US2523836A - Work feeding device - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 26, 1950 R. G. LE TOURNEAU 2,523,836

WORK FEEDING DEVICE Original Filed Feb. 20, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR (/12 R. GLeTour-neau m2; M AHZ Patented Sept. 26, 1950 WORK FEEBING DEVICE Robert G. Le Tourneau, Peoria, 111., assignor to R. G. Le Tourneau, Inc., Stockton, Califl, a corporation of California Original application February 20, 1942, Serial No. 431,729. Divided and this application April 22, 1946, Serial No. 664,081

Claims.

The subject matter of this application is a division of original application, Serial No. 431,729, filed February 26, 1942, now Patent No. 2,401,833, dated June 11, 1946.

An object of the instant invention is to provide a work feeding mechanism for case hardening apparatus for like machine elements, which includes mechanism to continuously advance a row of such machine elements at a predetermined speed; the elements as they advance each passing first through a heating zone and subsequently through a quenching or cooling zone.

A further object of the invention is to embody in the apparatus novel means to regulate or vary the rate of feed of the machine elements through the heating and quenching zones, whereby to control the depth of surface hardening of said elements.

An additional object of the invention is to pro vide a work feeding mechanism for case hardening apparatus which is operative not only to continuously feed like machine elements through heating and quenching zones, but also is operative to simultaneously rotate the elements as they passthrough said zones, whereby to assure even and rapid heating and cooling of the elements. l

A further object of the invention is to produce a practical device and one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is an enlarged elevation of the improved case hardening apparatus including the improved lineal work feeding apparatus. 1

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation of the bearing assembly and the lineal feed mechanism.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section on line 33 of Fig. l; 7

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the apparatus comprises a fixed base i having an upstanding relatively short tubular post 2 secured thereto in rigid relation; the base 1 having a circular opening 3 matching with the bore of the post and of slightly greater diameter. A horizontal turn" table 4 is disposed above the base i intermediate the ends of post 2, the latter projecting centrally through the turntable. The turntable is rotat ably mounted in connection with post 2 and held against downward axial displacement by means of a suitable bearing assembly indicated generally at 5 which is enclosed within a sleeve-like housing 6. A cap 1 is fixed concentrically on the top of the turntable and encloses the upper end of post 2 and the adjacent portion of the enclosed bearing assembly, the top of cap 1 being fiat and forming a horizontal platform 8. A circular opening 9 in such platform matches the bore of post 2, and is of a diameter at least that'of the bore of said post.

A plurality of upstanding guide bars It are mounted symmetrically and in circumferentially spaced relation on platform 8 and about opening 9, such guide bars ll] being rectangular in cross section and disposed so that the inner faces I l of opposed bars are parallel; the spacing of opposed bars being substantially the diameter of the cylindrical pins H! which the apparatus is designed to receive and treat. Adjacent their upper ends the guide bars H) are secured together by means of a surrounding connecting ring it.

In vertically spaced relation above the guide bars iii, which of course move with the turntable, there is mounted another assembly of relatively short stationary guide bars I i which are arranged in the same relation to each other as the guide bars it, and about the same vertical axis. The guide bars M are supported adjacent their upper ends by a bracket which overhangs the apparatus from a fixed frame it, and are connected adjacent their lower ends by a surrounding ring 16a.

A flame ring and quenching assembly indicated generally at ll in Fig. l is disposed horizontally intermediate adjacent ends of guide bars '50 and Hi and is disposed concentric with the then continue downwardly between and are guided by bars ill, finally discharging out of the bottom of the apparatus through tubular post 2. In order to regulate the lineal speed of the pins through the apparatus the following lineal feed control mechanism is employed:

A plurality of V-pulleys l8 are arranged in vertical banks on opposite sides of the stack of pins; the pulleys of each bank being supported between transversely spaced plates l9 hich upstand from platform 8. The pulleys are mounted for rotation about horizontal axes and are disposed with their peripheries in opposed relation; adjacent portions of these pulleys projecting centrally from between guide bars Ill toward but being slightly clear of the stack of pins. Each vertical bank includes an endless V-belt 29 which passes about the endmost pulleys and whose inner reach 2| rides the intermediate pulleys; said in ner reach being vertical and on the outside frictionally engaging the pins 1 2 of the vertical stack in holding relation. An automatic belt tightener, indicated generally at 22, cooperates with the other reach of each belt outwardly of the corresponding bank of pulleys. It will be seen that with rotation of pulleys H3 in a direction to move the inner reaches 2| in a downward direction, the stack of pins l2 which are frictionally engaged and normally supported by said reaches will be lowered and pins discharged-from the stack at a corresponding lineal speed.

