Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
  • F27B—FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS OR RETORTS IN GENERAL; OPEN SINTERING OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • F27B9/00—Furnaces through which the charge is moved mechanically, e.g. of tunnel type; Similar furnaces in which the charge moves by gravity
  • F27B9/04—Furnaces through which the charge is moved mechanically, e.g. of tunnel type; Similar furnaces in which the charge moves by gravity adapted for treating the charge in vacuum or special atmosphere
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
  • C21D—MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING
  • C21D9/00—Heat treatment, e.g. annealing, hardening, quenching or tempering, adapted for particular articles; Furnaces therefor
  • C21D9/0056—Furnaces through which the charge is moved in a horizontal straight path
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
  • C21D—MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING
  • C21D1/00—General methods or devices for heat treatment, e.g. annealing, hardening, quenching or tempering
  • C21D1/56—General methods or devices for heat treatment, e.g. annealing, hardening, quenching or tempering characterised by the quenching agents
  • C21D1/60—Aqueous agents
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
  • C21D—MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING
  • C21D1/00—General methods or devices for heat treatment, e.g. annealing, hardening, quenching or tempering
  • C21D1/62—Quenching devices
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
  • C21D—MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING
  • C21D1/00—General methods or devices for heat treatment, e.g. annealing, hardening, quenching or tempering
  • C21D1/62—Quenching devices
  • C21D1/63—Quenching devices for bath quenching
  • C21D1/64—Quenching devices for bath quenching with circulating liquids
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
  • C21D—MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING
  • C21D1/00—General methods or devices for heat treatment, e.g. annealing, hardening, quenching or tempering
  • C21D1/74—Methods of treatment in inert gas, controlled atmosphere, vacuum or pulverulent material
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
  • C21D—MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING
  • C21D1/00—General methods or devices for heat treatment, e.g. annealing, hardening, quenching or tempering
  • C21D1/74—Methods of treatment in inert gas, controlled atmosphere, vacuum or pulverulent material
  • C21D1/773—Methods of treatment in inert gas, controlled atmosphere, vacuum or pulverulent material under reduced pressure or vacuum
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
  • C21D—MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING
  • C21D9/00—Heat treatment, e.g. annealing, hardening, quenching or tempering, adapted for particular articles; Furnaces therefor
  • C21D9/0006—Details, accessories not peculiar to any of the following furnaces
  • C21D9/0018—Details, accessories not peculiar to any of the following furnaces for charging, discharging or manipulation of charge
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
  • C21D—MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING
  • C21D9/00—Heat treatment, e.g. annealing, hardening, quenching or tempering, adapted for particular articles; Furnaces therefor
  • C21D9/0062—Heat-treating apparatus with a cooling or quenching zone
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F26—DRYING
  • F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
  • F26B21/00—Arrangements for supplying or controlling air or other gases for drying solid materials or objects
  • F26B21/40—Arrangements for supplying or controlling air or other gases for drying solid materials or objects using gases other than air
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F26—DRYING
  • F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
  • F26B3/00—Drying solid materials or objects by processes involving the application of heat
  • F26B3/28—Drying solid materials or objects by processes involving the application of heat by radiation, e.g. from the sun
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F26—DRYING
  • F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
  • F26B5/00—Drying solid materials or objects by processes not involving the application of heat
  • F26B5/04—Drying solid materials or objects by processes not involving the application of heat by evaporation or sublimation of moisture under reduced pressure, e.g. in a vacuum
  • F26B5/042—Drying solid materials or objects by processes not involving the application of heat by evaporation or sublimation of moisture under reduced pressure, e.g. in a vacuum for drying articles or discrete batches of material in a continuous or semi-continuous operation, e.g. with locks or other air tight arrangements for charging/discharging
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
  • F27B—FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS OR RETORTS IN GENERAL; OPEN SINTERING OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • F27B5/00—Muffle furnaces; Retort furnaces; Other furnaces in which the charge is held completely isolated
  • F27B5/02—Muffle furnaces; Retort furnaces; Other furnaces in which the charge is held completely isolated of multiple-chamber type
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
  • F27B—FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS OR RETORTS IN GENERAL; OPEN SINTERING OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • F27B5/00—Muffle furnaces; Retort furnaces; Other furnaces in which the charge is held completely isolated
  • F27B5/04—Muffle furnaces; Retort furnaces; Other furnaces in which the charge is held completely isolated adapted for treating the charge in vacuum or special atmosphere
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
  • F27D—DETAILS OR ACCESSORIES OF FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS OR RETORTS, IN SO FAR AS THEY ARE OF KINDS OCCURRING IN MORE THAN ONE KIND OF FURNACE
  • F27D15/00—Handling or treating discharged material; Supports or receiving chambers therefor
  • F27D15/02—Cooling
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
  • F27B—FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS OR RETORTS IN GENERAL; OPEN SINTERING OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • F27B5/00—Muffle furnaces; Retort furnaces; Other furnaces in which the charge is held completely isolated
  • F27B5/06—Details, accessories or equipment specially adapted for furnaces of these types
  • F27B2005/062—Cooling elements
  • F27B2005/068—Cooling elements for external cooling
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
  • F27B—FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS OR RETORTS IN GENERAL; OPEN SINTERING OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • F27B9/00—Furnaces through which the charge is moved mechanically, e.g. of tunnel type; Similar furnaces in which the charge moves by gravity
  • F27B9/12—Furnaces through which the charge is moved mechanically, e.g. of tunnel type; Similar furnaces in which the charge moves by gravity with special arrangements for preheating or cooling the charge
  • F27B2009/124—Cooling

