GB631396A - Improvements in or relating to the heat treatment of metal articles - Google Patents

Abstract

631,396. Local heat-treatment. BRITISH OXYGEN CO., Ltd., and HOBLING, R. E. W. Feb. 21, 1947, No. 5096. [Class 72] [Also in Group XXX] Apparatus for the heat-treatment of metal articles comprises a continuous flexible conveyer so movable from a loading to an unloading position that the articles traverse a rectilinear path past a heating means, the conveyer having article-holding means which are readily attached to and detachable from the conveyer so that articles of different sizes may be accurately located on the conveyer, and means for directing a stream of coolant upon the conveyer adjacent the heating means. In the form shown, the conveyer 14 is driven over drums 13 by an electric or other motor 16 either continuously or intermittently under the control of a lever 18, and the heating means comprises a vertically and horizontally adjustable oxy-fuel gas burner the head 24 of which is cooled by water from a tank 10, through which passes the lower reach of the conveyer, by means of a pump 29 driven by the motor 16 and a flexible conduit 28, a nozzle 30 allowing this water to discharge over the conveyer and back to the tank. The burner head is associated with a quenching unit comprising a multi-orificed tube 31 rotatably adjustable on hollow trunnions 32. The articles A are accommodated in recesses in jigs 37 each of which has two pins 38 engaging sockets 39 in the chain links of the conveyer. The conveyer is guided by the side walls 44 of a pair of guide rails 40 each having a longitudinal distributing channel 41, an inlet 42 connected to the conduit 28, and a series of discharge orifices 43 in a longitudinal recess 45. A number of such conveyers may be mounted side by side for simultaneous movement.