The vertical banks of pulleys of the lineal feed mechanism are driven in the following manner:

The shafts of the lowermost pulleys of each bank are fitted with drive pulleys 23 exteriorly of one plate l9. The pulleys are driven in opposite directions by a reverse drive belt 24 which passes about a drive pulley 25 of a variable speed reduction gear unit 26 mounted on turntable 4 to one side of the platform 8; there being a suitable belt tightener 21 cooperating with belt 24. The speed reduction unit 25 includes a pulley 28 driven-by an endless belt 29 from an electric motor 30 mounted on the turntable on the opposite side of cap I, the motor 30 deriving its current from an independent power circuit 3| through the medium of means such as a collector ring assembly on the turntable indicated at 32.

In order to assure proper frictional engagement of the reaches 2| of belts 20 with the downwardly moving pins 12 of the vertical stack, the vertical banks of pulleys are mounted for adjustment on platform 8in an inner direction by any suitable means such as that shown at 33.

In the present disclosure this adjustment means comprises flanges 33a on the lower ends of the plates 19, which flanges are provided with slots 33b. Bolts 33c are fixed to the platform 8 and project through the slots 33b, and are provided with locking nuts 33d. Upon loosening these nuts the plates may be adjusted in either direction and the nuts may then be tightened to hold them in such adjusted position.

The vertical banks of pulleys terminate at their upper ends a considerable distance below the flame and quenching ring assembly H.

In order to rotate the turntable and consequently the lineal feed mechanism and pins l2 engaged thereby, said turntable is formed as a pulley engaged by a drive belt 34 which extends to a stationary variable speed electric motor (not shown).

In operation, the stack of pins l2 to be casehardened-passes downwardly through the apparatus at a speed of approximately seven to eight inches per minute, while rotating at approximately 150 R. P. M.; the heating and subsequent quenching of the pins as they are rotated under controlled lineal speed assuring that the desired case hardening is accomplished. By varying the speed of travel, the effective depth of the caseharde'ning can be governed. Pins (SAE 1045 steel) treated in this operation are hardened to a depth of approximately .045 to .050 effective and depth, providing a very hard thin surface and leaving a very tough core.

The feed mechanism described is operable to control the desired speed of travel while continuously rotating the stack of pins [2 as they pass through the heating and quenching zone I! as is essential to the proper heat treatment thereof.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a method and apparatus as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the apparatus and method of operation, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I cl'aimas new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A work feeding device comprising a fixed base, an upstanding relatively short tubular post on said base, the base having an opening in register with the interior of the post, a platform disposed above the base and having an orifice in register with the interior of the post, such platform being rotatably mounted on the post, a group of vertically disposed guide bars fixed to the platform in spaced relation about the orifice therein, vertically supporting plates on the platform disposed diametrally of said orifice, banks of pulleys on each of said plates and projecting into spaces between adjacent ones of said guide bars, endless belts disposed about each bank of pulleys and having their inner runs facing the through spaces between said guide bars, and power mechanism operative to drive the pulleys and belts at a predetermined speed.

2. A device as in claim 1, including means for rotating the platform, such latter means including a turntable journaled about the post, the platform being mounted on the turntable, and power means operative to impart rotation to the turntable.

3. A structure as in claim 2 in which the pulleys and belt driving mechanism are mounted on the turntable.

4. A device as in claim 1, including means for adjusting the pulley supporting plates radially with respect to the vertical axis of the platform.

5. In a device for the downward feeding of cylindrical work pieces disposed with their axes vertical, diametrally opposed pairs of fixed vertical guide bars engaging about the pieces with a running fit, and driven belts having vertical downwardly moving runs frictionally engaging the pieces along diametrally opposed portions thereof exposed between adjacent guide bars.

ROBERT Gr. LE TOURNEAU.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

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