14 made of ceramic fibers, lined with an envelope 15 having high mechanical characteristics, on the other hand, a vacuum pump 16 for the change of controlled atmospheres, and, finally, a cooling turbine 17 supplying exchangers 18 opening out inside said oven-type modules 6. The oven-type modules 6, by serving different temperature ranges due to variable heating powers, depending, in particular, on the characteristics of their heating radiant elements 19, may be intended, in a preferred manner, each for specific heat treatments. Nevertheless, by the installation of vacuum pumps 16 and cooling turbine 17, fixed on the support structure 1 and connected to said modules 6, allowing rapid and controlled changes of temperatures and internal atmospheres, each module 6 of the type oven can carry out several different heat treatments, such as, for example, case hardening, annealing, nitriding, tempering, ceramic firing, ion nitriding and case hardening, etc., thereby limiting the number of modules 6 of the oven type necessary for carrying out the heat treatments which can be implemented in a given production unit. In addition, each module 6 of the oven type can be easily programmed for a series of heat treatment steps, by virtue of the control modules 9 provided with programmable controllers 10.

Similarly, the modules 7 of the quenching or washing tank type may be of various types, each corresponding to one or more specific treatments, such as, for example, oil, water or salt quenching tanks. , burnishing tank, pressurized gas quenching tank, ultrasonic washing tank filled with water or a chlorine solution, etc ...

As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4 of the accompanying drawings, each module 6 of oven type comprises, on the one hand, a bottom plate 20 pierced provided with several, preferably three, frustoconical feet 21 allowing the lift and the maintenance of said module 6 in the treatment phase in its parking position and in the unloading phase on the module 7 of the corresponding quenching or washing tank type, thanks to support points 22 of complementary shape, and, on the other hand, a plate upper 23 provided with at least one, preferably three, anchoring points 24 for the transport gantry 2.

It is thus possible, respectively, on the one hand, to facilitate the installation by the transport gantry 2 of said modules 6 of oven type and, on the other hand, to guarantee the plumbness of said module 6 during its transport in equipping it, for example, with adjustment cylinders.

So that the supply of modules 6 of the oven type, with energy and / or treatment fluids, as well as the control of the entirety of the treatment cycles of their load 11, can be carried out, both in the parking position of said modules 6, that during their transport to any of the modules 7 of the quenching or washing tank type, each module 6 of the oven type is provided with at least two connectors 25, 25 ′, namely, at least one connector lower 25, cooperating with a corresponding complementary connector 26 secured to the support structure 1 when said module 6 is in the parking position, and, at least one upper connector 25 'capable of cooperating with a corresponding complementary connector 26' mounted on the transport gantry 2, from the taking said module 6 into account by said transport gantry 2.

The connectors 25, 25 ', 26 and 26' therefore make it possible, by simple interlocking, to establish connections of very diverse nature such as, for example, electrical connection, connection of pipes for supplying treatment gas, connection for signal or data transmission, a contact detector capable of indicating to the control modules 8 and 9 the state of said connections. Thus, when a module 6 of the oven type is taken into account by the transport gantry 2 with a view to its routing to any of the modules 7 of the quenching or washing tank type, the establishment of the connection 25 '- 26' makes it possible to compensate for the break in the connection 25 - 26, the control module 8 of said transport gantry 2 being able, if necessary, to control the end of the load processing cycle 11, after transmission of the data corresponding by the control module 9 of said module 6 and this until the moment of transferring the load 11 into a module 7 of the quenching or washing tank type.

The aforementioned movable obturation elements 4 are advantageously in the form of plates 27 actuated by jacks 28 and extended by frustoconical bases 29, said elements 4 comprising, in addition, each, a seal 30 making it possible to isolate from sealed inside the oven-type module 6, as well as, if necessary, a turbine 31 for stirring the internal controlled atmosphere, the latter also being able to be placed directly in the module 6.