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a vacuum furnace with water quenching, designed for the heat treatment of metals and alloys necessitating rapid quenching.
• Vacuum heat treatment devices heat the charge in a vacuum, thereby preventing surface oxidation, and then cool the charge in an atmosphere of inert gases including nitrogen, argon, or helium, or in dedicated quenching oils.
• Furnaces featuring oil quenching generally include a separate, sealed quenching chamber with an integrated oil tank for quenching.
• Other known approaches utilize baths containing salt or polymer solutions for quenching.
• the patent document CN216107091U describes a modular vacuum heat treatment production line that includes several dedicated modules for performing different operations within a single apparatus, such as quenching in gas, oil, water, or brine.
• the line includes a hot material transfer module and a cold material transfer module, with the operating modules positioned on either side of these transfer modules.
• the patent document CN213835455U describes a vacuum hardening furnace with temperature regulation and control, featuring a furnace body whose interior is protected by a heat-insulating plate, thus forming a heating chamber and a quenching chamber.
• the quenching chamber features a tank containing a quenching medium at its bottom, which is cooled by an external circulation cooling device.
• the circulating cooling device comprises a circulation pipeline, a heat exchanger, a heat exchange pipeline, and a chilled water unit.
• a circulation pipeline connects the heat exchanger to the interior of the quenching tank, creating a closed loop.
• the circulation pipeline connects to the circulation pump and the first group of valves, which controls the connection or disconnection of the pipeline.
• the chilled water unit is connected to the heat exchanger via a heat exchange pipeline, forming a loop.
• the heat exchange pipeline connects to the water pump and the second set of valves, which controls the connection or disconnection of the pipeline.
• a temperature measuring element is placed in the quenching tank and is connected to a programmable logic controller (PLC) located within the furnace body. In addition to the temperature measuring element, the PLC is connected to the first valve group, the second valve group of the chilled water unit, and the heat exchanger.
• PLC programmable logic controller
• water serves as an effective quenching medium for carbon and low-alloy steels, even those exhibiting low hardenability.
• a limitation of water as a quenching medium is its propensity for high reactivity with the surface of the metal workpiece. Furthermore, the high volatility of water leads to contamination of the protective atmosphere or hinders achieving the required vacuum level in the furnace.
• the present invention seeks to provide a vacuum furnace design for the heat treatment of metals and alloys requiring rapid quenching, integrating the benefits of vacuum treatment and water quenching without the limitations previously described.
• the vacuum furnace with water quenching comprises a loading and unloading chamber with a transport mechanism, a vacuum heating chamber equipped with thermal insulation and a graphite heating system, and a quenching chamber, all separated by vacuum-tight doors.
• the vacuum furnace with water quenching is characterised in that it features a central loading and unloading chamber.
• This chamber is equipped with a transport mechanism, a vacuum pumping system, and heat radiators for the rapid removal of water and moisture from the charge following the quenching process.
• a vacuum heating chamber is located on one side of the loading and unloading chamber, and a water quenching chamber on the other.
• the water quenching chamber is equipped with a heater and a water agitator to control the quenching water temperature, as well as an immersion system for the charge and a vacuum pumping system.
• a protective atmosphere is maintained in the quenching chamber - inert gas or vacuum.
• the vacuum furnace of the present invention facilitates heating the charge in a controlled protective vacuum and intensive water quenching within a single device, thereby minimizing the detrimental oxidation of the charge surface.
• Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a vacuum furnace with water quenching
• Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a vacuum furnace with water quenching
• Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the water quenching chamber of the furnace.
• the vacuum furnace with water quenching contains three chambers, separated by tight vacuum-tight doors 8.
• the central chamber is the loading and unloading chamber 1, which is equipped with a transport mechanism 4, a vacuum pump system 12 and heat radiators 11 for the rapid removal of water and moisture from the charge following the quenching process
• a vacuum heating chamber 2 equipped with graphite insulation 5, a graphite heating system 6 and a vacuum pump system 14 enabling the heating of the charge in a protective vacuum atmosphere, and on the other side there is a water quenching chamber 3.
• a heater 9 and water agitators 10 are installed in the water quenching chamber 3 to regulate the quenching water temperature, as well as an immersion system 7 for transporting the charge and a vacuum pumping system 13, wherein a protective atmosphere, a vacuum or an inert gas atmosphere is maintained in the quenching chamber.
• the charge In a vacuum furnace with water quenching, the charge is heated under vacuum, which provides a protective atmosphere. Subsequently, all furnace chambers 1, 2, 3 are purged with an inert gas, such as nitrogen or argon, before the charge is transported to the water tank within the quenching chamber 3 by a transport mechanism 4.
• an inert gas such as nitrogen or argon
• the quenching chamber 3 the charge is immersed in water by means of an immersion system 7.
• the charge is rapidly quenched in water and then, after the water has drained, it is transported in a protective gas atmosphere to the loading and unloading chamber 1 for rapid removal of residual moisture.
• the loading and unloading chamber 1 acts as a vacuum dryer.
• a vacuum pumping system 12 evacuates the gaseous atmosphere, and then the heat emitters 11 are activated, ensuring rapid drying of the load from residual water and moisture.
• the transport chamber is purged with gas, and the charge is ready for unloading.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Metallurgy (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Crystallography & Structural Chemistry (AREA)
• Materials Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Microbiology (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Molecular Biology (AREA)
• Furnace Details (AREA)
• Muffle Furnaces And Rotary Kilns (AREA)
• Tunnel Furnaces (AREA)

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Citations (10)

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• 2024
  • 2024-03-20 PL PL448051A patent/PL448051A1/pl unknown
• 2025
  • 2025-03-17 EP EP25164261.7A patent/EP4621078A1/fr active Pending

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