The manipulator carriage 3 advantageously comprises a load handling table 32, movable in rotation about a vertical axis Z and movable in translation along the same axis Z as well as in a direction Y perpendicular to the direction X of movement of said carriage manipulator 3 (Figures 1 and 2). The latter can thus deposit loads 11, stored in a storage location outside the support structure 1 or directly from a production unit, on the movable shutter elements 4, each linked to a parking position d 'A module 6 of oven type, or evacuate a load 11 of a movable support element 5 in the high position, after completion of the soaking and draining phases. To this end, and as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the appended drawings, the movable closure elements 4 as well as the movable support elements 5 are provided, on their upper face, with support pads 33 of the loads 11, allowing, respectively, to deposit or lift the loads 11 by means of said handling table 32.

In order to carry out the maintenance of the charges 11 in the modules 6 of the oven type, during the transport of the latter to the modules 7 of the quenching or washing tank type, the modules 6 of the oven type have pivoting hooks 34 disposed near the lower opening 12 of said module 6 and making it possible to maintain a load 11 inside said module 6 (FIGS. 3 and 4). The number of said hooks 34 and their arrangement inside said oven-type modules 6 depend on the shape and size of the loads 11. The replacement of said hooks 34 is greatly facilitated by their installation on a support plate 35 fixed to removably on the lower plate of said modules 6.

The loads 11 are, therefore, successively borne during their treatment, on the one hand, by the mobile shutter elements 4 during their heat treatment phase inside the modules 6 of the oven type, on the other hand, by the hooks 34 during the transport phase of said modules 6 to the modules 7, and, finally, by the mobile support elements 5 during their soaking or washing phases in the modules 7 and draining, when said mobile support elements 5 are in the high position.

In order to authorize the successive transfers of the loads 11, from a support element 4 or 34 to the following support element 34 or 5, the movable closure elements 4 are provided with lugs 36 making it possible to tilt the hooks 34 d 'an erased position (Figure 3, broken lines) to a retentive position (Figure 3, solid lines) against their frustoconical base 29, the movable support elements 5 having lateral tabs 37 pushing said hooks 34 into their erased position (Figure 4 , broken lines) when taking into account the loads 11 by said movable support elements 5.

The operation of the device according to the invention will now be presented more fully by the description of the route taken by a load 11 inside said device during a treatment cycle.

First of all, the load 11, waiting at a storage location, is conveyed by the handling trolley 3 to the parking position of the module 6 of the oven type chosen as a function of the treatment to be carried out and deposited on the movable element d shutter 4, in the lower position, corresponding. The latter then rises, introducing the charge 11 inside the module 6 of the chosen oven type and closing the lower orifice 12 in a sealed manner. The load 11 then undergoes the different phases of the heat treatment preprogrammed by the user, under the control of the corresponding control module 9 (FIG. 3).

When the heat treatment is finished or in the terminal phase, the transport gantry 2 is called by the control module 9 of the module 6 considered or, if necessary, by a programmable automaton controlling the entire heat treatment device. After connection of the upper plate 23 on the transport gantry 2, the movable obturation element is withdrawn depositing the load 11 on the angle ends of the hooks 34. The module 6 is then transported to the module 7 of the bin type. quenching or washing selected and deposited on the upper part of the latter. The mobile support element 5 of said module 7 is then introduced into the module 6, lifts the load 11, pushes the hooks 34 and, finally, extracts the load 11 from said module 6 to immerse it in said module 7. During the entire phase module 6 transport as well as during the transfer of the load 11 from the module 6 in the module 7, said load 11 remains in a controlled atmosphere, due to the continuous supply of said module 6 with fluids and the maintenance of a slight overpressure internal, thus avoiding any risk of oxidation. At the end of the quenching or washing operation, the movable support element 5 extracts the load 11 from said module 7 and keeps it in the open air to carry out its draining. Then, said load 11 is taken up by the carriage manipulator 3 and transported outside of said heat treatment device.

Of course, all of these operations are carried out in parallel for all the loads 11 present in said device, the number of these depending solely on the number of modules 6, 7 present in the heat treatment device.

The addition of new modules 6 or 7 can be carried out without major structural modification by the very fact of the constitution of said device according to the invention. Furthermore, from a certain number of modules 6, 7, it could also be envisaged to use several transport gantries 2 and / or several manipulator carts 3 in order to maximize the occupation times of said modules 6, 7 In addition, an extractor hood 38 can be placed on the support structure 1.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications remain possible, notably from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims (12)

1. Flexible modular device for heat treatments having mutually compatible oven-type modules (6) and quenching or washing tank type modules, and principally formed, firstly, by a support structure (1) provided with at least one conveyor gantry (2), secondly by one or more control modules (8, 9) controlling the operation of the different components (2 to 7) forming the said modular device and each having, where required, a programmable automatic controller (10) and, finally, by at least one device (3, 4, 5) for loading and unloading the different modules (6, 7) composed, firstly, of movable closure elements (4) effecting the positioning and holding of the load (11) in the oven-type modules (6), secondly of movable support elements (5) disposed in the quenching or washing tank type modules (7) enabling the loads (11) to be transferred from the oven-type modules (6) to the quenching or washing tank type modules (7) and the said loads (11) to be drained after quenching or washing, and finally of at least one handling bogie (3) effecting the loading of the movable closure elements (4) and the unloading of the movable support elements (5), each oven-type module (6) being able to be routed by means of a conveyer gantry from a parked position, during the treatment cycle of its load (11), to any one of the quenching or washing tank type modules (7), without any interruption of the said treatment cycle of the said load (11), and this while the positioning of the following load (11) to be treated by the said oven-type module (6) is being prepared, one or more other ones of the said modules (6, 7) being able, moreover, to be simultaneously in the process of loading or return of their load (11).
2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the quenching or washing tank type modules (7) are disposed side by side and aligned in the support structure (1), the oven-type modules (6) being disposed in a similar way, parallel to the said quenching or washing tank type modules (7) but in a different horizontal plane.
3. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the oven-type modules (6) have a vertical structure and are provided with an opening (12) on their bottom face, the quenching or washing tank type modules (7) having a corresponding opening (13) on their top face.
4. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the oven-type modules (6) have notably, firstly, an internal coating (14) of ceramic fibres, lined with a covering (15) having excellent mechanical properties, secondly, a vacuum pump (16) for changing controlled atmospheres and, finally, a cooling turbine (17) supplying exchangers (18) opening out inside the said oven-type modules (6).
5. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that each oven-type module (6) has, firstly, a lower drilled plate (20) provided with several, preferably three, tapered feet (21) enabling the said module (6) to be supported and held, during the treatment phase, in its parked position and, during the unloading phase, on the corresponding quenching or washing tank type module (7), by means of support points (22) of complementary shape, and, secondly, a top plate (23) provided with at least one, and preferably three, anchorage points (24) for the conveyer gantry (2).
6. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that each oven-type module (6) is provided with at least two connectors (25, 25'), namely at least one bottom connector (25) cooperating with a corresponding complementary connector (26) attached to the support structure (1) when the said module (6) is in the parked position, and at least one top connector (25') able to cooperate with a corresponding complementary connector (26') mounted on the conveyer gantry (2) as soon as the said module (6) is taken over by the said conveyer gantry (2).
7. Device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the movable closure elements (4) advantageously take the form of plates (27) actuated by jacks (28) and extended by frustoconical pedestals (29), the said elements (4) also each including a joint (30) enabling the inside of the oven-type module (6) to be isolated in an airtight manner, and, where necessary, a turbine (31) for mixing the controlled internal atmosphere.
8. Device according to any one of Claims 1 and 7, characterised in that the handling bogie (3) includes a table (32) for handling the load (11), movable in rotation about a vertical axis (Z) and movable in translation along the same axis (Z) as well as in a direction perpendicular to the direction (X) of movement of the said handling bogie (3).
9. Device according to any one of Claims 1, 7 and 8, characterised in that the movable closure elements (4) and the movable support elements (5) are provided, on their top face, with support studs (33) for the loads (11).
10. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterised in that each oven-type module (6) has pivoting hooks (34) disposed near the bottom opening (12) of the said module (6) and enabling a load (11) to be held inside the said module (6).
11. Device according to claim 10, characterised in that the hooks (34) are installed on a support plate (35) removably fixed to the bottom plate (20),
12. Device according to either one of Claims 10 and 11, characterised in that the movable closure elements (4) are provided with lugs (36) enabling the hooks (34) to be tilted from a retracted position to a retaining position against their pedestal (29), the movable support elements (5) including lateral dogs (37) pushing the said hooks (34) into their retracted position, when the loads (11) are taken over by the maid movable support elements (5).

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